Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by a bacterium known as spirochete, which is spread by tick bites. Lyme disease is described in 3 phases: the early localized disease with skin inflammation; early disseminated disease with heart and nervous system involvement, including nerve palsies and meningitis; and late disease featuring motor and sensory nerve damage, brain inflammation and arthritis.
The Ayurvedic treatment of Lyme disease is aimed at treating the symptoms, preventing complications and boosting the immune status of the body. Medicines like Mahamanjishthadi-Qadha, Gandhak-Rasayan, Sukshma-Triphala, Chandraprabha-Vati and Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu can be used to treat the early localized disease involving skin inflammation. These medicines can also eliminate the bacteria from the body. This disease causes inflammation of the heart muscle, resulting in arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm, and heart failure. Medicines like Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani, Maha-Vat-Vidhwans-Ras, Ekang-Veer-Ras and Tapyadi-Loh can be used to prevent and treat arrhythmia. Inflammation of the heart muscle can be treated using medicines like Triphala-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Arjunarishta, Dashmoolarishta, Saarivasav, Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Draksha (Vitis vinifera), Musta (Cyperus rotundus) and Kutaj (Holarrhina antidysentrica).
Involvement of the nervous system can be treated using medicines like Kaishor-Guggulu, Tapyadi-Loh, Ekang-Veer-Ras, Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani, Maha-Vat-Vidhvans-Ras, Vishtinduk-Vati, Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), Shalparni (Desmodium gangeticum) and Prushnaparni (Uraria picta). Involvement of the joints can be treated using medicines like Yograj-Guggulu, Maha-Yograj-Guggulu, Gokshuradi-Guggulu, Maha-Rasnadi-Guggulu, Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Nirgundi, Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Deodar (Cedrus deodara), Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis) and Erandmool (Ricinus communis).
Symptoms resulting from this disease sometimes persist even after eradication of the Lyme bacterium. This is usually because of an ongoing auto-immune response in the body and is treated using medicines like Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Bhrungraj (Eclipta alba), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Abhrak-Bhasma, Suvarna-Bhasma and Suvarna-Malini-Vasant.
Since Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks attaching to the body, it is important to use protective clothing and adopt other techniques for the prevention and avoidance of tick bites while staying in, or visiting tick areas. Adequate hygiene should be maintained in order to prevent transmission of this disease.
