Along with the welcome advent of spring comes the reality of a new crop of ticks! As if the insect is not bad enough, the tiny critters can be carriers of the dreaded Lyme bacteria. Lyme disease is also transmitted by fleas, mosquitoes, and mites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that there are nearly 325,000 new cases each year, making it an epidemic larger than AIDS, West Nile Virus, and Avian Flu combined.

Let’s start with a quick overview of the disease. It is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where a number of cases were identified in 1975. It is a seriously complex multi-system inflammatory condition caused by a spirochete known as Borrelia Burgdorferi (Bb). The disease often spirals into chronic co-infections, which are usually parasitic (such as Babesia and Ehrlichia). Within less than a week of being infected, animal studies have shown the tiny spirochete can be embedded inside tendons, muscles, the heart, and it has the rare capability of crossing the blood/brain barrier. Studies are also showing that babies can be born with the disease because it can also cross the placenta.

The challenge with Lyme disease is in understanding and testing for it. It is often dismissed as a hypochondriacal illness. Standard treatment usually involves antibiotics, but the disease often persists. Secondly, it often ends up being just a clinical diagnosis since only 60 – 70 % of patients test positive for the disease. When it comes to the infamous “bullseye rash,” not nearly all cases report this telltale sign.

So, is there any good news on Lyme disease? At Advanced Health, we favor a balance between conventional and alternative approaches. We'll share the alternative approach, but be sure to seek the advice of your medical doctor as well:

1.) No matter what type of tick, if it is embedded into the skin, take a slice of garlic and attach it by bandaid to the site for at least 24 hours. Garlic has a natural ability to pull bacteria from under the skin.

2.) Since it is a bacterial problem, it lives on sugar. Whether you are fighting an acute or chronic infection, avoid sugar, including fruit, which has fruit sugar. Sugar allows the infection to thrive.

3.) At Advanced Health, through our innovative Nutrition Response Testing, we are able to test specifically for this infection and prescribe a program of nutrition and natural supplementation that will assist your immune system in handling the infection. It is also advisable to keep your spine in correct alignment so that your central nervous system functions at its optimum.

It may seem that detection, understanding, and treating Lyme disease is a complex issue, and it is. If you think you may be suffering with this condition, contact us for additional information and support for getting yourself on the path to healing.