The long reach of Lyme disease is longer than we thought

A New Threat from Above

It’s not quite the same kind of attack Alfred Hitchcock would dream up, but birds are causing quite a stir. And you could be in very real danger…even if you live in an area that used to be safe.

Safe from Lyme disease, that is.

New research from the Yale School of Public Health warns us that more than 70 species of North American birds can be infected by the black-legged tick–the primary carrier of Lyme disease.

And that’s probably one of the reasons the number of Lyme cases has exploded over the past two decades — and why cases are now being reported in areas that were thought to be well outside the tick’s range.

Living in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic all my life, I’ve always known to look out for ticks. But if you lived out of the tick’s range, you probably didn’t give it much thought.

But now you have to.

Spotting the signs

The symptoms of Lyme can easily mimic the flu or a cold, so if you live in a previously Lyme-free state, you would probably chalk it up to that and spend a few days in bed. But that can really cost you. So, here’s what to watch for:

• A red circle or “bulls eye” rings around a tick bite (many patients never experience this symptom)
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph glands
• Muscle and joint stiffness

And keep in mind that, because it hasn’t been common where you live, your doctor might not be thinking “Lyme” either.

When I say a misdiagnosis can cost you, I’ve seen it first- hand. A while ago (in “Lyme Time” on 6/9/05), I told you about my friend Kathy who was diagnosed with the flu in late spring. But it wasn’t flu, it was Lyme disease. When her doctors finally made the correct diagnosis, Kathy required hospitalization to receive an aggressive round of intravenous antibiotics.

In other words, don’t take this disease lightly. When advanced, it can do great harm to your heart and nervous system, sometimes prompting depression, chronic pain, meningitis, and even death.

A forest danger and a rainforest cure

Naturally, you’re at greatest risk of exposure if you spend time outdoors–especially in areas that are wild and overgrown. Certain jobs, such as landscaping, forestry, farming, park and wildlife management, etc., increase Lyme infection risk.

But it turns out nowhere is really safe. Squirrels, mice, and other small animals can also bring ticks into your yard. One way to prevent this is to avoid the use of bird feeders during Lyme season’s prime time–late spring and early summer, when food is plentiful for birds and wild animals anyway.

If you do find yourself infected, your doctor will recommend immediate antibiotic treatment. But not so fast. Because he probably doesn’t know about a relatively new treatment created by HSI Panelist Dr. Leslie Taylor.

As I’ve mentioned before, Dr. Taylor is a naturopath who has spent considerable time in South America investigating the traditional use of herbal medications.

In the September 2008 HSI Members Alert we told you about a study that tested Spiro, a formula of rainforest botanicals developed by Dr. Taylor for the treatment of Lyme disease.

Ten subjects diagnosed with chronic Lyme symptoms all tested negative for the disease after taking Spiro for three months.

If you’re an HSI member, you can use your monthly password to access the 2008 Spiro article at this link.

And if you’d like to join HSI, find out how you can become a member today.
To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson

Sources:
“Birds Play an Important Role in the Spread of Lyme Disease, Yale Study Finds” Yale Bulletin, 12/23/09, opa.yale.edu
“At last! A life-changing solution for an ‘incurable’ disease that attacks your entire body” HSI Members Alert, September 2008, hsionline.com