A bite from a tick could cause a variety of illnesses to humans. In this article we’ll discuss the various tick-borne illnesses and the top herbal treatments.

Tick-Borne Illnesses

Ticks are parasites that are 3 to 5 mm in length. They are classified as Arachnida, which is part of the spider family. They are external parasites that feed on the blood of a variety of animals, including birds, reptiles, and many mammals including humans.

In 2019, state and local health departments reported to the CDC. 50,865 cases of diseases caused by ticks. The most common tick-borne diseases in the U.S. are the following:

• Lyme Disease
• Anaplasmosis/Ehrlichiosis
• Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis
• Babesiosis
• Tularemia
• Powassan virus

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness, and only mosquitos spread more disease to humans than ticks.

Lyme Disease Symptoms

A tick bite will leave a circular rash within 30 days at the site of the bitemark. In addition, harmful bacteria and parasites could be transmitted to the host.  Common symptoms of Lyme disease include the following:

• Headache
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Rashes

If left untreated, later stages of Lyme disease symptoms include arthritis, short term memory loss or numbness in the hands and legs.

Herbal Treatment Options for Lyme Disease

In an effort to kill ticks, acaricides are often used. While effective, overuse of these pesticides has been shown to increase the resistance of Boophilus ticks in the United States. [1] As a result, many are seeking alternative methods to treat Lyme disease such as herbal treatments.

The following herbs have been used to help support Lyme disease:

Cat's Claw

Cat’s claw is often consumed in tea and used to treat a variety of ailments, including fevers and stomach ailments. A medicinal plant from the Amazon, cat’s claw helps boost the immune system, which is key in treating Lyme disease. When compared to antibiotics, cat’s claw was shown to have good activity against burgdorferi, a bacterium that causes Lyme disease. [2] In addition, cat’s claw has also been used to treat arthritis, which is a symptom of advanced stages of Lyme disease. [3]

Chitosan

Chitosan is a sugar that is used in medicine and drug manufacturing. It is derived from the skeleton of shellfish, including shrimp, crab, and lobster. Chitosan helps stimulate the production of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp., healthy gut bacteria that help decrease inflammation levels and promote normal immune responses.

Chitosan also helps to chelate (improve the stability) magnesium and zinc. This increase in stability reduces the effects of B. burgdorferi, a causative agent of Lyme’s disease. [4]

Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is a protein found in both human milk and animal milk. The highest forms of the protein are found in colostrum, which is the first milk made after babies are born. Lactoferrin has been shown to inhibit the growth of Babesia spp., which is an infection of red blood cells. The infection is caused by Babesia, a parasite that is transmitted by tick bite.

Essential Oils

According to the Mayo Clinic, B. burgdorferi and B. mayonii are leading causes of Lyme disease in the United States. Studies indicate oregano, cinnamon bark, clove bud, citronella, and wintergreen had “high anti-persister activity,” meaning they helped decrease the ability of B. burgdorferi to regrow after antibiotic treatments. Studies also indicate oregano, cinnamon bark, and clove bud completely killed all viable B. burgdorferi cells without any regrowth. [5]

Strengthening the Immune System

Lyme disease can weaken the immune system, making the body susceptible to other health issues. For example, Lyme disease patients are at an increased risk of contracting herpes. In addition to the herbs and essential oils listed above, the following can help boost the immune system and help protect the body against Lyme disease:

Natural Supplements for Tick-Borne Illnesses

Herbs can also be consumed in supplements. Here are two powerful supplements that may assist in treating Lyme disease:

Systemic Formulas: #210 - CA - CATS-A-TONIC

CATS-A-TONIC contains Cat’s claw, the powerful herb used to treat Lyme disease. It also contains red beet, bioflavonoids, beetroot and other trace minerals designed to help enhance immune function. 

Recommended dosage is 2-6 drops in spring water 3 times per day, or as directed by a physician.

TCF - GastroRestore™

GastroRestore™ is designed to support the entire gastrointestinal tract, helping it absorb nutrients and prevent infection and intoxication. This product is all-natural and contains no sugar, eggs, yeast, gluten, wheat, corn artificial flavors, sugars, preservatives, or colors.

In addition to cat’s claw, GastroRestore™ contains many vital nutrients for gut health including the following:

• Glucosamine
• L-Glutamine
• Marshmallow root
• Licorice root
• Chamomile

Summary

Tick bites can cause illnesses in both humans and animals. Lyme disease is the most common disease in humans caused by ticks. Some bacteria that cause tick-borne diseases have become resistant to antibiotics. As a result, many are turning to herbal remedies for treatment. In addition to trying the treatments listed above, contact your doctor for further evaluation if suffering from a tick-borne illness.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is based upon the opinions of Revelation Health. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Revelation Health and associates. This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Charles Penick, MD for accuracy of the information provided, but Revelation Health encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

References:

[1] Roger P. Clark, D.O., Assistant Professor and Linden T. Hu, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine corresponding author. Prevention Of Lyme Disease (And Other Tick Borne Infections).  Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2008 Sep; 22(3): 381–vii. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2008.03.007. [PMCID: PMC3195518]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3195518/

[2] Jie Feng 1, Jacob Leone 2, Sunjya Schweig, (et al). Evaluation Of Natural And Botanical Medicines For Activity Against Growing And Non-Growing Forms Of B. Burgdorferi. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020 Feb 21;7:6. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.00006. eCollection 2020. [PMID: 32154254] PMCID: PMC7050641.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32154254/

[3] Sonya R Hardin. Cat's Claw: An Amazonian Vine Decreases Inflammation In Osteoarthritis.  Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2007 Feb;13(1):25-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2006.10.003. Epub 2006 Dec 13. [PMID: 17210508]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17210508/

[4] Bryan Troxell, Meiping Ye, Youyun Yang, (et al). Manganese and Zinc Regulate Virulence Determinants in Borrelia burgdorferi.  Infect Immun. 2013 Aug; 81(8): 2743–2752. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00507-13. [PMCID: PMC3719580.] PMID: 23690398. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/ppmc/articles/PMC3719580/

[5] Jie Feng, Shuo Zhang, Wanliang Shi (et al). Selective Essential Oils from Spice or Culinary Herbs Have High Activity against Stationary Phase and Biofilm Borrelia burgdorferi.  Front Med (Lausanne). 2017 Oct 11;4:169. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2017.00169. eCollection 2017. [PMID: 29075628]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29075628/