A Naturopath’s Perspective on Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome

Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome is the term used to describe the symptoms remaining after a patient has been treated for Lyme disease and co-infections with adequate antibiotics and/or natural antimicrobial therapies. The symptoms can include fatigue, joint pain and even neurological and cognitive symptoms. Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome is believed to be caused by an autoimmune response as a result of the original infection. Similar autoimmune reactions are seen with other infections including Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Reiter’s reactive arthritis. Symptoms may also persist after the infection is treated due to tissue damage cause by the infection during the active phase. An example of this is numbness or tingling that persists due to lesions on the brain.

Treating the immune system, and methods that help to repair damage, are often as important for patient’s suffering from Lyme disease to achieve optimal outcomes. Naturopathic therapies can be especially helpful during this phase of recovery. These naturopathic therapies can help to improve fatigue, decrease pain and inflammation, remove toxins and support tissue repair. Naturopathic intravenous therapies provide therapeutic doses of natural medicines that can help to regulate the immune system and promote healing.