Lyme disease by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of deer ticks which can carry the bacterium Borrelia burgdoferi. The Center for Disease Control suggests defending against Lyme disease by using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, and wearing socks and long pants when walking in wooded areas and areas with long grass, or avoiding such areas.

Symptoms of Lyme tick disease
Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a skin rash. If untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

Lyme disease treatment
Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful in the later stages of disease. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.

Lyme disease incidence
June 2007 - The number of cases of Lyme disease has doubled in the United States since 1991. More than 21,000 cases of the tick-borne disease are now reported every year, making it the most common illness transmitted by bugs or animals in the United States. The northeastern states had the most cases, with 2,335 cases reported in Massachusetts in 2005, 3,363 in New Jersey, 5,565 in New York, and 4,287 in Pennsylvania.

Lyme disease emails
Q. I read with great interest your comments about DHEA and dosages. I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in January 2007. This, after three months of feeling like tired, listless, experiencing cognitive problems and being told by a neurologist and my GP that “I do not have Lyme disease”. I found a specialist who was willing to test beyond ELISA and learned that I did, in fact, have Lyme disease. We embarked on a series of trials with different antibiotics and , while some didn’t like me very well, we have made incremental and important gains. I am working my way back and have some of my old kick back. I continue on Chlarythromycin today and for about two more weeks. In addition to the other symptoms I mentioned, fairly recent testing showed that the Lyme disease had kicked the life out of my free and weakly bound testosterone levels (very common with Lyme patients) and additional results of my CK-57 showed that I am on the very lowest end of the normal spectrum for that test. After discussing many options, my Lyme Doctor put me on DHEA with a recommended dose of 25 mg. Because I am a bit of a skeptic, I researched DHEA and found your web page. As a result of reading your comments I put the 25 mg aside after 2 days and ordered the 5 mg. I have been taking it now for three weeks and will go for another round of tests next week. I will be most interested to see the results. Given my circumstance, and the affects that Lyme has had on my testosterone, do you feel that it might be warranted to utilize higher doses than the 5 mg you recommend? I am back in the gym. Making some gains. But definitely do not have the “pop” I once had not 8-12 months ago.
   A. We wish you optimal healing but we can't make suggestions on what dosage you should use. There are many factors beyond testosterone levels that need to be addressed as a whole to combat fatigue.

Q. Are there certain supplements / herbs / vitamins indicated as useful to treat Lyme disease?
   A. I have not yet looked into the topic of natural treatment of Lyme disease.