Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by a tick bite infected with Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium.

Initial symptoms of Lyme disease include a bull’s eye rash at the site of a tick bite along with flu-like symptoms such as fever, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue. It is important to see a doctor in the early stages of Lyme disease for testing and antibiotics.

Because antibody testing and blood culture have a delayed response, many with Lyme disease have persistent and chronic symptoms even after long term antibiotics.

Common chronic symptoms of Lyme include

• Chronic fatigue

• Brain fog

• Joint pain

• Lack of appetite

• Chronic inflammation and swelling

• Neurologic pain

• Sleep disturbances

Living with Lyme disease can be debilitating – the unpredictability of flares can make those with Lyme apprehensive to commit to plans and persistent symptoms make daily tasks so much harder. Living with chronic illness like Lyme wears on our physical and mental reserves over time, leaving us feeling burnt out.

Those who struggle with Lyme disease often need help with stress and anxiety management, insomnia, and adrenal support in addition to pain management.

Acupuncture is a helpful complementary modality in managing Lyme disease symptoms. Traditional Chinese Medicine sees Lyme as a latent pathogen that hides in the body, known as a Gu syndrome. The latent pathogen may have characteristics of Wind, Dampness, and Heat which cause further damage in the body and wear on our reserves overtime.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine help manage Lyme by

• Decreasing chronic inflammation in the body

• Regulating the nervous system

• Modulating the immune system

• Reducing chronic pain

• Improving energy levels

• Keeping Lyme in dormancy

Long term Lyme disease can be frustrating and disheartening, but recovering from Lyme is possible. At Turning Point Acupuncture, we take every symptom seriously and work with you as an individual to coordinate with your care plan, minimize Lyme flares, and reduce your daily symptoms so that you can take charge of your health.

Schedule your phone consultation with Victoria Ansell, LAc., today to see how acupuncture can help you reach your health goals.