Lyme Disease

Analysis of Lyme: Attachment, Transmission, Stages, Challenges, and Treatment

In this analysis of the current literature and research on Lyme and tick borne illnesses by Dr. Ronald Stram and medical assistant, Ahn Vo. Starting with an overview of its history; tick attachment time and rate of transmission; stages of infection and related symptoms; challenges in Lyme and testing; and antibiotics versus combination therapy. This throughout analysis contains a wealth of information for those who want to expand their knowledge about Lyme and it's complexity. 

Read More

Myth: A tick head needs to be removed completely if broken off in or under the skin.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics 2020 and the Tick Bite, Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines 2020, it is recommended NOT to dig out the head of a tick if the tick breaks upon removal.  It is felt that more trauma to the surrounding skin can lead to a higher risk of infection or cellulitis of the area. Leaving the tick head in does not increase the risk of contracting a tick borne illness. The body will shed skin layers and the tick debris as it heals

Read More

Remaining Vigilant while Transitioning Gracefully from Fall into Winter

One myth or misconception is that ticks are not present during the winter.  After seeing so many ticks in late spring into early summer and then again, but maybe less so, at the beginning of the fall, we must still remain vigilant all year round.  According to the SUNY Upstate Medical University website, “ticks don’t die in the winter, they go into dormancy around 35 degrees and hide in perfectly formed igloos under leaf litter. As soon as the frozen ground thaws and the ground temperature reaches 45 degrees, ticks will begin to emerge in seek of a host for blood feeding. And if the weather gets bad again, they seek shelter, but they don’t disappear.” 

Read More

Myth: Bullseye Rash is Always Present in Lyme Disease

Many people believe that the bullseye rash, also known as erythema migrans (EM), is necessary for a Lyme disease diagnosis. While a bullseye rash is indeed clinically diagnostic, its absence cannot rule out either acute or chronic Lyme disease. However, a non-bullseye rash is more common...

Read More

Lyme Myth: Everyone with Lyme or a Tickborne Illness Needs to Avoid all Gluten and Dairy

Truth/Fact: Gluten sensitivities are extremely common, in part due to the pesticides used on conventionally grown wheat (called glyphosate or Roundup). This is also found on GMO crops such as corn and soy and can irritate the gut lining, weakening our immune system and having other impacts on our overall wellness. While many common food sensitivity tests are ineffective, an elimination diet along with a GI Map stool test can offer answers as to how your body responds to wheat. 

Read More

Updates from the LymeBytes Conference

The Stram Center team recently had the opportunity to attend the Lyme Bytes Symposium in Mystic, CT to enhance our knowledge and network with other professionals. We found several presentations to be helpful, especially one on mold and mycotoxins, another on PANS and PANDAS addressing psychiatric symptoms in pediatric patients, and more. We built on our understanding of the impact that infections have on hormonal balance and what tools to use to facilitate healing those imbalances. We learned more about how each sex hormone and stress hormone plays a role in treating chronic illness including how lower testosterone can increase risk for infection due to impairing the body’s immune response....

Read More

Updates from the 2023 ILADS conference

The 2023 conference for the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, ILADS, was held in Boston in September. I had the honor of attending 3 days of lectures all focused on the problems associated with diagnosis and treatment of patients with tick borne illness, long COVID and associated conditions such as PANS and PANDAS. The conference covered a wide array of topics from the foundations of antibiotic and herbal antimicrobial therapies, to the use of machine learning (AI) to help develop new testing for lyme.  One of the most exciting lectures of the conference was a research update on a new antibiotic called....

Read More

Lyme Disease: Treatment is a Multidisciplinary Approach

As we head into Lyme Awareness month, let us highlight the multi-modal approach that it takes to treat the complex condition that is Lyme disease. Treatment for Lyme disease is not a “one size fits all” approach and looks different for every single patient. Several factors, including but not limited to, duration of illness, parts of the body involved, co-infections present, and underlying health status, play a significant role in clinical decision making to decide what treatment(s) are appropriate for any specific patient. Lyme disease can infect any tissue in the body, and therefore has the ability to affect several body systems at once. This often leads to a multitude of symptoms across body systems that seem to be unrelated, but are in fact, all connected. Since this can look different for every patient, having a practitioner in Integrative Medicine to take the time to listen to you and put all of the pieces together is essential to achieve proper evaluation and treatment. 

Read More

Lyme Disease and Mental health

For those who are not diagnosed and treated in the early phases of Lyme disease, symptoms can progress to affect almost every part of the body. Some people present with chronic pain, some with autoimmune diseases, and some with predominantly neurological symptoms. Neurological Lyme often includes sudden changes in mood which can impact a person’s day to day life functions. 

Read More

Herbal Support For Lyme Disease

Lyme disease a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia Burgdorgeri and in late stages, it can be difficult to treat. There is evidence that the Borrelia bacteria persists in tissues and can shift its form or shape in unfavorable host conditions, including a round body or cyst shap1.Different types of antibiotics and herbs have been studied to find the most effective agent that can kill or eradicate all forms of the bacteria. In subculture studies, single antibiotic agents are often found to be ineffective at eradicating all forms of the bacteria, therefore, multiple agents may be used in order to increase effectiveness of therapy. 

Read More

Back to Top