Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. It is a prevalent disease in the United States, with tens of thousands of reported cases each year.
Treating Lyme disease can be challenging, as the bacteria can hide in different forms and evade the immune system. Common treatments include antibiotics, but their success rate varies, and some patients continue to experience symptoms even after treatment, known as Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) or chronic Lyme disease.
Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- Bull’s-eye rash (erythema migrans)
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle and joint aches
- Swollen lymph nodes
A recent study from Johns Hopkins University evaluated the effectiveness of certain herbs in treating Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria associated with Lyme disease. The study compared the herbs to common antibiotics, doxycycline and cefuroxime and discovered that some herbs outperformed antibiotics in treating different forms of the bacteria.
Top 7 Herbs for Lyme Disease Treatment:
- Cryptolepis
- Japanese knotweed
- Cat’s claw
- Chinese skullcap
- Artemisia (wormwood)
- Black walnut
- Cistus incanus (essential oil)
The study found that Cryptolepis was the most effective in treating both motile and persister forms of Borrelia, even outperforming common antibiotics like doxycycline and cefoperazone. Other highly effective herbs include Japanese knotweed, cat’s claw, and Chinese skullcap. While artemisia and black walnut also showed promising results, their potential toxicities make them suitable only for short-term use.
Some commonly used herbs, such as Andrographis, stevia, grapefruit seed extract, and monolaurin, did not show significant activity against Borrelia in this study. However, Andrographis is still considered valuable due to its immune-boosting properties and ability to target other microbes that may be involved in chronic Lyme disease.
Advantages of using herbs for Lyme disease treatment:
- Effective against both motile and cyst forms of Borrelia
- Broad-spectrum coverage against various types of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi
- Modulation or enhancement of immune system functions
- Preservation of normal gut flora and balance of the body’s microbiome
- Low potential for toxicity, allowing for long-term use
Worth noting another study in 2018, an in vitro (in culture cells) suggested that 10 plant-derived essential oils could help fight off B. burgdorferi.
The study from Johns Hopkins University and others highlights the potential of herbs and essential oils as a viable treatment option for Lyme disease, with some alternative treatments showing better results than conventional antibiotics. Further research on the use of these herbs and their long-term effects is warranted to better understand their role in Lyme disease treatment.