The prevalence of Lyme Disease is becoming more omnipresent in the clinics of western medicine doctors. This disease has eluded these doctors due to its varied presenting symptoms which can emulate many different conditions causing conflicting and unreliable diagnosis.
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi; a type of bacteria found in black-legged ticks. These ticks contract the bacteria from the host that they feed on and transmit it to humans through bites, often in areas like the armpit, groin, back of knee and nape of neck. The ticks are more commonly found in areas in the upper East Coast and upper Midwest of the United States. The name is derived from the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut where the first cases of Lyme were reported and diagnosed. There are other strains of the bacteria infected tick found in European countries such as the Black Forrest region in Southern Germany as well as temperate forest regions in Asia.
Black Forest Region in Southern Germany
Wearing long pants and shirt and staying on cleared land when hiking can reduce the risk of tick bites. If bitten, usually the tick will remain attached from 36-48 hours before transmitting the bacterium. One of the precautions for prevention is to shower within two hours after returning form an outdoor activity in known infested areas and placing any exposed clothing into a hot dryer to kill any pests that may be present.
The initial reaction from a tick bite is a red localized rash radiating from the site of infection. This is usually within 1-2 weeks of transmission. The rash is often warm to touch, but rarely painful or itchy. The initial symptoms to look for are an expanding red rash radiating from the site of the bite, flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat and joint pains within the first month following the bite.
The typical Lyme bulls eye rash is an identifier for this condition. If left untreated, the bite travels through the bloodstream and finds a home within the body’s tissues, spreading to the joints, nervous system and other organ systems. A person may experience flu-like symptoms as the pathogen or poison travels deeper, manifesting with swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, chills, heart palpitations, fever and fatigue.
The longer the bacterium resides in the body, the more symptoms that may arise, including neurological abnormalities, myocardial (heart) abnormalities, arthritic joints, numbness & tingling of the extremities, facial paralysis and/or bell’s palsy. Symptoms can emerge weeks, months, and even years after initial infection.
Deer is a common host for ticks that can transmit the bacteria associated with Lyme.
Diagnosis should be made on the basis of symptoms and evidence of a tick bite. Blood tests often give false results when performed in the first month of initial infection, as it takes 2-6 weeks for the bacteria to show up on a blood test. The CDC recommends using the ELISA and Western-blot blood tests to determine whether you are infected. These tests are more accurate when performed at least one month after initial infection.
After a patient has had their western medical workup and the antibiotic regime to combat the possible effects of this illness, Lyme Disease Treatment with Acupuncture can then be utilized to establish balance and regain health using acupuncture treatment and Chinese herbal medicine to relieve toxicity, harmonize the body/organ function, decrease stress, improve immunity and regulate the Qi and Blood according to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory.
Patients with Lyme can have a myriad of symptoms according to one’s constitution such as Immune system irregularity, joint and muscle pain, symptoms of heat and agitation, anxiety and stress. Lyme Disease Treatment with Acupuncture and herbal medicine application can help ease the emotional discomfort, to detoxify the body and regulate well-being.
Chinese Medicine takes a holistic approach looking at the whole body and organism and utilizing the application of hair-thin, tiny needles to manipulate the body’s energy to enhance wellness. This approach can help to activate the body’s own self-healing abilities and provide a supportive enhanced regime to stimulate one’s constitution and upregulate immune function to fight bacteria present in the system.
Chinese herbal medicine can be used over a long period of time not only regulating and supporting the affected patients’ immune function and energy levels but also using supportive herbs for regulating sleep cycle and reduction in anxiety and stress which can help the body recuperate the innate natural energy for disease prevention. Lyme Disease Treatment with Acupuncture and herbal medicine can be a valuable adjunct to anyone living with the conditions of this disease.
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