May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month

Happy Monday everyone!  As we dive into this week’s topic, I will be brief, but it is an important topic to discuss.  This month is Lyme Disease awareness month, and as we stream full ahead into summer, it’s important to have information, but also know ways to protect yourself.

Lyme Disease is a Tick Borne disease, although a lot of research is now showing it to  be found in mosquitos, biting flies, and even through intercourse.

Here are some key facts:

1.  Lyme Disease is everywhere, it used to be only on the east coast (Lyme Connecticut), but it is EVERYWHERE, and worldwide.  There is actually a big number in the Bay Area.  You can get more information from Bay Area Lyme Foundation.

2.  The typical tick that carries Lyme Disease is a deer tick.  However, as I mentioned before, it is being found in other insects as well, because the insects travel around different rodents and transfer the disease.  Some of the ticks are adult, some are nymph size which is almost impossible to detect.

3. The ticks tend to be near the ground, in leaf litter, grasses, bushes and fallen logs. High risk activities include playing in leaves, gathering firewood and leaning against tree trunks. When you hike, stay on cleared trails instead of walking across grassy fields.  Also, important to keep your grass cut!  Long grass harbors ticks.  Another big tick carrier is our pets.  Coming in and out of the house.

4. Typically they say if you get bit and have a bulls eye rash, then that is positive for lyme disease.  However, around 80% of people who get bit and have lyme don’t produce that rash.  So just because you didn’t get a rash doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t contract it.

5.  Blood testing is very poor, and usually only works within the first few weeks of being bit.  The best lab out there is Igenix, which tests multiple different antibodies and other infections that are common with Lyme Disease.  But even with the best testing, it’s not always perfect.

6.  There are many other infections that are called co-infections with lyme disease.  I think there can be up to around 15 other infections, and counting.  Which can be confusing symptom wise.

6.  Typical treatment is also very poor.  Antibiotic use is only ever very successful within the few couple weeks of contracting the disease.  So many with chronic lyme relapse over and over with the use of antibiotics, and some don’t get better at all.   And prolonged antibiotic use destroys your immune system, and most are left with a huge mess afterwards.

7.  The best bet is natural remedies, a multi disciplinary approach with a Lyme Literate doctor.

8.  Symptoms are very wide spread and depend on the person’s immune system.  But Lyme Disease is nothing to dismiss.  It is a debilitating disease that can affect multiple organs, or the ENTIRE body.

Typical symptoms include:

As you can see it’s very multidimensional and thus why it’s hard to diagnose if there isn’t the uncommon “rash”.

9.  Because of so many symptoms, Lyme can be misdiagnosed for many autoimmune conditions including: Fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, ALS, arthritis, early alzheimers, chrohn’s disease, colitis, and many others. 

Here are some ways to protect yourself :

1. Cover up. Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves. Tie back long hair and wear a hat. Light-colored clothing helps you spot ticks before they cause trouble.
2. Prevention.  Essential oils can and should be used for prevention.  They are highly effective, and way less toxic than DEET.  It’s important to use on your animals as well
3. Ticks can infect dogs and cats, too. Also, their fur can act like a “tick magnet,” carrying ticks inside your home.
4. Check For Ticks. When outdoors, periodically inspect your clothing and skin for ticks. Brush off those that aren’t attached and remove any that are.
5. Shower. Once home, take a shower right away. This will wash away unattached ticks and offer a good chance to thoroughly inspect yourself. Feel for bumps that might be embedded ticks. Pay careful attention to hidden places, including groin, armpits, back of knees, belly button and scalp. Parents should check their children, and check your animals!
6. Hot Dryer- Running your clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes before you wash them will kill any ticks that may be there.
7. Removal- If a tick is found, it is important to use a tick removal device that gently removes the tick without dislodging its head , or causing regurgitation. DO not burn off or use any other method, that will increase your chances of getting infections.
8. After care- once the tick is safely removed, it is important to use essential oils to effectively clean, disinfect, and draw out any toxic substance left behind by the tick. This should be repeated as you would an open wound… for several days/weeks.  Also taking a high grade Echinacea for a few weeks will help decrease chances of contracting Lyme.

If you want more information you can see my article I wrote last year for Bay Area Lyme Disease Foundation, or explore the site:

Rachel H.

Some great research and information is:

1. Cure Unknown.  Book.  Gives great information on alot of the controversy, politics, and facts about Lyme.

2.  Under our Skin.  Documentary on Lyme.  Really great for anyone to watch.

3. Lymestop.com  An energetic way to treat lyme disease naturally

4.  Advanced Cell Training.  Also another alternative method to treat lyme disease.

There’s many more treatments and they vary with each person as far as what works and what doesn’t.  Prevention is the MOST IMPORTANT.