Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Naturopathic Treatment

There are two standards of treatment when it comes to Lyme disease: the first says that treating Lyme disease with 28 days of antibiotics will cure a patient regardless of how long they have been infected. The alternative says that Lyme eventually progresses into a chronic condition, which requires comprehensive, long-term treatment.

Our Naturopathic Doctors at the Nardella Clinic in Calgary use naturopathic and functional medicine approaches to treat Lyme disease. This includes diagnosing the underlying causes of the illness as well as its effects on all of the body’s biochemical systems. Lyme disease can upset the delicate and dynamic balance of our body systems. To regain one’s health from chronic disease we need to kill the offending organisms and re-establish homeostasis in the body. It has been our Naturopathic Doctors experience, and that of many clinicians and researchers, that short-term antibiotic therapy is insufficient for treating chronic Lyme disease. We know that antibiotic treatment must continue until the condition is resolved. We also know that patients have symptoms that must be addressed immediately.

As Naturopathic Doctors, we understand the systems in your body are connected and dependent on each other, so in addition to treating your Lyme disease, our Naturopaths identify and treat the underlying causes of your symptoms and ailments. Once we have a complete picture of what your body needs to be healthy, naturopathic, and functional medicine are used to optimize the efficacy of antibiotic therapy (prescribed by your Medical Doctor). Our goal is to help you create the healthiest life possible while managing a chronic disease.
This is accomplished by addressing the following areas of health and through use of the following treatments:

Treating Infection

Chronic Lyme disease is often resistant to treatment. Therefore the most effective method of treating the infection involves a combination of various antibiotics (prescribed by your medical doctor) and and naturopathic antimicrobial herbs that treat not only Lyme disease (Borrelia Burgdorferi), but also co-infections. Treatment must also include “cyst busters” which treat the cystic form of Borrelia. Cysts are protected from antibiotics and if cyst forms are not addressed once treatment is discontinued relapses may occur. Our Naturopathic Doctors have experience treating the cystic form of Lyme disease using a variety of naturopathic and antibiotic.

Balancing Hormones

The endocrine system is one of the systems most affected by Lyme disease. Naturopathic medicine places high value on balancing hormones due to its role in supporting the immune system and maintaining homeostasis. Imbalances are often seen and must be addressed using naturopathic medicine to return to a state of health. In our Naturopaths experience balancing hormones helps to not only manage symptoms, but to support the body’s ability to heal itself. Hormones involved often include adrenal hormones (Cortisol and DHEA), thyroid hormones, pregnenolone and sex hormones including testosterone, estrogen and progesterone.

Supporting Detoxification

A fundamental tenant of naturopathic medicine is supporting detoxification to optimize health. Detoxification plays many roles in the treatment of Lyme disease. Lyme disease produces neurotoxins as bacteria is being killed, which must be effectively removed from the system. Optimal detoxification includes naturopathic support for the liver, kidneys, and colon. This may be accomplished through the use of naturopathic treatments including intravenous treatments, colonic hydrotherapy, herbal liver and kidney support and decreasing toxic exposures. In addition genetic testing can be done to identify any inherited deficiencies in detoxification and in turn support these specifically.

Optimizing Nutrition

The immune system depends on many specific vitamins and minerals to function properly. Basic nutritional support through diet is used in addition to identifying any deficiencies and correcting them through the use of targeted naturopathic supplementation and naturopathic IV nutrient therapy. Specific naturopathic diets may also help to reduce inflammation and support the immune system.

Treating Bioinfilm

Biofilm is a protective coating found around many infections; Lyme disease is one of these infections. Biofilm protects the infection from your own immune system and any antibiotics or naturopathic antimicrobial therapies that are being used. It must be addressed to effectively treat the infection and recover. Naturopathic treatments for biofilm include both oral and intravenous therapies.

Heavy Metal Toxicity

Heavy metal toxicity also plays a role in an a naturopathic approach to chronic Lyme disease. Our environment is increasingly toxic and chronic infections both decrease our ability to rid our bodies of toxins, and increase the effect that they have on our systems. The Naturopathic Doctors at the Nardella Clinic in Calgary use provocation testing to determine the level to which your body is being affected by heavy metal toxicity. Our Naturopaths optimize detoxification with naturopathic therapies and chelation therapy.

Supporting the Immune System

Resolution of chronic infections does not only involve the use of naturopathic medicine to treat infections and balancing hormones or correcting deficiencies. Lyme disease can result in both over active, inappropriate, autoimmune responses, and in a suppressed immune system. Naturopathic therapies to support the immune system to respond to a chronic infection and fight the infection may also be included in a comprehensive naturopathic approach to treating the disease. This is the most important step in helping the body to heal itself.

Healing Damaged Tissue

Once the infection is addressed and balance is restored, naturopathic treatments may be used to help address the damage that was originally caused by active infection. This includes many systems in the body such as neurological tissue, joints, and the nervous system. This step is important to feel your best and reduce residual symptoms.

Our Naturopathic Doctors at the Nardella Clinic in Calgary have many years of experience treating complex illness using naturopathic and functional medicine; so if you suspect that you have Lyme disease, and are ready to start a comprehensive treatment plan, contact us to learn more about how naturopathic medicine can help you restore your health.