CBD Oil, ticks, and Lyme disease
17 May 2022With summer on its way, tick populations boom around the world. That’s bad news, because these little critters can carry a dangerous pathogen with them: Lyme disease. What is Lyme disease and how can CBD Oil help against the symptoms of tick infections? This blog explains.
What is Lyme disease?
Dutch statistics on ticks are quite alarming. Every year, some 1.5 million people get bitten (just under 8% of the population), and around 27,000 of them get Lyme disease. One in every five ticks is infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is an infection caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, which is transmitted to humans by infected ticks. Ticks come into contact with the bacteria through the blood they drain from birds and rodents. If infected ticks go on to bite one of us, they transmit the disease in their saliva.
Unfortunately, detecting Lyme disease is not always easy, even though starting treatment early heavily affects how the disease develops.
How do you recognise tick bites and Lyme disease symptoms?
Initial symptoms
As mentioned, Lyme disease starts with a tick bite. However, chances of accurate diagnosis are diminished because not everyone realises they have been bitten. There is one very clear sign that reveals Lyme disease, however: a ring-shaped rash around the bite location (erythema migrans). Sadly, though, the rash is not always clearly circular: not everyone displays the characteristic ‘Lyme ring’.
There are other Lyme-related symptoms that reveal an infected tick bite. However, these symptoms are ambiguous; they could just as easily be signs of a flu or inflammation:
- Fever and shivers;
- Headaches;
- Pain throughout the body;
- Neck stiffness;
- Swollen glands
How is Lyme disease normally treated?
Lyme disease is usually treated wit antibiotics. Sometimes, two or three repeated treatments are needed to get rid of the bacteria. Still, plenty of people keep struggling with decidedly unpleasant symptoms, even after receiving multiple heavy antibiotics treatments. This condition is called Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).
What happens if you don’t treat Lyme in time?
If the infection received timely and appropriate treatment, Lyme disease usually does no lasting damage. Sometimes, however, late diagnosis allows the infection to spread throughout the body, after which it goes into ‘hiding’. Even though you appear to have recovered (or if you still think it was just a flu), you could be in trouble. Years later, serious symptoms may resurface.
Permanent health damage after treatment
Some people stay affected by Lyme symptoms for the rest of their lives even after receiving antibiotics treatments. Research has made it clear that 10% of all recovered Lyme patients are still experiencing symptoms: PTLDS. Many people find these symptoms similar to those of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue. Associated symptoms include:
- Skin rash;
- Extreme fatigue;
- Physical pain: joint aches, stiff painful neck, muscle pain;
- Memory issues;
- Nerve pain and inflammation;
- Sleeping problems
How can CBD Oil help against Lyme disease by tick bites?
It appears as though CBD Oil can help against Lyme disease through its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and soothing properties. Skin-related symptoms such as itches and rashes can also be reduced by CBD Supplements. You can find out how this works below.
CBD Oil and the ECS
CBD is short for cannabidiol, one of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis or hemp plants. Contrary to the best-known cannabinoids, THC, CBD has no psychoactive effects: it cannot get you high.
CBD Oil can have various effects on your health. This is because CBD works together wit your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a complex system tasked with keeping all physiological processes in your body balanced. The system comprises a multitude of receptors situated throughout the body. CBD is able to influence the ECS by stimulating these receptors, thus affecting bodily processes such as immune responses, pain perception, and sleep. We’ll explain how CBD Oil can help against Lyme disease after tick bites.
CBD Oil against (chronic) pain
Many people affected by PTLDS experience physical pain. CBD Oil has pain-relieving properties. Cannabidiol molecules bind to receptors of the ECS, allowing CBD to influence pain stimuli entering nerve cells. By desensitizing cells to pain signals, CBD can have analgesic effects.
CBD Oil against fatigue and sleeping problems
Research has shown that Lyme disease can severely disrupt sleep patterns. This leads to fatigue, which can be countered using regular sleeping pills, or by CBD supplements as a natural alternative option.
CBD has soothing effect on body and mind alike. Feeling calm allows you to fall asleep faster and increases the likelihood of sleeping through the night. Here too, the ECS pays a key part. Sleep is governed by specific receptors called GABA receptors. Whereas regular sleeping pills and tranquillizers activate these receptors, CBD has proven capable of stimulating these very same receptors, too.
CBD against inflammation
Another serious potential consequence of Lyme disease is encephalitis: inflammation of the brain. Its symptoms include headaches, fever, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, hallucinations, impaired speech, and loss of consciousness.
Inflammation anywhere throughout the body triggers the release of cytokines. These cytokines further escalate the inflammatory response, which can intensify the symptoms. Studies have shown that CBD can reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines. That means CBD Oil may help reduce inflammation associated with Lime disease following tick bites.
CBD and Lyme disease skin symptoms
Our skin is our main line of defence against harmful external influences. Research indicates that CBD Oil can benefit the skin in various ways, as CBD helps the ECS guard the balance in the cells and tissues of the skin. CBD Oil can help improve the resilience of the skin.
Skin problems are commonly caused by inflammation. Multiple studies have demonstrated that CBD can help the body regulate, reduce, and prevent inflammation. This anti-inflammatory potential can also promote reduction and prevention of itches and rashes. That in turn makes CBD Oil a good option for use against skin problems caused by Lyme after tick bites.
Does CBD Oil produce side-effects?
Doctors tend to prescribe regular medication for the symptoms listed above; usually painkillers and tranquillizers. These drugs tend to produce mixed results. They do not work well for everyone, and moreover, they often come with serious side-effects.
The same cannot be said of CBD supplements. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that CBD is not addictive, and that daily use of such supplements is not harmful. Some people experience mild side-effects, but these are limited in scope and impact. Examples of rare side-effects include dizziness, nausea, dry mouth, drowsiness, and decreased appetite.
These side-effects are quite harmless, and they are usually indications that your body needs to adjust to CBD Oil. It is usually enough to lower your dose for a few days and wait for the side-effects to go away.
Consult your doctor
If you’ve been out for a stroll in the woods, or spent the afternoon playing I the grass with your dog, always check for any ticks you may have brought along with you. It’s fairly easy to do in the shower – make sure to check the dog as well once you’re dry. Always consult a doctor if you’ve been bitten by a tick. Do the same if you notice one of the signs of Lyme and you don’t trust it.
If you have (had) Lyme disease and you’re still affected by the consequences, CBD Oil can prove helpful in more than one way. Do note, however, that CBD can interact with certain types of medication. That’s why anyone taking medicines should consult their doctor before using CBD supplements.
SupMedi CBD Oil and Lyme disease
Lyme disease is a serious condition that unfortunately affects many people, but fortunately, CBD Oil seems able to bring some relief.
Order Full Spectrum CBD Oil now!
Our CBD supplements range is a diverse collection of high quality products. If you’re looking for natural ways to relieve pain, inflammation, or sleeping problems, try our CBD Oil or CBD Tablets and experience what hemp extracts can do for you.
If you are looking for solutions for rashes, itches, eczema, dry skin, or other skin problems, our CBD Skincare products are your best option. And don’t forget about our CBD Nutrition to turn your your daily supplement into a delicious moment of self-indulgence!
