Lyme disease: The most common vector-borne disease in the U.S.

In response to several email inquiries, I recently spent time researching the cause and treatment of Lyme disease, which is a bacterial infection transmitted primarily by ticks that are commonly found in wooded and grassy areas. Besides a rash, an infected individual can experience a variety of symptoms within 3 to 30 days after being bitten, including fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes.

How is Lyme disease transmitted?

In 1982 Dr. Willy Burgdorfer discovered the cause of Lyme disease, which is a spiral-shaped bacteria (spirochete) that now bears his name. Both humans and animals can develop Lyme disease after being bitten by a deer or blacklegged tick that is harboring the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium. Because immature ticks are tiny, they can be difficult to spot that can increase the possibility of undetected tick exposures.

While Lyme disease is often associated with the East Coast (it’s named after the small towns of Lyme and Old Lyme in Connecticut), it can also infect Americans in other regions as well as over 60 countries of the world. The incidence of Lyme disease crosses age boundaries, although it is most noticeable in individuals who engage in outdoor activities during the spring and summer, such as children, park rangers, and firefighters.

According to the Department of Health and Social Services of Delaware, Lyme disease is the most common insect-sourced disease in the United States. As seen in this chart published by the Centers for Disease Control, the number of confirmed Lyme cases in the United States rose from 15,000 to 25,000 between 1996 and 2016.

The CDC added that 95% of confirmed Lyme disease cases were concentrated in 14 states in 2015: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Lyme disease has also been reported in neighboring states as well as Northern California, Oregon, and Washington.

Researchers have not found evidence that Lyme disease is contagious. In 2016, Science Daily published a report entitled, “Genes and age determine susceptibility to Lyme disease,” which outlined the varying ways that individuals respond to the infection:

Edward-Elmhurst Health published an article entitled “Know the Signs of Lyme disease” that lists symptoms that could result if Lyme disease isn’t treated:

• Severe headaches and neck stiffness
• Additional EM (Erythema Multiforme) rashes on other areas of the body
• Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly the knees and other large joints
• Facial palsy (loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face)
• Intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints and bones
• Heart palpitations or an irregular heart beat (Lyme carditis)
• Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath
• Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
• Nerve pain
• Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
• Problems with short-term memory

As noted in a post on Medscape and on US News and World Report, there is an ongoing debate whether a patient may suffer from a chronic case of Lyme disease that persists for an extended period.

Natural treatment for Lyme disease

Antibiotics are often prescribed as the standard treatment for Lyme disease patients.

The Health Wyze Report published Thomas Corriher’s article entitled, “Naturally Curing Lyme Disease and Chronic Lyme Disease,” that describes a protocol tailored to the alternative health community. Below is a list of some of the recommended items, which includes MSM (aka organic sulfur):

B vitamins – The B vitamins, particularly B-6, B-9 (folic acid), and B-12 (methylcobalamin) are known for healing damaged nerves.

MSM – MSM is a sulfur protein that helps with joint pain, and it assists in repairing nerve damage. A standard adult dosage is 1 gram daily (1,000 mg) [Note: Following the Organic Sulfur Protocol, the recommended minimum dosage for adults is 1 teaspoon twice a day].

Colloidal silver – This is a natural and general purpose anti-bacterial and anti-viral. It works electrically instead of chemically, so pathogens cannot develop any resistance to it. A reasonable starting amount would be 1 fluid ounce that is taken twice a day. An ounce is equal to two U.S. tablespoons. For maximum effect in the bloodstream, it should be held in the mouth for a minute before swallowing.

High salt diet – Use unrefined sea salt in all meals. If it is bright white, and therefore stripped of minerals, then it should be avoided. Good salt can only be found in health food stores and online. The extra salt will make the body inhospitable to pathogens, and it will simultaneously give better penetration to the colloidal silver, making it more effective. Unrefined sea salt also contains trace minerals that will help to negate the negative effects of increased sodium. Extra salt has the benefit of making a patient drink more, and keeping fluids circulating. Having Lyme disease and a high salt diet will make high blood pressure very likely. Just be watchful that it does not become dangerously high.

References

About Lyme Disease
lymedisease.org

Lyme Disease
Department of Health and Social Services of Delaware

Lyme disease: Data and Statistics
Centers for Disease Control

Genes and age determine susceptibility to Lyme disease
Source: Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
posted on ScienceDaily
Nov 4, 2016

Chronic Lyme Disease: The Controversies and the Science
Paul M Lantos | Medscape

Does Chronic Lyme Disease Exist?
Samantha Costa | US News and World Report
June 16, 2015

Naturally Curing Lyme Disease and Chronic Lyme Disease
Written by Thomas Corriher
The Health Wyze Report