Treatments for Lyme Disease Even though the weather is starting to turn cool, it's still lyme time. An HSI member named Kenneth sent an e-mail with this question about lyme disease: "My mother has lyme disease and the antibiotics are not working. Do you have any suggestions? Antibiotics provide the standard treatment for lyme disease. And while it's typical for recovery to progress slowly, there are steps that can be taken to help the antibiotic effort. Lyme disease creates a serious stress on the immune system, so it's important to eat nutritious, whole foods. Antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries and apples are especially beneficial. Personal habits (such as stress reduction) that enhance immune system function are also very important. And sugar intake should be avoided for two reasons: - sugar impairs the immune system
- lyme disease spirochetes thrive on sugar.
A controversial natural treatment for lyme disease calls for injections of bee venom. Some anecdotal evidence indicates this regimen may be effective, but physicians who deviate from the established protocols for lyme disease care put themselves at risk for investigation by licensing agencies in some states. And one more note for Kenneth: When antibiotics are used, acidophilus and other probiotics are helpful in keeping the beneficial gut flora in the intestines alive. As we move toward the end of summer, we're also reaching the end of Lyme disease season, but it's not quite fished yet. For more information on how to avoid this debilitating disease, see the e-Alert "Lyme Time" (6/29/05), which you can find in the e-Alert archives on our web site at hsibaltimore.com. | 
