Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a potentially chronic illness caused from a tick bite.

Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures found in woodland and heath areas. They feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans.

The classic sign is a Bulls Eye rash (medically known as Erythema Migrans) which is diagnostic. However, many people will either not notice it or ignore it and in some, it won’t be very clear. In which case, doctors have to rely on blood tests. But Lyme disease blood tests are not always very reliable , especially if taken early and this confusion can slow down correct diagnosis.. It takes 6-8 weeks after a person is bitten by a tick, before the antibodies to it can be detected. (NICE guidelines)

 It is important to consider the treatment of all three forms of Lyme disease. This is an organism that occupies different forms in the body and can change from one form to another. It is very intelligent in its bid to live on us and with the medical route, high doses, enough to kill the organism, are required, with three different kinds of antibiotics. Treatment needs to be long-term as the main life-cycle of Lyme lasts about four weeks. Treatment in some cases may need to be for up to 6 months in women and three months in men.

 For patients who decline antibiotics, we can give you the protocols and support required to treat with other forms of support. In cases where the Lyme disease and symptoms have been present for a long time, it is important not to treat too aggressively all at once and so we will often support with other methods to optimise bodily systems, before using antibiotics.

Unfortunately, all systems of the body are affected by Lyme disease and it has a strong capacity to develop into a chronic illness. It is therefore very important that you see someone who is trained in and well read in Lyme disease and functional medicine. More reading