Ways that Functional Medicine Practitioners Treat Lyme Disease

According to the CDC Lyme Disease accounts for 77% of vector-borne illnesses in the United States every year. Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by a tick. It can affect every area of your body and negatively impact your immune system.

Between 2010 and 2018, insurance companies reported claims for approximately 476,000 cases of Lyme disease annually. This may be underreported.

Studies indicate that these bacterial cells can lie dormant and become persistent and difficult to treat when not identified in the acute phase.

A functional medicine approach to treating Lyme Disease typically includes:

• Identifying co-infections and triggers.
• Optimizing your immune and detoxification system.
• Directly targeting the infection.

What causes lyme disease?

Lyme disease in the United States is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted through the bites of infected Ixodes, a subset of hard-bodied ticks. These ticks are commonly found throughout temperate North America, Europe, and Asia.