Can You Use CBD for Lyme Disease?

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an inflammatory condition caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is usually transmitted through ticks. While most people identify the disease by finding a tick on them, some may not notice until a skin rash called erythema migrans (typically referred to as a “bullseye rash”) appears. Though, it’s worth noting that this rash is only apparent in about 70% to 80% of people with the condition.

Some have reported other symptoms that appeared after contracting Lyme Disease, such as sensitivity to brightness. Not to mention, others may experience mental symptoms, such as anxiety, insomnia, and depression.

Furthermore, not everyone will experience the same set of symptoms when diagnosed with Lyme Disease. For example, upon my diagnosis, I did not experience facial palsy or fever. However, I did undergo debilitating arthritis and headaches.

How is Lyme Disease Treated?

Lyme Disease works in three stages:

1. Localized
2. Disseminated
3. Persistent

Early diagnosis and treatment have shown the best results for recovery. This usually involves a course of antibiotics (typically, doxycycline) throughout a 10 to 21-day period.

If Lyme Disease is treated in a later stage and symptoms remain persistent after antibiotic treatment, then doctors will categorize this as an autoimmune disease rather than a bacterial infection. Therefore, further treatment usually involves addressing specific symptoms.

However, since there’s only so much data suggesting Lyme transforms into an autoimmune disease, many within the medical community have argued that “persistent Lyme” is a long-term infection. Therefore, under this argument, the only way to properly treat it is through long-term antibiotic therapy.

This debate has caused a lot of controversies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend long-term antibiotics to treat Lyme Disease. Still, some research is looking into the potential of long-term treatment and how it may be beneficial for some individuals. But as of this time, there isn’t enough research to confirm its efficiency.

Personally, I initially received 10 days of antibiotic treatment during the disseminated stage of the condition. However, as I continued to feel symptoms well over a month after treatment, I decided to try long-term antibiotics alongside natural supplements (more on this later). My rationality was even if it didn’t work, I’d rather be safe than sorry.

Admittedly, this did come with a series of intense side effects that made me even sicker than I already was. But after about a year of antibiotic treatment, 95% of my symptoms were gone and I stopped treatment.

Can You Use CBD to Treat Lyme Disease?

In terms of the bacterial infection itself, the short answer is no. Cannabidiol (CBD) does not have the ability to cure the Lyme bacteria in your system.

Admittedly, some research suggests that certain cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant may have antimicrobial activity. The problem with this research is it’s extremely limited and doesn’t directly address Borrelia burgdorferi.

Still, even if it did, it’s very unlikely CBD helps to fight off this specific kind of bacteria as research points out that Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete. Similar to syphilis, it’s able to work its way into areas of the body other bacteria can’t reach, such as bone tissue. Therefore, it’s much more difficult to treat than other bacterial infections.

Additionally, if you see a CBD brand advertising CBD as a form of treatment, they’re directly violating rules set forth by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). In accordance with the FDA, CBD products cannot prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.

However, even though CBD may not be able to treat Lyme, some have found it provides relief for specific symptoms caused by the infection.

How Did I Incorporate CBD Into My Lyme Treatment?

For my own treatment, CBD topicals became a prominent tool in decreasing muscle and joint pains. These allowed me to target specific areas of pain where I found it to be most intense. In my case, this was the elbows and knees.

I usually gravitated to topicals that also incorporated menthol as this provided an instant cooling effect before the CBD kicked in. Personally, I found this to be important as my pain would come out of nowhere and shoot through my muscle and joints at random.

Beyond pain, I also experienced heightened anxiety (particularly due to the stress of having Lyme) alongside the worst insomnia I ever experienced in my life (I still struggle with this even after treatment). In order to combat both these symptoms, I incorporated either a CBD oil or a CBD gummy, depending on whichever I had at the time.

Admittedly, I don’t find CBD oil to be the best when it comes to anxiety relief. I only say this because it makes me feel fatigued and therefore, isn’t an ideal solution for daytime anxieties. However, with that said, CBD did wonders for me when it came to sleep. Beyond the fact that it helped me get to sleep quicker, it also helped me get higher-quality sleep.

It’s worth noting that since I live in a legalized state, I also implemented tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) into my treatment. I’m not 100% sure how this affected me in comparison to CBD, but it definitely had an impact. Most notably, I found THC to be more prominent for pain and migraine relief. And research has found THC is more likely to help in these regards.

Not to mention, antibiotics destroyed my gut health and in turn, left me with little to no appetite. THC was much more helpful than CBD in regards to my appetite.

Still, it’s worth noting that I never incorporated a cannabis product to cure my Lyme Disease. They were merely tools I used in order to relieve certain symptoms and make the whole experience more bearable. As a means of treatment, I stuck with the antibiotics I was prescribed alongside some natural supplements, including Cat’s Claw, Japanese Knotweed, and Andrographis. Furthermore, I integrated certain lifestyle changes, such as dieting and exercising.

Pros of CBD Oil for Lyme Disease

• CBD products may provide relief for certain symptoms, such as pain, sleep disruptions, and anxiety
• Since it’s non-addictive and comes with few side effects, CBD is safe to take daily
• You don’t need a prescription to purchase CBD, it can be safely obtained through online shops
• There is a versatile selection of CBD products currently available, ensuring there’s something for everyone
• CBD is non-psychoactive as it contains less than 0.3% THC – in other words, you won’t experience a “high”

Cons of CBD Oil for Lyme Disease

• CBD will not cure Lyme Disease, you still need other treatment methods in order to battle the infection
• You may experience side effects from CBD, including diarrhea, drowsiness, dry mouth, fatigue, and reduced appetite
• The CBD industry currently isn’t regulated by the FDA
• It’s not recommended you take CBD alongside other medication, including those prescribed for Lyme Disease
• Pregnant and lactating women should avoid CBD altogether

Final Word

Lyme Disease is a difficult topic to discuss because there are so many conflicting ideas on how it should be treated. As already stated, CBD is simply not a treatment option. In general, there is no way cannabis or the hemp plant can help to address the bacterial infection that causes Lyme Disease.

However, as I found in my personal experience (and in relation to scientific research), CBD does hold the potential to provide relief from certain symptoms associated with Lyme Disease. Still, you should never incorporate any treatment regimen before consulting your doctor.