Lyme disease is a bacterial infection which is spread by tick bites. Lyme disease manifests in three different phases. These include the early localised phase of skin inflammation, followed by the early disseminated stage in which the heart and nervous system get involved. This is followed by the late phase of the disease where there is considerable motor and sensory nerve damage, brain inflammation and arthritis. Maintenance of adequate hygiene is important in order to prevent transmission of this disease and individuals staying in tick areas need to learn or adopt techniques for the prevention and avoidance of tick bites such as using protective clothing.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment for Lyme disease is aimed at preventing infection and treating the symptoms according to the stage of the disease. Ayurvedic herbal medicines which have a specific anti-inflammatory and infective action form the mainstay of treatment in the management of this condition. In addition, for the early phase, medicines which have a specific action on the skin and subcutaneous tissue and reduce the inflammation present in this area are used in order to treat the initial symptoms. The second stage of the disease is treated with herbal medicines which have a specific action on the heart and nervous system. At this stage too, medicines with an anti- infective action and anti-inflammatory action are important for the adequate management of the condition.
The third stage involves considerable inflammation of the nervous system including the spinal cord, as also infection and inflammation of the joints. Treatment of this stage includes the use of herbal medicines which have a specific anti-inflammatory action both on the central nervous system as well as the joints, and a strengthening action on the nervous system. Immunomodulatory treatment is also equally important in order to reduce treatment time, and improve the cure rate for this condition.
Depending upon the severity of the condition and the stage of presentation of the affected individual, the treatment of Lyme disease is required for periods ranging from four weeks to about six months, in order to obtain significant relief from this condition. If an aggressive and regular treatment is instituted, most individuals affected even with the third stage can be completely cured of this condition. Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a significant role to play in the management and treatment of Lyme disease.
The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at www.ayurvedaphysician.com
