The debate of chronic vector borne diseases (Lyme Disease and co-infections) continues to this day. Surprisingly, some of the most recognized leaders in the infectious disease community still argue over the existence of chronic vector borne diseases. However, I am here to tell you the argument should not be over the existence, but the widespread prevalence and severity of chronic vector borne diseases. The western medical system has focused its testing and treatments around acute Lyme disease which has generally proved effective if the patient recognizes a bite or rash early. However, if the disease become chronic, evaluation and treatment strategies in the western medical system are inadequate and disappointing to say the least.
Chronic vector borne diseases are one of the most challenging diagnoses to confirm due to the pathogen’s variability and flexibility to change structure and location. Due to our poor screening efforts and inaccurate diagnostics used, practitioners are often unable to give patients clarity on the likelihood of an active infection. Even if a vector borne disease can be identified, the treatment process can be even more challenging and complicated due to unique capabilities of adaptation, growth, and the variety of organ systems a vector borne disease can infection. But good news, if a comprehensive treatment approach is applied, most if not all, patients can resolve the infection regardless of the duration and severity of illness.
I have found significant success in treating chronic vector borne diseases for two major reasons. First, it is imperative to treat and resolve all acute inflammatory conditions prior to treating the vector borne disease, like SIBO, viral infections and toxicity exposure. I have found that if the immune system is distracted, depleted, or altered by additional inflammatory conditions, then it will not devote a full response against the vector borne infection. The immune system will not function as efficiently with multiple inflammatory conditions and the patient is much more likely to have adverse reactions to any antibiotic or antimicrobial treatments used.
The second reason I have had significant success with treating vector borne disease, is due to consistent use of enzymatic therapy to treat biofilm formation. This may be the single most important variable missed when treating acute versus chronic vector borne diseases. After a few short months, many of the microbes of vector borne diseases have burrowed deep into connective tissue and formed a biofilm which encapsulates the pathogen, protecting it against antibiotic therapy. Without treating the biofilm and reducing that encapsulation, neither antibiotics nor alternative therapies will be effective for full resolution of the infection.
After having used a variety of treatment strategies for many years while comparing treatment outcomes, I have found herbal antimicrobial therapy to be a far superior treatment for chronic vector borne diseases over traditional pharmaceutical antibiotics. The research agrees, herbal treatments are much more synergistic with the immune response. They promote anti-inflammatory effects, penetrate deeper into the tissues where chronic disease manifests, and produce similar, if not greater efficacy to treatment outcomes. Not to mention they are generally better tolerated by the patient. Lastly, there's less disturbance of the gastrointestinal microbiome. Pharmaceutical antibiotics can be helpful in acute flares when the patient is in a significant amount of distress or with recent onset infection, but I do not recommend them for longer than a few weeks at a time. Treatment for chronic vector borne diseases can take months to effectively resolve and long-term pharmaceutical antibiotic therapies can cause significant distress.
Often overlooked but just as important as “killing” the infection is “supportive care” therapies used to improve outcomes and reduce symptoms of vector borne diseases. Boosting and regulating the immune response, improving lymphatic detoxification, as well as rebuilding the damaged tissue are all necessary components of treatment to regain optimal health and function. If you are a patient dealing with symptoms consistent with chronic vector borne diseases, the first step is an evaluation outside of conventional testing, using specialty labs and an educated provider within the vector borne diseases community. Once you have confirmation of the infection, using a multifactorial and comprehensive therapy over multiple months can and often does result in complete resolution of symptoms.
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