Lyme disease is a disease caused by the Gram-negative spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. It has a thin, spiral shape and flagella, which allow it to move relatively well.
There are several other species of Borrelia: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. japonica, B. turdi, B. tunuki, B. sinica, B. valaisiana, B. lusitaniae, B. andersonii, B. bissettii, and B. miyamotoi. They differ from each other in genotype, phenotype, and varying degrees of pathogenicity. Some are resistant to the natural bactericidal effects of human serum. Through successive passage through hosts, they evolve, change, and develop resistance to both the immune system and antibiotics. They also colonize areas that antibodies have difficulty penetrating, such as the brain, synovial membrane, and peripheral nerves. They can attach to the surface of platelets, red blood cells, and endothelial cells (lining of blood vessels). They can activate certain types of white blood cells that produce substances that allow Borrelia to spread throughout the body. Borrelia, like the causative agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum, belong to the genus spirochetes. It has many similar properties to treponema.
According to classical medicine, the only vector is the tick species Ixodes. Borrelia grow and develop in the tick's intestine, changing depending on the food it consumes, which is the blood and lymph of the host. Reservoirs include rodents and birds. However, they never become infected. In contrast, dogs, cattle, and horses, as well as humans, can become infected. For a tick to transmit the disease, it must enter the tick's salivary glands, where there must be at least one hundred Borrelia present. Only about one-third of infected ticks are capable of transmitting the infection. Even infected ticks are sick. Due to the proliferation of pathogenic Borrelia, their intestinal cells break down, which can cause the death of the ticks. According to classical medicine, the isolation of Borrelia from other insects is not proof that it is transmitted by mosquitoes, because Borrelia may adhere to its body while feeding on the blood of an infected host. Borrelia are capable of penetrating intact skin from tick feces – by handling ticks with unprotected hands. They can also cross the placental barrier.
Borrelia can infect humans and animals for months or even years, regardless of the host's immune defenses. Borrelia have certain antigens that allow them to evade the active immune system.
The host may begin to produce IgM antibodies against the flagellum and outer surface protein of Borrelia in the early stages of infection. However, these antibodies also react with myosin (a muscle protein) and nerve fibers. Other IgG antibodies can then attack muscle tissue and nervous tissue, causing autoimmune processes in the body or directly causing chronic inflammation of the joints. The development of an autoimmune problem is very serious for the host. Susceptibility to infection in humans is universal, and the clinical course depends on individual factors.
Some studies show that transmission of Borrelia rarely occurs within the first 24-36 hours after attachment. The probability increases with the duration of feeding. Regurgitation of intestinal contents or introduction of tick feces into the wound is considered a potential mechanism. The incubation period is reported to be 1-300 days, with one-third of patients reporting 7-14 days and another third approximately 60 days.
The highest incidence of infected ticks in our country is found in the Central Bohemian, Pardubice, and Karlovy Vary regions. The districts of Frýdek-Místek and Příbram have a higher rate than the national average. The most common locations are along waterways and at low altitudes. Previously, it was stated that ticks were not found above 700 meters. Today, they have also been proven to exist at altitudes above 1200 meters.
Clinical manifestations of Lyme disease
1. Dermatological: erythema migrans, borrelial lymphocytoma
2. Musculoskeletal: joint and muscle pain and inflammation
3. Neurological: headaches, meningitis, meningo-radiculitis, encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, facial nerve paralysis
4. Psychiatric Lyme syndrome (impaired perception and memory, mood disorders to severe depression, organic psychoses to dementia)
5. Other conditions
– chronic fatigue syndrome
– heart involvement
– involvement of: eyes, hearing, respiratory system, urogenital system, liver
The affected individuals are most commonly over 30 years old, with the peak occurring between 45 and 49 years. Women are affected in a ratio of 1:1.17 compared to men. Serological studies in the healthy population showed that anti-borrelial IgG antibodies can be detected in 10% of our population. This means that a certain portion of the population will not become ill, or the infection proceeds silently. In some cases, no antibodies are detectable at all; in other cases, their absence is due to antibiotic use. Borrelia survives in the organism in privileged tissues (nervous system, eyes, muscles), and exists in a modified form so that it cannot be affected by the immune system. It also forms immunocomplexes and is capable of triggering immune reactions that cause further damage to the organism. Spirochetes affect the organism through their body and inflammatory mediators they produce, cross-reactivity between spirochetes and tissues (triggering an autoimmune response in the presence of spirochetes), as well as causing immunopathological reactions, but even without their presence in the organism, and toxic reactions caused by borrelia associated with the presence of borrelia in the organism.
Prevention primarily involves protection from ticks, prompt removal of ticks, and disinfection of the bite site.
Laboratory diagnostics are divided into indirect methods – which include detecting specific anti-borrelial antibodies using the enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) method for indirect immunofluorescence (IFA). These methods detect IgM and IgG antibodies in serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and synovial fluid. After the ELISA method, the Western blot method is also used, which is highly sensitive for confirming positive and borderline antibody results (IgG, IgM). Direct methods include microscopy of smears, direct cultivation of borrelia, and PCR to quantify borrelia DNA.
Diseases caused by borrelia
Skin diseases
– erythema migrans – 85% of all manifestations; on average, a red, round spot with a central pallor develops at the site of the tick bite within seven days, which may not always be present.
– borrelial lymphocytoma – red to purple color – on the ear, tip of the nose, nipple, or scrotum; occurs in 5% of cases.
– acrodermatitis chronica atroficans – red spots on the extremities – soles of the feet, knees, elbows, backs of the hands
– morphea, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus, granuloma annulare, diffuse reversible alopecia
Joint diseases
– joint pain, arthritis – joint pain is migratory and accompanied by significant fatigue; sometimes subfebrile temperatures or fever are present, along with night sweats. It affects the knees, shoulders, ankles, wrists, one or several joints at a time.
– inflammation of tendons, tendon sheaths, bursae, muscle attachments, joint capsules, synovial membrane
– a typical manifestation is, for example, periarthritis humeroscapularis – inflammatory changes in the shoulder joint area; a similar case is carpal tunnel syndrome.
– muscle inflammation
Borrelia destroys cells of cartilage and bone beneath it. They are a source of inflammation flare-ups or persistent infection or progression to chronic stage.
Post-treatment Lyme Syndrome
It occurs in a small percentage of patients treated with antibiotics. In these patients, antibodies may or may not be detected. Common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain, numbness, mood disorders, memory problems, and tendon pain. Antibiotic treatment is often ineffective for these patients and is discontinued. However, it can significantly impact their quality of life.
Neuroborreliosis
This refers to the involvement of the nervous system. Individual predispositions and autoimmune processes also play a role. Autoimmunity explains the similarity between Lyme disease and rheumatic and demyelinating diseases (such as multiple sclerosis). Symptoms can develop acutely or after an untreated initial stage (skin manifestations).
– meningitis, meningoencephalitis
– radiculitis
– neuritis
– inflammation of nerves (especially the optic nerve)
– paralysis of peripheral nerves
– facial nerve palsy (n. facialis), limb weakness, bowel dysfunction
– altered consciousness (similar to alcoholic psychosis or drug-induced impairment)
– sensory disturbances, memory problems, psychological difficulties (neuroses, depression). Involvement of the nervous system can manifest in any area, including the autonomic nerves. It can mimic multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, brain tumors, myasthenia gravis, abuse of psychoactive substances, and other conditions.
Heart Involvement
– Lyme carditis – characterized by heart rhythm disturbances, pericarditis, myocarditis, and even dilated cardiomyopathy, leading to heart failure. Heart involvement is not always associated with Lyme disease.
Eye Involvement
– conjunctivitis, eyelid swelling
– keratitis (inflammation of the cornea)
– uveitis
– retinal detachment
– papilledema
– optic nerve neuropathy
– paralysis of the eye muscles
Lyme Disease and Pregnancy
There have been reports of transplacental transmission of infection to the fetus. Lyme disease treated adequately before pregnancy should not affect the future development of the fetus. If infection occurs during pregnancy, it depends on the gestational age and the treatment method. Treatment of pregnant women requires antibiotic therapy with antibiotics suitable for use during pregnancy. The question of whether Borrelia can cause serious damage to the fetus or fetal death remains unanswered.
Treatment of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease has a tendency to resolve spontaneously in the early localized and disseminated stages. However, antibiotic treatment is necessary. It shortens the duration of clinical symptoms and prevents progression to chronic disease. Antibiotics used for treatment include: doxycycline, amoxicillin, erythromycin, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, penicillin G, metronidazole.
Lyme Disease from a Holistic Medicine Perspective
EAV (Electro-Acupuncture Diagnosis) or other alternative diagnostic methods are often used to test for the presence of Borrelia in the body. We find it in almost 90% of patients with chronic conditions. We do not detect antibodies, but directly Borrelia, indicating its presence in the organism. We can even determine which organ or tissue it is present in, and whether it forms deposits.
Lyme disease can manifest with over three hundred different symptoms. The acute stage always requires treatment with antibiotics! However, chronic Lyme disease is best addressed through holistic detoxification medicine. Patients often come to the clinic after experiencing Lyme disease and its consequences, or they have not been diagnosed because their blood tests were negative, so a diagnosis of Lyme disease was never established. Common symptoms include chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, joint pain, but we also find evidence of Borrelia in skin conditions, vision problems, hearing problems, depression, anxiety, memory loss, and autoimmune diseases. Borrelia can essentially affect any tissue or organ in the body, including the respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems.
If we are lucky, we can detect Lyme disease after an acute stage when there are no established reservoirs. Once Borrelia forms reservoirs (which consist of a certain number of bacteria or just a portion of genetic material whose genetic code is capable of replication), detoxification becomes much more difficult. The reservoir protects the Borrelia from the effects of the immune system. However, when the immune system weakens, for example, due to infection or stress, these reservoirs begin to break down, and Borrelia invades other parts of the body. This can lead to a situation where someone who has been treated with antibiotics and is symptom-free may relapse with the same symptoms (e.g., joint problems). Furthermore, antibodies may not appear in the blood. In addition, the body is also damaged by toxic substances produced by Borrelia. These substances or information affect the target tissue, preparing it for invasion by Borrelia. Every microorganism tries to destroy the macroorganism.
Conventional medicine, unlike holistic medicine, cannot address post-Lyme syndrome, especially when antibodies are absent. It never claims that a person does not have Lyme disease after being treated with antibiotics. In every patient, even after antibiotic treatment, Lyme disease is tested using EAV (Electro-Acupuncture Voltmeter). Another difference is that, from the perspective of holistic medicine, there is almost certainly transplacental transmission, whether it's microorganisms or information passed down through generations.
Treatment of Lyme Disease with Alternative Medicine
Borrelia attacks and destroys the immune system. It forms reservoirs and has a tendency to become chronic or persistent in the body. For this reason, it is always necessary to strengthen the immune system and improve its function. The goal is to restore disrupted immune processes. Because it tends to persist in the body and form reservoirs, eliminating it is not easy. We must thoroughly test these reservoirs, which means determining in which tissues they are located, and then detoxify those tissues specifically. In my practice, I use Diochi and Joalis products, as well as homeopathy. I often combine them for optimal results. Given that almost all patients with diagnosed Lyme disease also have psychological problems, especially depression and anxiety, I also use Bach flower therapy. When the body is free from stress, it releases toxic substances much more readily. If we think that one product will be enough to treat Lyme disease, we will be very disappointed. It is also important to inform patients that treatment is a long-term process. If these people persevere, especially those who have already been treated with antibiotics and have what is called post-Lyme syndrome (see above), they will experience significant relief within a few months. First, fatigue begins to subside, then joint, muscle, and ligament pain gradually disappears. It's a marathon. It can take a year or two. It depends on how many reservoirs of Borrelia have been formed and how much damage it has caused to the immune system, whether it has triggered autoimmune reactions, or whether it is damaging the body with toxins.
To support and detoxify the immune system, I recommend bioinformational products containing beta-glucans such as VIRAIMUN or DELTAVIR (Diochi). Throughout the process, it is beneficial to detoxify the lymphatic system with Diocel or Gerocel drops (Diochi). Among Diochi products, SAGRADIN is effective against Lyme disease. However, even this product cannot completely eliminate all problems, especially considering the factors mentioned above. Sagradin can break down deposits using bioreonance technology and also has analgesic properties. The choice of other products depends on testing which organs are affected. We can use, for example, Detoxin for liver detoxification, for the eyes, Diocel for urinary system detoxification. It always depends on the affected organ. For joints, ALFA ARTRIZONE capsules, GEROCEL capsules, or VISTA CLEAR capsules can be used. I often use homeopathic remedies such as Rhus toxicodendron, Ruta graveolens, Kalmia latifolia, Sanguinaria canadensis, Rhododendron, Ledum palustre, and others. We will never find one miracle product, as patients usually believe. So, to the question of which product to use for chronic problems after Lyme disease, I answer that the best approach is targeted detoxification based on a diagnosis in a medical setting. It is necessary to eliminate Lyme bacteria systematically along with repairing the immune system.
This article was published with the kind permission of Sféra magazine.
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