Sunnier skies, warmer temps, blooming flowers, vibrancy everywhere you look—for many, summertime is often synonymous with bliss. And yet, if there’s one thing that can put a damper on the loveliest time of year, it’s the uptick in insects and the ick, bites, and infections that can come with them.
Many insect bites are little more than mere nuisances, but one bug in particular calls for your full attention: Ticks, or, more specifically, black-legged deer ticks and Western black-legged ticks. Primarily found in the moist, shady areas of woodlands throughout the eastern swath of the United States and Northern California, these tiny but mighty parasitic arachnids carry a bacterium that can cause Lyme disease.
If the disease sounds familiar to you, you’re not alone. It has dominated headlines in recent years as it’s gone from a controversial condition to a widely accepted public health issue — and one that has affected the lives of everyone from Bella Hadid to Ben Stiller. Today, experts indicate that Lyme disease can not only be debilitating but also that the majority of cases are reported from May to August, right when most of us are packing up our camping tents and dreaming of balmy, starlit evenings in the middle of a forest. This is compounded by the fact that with warmer weather ticks have exploded in number.
But what is Lyme disease, exactly? And, save from spending your summer trapped inside, is there a way to prevent it—or, in a worst case scenario, treat it?
Let’s find out.
What is Lyme disease – and what are its symptoms?
Lyme disease is a potentially life-altering infection caused by the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, which can spread from ticks to humans. First identified in Lyme, Connecticut in 1975, it’s characterized by a litany of symptoms that can range from mild to severe and may include:
- A red rash that can either be small in size or grow as large as 12 inches, call a “bull’s eye” to mind, and mimic the symptoms of common skin conditions like eczema and hives
- Swollen glands
- Joint pain
- Fever and chills
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Stiff neck
- Fatigue
Usually, these symptoms appear within several days or even weeks after the bacteria has been transmitted through a tick bite. And while these may seem manageable, the infection can lead to enduring effects that may disrupt life as you know it and lead to long-lasting complications.
What is the controversy surrounding Lyme disease?
You may have been at a dinner party and watched someone roll their eyes at the mere mention of Lyme disease. And while it’s true that many people are able to resolve Lyme disease with a round of antibiotics (it’s also true that its symptoms ape other health conditions, like multiple sclerosis, arthritis and Long Covid), others aren’t so lucky and may experience those lingering symptoms just mentioned above.
For years, however, some physicians doubted that the infection could cause chronic symptoms; this was exacerbated by the general “newness” of the disease, the lack of clinical research and, as Harvard Health puts it, the difficulty in diagnosing and treating “something we cannot see or isolate.”
Now, however, it’s become clear that Lyme disease can trigger persistent, even disabling and life-threatening symptoms in roughly 10-20 percent of the roughly half-million people who contract the bacteria annually. For this reason, the CDC and other experts now refer to its ongoing effects as Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD), or a multisystem illness that acutely impacts the brain and body, or Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome (PLDS), wherein more disturbing symptoms go on for months or years after treatment.
What are the symptoms of CLD and PLDS?
First things first: the symptoms of CLD and PLDS may be intermittent—meaning, they might come and go seemingly at random, and may be intense at times and nonexistent at others. Nonetheless, they can be agonizing for some and may include:
- Heart palpitations
- Exhaustion
- Brain fog (or a form of what’s known as “encephalopathy”)
- Dizziness
- Tingling and numbness in the extremities
- Trouble concentrating
- Difficulty with speech
- Memory problems
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Meningitis
- Bell palsy (or facial muscle paralysis)
- Cardiovascular issues
- Polyneuropathy
Why does this happen? The predominant theory is that the bacteria can evade your immune system, head to your lymph nodes, and run rampant, thereby affecting everything from your bones to your brain.
How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
The Mayo Clinic reports that a rash may be all a physician needs to confirm Lyme disease if you happen to live in a region that sees a high number of cases (read: the ticks described above are prevalent in your area). Bear in mind, though, that a rash may not appear in as many as 20 percent of incidences. To this end, your doctor may also perform:
- Antibody tests
- Blood tests
- Review of symptoms
- History of tick bites/possible exposure
That said, many people aren’t even aware they’ve been bitten by a tick, as such bites can be teeny-tiny and completely painless. This may complicate a diagnosis and cause its chief symptoms to continue and/or worsen. My advice? Work with a healthcare practitioner you trust and who stays on the cutting edge of the latest Lyme disease research.
How is Lyme disease treated?
As mentioned, Lyme disease is often successfully treated with antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or doxycycline.
But what if your symptoms persist after antibiotics—and deepen?
It depends on a handful of factors, including the severity of your symptoms. In some cases, extensive antibiotic therapy may be necessary. Under other circumstances, some believe that the symptoms of Lyme disease are due in part to heavy metals; this might call for chelation therapy, in which a chelating agent is employed to (in essence) pull out the heavy metals.
And in approximately 10 percent of cases, patients may go on to develop what’s known as “late Lyme arthritis,” a specific condition characterized by joint swelling and pain, that may require antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications.
While research and clinical trials are presently being performed to understand this issue and CLD and PLSD in general, there is, to date, no cure for these complications.
Are there any natural remedies for Lyme disease?
Indeed. While antibiotics are oftentimes an absolute necessity—to either kill the bacteria or keep it from multiplying—the long-term symptoms of the diseases may be diminished through the use of:
- Essential oils (specifically, oregano, clove bud, and cinnamon)†
- Acupuncture
- Nutritional therapy (primarily, eating anti-inflammatory foods and probiotics to repair the gut microbiome)†
- Stevia, which may substantially decrease Borrelia burgdorferi forms†
Lastly, a number of herbs may help provide support, including cat’s claw, Chinese skullcap and black walnut.†
Lyme disease prevention
What’s better than treating Lyme disease? Preventing it, of course!
The outdoors should always be savored, particularly in the warmer months of summer. To do so safely in regions that are notorious for their tick populations, though, consider:
- Wearing protective clothing when you’re in areas that may have ticks, including long-sleeved shirts and pants and closed-toe shoes. Worried about the heat? Opt for breathable, light-colored, sweat-wicking pieces.
- Search for ticks while and after you’re outside, especially between your fingers and toes and behind your knees
- Use insect repellants and, again, an essential oil: garlic has been shown to “deter” ticks
- Showering after spending time outside
What do you do if you find a tick creeping and crawling on your body? Experts suggest using tweezers to remove the tick, the NY state department of Health states the following: do not touch the touch tick with your bare hands, do not put alcohol, Vaseline or nail polish remover on the tick, do not put a hot match or lighted cigarette on it, just simply remove the tick and then wash your skin with alcohol or disinfectant AFTER the tick has been safely removed from your skin. Follow this by keeping an eye out for the symptoms outlined above and obtain prompt medical treatment if any of them emerge.
Above all, listen to your body and seek out professional guidance if anything feels amiss—so that you can enjoy the sultry season worry-free.
†These statements have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.