Treatment For Other Forms Of Lyme Disease
People with other forms of disseminated Lyme disease may require longer courses of antibiotics or intravenous treatment with antibiotics such as ceftriaxone. For more information about treating other forms of Lyme disease, see:
The National Institutes of Health has funded several studies on the treatment of Lyme disease that show most people recover within a few weeks of completing a course of oral antibiotics when treated soon after symptom onset. In a small percentage of cases, symptoms such as fatigue and myalgia can last for more than 6 months. This condition is known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome , although it is also sometimes called chronic Lyme disease. For details on research into chronic Lyme disease and long-term treatment trials sponsored by NIH, visit the visit the National Institutes of Health Lyme Disease web siteexternal icon.
Phase 2 Stay Clean And Populate With Good Guys:
If youve been dealing with chronic illness for a long time, for phase two, I recommend reading and following Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections.
If youre not very poor health, I recommend spending the following 5-6 months taking the following every day as directed:
Lyme Has Two Growth States
Research published in 2015 shows that Lyme has two different growth states. There is a growing phase of the germs and there is a persister phase. Think of the persisters as germs that are in hibernation. These persisters – hibernating phase germs – ignore regular standard antibiotics we traditionally use to treat Lyme.
Read Also: Academic Rentals Old Lyme Ct
What Is A Lyme Disease
A tick-borne illness, Lyme disease is the most common in North America and Europe. Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, an individual becomes infected when an infected tick bites and feeds on the blood. The bacteria enters the body through the bite and then spreads throughout the bloodstream. Detecting the disease early is crucial but not easy. Signs and symptoms may mimic that of other conditions and include rash, fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and headache early on. Later stage signs include joint pain, neurological issues, heart problems, inflammation of the eyes, liver inflammation and severe fatigue.
Lyme Disease Treatment: 2 Herbal Compounds May Beat Antibiotics
Lyme disease transmitted via tick bite affects thousands of people in the United States and around the world. Currently, doctors use antibiotics to treat it, but could plant-based remedies be more effective?
Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi .
The disease spreads to humans through the bite of a tick that carries the bacterium, and it affects an estimated each year in the U.S. alone.
Currently, healthcare professionals choose between three antibiotics in the treatment of Lyme disease. These are doxycycline, cefuroxime, and amoxicillin.
Sometimes, however, antibiotics are not effective in eradicating all traces of B. burgdorferi from the system, which means that the disease can persist.
When this happens, bacterial cells that have developed antibiotic resistance can continue to proliferate. These are known as persister cells .
Because of this, researchers have been looking into alternative modes of fighting the bacterium, and their first line of inquiry has focused on natural remedies.
In 2018, an in vitro study suggested that 10 plant-derived essential oils could help fight off B. burgdorferi.
Now, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD, and from the California Center for Functional Medicine and Focus Health in Berkeley, have conducted a new study that has led them to believe that two specific plants may lead to more effective therapies against Lyme disease.
Don’t Miss: Lyme Nephritis Symptoms In Dogs
Tick Saliva With Healing Powers
Many ticks transfer bacteria or viruses that can lead to serious illnesses. If you get bitten by a tick in Germany, you could contract Lyme disease or Encephalitis. But the small animals can also do good. Oxford researchers have recently found out that a protein from the tick’s saliva can block infections, which makes it a potential cure for a certain type of heart disease.
Ticks – a plague for humans and animals alike
What Herbs For Lyme Disease Effective Support In The Treatment Of Lyme Disease With Herbs
There is a lot of scientific work that studies the effect of various herbs and their active ingredients on the effectiveness in the treatment of Lyme disease. Among the herbs that have anti-inflammatory properties, enhance immunity and activate the excretion of bacterial neurotoxins of Lyme disease spirochetes involve including:
- curcuma,
- devils claw.
Read Also: Joint Pain After Lyme Disease
Antimicrobials That Kill Growing Phase Spirochetes
Extracellular
Penicillins
- Amoxicillin 500 mg 1 to 2 pills 3 times a day. Alternatively as an alternative to IV antibiotics take 3 to 4 pills 3 times a day.
- Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid 875 mg/125 mg 1 pill 2 times a day
- Bicillin LA 2.4 million units IM 3 times a week with one day between each injection
Cephalosporins
- Ceftriaxone 2 gm IV 2 times a day for 4 days in a row then off for 3 days of each 7 days
- Cefotaxime 2 gm IV every 8 hours
- Cefuroxime 500 mg 1 pill 2 times a day
- Cefdinir 300 mg 1 pill 2 times a day
Additional IV Antibiotics
Vancomycin, imipenem, and ertapenem are possible alternatives if someone is allergic to Ceftriaxone or Cefotaxime.
Intracellular and Extracellular
- Clarithromycin 500 mg 2 pills 2 times a day
- Azithromycin 500 mg 1 time a day or 500 mg IV 1 time a day
Tetracyclines
- Doxycycline 100 mg 1 or 2 pills 2 times a day or 200 to 400 mg mg IV 1 time a day
- Minocycline 100 mg 1 pill 2 times a day
Iv Antibiotic Regimen: Cephalosporin Plus Azole Plus Liposomal Cinnamon Clove And Oregano
- ceftriaxone 2 gm IV 2 times a day for 4 days on and 3 days off
- tinidazole 500 mg taken orally 1 pill 2-3 times a day for 4 days on and 3 days off in 7-day cycles
- liposomal cinnamon, clove, and oregano capsules 1 pill 2 times a day
Key Points:
- Various antibiotics can be used as IV. I use this one most commonly because it is the easiest to administer and one of the lowest cost IV regimens. The ceftriaxone is given in a syringe and injected over 10 minutes. This is also a pulse dose regimen . Ceftriaxone could be given daily instead as 2 gm IV 1 time a day.
- I have found various pulse dose regimens of tinidazole to work. These include 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off or in the regimen seen here.
You May Like: Symptoms Of Lyme Disease In Adults
Phase One 3 To 30 Days
Also called early localized infection
Some say less than 50%, others say up to 70-75% develop the bullseye rash, starting at the site of the tick bite. It is not itchy or painful but they are usually warm to the touch. Sometimes flu-like symptoms develop soon after, including fever, chills, swollen lymph glands, headaches, muscle pain, and joint pain.
Five Herbal Medicines Potent Against Tick
Research supported by Bay Area Lyme Foundation points to need for more effective treatments compared to currently utilized treatments for tick-borne infections
TellMed Strategies
PORTOLA VALLEY, CA, March 9, 2021 — Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading sponsor of Lyme disease research in the U.S., today announced the publication of new data finding that five herbal medicines had potent activity compared to commonly-used antibiotics in test tubes against Babesia duncani, a malaria-like parasite found on the West Coast of the U.S. that causes the disease babesiosis. Published in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, the laboratory study was funded in part by the Bay Area Lyme Foundation. Collaborating researchers were from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, California Center for Functional Medicine, and FOCUS Health Group, Naturopathic.
“This research is particularly important as babesiosis is a significant emerging health risk. Due to limited therapeutics and a rise in treatment resistance, current treatment options for this disease are inadequate and many patients rely on herbal therapies for which there is only anecdotal evidence of efficacy,” said co-author Sunjya K. Schweig, MD, Founder and Director, California Center for Functional Medicine and Scientific Advisory Board Member, Bay Area Lyme Foundation, who has also studied herbal treatments for Lyme disease.
About the Study
About Lyme Disease
Journal
Also Check: Dog Has Lyme Disease Now What
Lyme Disease Natural Treatment Safety
If you decide to explore natural treatments for Lyme disease, talk to your doctor about the risks beforehand. Natural treatments, just like traditional treatments, can still be toxic or dangerous. But in combination with medical treatment, a complementary approach might improve health.
For example, a product called bismacine contains an injectable form of bismuth. This is a type of metal thats a common ingredient in some digestive aids. But bismacine contains a higher dose of bismuth thats injectable. Injecting a high dose of bismuth can cause bismuth poisoning, which can lead to heart and kidney failure.
Other natural treatments may interact with other medications or supplements you take. Your doctor can help you confirm whether any medications you currently take will interact with treatment youre interested in trying.
Antimicrobial Treatments For Lyme Disease
The conventional medical approach to Lyme disease treatment in adults is a ten to 21-day course of the antibiotic doxycycline.1 However, a growing body of research shows that this treatment is insufficient, if not completely ineffective, for cases of chronic Lyme disease. Functional medicine offers a far more comprehensive approach to the antimicrobial treatment of Lyme disease. Read on to learn about the types of antimicrobial treatment options available, and how they can be combined for optimal effect.
You May Like: How Do You Know If You Got Lyme Disease
Herbs With Antimicrobial Properties You Might Try To Prevent Lyme Disease
- Holy Basil in English, Tulsi in various Indian languages, and scientifically designated Ocimum sanctum L. or Ocimum tenuiflorum L whatever you want to call this plant, it’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine for a long time. It has antimicrobial properties, helps with inflammation , and I’ve seen several proponents of alternative treatments for chronic Lyme Disease talk about using it in their medicinal regimes.
- Most people will have heard of echinacea, which has been proven effective against certain microbes . Borrelia burgorferi may not be one of them, but again, plenty of people fighting Lyme Disease choose to include it in their treatment protocols.
- Stinging nettle, or Urtica dioica L, has been found to have antimicrobial properties that work against nine different micro-organisms . It also makes a great soup ingredient.
- Cat’s claw, often discussed in alternative Lyme circles, indeed works as an antimicrobial against oral pathogens.
Borrelia burgorferi
Those who have already had a Lyme Disease diagnosis should remember that only antibiotics have been proven to rid people of this tick-borne disease . Foregoing modern medicine in favor of unproven and often dangerous alternative remedies for chronic Lyme Disease isn’t wise.
People who live in tick-endemic areas who simply want to have the best shot they can at preventing Lyme Disease are in a different boat, though. As long as the herbs you’re taking…
What To Try If You Have Failed Years Of Antibiotics
In my practice for those that have failed years of regular antibiotics I offer two persister oriented regimes. Both of these regimens have some published clinical evidence of benefit. One regimen I offer is a Horowitz dapsone persister regimen. The other option I offer is a disulfiram only regimen or a disulfiram combination regimen . You can read more details about how to take both of these regimens in
You May Like: New Research On Lyme Disease
As A Single Antibiotic Regimen For Lyme Disease
Laboratory experiments at The University of Jyväskylä, Finland, showed the herbs in Biocidin killed the various forms and life cycle stages of Lyme and eliminated biofilms. As such it may work on its own to kill Lyme. Based on these laboratory bench experiments, I added Biocidin as a stand-alone support supplement. My patients reported decreased symptoms from this addition. For other antibiotic herbal and prescription antibiotic options, see A Lyme Disease Antibiotic Guide.
Natural Remedies For Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It is spread through the bite of infected ticks.
Ticks are very small, and their biteswhich can occur anywhere on the bodyare usually painless, so you may not immediately be aware that you have been bitten. In most cases, the tick must be attached to the body for 24 hours before Lyme disease is transmitted.
The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease usually start within three to 30 days after youve been bitten by an infected tick. Many people experience flu-like symptoms after being bitten, while more serious symptoms show up weeks after the bite. Early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- Chills
- Rash
- Swollen lymph nodes
If left untreated, symptoms can worsen to include Bells palsy , severe headaches, muscle, joint, and tendon pain, cardiac problems, and neurological disorders.
Most cases of Lyme disease can be managed and treated with two to three weeks of antibiotics. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and how long after the bite you were diagnosed, you may need a longer course of antibiotics to clear up the infection. Many people turn to natural remedies to help treat Lyme disease.
You May Like: Lyme Vaccine For Dogs Side Effects
Survival In The Natural World
Dr. Lewis explains that most antibiotics come from soil microorganisms. For example, bacteria in micro fungi compete with each other using their natural antibiotics and we borrow these compounds to create antibiotics for human pathogens. One of the challenges in studying and developing these microbes is that only about 1% of these bacteria that grow in soil will also grow in a petri dish. Those that dont easily grow in a petri dish are what Dr. Lewis refers to as uncultured or microbial dark matter.
Most antibiotics that we currently have in the clinic come from soil microorganismsbacteria in microfungi compete with each other and they fight out their differences with antibiotics. Then we borrow these compounds from them and use them to fight our pathogens.
Dr. Kim Lewis
Antibiotics Alone Are Unlikely To Get You Well
This is the second time I am making this point because it is very important. It is essential to your recovery that, at a minimum, your treatment address the steps outlined in my Lyme disease treatment guidelines: The Ross Lyme Support Protocol. Even a year or more into your treatment, these ten steps are essential to resuscitate and support the immune system.
Read Also: Does Lyme Disease Stay With You Forever
Essential Oils From Garlic And Other Herbs Kill Lyme Disease Bacterium
Oils from garlic and several other common herbs and medicinal plants show strong activity against the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. These oils may be especially useful in alleviating Lyme symptoms that persist despite standard antibiotic treatment, the study also suggests.
The study, published October 16 in the journal Antibiotics, included lab-dish tests of 35 essential oils–oils that are pressed from plants or their fruits and contain the plant’s main fragrance, or “essence.” The Bloomberg School researchers found that 10 of these, including oils from garlic cloves, myrrh trees, thyme leaves, cinnamon bark, allspice berries and cumin seeds, showed strong killing activity against dormant and slow-growing “persister” forms of the Lyme disease bacterium.
“We found that these essential oils were even better at killing the ‘persister’ forms of Lyme bacteria than standard Lyme antibiotics,” says study senior author Ying Zhang, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Bloomberg School.
Oils from thyme leaves, cumin seeds and amyris wood also performed well, as did cinnamaldehyde, the fragrant main ingredient of cinnamon bark oil.
“At this stage these essential oils look very promising as candidate treatments for persistent Lyme infection, but ultimately we need properly designed clinical trials,” he says.
Complementary And Alternative Therapies
You should never treat Lyme disease with complementary therapies alone. Only proper antibiotic treatment can cure the disease and avoid complications.
Newsletters and Internet sites have cropped up in recent years advertising untested treatments to people with symptoms of post-Lyme disease syndrome or so-called “chronic Lyme disease” who are frustrated with standard medical treatment. Some remedies may be dangerous and ineffective. Always tell all of your doctors about the herbs and supplements you are using or considering using.
Nutrition and Supplements
- Probiotic supplement . Probiotics, or “friendly” bacteria, help maintain intestinal health. If you take antibiotics to treat Lyme disease, the antibiotics will kill the “good” bacteria along with the bad. That can cause diarrhea or yeast infections. Taking probiotics may reduce these side effects. People with weakened immune systems, or those who take drugs to suppress their immune systems, should ask their doctors before taking probiotics.
- Bismacine. The FDA has warned people not to use an alternative medicine product called bismacine . This injectable product contains high amounts of bismuth, a heavy metal that can be poisonous. People who have taken bismacine have experienced heart and kidney failure, and at least one death has been reported. Although some people claim that bismacine can help treat Lyme disease, it is not approved or recommended for the treatment of any illness or condition.
HerbsHomeopathy
Read Also: When Was Lyme Disease Discovered
Nematodes And Their Microbiome
Dr. Lewis and his colleagues wondered whether there existed bacteria on earth that have the same requirement for antibiotics that we do. They would have to be nontoxic, effective against nasty pathogens, and systemically available. It turns out that nematodes and humans require these features for antibiotics. They found a group of symbionts in the microbiome of nematodes . By studying compounds that nematodes use to fend off bacteria, Dr. Lewis and his colleagues found compounds for human use called darobactins. Thank you Dr. Lewis for searching for new and better antibiotics to treat Lyme disease. We look forward to hearing more about your important work in the future!
One of the very difficult issues in chronic Lyme is that we cannot detect the pathogen in patients with chronic lyme. We cannot culture it or identify it by other methods, so whether its there or not, we do not know. Its possible that some cells are hiding somewhere, but its also possible that the pathogen, and treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics have wrecked the immune system, and now you are getting something that looks like an autoimmune disease or long Covid the symptoms are very very similar to the symptoms of chronic Lyme
Dr. Kim Lewis