Acupuncture works for Lyme disease issues both on its own and along with conventional medicine. Lyme disease affects many people across the United States, in fact, according to the CDC over 63,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported in 2022. Further, about 476,000 people are potentially diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year in the U.S. The majority of Lyme disease cases are located in the Northeastern parts of the in the United States, but can happen in other areas. While Lyme disease may not be something that one thinks of as something that can be treated with acupuncture, it is a safe and effective modality that has made a world of difference for many who suffer from Lyme disease.
Lyme Disease Basics
To put simply, Lyme disease is an infectious disease that can affect people both mentally and physically. It is predominantly transmitted through deer tick bites, and these types of ticks are most often found in grassy or wooded areas. The trouble is that these ticks are so small that the bites often go unnoticed, and symptoms can sneak up.
Early Stage Lyme Disease Symptoms:
· Headache
· Fatigue
· GI issues
· Fever
· Joint stiffness
· Muscle pain and achiness
· Swollen lymph nodes
Late Stage Lyme Disease Symptoms:
· Neurological issues
· Migraines
· Heart issues
· Facial paralysis
· Arthritis
· Excess fluid
· Nerve problems
· Brain fog
· Fatigue
· Neuropathy
· Blurry vision
· Bull’s eye rash
· Dizziness
Symptoms no matter the stage can vary which is what makes it hard to diagnose to begin with. Other symptoms can include ringing in the ears, memory problems, concentration problems, heart palpitations, hepatitis, liver issues, and inflammation around the eyes. Many times, there is the very common indicator of the bull’s eye rash that appears with someone who has been affected. However, symptoms can also take a while to actually develop which, again, makes it difficult to catch early sometimes for treatment. While symptoms are more generalized into early and late stages, there are actually 3 stages of progression when it comes to Lyme disease.
3 Stages of Lyme Disease:
· 1st Stage – if caught at this stage, antibiotics are effective to stop the spread of the bacteria. Unfortunately, many people don’t receive this treatment soon enough. Symptoms during this stage are akin to flu symptoms.
· 2nd Stage – this is where many people unfortunately catch Lyme disease. It’s at this stage that it can begin to affect the blood, organs, central nervous system, and heart. Symptoms can last for months or if not treated, can progress to the third stage of Lyme disease.
· 3rd Stage – this is what’s known as the advanced stage. This is essentially when all this issues that came about in the 2nd stage progress even further to chronic issues.
The problem in standard medicine is that chronic Lyme disease is found by doctors to be difficult because tests aren’t always accurate, and blood tests don’t show any indicator of bacteria being present. Additionally, in the late stage of Lyme disease, the bacteria present in Lyme disease becomes tolerant of antibiotics. There has been some research indicating that multiple antibiotics at once could be helpful, but has only been tested in mice. Acupuncture treatment alone or in conjunction with standard medicine has been found to be very effective for treating Lyme disease.
Acupuncture for Lyme Disease
Acupuncture treatment for Lyme disease in a nutshell works by helping to strengthen the body overall making it more able to defend itself from the disease more efficiently. The most important benefit of acupuncture is that while in standard medicine we are so used to seeing generalized symptoms and treatment for conditions, acupuncture treats the individual’s unique body constitution and symptoms. This means that treatment can change over time as the person’s body or disease changes which is why no two treatments are exactly the same. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lyme disease is what is known as “Gu Syndrome” which is a type of chronic inflammatory condition hidden in the body (the bacteria), and is seen as a disease of toxicity.
Acupuncture Works for Lyme Disease By:
· Increasing energy to the blood
· Decreasing inflammation
· Re-establish the body to a balanced state
· Decrease joint and muscle pain
· Restore blood flow to the head
While acupuncture in no way claims to cure Lyme disease, it will lower the toxicity in the body that causes Lyme disease for a speedier recovery.
Herbal medicine also plays a big part in Traditional Chinese medicine treatment for Lyme disease. Research in recent years has shown herbal medicine to be effective in helping to kill the disease. In fact, in 2020, John’s Hopkins researchers found several botanicals that are effective for Lyme disease, and in 2018, other researchers identified 10 herbal oils that can help kill the disease.
Herbs Effective for Lyme Disease:
· Garlic
· Cumin
· Eucalyptus
· Cinnamon
· Chinese skullcap
· Allspice berries
· Thyme
· Gingergrass
· Japanese knotweed
· Cat’s claw
· Turmeric
There are many more out there that are especially helpful for Lyme disease, and can be especially helpful as an herbal prescription from a licensed acupuncturist/herbalist tailored to you as an individual. As with most things concerning any treatment, it is advised to always discuss any herbal remedies with a licensed professional before taking. The benefit of herbal remedies is that they are inherently antibacterial so they can fight the bacteria from a Lyme disease infected tick.
Each stage of Lyme disease is treated in its own way with acupuncture and herbal medicine. Depending on presenting symptoms, a licensed acupuncturist will determine what stage you are in and tailor treatment to that.
· 1st Stage TCM treatment – the goal of treatment in this stage is for the acupuncturist to utilize specific acupuncture points to clear the heat in the body as well as detoxify the body to rid it of infection.
· 2nd Stage TCM treatment – the goal of treatment in this stage is for the acupuncturist to utilize specific acupuncture points as well as herbal remedies depending on the person and their constitution. Using these acupuncture points and herbs they will work to clear heat in the body, strengthen the immune system, decrease inflammation, and boost Qi (the body’s vital energy).
· 3rd Stage TCM treatment – the goal of treatment in this stage is for the acupuncturist to utilize specific acupuncture points to continue to regulate the Qi and blood in the body.
A licensed acupuncturist will recognize the stage that you are in and customize the acupuncture points and herbal diagnosis depending on your needs. With the increase in Lyme disease cases in recent years, whether from decreased immunity, environmental issues, or simply symptoms being ignored, it is evident that more and more cases are becoming chronic and other treatment options are needed. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine will help you manage Lyme disease symptoms, and working in tandem with standard medicine, Lyme disease can be treated from all angles.