Can Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Help with Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is no longer rare in Canada. With warmer temperatures and expanding tick habitats, Lyme cases have been steadily rising across the country—including in Alberta. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, reported cases have increased more than tenfold in the last decade, with many more likely going undiagnosed.
Understanding Lyme Disease: More Than Just a Tick Bite
Lyme disease is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium, typically transmitted through the bite of an infected black-legged tick. Early symptoms may include:
Bull’s eye rash (not always present)
Fever and chills
Headache
Muscle or joint pain
Fatigue
When caught early, antibiotics can be effective. But if the infection lingers—or if the immune system struggles to fully clear it—many people go on to develop longer-term symptoms like:
Chronic fatigue
Brain fog
Mood swings or anxiety
Numbness or tingling
Digestive issues
Joint or muscle pain that moves from place to place
These symptoms often resist conventional treatment and can last months or even years, especially in what’s now referred to as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS).
The TCM Perspective: An Energetic and Holistic View
Traditional Chinese Medicine doesn’t label illness by pathogens alone. Instead, it sees Lyme disease as a complex invasion of external pathogens—often a combination of wind, dampness, heat, and toxins—that disrupt the body's internal balance.
Over time, these “evil qi” may burrow deeper into the body, affecting the blood, organs, and even the vital essence (jing), resulting in a range of symptoms that change day by day.
Some common TCM diagnostic patterns in chronic Lyme patients include:
Damp-Heat Obstruction: Swollen joints, low-grade fevers, fatigue, digestive upset
Cold-Damp Bi Syndrome: Stiffness and joint pain that worsen in damp or cold weather
Latent Pathogen (Hidden Heat): Night sweats, insomnia, intermittent fevers
Qi and Blood Deficiency: Exhaustion, paleness, shortness of breath, poor focus
Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency: Dryness, restlessness, nerve pain, tinnitus
Rather than treating Lyme as one static condition, TCM treats the person and the pattern, adapting the treatment as your symptoms evolve.
How TCM Can Support Healing from Lyme Disease
At JD AcuCare, our goal is to help your body regain balance, restore immune function, and resolve lingering symptoms—even when other approaches have fallen short.
🔹 Acupuncture
Regulates immune and nervous system function
Eases pain and inflammation
Clears heat, dampness, or toxins from the body
Improves sleep, mood, and digestion
🔹 Chinese Herbal Medicine
We use custom herbal formulas based on your unique presentation. These may include:
San Ren Tang — for damp-heat in early or active infections
Xiao Chai Hu Tang — for lingering low-grade symptoms and immune modulation
Huang Qin Tang — for gut and systemic inflammation
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang — for fatigue and qi deficiency
Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan — for yin deficiency and heat signs
Formulas may also be customized to address multiple layers—immune support, detoxification, and constitutional strengthening.
🔹 Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations
You’ll also receive personalized guidance including:
Anti-inflammatory, warming foods
Avoidance of cold/raw or damp-producing foods
Supportive practices like qi gong or tai chi
Tips for pacing, rest, and gradual reconditioning
Final Thoughts
Lyme disease is rising in Canada, and many people feel lost between diagnosis and recovery. If you’re looking for a holistic, supportive approach that sees and treats the whole you, Traditional Chinese Medicine could be the answer.
📍 JD AcuCare | Calgary | Specializing in complex, chronic conditions
💬 Contact us today to book a consultation and begin your path to healing