Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection known to cause a variety of symptoms that are often difficult to diagnose and to treat. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, painful joints, neurological conditions, and in roughly a third of the cases, a skin rash near the bite location. Other symptoms may be present, as well, and complicate diagnosis by varying from patient to patient.

When caught early, many cases of Lyme can be treated with a few weeks of antibiotics. Left untreated (or under-treated), Lyme can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme can cause long-term discomfort, serious complications, job loss, and even death.

Lyme Disease is highly controversial and may be one of the most misunderstood illnesses of our time. Some who treat Lyme believe it is a widespread epidemic in the northeast and midwest areas of the US. Almost 29,000 Lyme cases were confirmed and over 6,000 were reported as probable by MDs and health clinics to the Centers for Disease Control in 2008.

Treatment for Lyme is almost as controversial as its diagnosis, and recommendations vary substantially, depending on the training and professional affiliations of the treating physician. Two professional medical societies in the US (ILADS and IDSA) offer differing approaches to Lyme Disease management, each offering their own treatment guidelines.

ILADS (International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society) offers a broad view of Lyme diagnosis and treatment, advocating for clinical diagnosis based on symptoms.

IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America) denies many documented facts about Lyme Disease, its symptoms, progression, diagnosis, and treatment. IDSA does not acknowledge the existence of chronic Lyme, and offers treatment guidelines that Lyme literate doctors (LLDs) believe have led to under-diagnosis and under-treatment of the condition.

When antibiotics fail, are slow to relieve symptoms, or for various reasons are avoided altogether, there are herbal supplements that may relieve Lyme Disease symptoms in many patients. Master Herbalist Stephen Buhner offers a collection of respected herbal protocols and recommendations for fighting Lyme in his book, Healing Lyme: Natural Healing and Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis and its Coinfections (Raven Press, 2005).

The Sage Gecko strongly recommends reviewing Buhner's Healing Lyme book and Website prior to using herbs for treatment of Lyme. Per Mr. Buhner:

Herbal supplements on this site are sold in quantities and combinations based on Buhner's Lyme protocols, but claims made about specific products on or throughout this site have not been evaluated by Sage Gecko or the United States Food and Drug Administration, and are not claimed to or approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease by Sage Gecko.

Material provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.