by Kristine Reyes
a Creative Life Sciences, LLC article
Lyme Disease. What exactly is it and why has it been called the “Great Imitator”? How did it go from first being clinically diagnosed in 1975 to a vector borne disease of epidemic proportions in less than 40 years? And what testing and treatment is available when the general medical community knows practically nothing about it? This article will be in three parts. The first part will give the background, and explain why Lyme has been called the “Great Imitator”. The second part will address the multiple symptoms of Lyme and the treatment options currently available. And the third one will cover how our SiddhuPrana™ proprietary energy balancing techniques approach and impact this disease.
Let us first start with a definition: the CDC states that “Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat . . . In some regions, blacklegged ticks can spread other diseases in addition to Lyme disease . . .”
Although this definition is accurate it is just the tip of the iceberg of what this disease is really all about. Lyme was first clinically diagnosed in 1975 in Lyme, Connecticut. However, it wasn’t until 1981 that the organism Borrelia burgdorferi was actually discovered. For many years Lyme was thought to be an east coast disease. Meanwhile due to the complexity of diagnosing this disease it has now spread throughout the world and is considered the number one vector borne epidemic in the United States and Europe. There was a 320% increase of cases reported in 2015.
The first limiting fact from the CDC is that “Lyme is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi”. This one organism, however, can actually change form and/or move into different locations once it’s entered the host in order for it to not be detected. I will discuss the difficulty in detecting and treating these different forms in the second part of this article.
The next limiting fact is that “B. burgdorferi is transmitted by blacklegged ticks”. It is now known, however, that Lyme may not only be spread by the infected larvae on many wild animals including birds and squirrels, but also through blood transfusions and from an infected pregnant mother to her child.
Another issue that makes diagnosing Lyme difficult is that there are several co-infections that have been discovered that are commonly associated, and yet may be exclusive of Lyme: Bacterium such as Bartonella, Rickettsia, and Ehrlichia; and parasites such as Babesiosis. Besides these there may be fungi and viral infections involved. These co-infections seem to be coming in faster than testing can be developed to detect them. Almost every person diagnosed with Lyme will have an additional co-infection involved and each of these organisms have their own symptoms.
Part 2 of this article will explain in more detail the myriad symptoms involved in Lyme and what treatment options are currently available, both pharmaceutical and natural. This is just an overview of this insidious disease. I’ve worked with many Lyme patients and understand the care and attention necessary to fight this debilitating disease.
For more information stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3. And, please contact me with any questions or concerns if you suspect you may have Lyme, and would like to have a clinical evaluation.
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