Lyme Disease
One Agora Integrative Health Clinic in Bloomington, MN

How Functional Medicine Can Help You Heal from Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in America. It’s caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, one of over 150 different pathogens potentially carried and transmitted through the bite of an infected black-legged “deer” tick.

Cases of Lyme disease have been increasing globally, leaving many physicians and practitioners caught off guard. This means that many cases of Lyme disease go under-reported, and the disease continues to be fairly under-researched.

At One Agora Integrative Health Clinic, our specialists are not only aware of the disease, but through our extensive functional medicine approach, we’ve helped our patients return to living healthy, vibrant lives.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Some of the more well-known symptoms of Lyme disease include:

• A circular, flat rash that looks like a bulls-eye on your body – While this may seem like a unique symptom to look for, not everyone with Lyme disease notices a rash.
• Joint pain or swelling
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Headache and neck pain
• Night and day sweats
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
• Swollen lymph nodes

Lyme disease is a multi-system infection that can be acute or chronic. It can cause systemic inflammation, restrict your immune system function, and has been linked to several autoimmune diseases.

Testing and Treating Lyme Disease with Functional Medicine

When it comes to testing for Lyme disease, the conventional method involves a two-tier strategy. This includes the ELISA and Western Blot tests. The challenge with these tests is that they’re sometimes limited in accurately diagnosing Lyme or picking up certain strains of Borrelia bacteria.

This is where a functional medicine approach makes a difference. We partner with independent labs that have developed innovative tests that are more sensitive and specific. After your initial exam, we may recommend tests that include ELISA and Western Blot as well as more sensitive tests, like Immunoblot or molecular testing.

It’s important to note that testing still isn’t perfect. That’s why it’s crucial to look at what’s going on in your body as a whole. This includes other health factors that could indicate Lyme disease, such as:

• Gut Health – 70% of your immune system is in your gut. We not only test your gut health, but we provide key gut support throughout your treatment.
• Hormone Balance – We deep-dive into your hormone health to assess the impact of chronic illness on your body and its stress-response system.
• Nutrition – What you eat is often an overlooked part of recovering from Lyme disease. We take a close look at your diet and customize it to your needs.
• Stress Management – Because Lyme disease can affect your nervous system, excess levels of stress can stunt your recovery. We work with you to reduce your stress levels during treatment.
• Detoxification – Toxins can cause inflammation and impair your immune function, which affects your ability to recover from Lyme disease. We specialize in toxin testing and detoxification so you can heal quickly and effectively.
• Antimicrobial Treatments – When it comes to treating Lyme disease, we combine careful use of antibiotics with science-backed botanicals.
• Links Between Toxic Mold and Lyme – Treating Lyme disease becomes increasingly difficult if you also have toxic mold exposure. However, by addressing and healing your toxic mold exposure, you can also speed up your Lyme disease recovery.
• Brain Retraining – While the impact of Lyme disease on your brain can be concerning, it doesn’t have to be permanent. We provide specific exercises to reduce and reverse the effects of Lyme disease on your brain function.

When it comes to treating Lyme disease, One Agora Integrative Health Clinic goes beyond simple tests and a round of oral antibiotics. We use cutting-edge tools and a holistic approach to get you the most accurate diagnosis and achieve a quicker recovery.

Heal From Lyme Disease with One Agora Integrative Health Clinic

Diagnosing and treating Lyme disease is complex. Lyme disease affects multiple systems in your body – so your treatment should, too. At One Agora Integrative Health Clinic, our medical experts specialize in identifying Lyme disease and creating a tailored treatment plan to help you heal.

If you suspect you have Lyme disease, or if you’re not satisfied with your current treatment, we invite you to book an appointment at our Bloomington, MN, clinic. Give us a call at (952) 234-5898 or contact us online about testing and treating Lyme disease. We look forward to helping you heal from Lyme disease with our functional medicine approach.