Symptoms of Another Condition, or Lyme Disease?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease is more prevalent than breast cancer and HIV combined. In fact, more than 300,000 people will contract this sinister disease each year. For those who aren’t familiar, Lyme disease is an infection typically caused by a tick bite. Through the bite, an infected tick can release numerous types of bacteria into the bloodstream. These bacteria can then attack almost every part of the body, creating a long list of symptoms that often confuse unexperienced doctors. The confusion stems from the disease mimicking more than 300 different conditions. Many of these pseudo-conditions and illnesses, along with their respective treatments, are severe. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be diagnosed when the true culprit is Lyme disease.
Symptoms vary from person to person and can clear up only to return multiple times. Initially, symptoms can appear to be flu like. Only those familiar with the disease and are lucky enough to develop a rash will know they’ve been infected; unfortunately, less than 50 percent of people develop a rash. With possibly 100-plus different symptoms, tracking them can be difficult, making the situation extremely frustrating.
Chronic conditions, including fatigue, headaches, weight loss/gain, joint pain, joint stiffness, muscle aches, facial paralysis, tremors, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, blurred vision, light sensitivity, buzzing in ears and decreased hearing, are literally just a few of the many symptoms Lyme disease can produce.
If detected early, treatment can be effective; however, this disease has been known to evade diagnosis for decades. The more time Lyme bacteria is in the body, the more damage it leaves behind. After a certain point, treatment needs to encompass not only the eradication of the bacteria, but also repairing what the bacteria damaged.
Conventional treatment includes heavy use of certain antibiotics. This can go on for months, even years. However, prolonged use of these drugs can have significant adverse reactions, which are often downplayed by allopathic physicians. While they can be beneficial in treating early Lyme, natural options are readily available for all stages.
With treating any disease, it all begins and ends with the immune system—a delicate yet commanding force that can launch a full-on assault on any invading pathogen while killing numerous cancer cells daily. Treating any condition should involve supporting the immune system as much as humanly possible. Removing any burdens it may be fighting greatly allows it to focus on major priorities.
Treating Lyme holistically focuses on treating the gut and supporting the immune system, usually with nutritional and/or oxidative intravenous (IV) therapies. While taking high-quality supplements is always a great idea, the human body could never orally tolerate the same amount that can be administered during an IV session. These therapies are tailored with numerous nutrients to deliver a specific treatment. Supporting the immune system is often coupled with herbal therapy, which has been shown to be a natural option for achieving anti-bacterial benefits. Prescribed by the right knowledgeable physician, antimicrobial herbal supplementation has proven to be quite successful in addressing Lyme disease, as it can treat Lyme either directly or by supporting the immune system to naturally fight off the infection.
Since most people diagnosed with Lyme disease often present with co-infections, as the tick responsible often carries multiple bacteria, they’ll require a customized treatment plan. As such, anyone who is diagnosed with Lyme disease, or who suspects they may be infected, should consult immediately with a Lyme specialist naturopath.
Paul Stallone, NMD, founded the Arizona Integrative Medical Center, located at 8144 E. Cactus Rd., Ste. 820, in Scottsdale. He combines natural/alternative/conventional treatments for each patient’s needs. For more information, call 480-214-3922 or visit DrStallone.com.