Taking A Bite Out Of Lyme What To Do If You Are Bitten By A Tick
What if you are bitten? Do not panic, as there is plenty that both conventional and naturopathic medicine can do acutely to prevent infection from taking hold and causing illness. First things first, however, you must remove the tick safely.
Do not use anything to suffocate the tick, as this may cause the tick to regurgitate its contents into you and expose your body to Borrelia burgdorferi and other species of Borrelia that cause Lyme disease, as well as its co-infections. Use flat-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick at the base of the head and slowly but firmly pull the tick from the skin in the same direction that it is implanted.
Once the tick is removed, use a clear plastic sealable bag to store it. Apply hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound. Mix bentonite clay and Andrographis tincture to form a paste and apply it directly to the bite. Cover with a bandage soaked in the Andrographis tincture and let it heal.
The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society recommends that those experiencing Erythema migrans undergo antibiotic therapy for four to six weeks.
Natural Cure For Lyme Disease What Happens When A Tick Bites You Out Of The Blue
Would you believe that a single bite of a tiny organism like a tick can make you suffer from some serious symptoms that can last for a whole lifetime? Relax! Because here is everything that you need to know about the Lyme disease and the best natural cure for Lyme disease which will ease your symptoms and make you free of this illness.
What Is Lyme Disease And What Causes Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is caused by a tiny insect which is commonly known as a deer tick or a black-legged tick. When an infected black-legged tick bites you, it releases a bacterium which is the original underlying cause of Lyme disease. To make it much clear, Lyme disease is not usually caused by a deer tick but you could acquire this disease if you are stung by an infected deer tick that carries a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. So, the bacteria are what causes Lyme disease.
An interesting fact that you should be aware of is that the so-called deer tick or the black-legged tick is so tiny you can hardly notice it. The size of a tick can be compared to that of a mustard seed. You may not be able to sense the bite of this tick as it releases its saliva onto your skin before it stings you which can make your skin numb and senseless.
You can only recognize that you are infected with Lyme disease when you begin to experience the Lyme disease symptoms which have been mentioned below, the impact of which can be definitely reduced through a natural cure for Lyme disease.
Is Lyme Disease Curable?
Problem : Diagnosis Is Tricky
Only about half of all Lyme patients actually remember getting a tick bite. Plus, the classic bulls-eye rash that people associate with Lyme may not appear in all cases, or may appear somewhere the victim never sees, such as on the scalp, hidden by hair. Some research suggests that conventional Lyme tests may not be sensitive enough to make an accurate diagnosis, especially during the later stages of disease. False-negative results are also common.
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Another Natural Remedy Which You May Have Seen At Your Local Health Foods Store Is Cordyceps Militaris A Type Of Fungus That Has Been Historically Used In Folk Medicine To Improve Immune Function
Its ability to modulate NF-kB was identified in the 2000s, and a recent study from China showed that different preparations of the fungus could encourage the immune system to operate in different ways . This is a tremendous development in the individualized approach to healing Lyme disease, as different people will need different aspects of their immunity adjusted to effectively eradicate the infection. In addition to its anti-inflammatory actions, this botanical reduces fatigue and is a potent antioxidant .
Symptoms Of Lyme Disease
Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease can vary from person to person after being bitten by a tick.
Lyme disease occurs in stages. The signs and symptoms of each stage can overlap. In some people, Lyme disease may present in a later stage without a history of prior signs or symptoms.
The most commonly reported sign of Lyme disease is an expanding skin rash that typically begins at the site of the tick bite. This rash is called erythema migrans. It slowly grows to more than 5 cm in diameter over several days, and can sometimes:
- be circular or oval-shaped
- look like a target or bull’s eye
- go unnoticed, especially if it’s on:
- a part of the body that’s difficult to see
Some people may not develop a rash.
Other early signs and symptoms include:
If left untreated, the infection could spread to the joints, heart and nervous system.
Images of erythema migrans rash
Image 1Footnote a: A rash that looks like a bull’s eye at the site of a tick bite.
Image 2Footnote a: An oval-shaped red rash.
Image 3Footnote a: A red rash that has expanded across the width of a limb.
Image 4Footnote a: A red rash and blisters on a forearm.
Image 5Footnote b: A rash on a shoulder.
Image 6Footnote c: A rash on the back of a knee.
- Footnote a
Later symptoms of Lyme disease can appear days to months after an infected tick bite, and may include:
- migratory pain that spreads in the:
Other later stage symptoms include:
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Setting The Stage For Chronic Inflammation
Though the immune system plays a key role in protecting cells of the body from microbe invasion, the health of cells is also a major player. When cells become chronically stressed, they are more susceptible to being invaded by intracellular bacteria and other microbes. There are five primary categories of factors that weaken cells and set the stage for the chronic inflammation associated with Lyme disease.
#1. Poor diet
When cells arent fed properly, they cant function properly. Processed foods sourced from grains, beans, and grain-fed meat are overloaded with raw carbohydrates and refined fats that disrupt cellular functions. On the other hand, theyre deficient in the nutrients that cells need to function properly. Poorly nourished cells cant properly defend themselves against microbes.
#2. A toxic environment
In the modern world, chronic exposure to low levels of toxic substances and free radicals in food, water, and air is hard to avoid. The list includes man-made toxins associated with petroleum products, free-radicals in processed food, and natural toxins such as mold. In addition, the acid and free radicals associated with inflammation are highly toxic to cells. Toxic substances disrupt cellular processes, damage internal working parts of the cells, and weaken cell membranes. Weakened cells are more vulnerable to microbe invasion.
#3. Chronic stress
#4. Physical stress
#5. Microbes
Chelation Therapy For Lyme Disease
Some people believe Lyme disease symptoms are linked to heavy metal toxicity from materials like lead or mercury. Chelation therapy is a method of removing heavy metals from the bloodstream.
Its done using a type of medication called a chelator or chelating agent. This medication binds to metals in the bloodstream, collecting them into a compound that can be processed by your kidneys and released in urine.
Chelation therapy is an effective treatment for a buildup of heavy metals. But theres no evidence that heavy metals contribute to Lyme disease, and chelation therapy wont treat the underlying infection.
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The Best Natural Treatments For Chronic Lyme Disease
Were deep into the heat of the summer and with sweltering temperatures everyone is heading out-of-doors for some sunshine and relief. Being known as a Lyme Disease doctor in NYC, these warm weather months brings us a wealth of Lyme-related questions. Were so often asked the best natural treatment for Lyme especially for people suffering with long-term cases, known as chronic-Lyme.
While antibiotics are can be very helpful for the newly infected, they may be a poor choice for those struggling over many years. Frequently, natural remedies that target pathogens while boosting the systems of the body have a greater impact than antibiotics and come with little or no side effects.
Heres a short-list of some our best alternative treatments and natural remedies for Lyme disease.
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Powerful Home Remedies For Lyme Disease
The home remedies for Lyme disease include the use of herbs like wormwood, oregano, and clove for eliminating the underlying infection. Garlic, valerian, passionflower, and Ganoderma mushrooms are also good for treatment.
Increasing the intake of water, eliminating gluten from your diet, and increasing consumption of lean organic proteins like nuts, avocados, flaxseed, and fish oil can help, as well as a high-fiber regimen. Astragalus, elderberry, and olive leaf can also be used to eliminate the effects of Lyme disease.
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The Science Behind The Best Herbs For Healing Lyme
Before we dive into natural interventions that are useful to treat and heal Lyme disease, it is extremely important to understand how Lyme develops.
In a fascinating study published in 2019, researchers in Amsterdam found that tick saliva is not only the medium through which the pathogenic bacteria enter their hosts, it also contains a mixture of proteins that disarm the bodys immune system. This protects Borrelia from any natural defenses that you would normally mount to the infection .
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.
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How Lyme Disease Spreads
Lyme bacteria are parasitic organisms, as many bacteria are. They need a host to live in. And because they cant make all the nutrients they need themselves, they scavenge them from their hosts. Most of what they need can be found in collagen tissues. So, once they enter the animal host, they begin breaking down collagen tissues into a kind of soup in order to feed. Its where they break down those tissues that important.
- Joints = Lyme arthritis
- Heart = Lyme carditis
- Central nervous system = neurological Lyme with associated brain fog, difficulty thinking and remembering, tremors, facial paralysis, loss of limb function and so on.
This is the secret to understanding the disease and how to treat it.
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Evaluation Of Natural Products For Their Activity Against B Burgdorferi Stationary Phase Cultures
B. burgdorferi B31 was cultured for 7 days in microaerophilic incubator as stationary phase cultures . To evaluate potential anti-persister activity of the natural products, their stocks and their control solvents were added to 100 L of the B. burgdorferi stationary phase culture in 96-well plates to obtain the desired concentrations. The botanical medicines and natural product extracts were tested with the concentration of 1, 0.5, and 0.25% antibiotics of daptomycin, doxycycline, and cefuroxime were used as controls at a final concentration of 5 g/ml. All the tests mentioned above were run in triplicate. The microtiter plates were sealed and incubated at 33°C without shaking for 7 days with 5% CO2.
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A Functional Medicine Approach To Lyme
As a functional medicine practitioner, my approach to Lyme is different. Heres what I recommend:
Job one is a detailed health history. When I do this with my patients, I ask all kinds of nosy questions. If you think you could have Lyme disease, consider a free webcam or phone evaluation with my health center to get this conversation started.
Its important to catch Lyme as early as possible, so it doesnt become chronic. The sooner it is treated, the more likely antibiotics will be able to eradicate it all. In addition to using the two conventional tests accepted by the CDC, Elisa and Western Blot labs, I also often screen clients with these labs:
- CD57+/CD8-Absolute count: At this point, we believe that only Lyme bacteria will depress the CD-57, so someone with a high CD-57 is probably sick with something other than Lyme.
- C4a: This is another blood test to assess the immune system. Chronic Lyme disease could be associated with increased levels of C4a.
We might also consider other tests to dig a little deeper.
- Colostrum/Lactoferrin supplements: Lactoferrin inhibits pathogens and promotes healthy biofilms.
- Probiotics and prebiotics: These promote probiotic balance.
- Enzymes: These break down biofilm.
- Xylitol: This is a natural anti-biofilm.
- EDTA: This is a strong anti-biofilm.
I recommend talking to your health care practitioner about what might help support your health.
Banderol And Cats Claw
“These two herbs are commonly dosed together because they work synergistically with clinically proven action against Borrelia species,” Greenspan says. “The goals with any treatment with Lyme disease spirochetes, whether chronic or acute, is to have a combination of herbs to be effective with the shape-shifting behavior of this microbe.”
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Dr Myriah Hinchey Is The Owner & Medical Director Of Tao Vitality A Licensed Ct Naturopathic Physician And An Accomplished Lyme
Dr. Hinchey is also the owner and co-founder of Lymecore Botanicals, a MAPS Certified Clinician, as well as a licensed medical acupuncturist.
Dr. Hinchey practices integrative naturopathic medicine for the whole family and additionally specializes in the reversal and prevention of Chronic Disease, and has become a sought after Chronic Lyme Specialist, incorporating cutting-edge healing modalities. Her treatment practices rely heavily on the principals of Functional Medicine and Therapeutic Lifestyle Change as well as biomedical treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pervasive Development Disorder, and ADHD.
Treatment Of Lyme Disease Without Antibiotics
Many of my chronic lyme patients have come to me after they have been on repeated courses of antibiotics, with only temporary improvement. In these cases, one option for treatment is a more holistic, naturopathic approach to chronic lyme disease which involves nutritional support to regulate physiology, detoxification, more broad spectrum antimicrobials , and immune system modulation.
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Tips On How To Cure Lyme Disease Naturally
The following tips can help your body fight off Lyme disease as part of your treatment plan. Lyme should never go untreated, so the following tips alone will not cure Lyme. Incorporate the following into your daily routine during treatment:
- Rest a lot. Your body is at battle right now and the fatigue is often for a reason. You need to slow down and rest when you feel tired. If you like exercise, switch to low-impact exercise likeYoga. Healing is hard work and your body will thank you.
- Stay positive. Positive thoughts are very healing. You will feel better soon if you stick with your treatment plan. Try to meditate and focus on feeling better. Talk to someone who understands Lyme disease. Try to do something for yourself every day.
Again, using natural remedies for Lyme disease is an important decision for you and your doctor to make together. It is always important to discuss any use of herbs with your doctor to avoid any drug interactions or unwanted effects on other health conditions.
A word about antibiotics:
Making Dietary Changes For Immune Function
One of the best ways to help your body is to support your immune system. Your body can begin to support Lyme disease when you begin to control the changes that it has made to your body.
Most experts recommend removing inflammatory foods like grains, and sugar from your diet, while ensuring that you consume more anti-inflammatory foods like seeds, vegetables, raw cultured dairy and organic meat.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Lyme Disease
Symptoms for Lyme Disease can be broke up into two stages. Early symptoms of the disease occur within 30 days of being bitten.Early symptoms include:
- Issues with the heart and lungs
- Swollen brain and spinal cord
As you can see, Lyme Disease symptoms can get very serious very quickly. Identifying the issue as soon as possible after being bitten is the best way to kick the bacteria out of the body as swiftly as possible.