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Revisiting Lyme Disease
By Carole Blemker, R.N., R.D., CP Staff
In July of 2007, this newsletter featured an article about Lyme Disease (LD). Since then, the idea that a chronic LD infection, known as Persistent Lyme Disease Syndrome (PLDS), can be difficult both to diagnose and treat has become more widely accepted by some in the medical community. However, controversy still surrounds PLDS; many in the medical establishment insist there is no convincing evidence for the existence of symptomatic chronic LD infection.
Meanwhile, the physical and emotional -- not to mention financial -- costs to those afflicted can be crippling. The heart-rending 2009 documentary, Under Our Skin, examined the tremendous complexity of LD, from the disagreement surrounding its diagnosis to the highly varied physical manifestations of the advanced stages of the disease. In the film, patients tell stories of navigating through a medical system strongly resistant to their plight. Several renegade doctors risked their careers treating PLDS against standards established by conventional medical institutions such as the Infectious Disease Society of America. Nominated for an Academy Award, Under Our Skin should be required viewing for those of us living in Wisconsin -- you will never think of a hike in the woods the same way again. The following is an updated version of the 2007 article.
Summer in Wisconsin is an open invitation to the great outdoors, and many of us make the most of the tiny warm-weather window by exploring our glorious state. Besides doing battle with the usual bugs of summer such as mosquitoes and deer flies, there is another tiny critter we need to be particularly wary of during our woodland forays.
The deer, or black-legged, tick (Ixodes scapularis) is about the size of a poppy seed. Within its tiny body, the deer tick can harbor the bacteria for LD, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), which is transmitted through its bites. Deer ticks are ravenous in spring and summer, and most of Wisconsin is considered a high risk area for contracting LD. (This is a change from three years ago, when infected ticks were thought to be more prevalent in the western and northern parts of the state.) So whether you’re out in the woods for a week or spending an afternoon walking through one of our beautiful public prairies, it’s important to be informed about protection from and treatment of LD.
Protecting yourself from LD means protecting yourself from deer ticks. When outdoors, wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot. Ideally, you should wear long pants tucked into socks, closed shoes and a long-sleeved shirt tucked into pants. For extra protection, tape the tucked area between pants and socks to keep ticks from sneaking through. Do thorough tick checks during and after every outing, and don’t forget to check your pets! When you return indoors, wash clothes in hot water and dry on high heat to kill any ticks.
As far as repellents go, DEET-containing ones offer the most effective protection against ticks. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using a repellent containing 20% to 30% DEET for adults and no more than 10% for children. The American Lyme Disease Foundation has issued a fact sheet, including information about DEET and children, that can be found at www.aldf.com/fourPoster.shtml.
Since insect repellents provide no guarantee (some just repel better than others), it is crucial to check closely for ticks and remove them promptly and properly. Use tweezers as close as possible to the skin attachment site. If you don’t have tweezers, use your fingertips, but shield them from the tick with tissue paper or rubber gloves. Don’t squeeze the tick, since ticks can contain infectious fluids. After removal, thoroughly wash the bite site with an antiseptic solution.
It can take from three to 30 days for LD symptoms to appear after a tick bite. Early symptoms vary, ranging from a bull’s eye rash (in <50% of cases) to headache, stiff neck, fatigue and aching muscles -- symptoms easily mistaken for flu. Oral antibiotic therapy started within the first two months of infection is the only treatment proven to be effective while LD is in the acute, or early, phase. Most problems result from delayed treatment, when the infection progresses to PLDS. Chronic symptoms include arthritis, cognitive impairment, immune suppression, facial palsy, cardiac arrhythmias and neurological changes -- conditions that mimic many other diseases. (Not surprisingly, PLDS is sometimes mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis.)
Treatment of PLDS is notoriously difficult and often involves a long course of multiple IV antibiotics and immune supportive therapy. Registered Herbalist David Winston has compiled a lengthy list of botanical and complementary therapy recommendations based on his treatment of individuals infected with PLDS and receiving antibiotic therapy. Some of his suggestions are featured below; for a more detailed list, visit www.medherb.com/eletter/Lyme-Winston.pdf.
Joint Pain and Lyme Arthralgia
Solomon’s Seal: specifically for joint, disc, and cartilage pain
Teasel: anti-inflammatory for joints, tendons and ligaments
Devil’s Claw: cooling anti-inflammatory for pain and stiffness
Turmeric: warming anti-inflammatory ; enhances circulation
Cognitive Impairment and Neurological Changes
St. John’s Wort: reduces peripheral numbness and tingling
Gotu Kola: calming; lessens anxiety
Holy Basil: reduces memory lapses and anxiety
Facial Palsy
Mullein: specific for facial nerve pain
Sweet Melilot: useful for sharp, stabbing nerve pain
Immunodeficiency
Astragalus: nourishes the immune system; increases white blood cell production
Reishi and Maitake mushrooms: increase white blood cells
Ashwagandha: provides strong immune system support
Probiotics: protective of natural intestinal barrier against antigens from microorganisms and food
For a reliable source of general information, the American Lyme Disease Foundation (www.aldf.com) is involved in public education and research on LD. And although a plethora of books exist on the subject, three worthy of mentioning are Healing Lyme by Stephen Harold Buhner; The Lyme Disease Survival Guide: Physical, Lifestyle and Emotional Strategies for Healing by Connie Strasheim; and Insights into Lyme Disease Treatment, also by Connie Strasheim.
Carole Blemker is a Registered Nurse and Registered Dietitian with many years of experience. She is also a former librarian who loves researching all things concerning plants and people, and teaching from both holistic and clinical perspectives.
