When experiencing symptoms like fatigue, headaches, poor memory, depression, anxiety, and recurrent flu-like symptoms, it’s not always easy for doctors to identify the cause. Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is one such illness that can be difficult to diagnose. Transmitted through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, Lyme disease produces a host of symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, facial palsy, swollen joints, and rash.
Many people may have Lyme disease but don’t test positive for it, while some who do test positive weren’t aware they had been bitten by a tick. Lyme disease can also overlap with other conditions such as chemical sensitivity, viral infections, bacterial infections, and mold. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though 25,000 to 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are officially recorded each year, this number could represent only 10% of the actual incidences of the disease.
Building a Foundation of Health
Before tackling chronic Lyme disease treatment, it’s crucial to build a stable foundation of health. Many Lyme disease patients may think they are eating a healthy diet, but it might not be tailored to optimize their body’s detoxification systems and cellular biochemical reactions. Sensitivity or allergic reactions to food consumed by the patient can create inflammation in the body, and they may not be consuming adequate levels of micro- and macronutrients.
Elimination of Toxins
In addition to a proper diet, it’s essential to focus on detoxification. Since Lyme disease patients tend to have weakened immune systems, they are more susceptible to illness from toxin exposure. They won’t receive the full benefit of treatment from antibiotics or herbal and nutritional therapies when toxic burdens to the body are high. Detoxification could include heavy metal chelation, neural therapy, and strengthening of the liver’s natural detoxification pathways. Regular sweating is also important for excreting toxic substances, and nutrients, herbs, and supplementation are given to support all the organs of elimination. Intravenous therapy with micronutrients, glutathione, and phosphatidylcholine can also benefit Lyme patients. Phosphatidylcholine helps remove toxins from the nervous system, while glutathione flushes them from the body.
Microbes and Biofilm
When treating Lyme disease, it’s important to address co-infections and opportunistic infections. Microbes exist in communities, so bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, and molds cohabitate, making it very common for Lyme patients to suffer from a variety of these. These microbes secrete biotoxins to subdue the host’s immune responses, so treatment with antibiotics or herbal antimicrobials is sometimes warranted.
As Lyme is a multi-systemic disease, treatment must be comprehensive and individualized, not only addressing organ support and the body’s natural biochemical processes but also ensuring safe detoxification.
In conclusion, it’s essential for Lyme disease patients to focus on building a foundation of health through proper dietary choices and detoxification. By understanding Lyme disease’s impact on the body’s various systems and addressing co-infections and opportunistic infections, individuals can work towards effectively managing their symptoms and potentially recovering from this elusive illness.
