Lyme disease was named after Old Lyme, Connecticut because it was in this town that the first cases were diagnosed. The disease is spread by an infected tick. Since the tick that carries the disease has been infected by a bacteria, if you contract Lyme disease, you will need an antibiotic. Milk thistle is used to treat Amanita mushroom poisoning and is being studied for its use in the treatment of viral hepatitis, not Lyme disease.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is the most common disease that is carried by a tick, according to Dr. Susan Philip in “Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment.” The disease is actually caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacteria infects the Ixodes tick; you can then contract Lyme if you are bitten by an infected tick, but only if the tick can feed on you for 24 to 36 hours because it takes that long to transfer the infection. This is a rather long time, but the tick is so very small and its bite usually does not cause any pain, so you may not even be aware that you have been bitten.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Physicians usually divide the symptoms of Lyme disease into three stages as explained in the “Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology” by Dr. Warren Levinson. In the first stage, you may see a rash called erythema migrans, which looks like a “bull's-eye” that gets bigger and bigger. You can also feel like you have the flu, with headaches, chills and a fever. Weeks or months later, you may be in stage two of this disease, with heart and neurological problems. You can have palpitations, and a weakness or even paralysis in the muscles of your face. Stage three symptoms may not develop for months or years after the tick bite with arthritis, speech problems, numbness and muscle problems.
Treatment of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics, not with milk thistle extract or supplement. Most of the symptoms of the disease can be treated with oral antibiotics such as doxycycline or amoxicillin. Which particular antibiotic you may be prescribed will depend upon if you are a man or woman, a pregnant woman, a child or are allergic to penicillin, explains Dr. Allen Steere in “Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.” How many days you have to take antibiotics will depend upon whether you have a skin infection or if the disease has spread throughout your body. Neurological and heart problems may require intravenous antibiotics.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is not an antibiotic. It is a plant whose scientific name is Silybum marianum. Extracts from the milk thistle plant have actually been used for approximately 2,000 years to treat illness, but not for the treatment of Lyme disease. Rather, it has been used to treat various problems affecting the gall bladder, kidney and liver, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Modern scientific studies are being conducted on milk thistle and its effectiveness, and it is currently being used as an antidote for Amanita phalloides mushroom poisoning to decrease the liver damage that the mushroom can cause. Milk thistle can interact with many medications. If you are being treated for Lyme disease, you should check with your physician before taking this supplement.
References
- Adams & Victor’s Principles of Neurology; Allan Ropper, M.D. and Martin Samuels, M.D.
- Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2012; Stephen McPhee, M.D. and Maxine Papadakis, M.D.
- Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology; Klauss Wolff, M.D. et al.
- Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine; Dan Longo, M.D. et al.
- Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology; Warren Levinson, M.D., Ph.D.
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Milk Thistle
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