Lyme disease

Lyme disease ICD-10: A69.2

Transmitted by a tick bite, the pathogens of Lyme borreliosis spread in the human body and can cause in typical stages of the complex disease of Lyme disease. However, the Lyme disease can also remain without symptoms for a long time, so that any complaints that occur are no longer necessarily linked to the tick bite. If the best measure still provides sufficient protection against tick bites, there are also treatment options for existing borreliosis in the field of natural medicine.

Contents:
Lyme disease
Synonyms
Symptoms and complaints of Lyme disease
Causes of Lyme Disease
Naturopaths may treat Lyme disease
Naturopathy in Lyme disease
Sources and further literature

Synonyms

Lyme disease, Lyme disease, Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, tick, tick bite, tick bite, tick disease, tick borreliosis, erythema migrans, acrodermatitis chronic atrophicans, spirochete, multiple sclerosis in Lyme disease.

Symptoms and complaints of Lyme disease

Three stages typically characterize the clinical picture of Lyme borreliosis.

Stage 1 - Local Stage Lyme Disease
The clear, but not necessarily, evidence of a tick bite is erythema migrans, a red rash that expands.

The first stage is characterized by flu-like symptoms and is therefore often not recognized as the first sign of Lyme disease. In addition to general fatigue, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, accompanied by inflammatory symptoms such as conjunctivitis, lymphadenopathy and swelling of the lymph nodes, inflammation of the pharyngitis and bronchitis usually occur.
In the transition between the first and second stage, lymphocytomas may be present. a. on the ears, in the genital area and on the nipples. These are pale blue-red swellings or nodules. These are often associated with lymph node swelling.

Lyme disease 2nd stage
The second stage begins after weeks or months. The erythema spreads further and the pathogen spreads over the lymph channels and nerve fibers. The second stage is characterized by spinal cord disease, nerve inflammation in peripheral areas and other neuronal disorders, but characteristic is a facial paresis, so a semi-facial paralysis.

Other organs may also be affected. So it may be z. As come to a Lyme carditis, ie an inflammation of the heart and as a result to cardiac arrhythmia. Infestation of the liver, stomach and intestine can also occur. Influencing the kidney and bladder can lead to incontinence. Fibromyalgia can occur in both the second and third stages.

Lyme disease 3rd stage
Several months or years after the bite, other symptoms appear, or change the original symptoms. The dermatological disorders develop into a so-called Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans.

Furthermore, especially the nerve tracts and ends are affected, also the joints (especially knee and hocks), which is also referred to as Lyme arthritis. In some cases, the carpometacarpal joint is also involved, which can trigger the carpal tunnel syndrome. Lyme arthritis can last for decades. Neuroborreliosis or Lyme encephalitis refers to the involvement of the central nervous system, which also begins in the third phase and is easily confused with multiple sclerosis.

Concomitant neuroborreliosis:
- speech disorders
- writing difficulties
- blurred vision
- sleep disorders
- alcohol intolerance
- earache-
- Sexual dysfunction
- weight changes
- growing pains
- cysts

Lyme disease can also be transmitted in the womb to the fetus. This can lead to birth defects, hydrocephalus, spina bifida or other injuries in the newborn.
In Lyme disease is often observed that the symptoms of herpes infections (herpesviruses) occur in parallel. These include the following herpesviruses: herpes simplex, herpes zoster, herpesvirus type 6, Epstein Barr and cytomegalovirus.

Causes of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a collective term for the bacterial infectious diseases caused by Borrelia (spirochaetes). They owe their name to the French bacteriologist Amédée Borrel (1867-1936). These bacteria are transmitted mainly by ticks and lice, sometimes by mosquitoes or brakes and infect humans just like all other mammals.

The causative agent of Lyme disease (Lyme in Connecticut, USA, 1976) is the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (discoverer: Dr. Willy Burgdorfer, 1978), for which relapsing fever is responsible for either Borrelia recurrentis or Borrelia duttoni.

Other Borrelia cause in animals more borreliosis, which - so far known - have not infested humans. The most significant episode of tick bites in this country, the Lyme disease can be considered.

Naturopaths may treat Lyme disease

In contrast to TBE, borreliosis is not banned from treating non-medical practitioners. According to the IfsG, the Lyme disease is not notifiable, but the Robert Koch Institute points to a mandatory registration in Berlin and the new federal states. In the laboratory, the pathogen is difficult to detect due to inactive phases in the blood. Often, the ticks themselves (if still present) are examined for the pathogen, but this also does not allow a clear diagnosis. Because of its unique characteristics, erythema migrans is often used as a sure sign of a diagnosis of Lyme disease.

Naturopathy in Lyme disease

Conventionally, Borreliosis is treated as a bacterial infection with antibiotics, but without a reliable diagnosis, this is rarely given prophylactically.

In naturopathy there are corresponding remedies available in nosode therapy in the various potentiations. For the Lyme disease there is the nosode "Borrelia" and possibly additionally "tick". As in classical homeopathy, it should be noted that an initial aggravation usually occurs. In addition, good experiences with Borrelia pain were made with the administration of cannabis sativa as a homeopathic remedy in potency D30. The nosodes are to be ordered in German pharmacies or directly z. Via the Austrian drug manufacturers Spagyra or Remedia.

Since there is no vaccine for Lyme disease as opposed to FSME, it is recommended to use the corresponding nosodes prophylactically. The Hirsch Pharmacy in Weener, for example, offers a prophylactic compilation of the nosodes FSME, Borrelia, tick bite fever and tick in the potencies D6 and D30, which can be used for humans and animals as prophylaxis. The symptoms may be aggravated by certain factors from the point of view of naturopathy, so it should be renounced after an infection. Vinegar, alcohol and milk proteins are as much a part of it as the influence of the full moon, radiation (such as earth rays) and stress.

In dark field microscopy, typical changes in the blood may indicate Borrelia infection. The treatment is then usually in a Milieutherapie after Enderlein, which uses mainly homeopathic processed fungus and bacterial preparations, such as the company Sanum-Kehlbeck. Even after a colon hydro-therapy many affected persons could report significant improvements in their symptoms. In any case, should be consulted for treatment an experienced doctor or alternative practitioner. (Ay)

Picture credits: Dieter Schütz 

Sources and further literature

Tick ​​bites, syndromes and treatment options, Elfie Fust, ISBN: 3-927016351a2cc0b08c03ilpraxis Today, textbook and atlas, Elvira Bierbach, Elsevier Urban & Fischer, ISBN: 978-3-437-55243-4