Posted on 15th Mar 2010 @ 3:54 PM

Dear Dr. Lark,
     After months of headaches and sore joints, my sister was diagnosed with Lyme disease. According to what I've read, even if she gets better from taking antibiotics, she's likely to suffer a relapse. Isn't there a reliable, natural treatment for this condition? I'm also worried about my own safety, considering I live in a heavily wooded area. How can I protect myself? --- Joanne
 

Dear Joanne,
     With the warmer months (and therefore tick season) right around the corner, I am glad you brought this incredibly important topic to light. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease has spread to every state in the U.S. and is the fastest growing vector-borne disease. (A "vector" refers to an animal that transmits a disease. In the case of Lyme disease, the vector is a tick.)
     Early on, there's only one semi-reliable sign that could indicate that someone ahs been infected with Lyme disease: a bullseye-shaped red rash around the tick bite. But the rash happens only half the time, and most victims don't even know they've been bitten because the tick numbs their skin with an anesthetic that's contained in its saliva. It then injects bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) into the bloodstream. From there, Bb can go anywhere it wants to, causing many different symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, upset stomach, muscle pain, arthritis, heart problems, memory loss, and personality changes to name just a few. By the time doctors usually recagonize the disease, the bacteria are hiding in tissues that are seldom patrolled by the immune system, such as the joints, brain, eyes, or muscles-including the heart.
    It takes seven days for Bb to reproduce. In bacterial terms, this is an eternity, but in medical terms, it can be disastrous. That's because antibiotics are most effective during the bacteria's reproductive cycle, and Bb reproduces so seldom that it's rarely vulnerable. Unfortunately, the conventional medical community's answer to Lyme disease is to take antibiotics for a long time--- in many cases, for years. However, the side effects of long-term antibiotic use can further damage the immune system, which can make you even more vulnerable to these bacteria.
    Another problem is that Bb is a "shape shifter." When threatened, it shifts from its original corkscrew shape into either an amorphous blob with no cell wall or dormant cyst that is invisible to your immune system. Each form requires a different antibiotic, and Bb can shift from one form to another very quickly.
    If Lyme disease is diagnosed early, before it gets firmly established in the patient's tissues, treating it is relatively easy and straightforward. However, the biggest frustration among both doctors and patients alike is that early diagnosis is pretty rare. So, if you think you might be infected with Lyme disease, don't waste any time. Seeking immediate medical attention can improve your chances of treating this disease successfully.
What to Do If Infected
    I recommend the following steps for anyone who has been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
Get "Lyme-Literate" Medical Care
    I would never suggest completely avoiding antibiotics as part of you treatment protocol. I do, however, recommend getting a second opinion from a doctor who's experienced in treating Lyme disease to make sure that the best possible antibiotic is chosen for your situation. To find a Lyme-literate doctor in your area, visit the Lyme Disease Association's Web site (www.lymediseaseassociation.org).
    If you do take an antibiotic, it's imperative that you also take a top-quality probiotic (such as Daily Balance Probiotic Answer, available at www.drlark.com) to replenish and grow your body's populations of beneficial bacteria. Otherwise, Bb will take the upper hand.
Herbal Remedies
    A synergistic combination of two powerful natural treatments can help those with Lyme disease get well. The first is an herbal extract of a Peruvian plant called cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa), whish was tested in Lyme patients by a team of investigators led by cardiologist and internist William L. Cowden, M.D. Patients in the study who used only conventional treatment either worsened or failed to improve, while thise who took cat's claw improved significantly. I recommend an extra-strength formulation called Samento (www.nutramedix.com). Take 600 mg daily.
    The second treatment is a blend of five medicinal mushrooms with well-know immune strengthening benefits: Cordyceps sinensis, Agaricus blazei, Grifola frondosa, Trametes versicolor, and Ganoderma lucidum. The combination of cat's claw with this mushroom blend was first investigated by a Swedish team from the Department Of Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Lund (April 2005, Phytomedicine). In the laboratory, the active ingredients clearly enhanced each other, rather than competing--- which is a common problem when therapies are combined. In patients suffering from chronic pain, fatigue, and evident of DNA damage, four-week treatment brought significant improvement in their symptoms, immune strength, and DNA repair. I recommend Immune Assist 247 (www.immuneassist247.com), whish contains these mushrooms extracts, plus Shiitake (Lentinula edodes).
Get Tough on Ticks
     By far, the best way to deal with Lyme disease is to avoid ticks--- even if you already have the disease. That might sound contradictory, but so-called relapses of Lyme disease are actually cases where the victim has gotten re-infected by additional tick bites. Researchers at New York Medial College, led by chief investigator Dr. Robert Nadelman, compared the DNA signatures of the Bb bacteria found in the first and second cases of relapsing patients and, in every case, DNA was different. This indicates that they were separate infections (October 2007, Clinical Infectious Diseases).
I hope this information helps your sister and also gives you valuable prevention tips.

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