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I like having good types of bugs in my gastrointestinal tract, but ticks are one of the bugs I want to avoid as much as possible. Every summer, when the leaves come out and the grass grows, many of us worry about tick-borne diseases. As Lyme disease continues to rise, it’s important to find natural ways to complement traditional treatments.
The best thing we can do is support the body’s natural ability to heal.
What is Lyme disease?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Lyme disease is a virus-borne illness. It is most often spread by tick bites, but can also be transmitted by other biting insects such as mosquitoes, spiders, and deer flies.
Lyme disease is caused primarily by tick-borne Borrelia infections. Therefore, it is also known as Lyme borreliosis. The most common causes of Lyme disease are: Borrelia burgdorferi However, there are several different species depending on the region. deer tick (Ixodes scapula) or “black-footed tick” is the most common vector in North America.
The first diagnosed case of Lyme disease occurred in Lyme, Connecticut in the early 1970s. hence the name. Initially, it was misunderstood as an epidemic of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis because of joint pain, swelling, inflammation, and sometimes fever and rashes. Finally, in 1975, the cause was identified as an infectious disease.
How do you get limes?
The tick life cycle has three stages: larvae, nymphs, and adults. Ticks most often transmit Lyme disease during the nymphal stage. Nymph mites are about the size of a poppy seed, so they are easy to miss. It may remain attached for several days before being discovered. They are most active from April to September, that is, from late spring to early autumn.
Lyme disease is most common in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic states, and the Midwest. In states where Lyme disease is common, the incidence is currently about 40 per 100,000 population. However, Lyme disease may be underdiagnosed.
The most obvious sign of Lyme disease is the rash on the bull’s eye (erythema migrans). This may surround the site of the tick bite. However, most people do not develop bullseye rash, so it’s best to get tested. According to Johns Hopkins University, many cases of Lyme disease are misdiagnosed as other illnesses.
How is Lyme disease tested?
Testing for Lyme disease includes certain blood tests ordered by your healthcare provider. These generally constitute a two-pronged approach. The first test run is an antibody test like ELISA screening. Perform her second ELISA or immunoblot test after the ELISA to confirm the results. That said, studies show that ELISA can be highly inaccurate and miss about half of Lyme disease cases.
Later in the course of the disease, doctors may order tests to check for effects on the heart and brain.
One of the most reliable Lyme disease tests is from a company called Igenix in California. They not only test for Lyme disease, but also other tick-borne diseases. Examples include ehrlichiosis, which attacks white blood cells, and babesiosis, which attacks red blood cells. Others include anaplasmosis, spotted fever rickettsiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Colorado tick fever. These co-infections can cause symptoms similar to Lyme disease.
Another more affordable option is Vibrant Wellness. Accuracy is comparable to Igenix, but lower cost. Get a complete Lyme disease panel to test for different Borrelia species and co-infections (common in Lyme disease).
If left untreated, Lyme disease can spread the infection to the joints, heart, and nervous system. In the nervous system, it can also cause meningitis and Bell’s palsy. Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Bell’s palsy causes facial weakness. It usually occurs on one side of the face. At this point, I had chronic Lyme disease.
chronic lyme disease
Mainstream scientists and doctors no longer recognize chronic Lyme disease as a legitimate illness. It is instead called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). They believe long-term symptoms occur only after treatment with antibiotics.
Lyme disease infection is not considered in mainstream medicine if it is not treated with antibiotics and has chronic symptoms. Instead, they point to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, acknowledging that infections may be to blame. Some experts even claim that people who talk about chronic Lyme disease are committing health fraud.
Lyme disease symptoms
Lyme disease has three stages: 1) early localized, 2) early disseminated, and 3) late disseminated. In its early stages, Lyme disease can cause eye rashes and flu-like symptoms. These are tick bites and he appears 3 to 30 days later. Early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- Flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills
- headache
- Malaise
- muscle and joint pain
- swollen lymph nodes
- Erythema migrans (bull’s eye, red, or blue/red) rash
Late-stage signs and symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- severe headache and neck stiffness
- Erythema migrans rash also develops on other parts of the body
- Arthritis of large joints such as knees and hips
- facial paralysis
- Pain that comes and goes in muscles, joints, tendons, and bones
- Lyme arthritis
- Arrhythmia (Lyme carditis)
- Neurological symptoms such as neuralgia in the hands and feet, numbness, and tingling
If Lyme disease is left untreated, these late-onset disseminated symptoms can occur and disrupt multiple systems. Some people are not diagnosed with Lyme disease until years or even decades of debilitating symptoms.
How is Lyme disease treated in the clinic?
Removing ticks is the first step.Use tweezers or “tick tornado” tick removal tool You can safely remove ticks without damaging them. Removing ticks as soon as possible reduces the chance of infection. I put a tick remover on my key ring during tick season. Here we will tell you in detail how to get rid of ticks (the right way).
The main treatment for Lyme disease is to give antibiotics immediately after being bitten by an infected tick. Antibiotics commonly used for Lyme disease are doxycycline, amoxicillin, azithromycin, and cefuroxime. If symptoms are severe enough, these antibiotics may be given in intravenous (IV) form.
Patients are usually given two weeks of oral antibiotics. However, in order to be effective, the Lyme Literacy Physician (LLMD) recommends taking doxycycline for a minimum of 6 weeks.
Scientists are also working hard to develop a Lyme disease vaccine designed to address an “important public health problem.” I will talk about that on another occasion.
To avoid re-stings, mainstream clinicians usually recommend finding bug sprays that contain DEET. However, DEET has its own problems as a known neurotoxin. You can also treat your clothes with permethrin before traveling to areas with many ticks. But again, there are risks if it gets on your skin or if you inhale it.
How can I treat Lyme disease naturally?
It is possible to deal with lime naturally. Some people choose natural remedies alongside or after antibiotics. Strategies to help your immune system eliminate Lyme disease and co-infections include:
- specific herbs offal Shown Promise For Lyme disease: Examples include cat’s claw, knotweed, andrographis, wormwood, black walnut, Chinese skullcap, and Cistus incanus. There are a few more that can be combined in a blend.
- Homeopathic remedies: Redum Pulsele It is a homeopathic remedy for insect bites and may also help with Lyme disease-related infections. Doctors recommend taking this immediately after removing the tick to prevent the development of infection.
- hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT): Hyperbaric therapy may help kill infections that dislike a high oxygen environment. Lyme disease is one such disease.
- ozone therapy: Ozone in various forms may help for the same reason HBOT increases oxygen throughout tissues to fight infections.
- Bee venom therapy: Bee venom has natural antibacterial properties. Scientists have studied the entire bee venom, or melittin, a key ingredient in Lyme disease. Both total venom and melittin have shown potential to combat Lyme fungus.
- Ivermectin: Ivermectin is not considered a primary treatment for Lyme disease. However, some people Report improvement If you take the antiparasitic drug ivermectin daily for several months. Parasitic infections can interfere with treatment for Lyme disease, so it’s important to treat these as well.
- Essential oil: Oregano, clove and cinnamon oils have antibacterial properties and have been shown to be effective against Lyme bacteria in a Johns Hopkins University study.
Other treatments include:
- intravenous nutrition
- general immune support
- detox support
- Mast cell and histamine support
- antiviral agent
- antiparasitic drug
- and general support for the body.
The immune system is designed to fight any infection. When stress, toxins, and other infections overload our bodies, we become more susceptible to chronic infections such as viruses, parasites, and Lyme disease.
ask for help
Treatment of Lyme disease can be complicated and almost always involves other co-infections and factors. Finding a lime expert to help you with this process can be very helpful. However, finding a good one can be difficult. Some people do their own research and request tests if necessary. This can be done online or in some cases through your doctor.
Here are some helpful resources:
Take precautions to prevent Lyme disease!
The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to avoid being bitten in the first place. Here are some things you can do to reduce the chances of ticks crawling around and sticking to you:
- Wear long trousers when going into the woodlands.
- Choose light-colored clothing and long-sleeved shirts
- Use a natural insect repellent with essential oils.
- Avoid walking in tall grass or near shrubs.
- Please tuck your pants into your socks.
- Wear a hat or have your hair up.
- Remove your clothes as soon as you get home.
- I take a shower after checking my whole body in the mirror.
- Check for ticks in common areas such as your armpits, in and around your hair, in and around your ears, around your lower back, behind your knees, between your legs, and even inside your belly button.
These are good habits for spending time outdoors. However, it can also increase resistance to infections and increase resilience if infected.
Final thoughts on ticks and limes
Like all infections, Lyme disease is more likely to occur in people with a weakened immune system. Taking care of yourself by eating right, getting enough sleep, and reducing stress can make you less attractive as a victim.
Causes of Lyme disease and responses to treatment vary widely. Some people make a full recovery with timely and appropriate treatment. However, some people have persistent symptoms that require ongoing care. Each experience at Lyme is unique and individualized care is essential.
Did you beat Lyme disease? What helped? Share below!