Is Babesia – a Tick-Borne Illness on the Rise?
You’re probably already familiar with Lyme disease, a significant tick-borne illness. After all, it affects approximately 476,000 people each year in the United States alone!
Lyme disease isn’t just a local problem—it’s a significant global headache. It can be found in many parts of the world, including Canada, Europe, and Asia. Transmission often peaks during warmer months when people spend more time outdoors hanging with friends, family, and pets and are more likely to encounter ticks.
Lyme is primarily caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which spreads to humans through the bite of infected ticks and other biting insects like mosquitos, fleas, and mites. Initial infection symptoms can vary widely, including fever, headache, pain, fatigue, and sometimes a noticeable ‘bullseye’ skin rash. Not everyone with Lyme disease will present with the rash. It may only show up 60 – 80% of the time.At CBH, we often see clients who have resonated with the bacteria Borrelia but have not had a rash.
If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to more severe health problems, such as arthritis, which can show up in our Locomotor System Dial, heart problems (Cardio System), and Nervous System disorders. The effects of Lyme are system-wide! This is because Borrelia is a bacteria that can move to different parts of the body.
Dealing with Lyme disease can leave you feeling disoriented with all of the information out there, vulnerable, and utterly drained looking for answers. Additionally, Lyme disease can be challenging to diagnose due to its varied symptoms, often resulting in a long and frustrating journey for patients seeking support for this complex tick-borne illness.
This complexity extends beyond Borrelia alone. Lyme isn’t a solo act! Ticks are polymicrobial, meaning they can transmit more than one pathogen simultaneously. In addition to the Borrelia species that cause Lyme disease, many ticks also carry other disease-causing pathogens called co-infections.
You can read more about coinfections in our blog “What Are Lyme Co-Infections?”
What’s Babesia?
One of those coinfections, Babesia, is a malaria-like parasite that infiltrates the red blood cells of its host. The illness triggered by a Babesia infection is called babesiosis. While Babesia typically spreads through the bite of an infected Ixodes scapularis tick, it can also transmit congenitally from mother to child during pregnancy or through a blood transfusion.
Babesia poses its own set of challenges as a tick-borne illness.
Not only do these parasites infiltrate red blood cells, but they destroy them. This, in turn, can affect the liver and cause stress on the Immune System. Like Borrelia, many systems can be affected by this parasite. It stands to reason. Red blood cells need to go everywhere in the body.
Our Bioenergetic Practitioner Course explains how the parasite hitches a ride in a red blood cell, just like it’s taking an Uber to a party! Except the symptoms of Babesia are anything but a party for the suffering person.
How are Borrelia and Babesia Different
Both tick-borne illness bugs invade the body’s tissues and trigger an immune response.
Babesia, also called a protozoan parasite, begins its lifecycle with sporozoites, tiny forms of the parasite. Think of these as baby parasites. These sporozoites sneak into red blood cells, using them to multiply and evade the body’s defense systems. Some researchers have theorized that within 10 minutes, all sporozoites are inside red blood cells, changing their genes while making copies of themselves. When they’re ready, they break out of the cells to find new hosts. This quick cycle makes it tough to diagnose and treat Babesia infections.
It also shows how the Blood System can be affected. Since they’re caused by different types of organisms, Lyme disease and Babesiosis can require different approaches.
Symptoms and Complications of Babesiosis
Some individuals infected with the parasite exhibit minimal or no symptoms, effectively clearing the pathogen without awareness of the infection. However, others may experience severe illness. Some people fall in between. Babesiosis presents much like the symptoms associated with a malarial infection in susceptible people.
Babesiosis symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Chills & night sweats
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Air hunger (feeling breathless)
- Potential complications like hemolytic anemia (red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can replace them) or organ failure in severe cases
There’s strong evidence to show that the concurrence of Babesia and Borrelia can have synergistic effects, meaning that the severity of each disease is amplified by the presence of the other.
Patients with Babesia and Lyme often experience significantly more severe disease and worse outcomes than those experiencing a single infection.
Conventional Diagnosis and Treatment of Tick-Borne Illness like Babesia:
Lyme disease is conventionally diagnosed through clinical symptoms and laboratory tests, with treatment involving antibiotics such as doxycycline or amoxicillin.
While the incidence of human Babesia infections is on the rise worldwide, the parasite remains difficult to detect through conventional blood screenings.
Historically, Babesia infection is detected through a blood smear, a procedure that is both time-consuming and highly specialized. Because of the inherent challenges of diagnosing the infection, infected patients risk being misdiagnosed or experiencing treatment delays until their symptoms progress.
Babesiosis is usually conventionally treated with antiparasitic medications like atovaquone and azithromycin or clindamycin and quinine. Potential side effects of these antibiotics include allergic reactions, nausea, and vomiting. We also know that antibiotic use changes the gut microbiome.
This article from 2021 states that these 4 medications may be ineffective and cause antibiotic resistance. While we do not treat any infection or disease with bioenergetic testing, we do encounter people looking to support and nourish their bodies while undergoing treatment. For this reason, we are mentioning the conventional ways to treat Babesia.
In addition to conventional medical treatments, many individuals explore alternative therapies such as homeopathy and herbal medicine to support their health and well-being in a tick-borne illness like Babesiosis.
While research on the efficacy of these natural remedies is ongoing, some herbs have shown promise in managing symptoms and supporting the body’s response to this parasite.
Herbal Remedies for Babesiosis:
- Cryptolepis sanguinolenta: Also known as Cryptolepis or Ghanaian quinine, this herb is traditionally used in African herbal medicine for its antimicrobial properties. Cryptolepis has been studied for its potential effectiveness against Babesia parasites and may help reduce the severity of Babesiosis symptoms.
- Artemisia annua (Sweet Wormwood): Artemisia annua, commonly known as sweet wormwood or Qing Hao, contains the compound artemisinin, which has demonstrated antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is commonly used to treat malaria and has shown potential in managing Babesia infections. We carry remedies that contain Artemesia, in Physica Energetics Artemisia Intrinsic, and in Cellcore Biosciences IS-BAB.
- Scutellaria baicalensis (Chinese Skullcap): Chinese skullcap is valued in traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Studies suggest that extracts from Scutellaria baicalensis may possess antimicrobial activity against Babesia parasites and could aid in managing Babesiosis symptoms.
- Alchornea cordifolia (African Christmas Bush): This native to West Africa plant is traditionally used for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been investigated for its potential effectiveness against Babesia parasites and may offer support in managing Babesiosis.
- Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese Knotweed): Japanese knotweed is rich in resveratrol, a compound known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. While primarily used in Lyme disease management for its ability to support immune function and reduce inflammation, it may also have adjunctive benefits with Babesiosis. Resveratrol, a polyphenol, helps fight inflammation and protects cells from damage. Consuming foods like grapes, blueberries, and cranberries (unsweetened, put in your smoothie) supports inflammation and may even protect the nervous system. Supplementing resveratrol may be supportive when concerned about Lyme or any coinfections.
At CBH Energetics, we look at stress overall from an energetic perspective. We talk in terms of systems and resonance. Someone who resonates with the energetic pattern of Babesia, or any of the other co-infection patterns, may see stress on a report in:
- The Locomotor System.
- The Liver/gallbladder
- The Nervous System.
- The Lymph System.
- The Blood System.
- Cellular Metabolism.
- The Immune System.
- The Respiratory System.
Immune System stress may amplify Babesia’s effects on the body. A key strategy is a lifestyle designed to support and even improve immune function. This entails getting consistent, restful sleep, consuming a nourishing diet of whole foods, and maintaining gut health.
As mentioned, CBH Energetics does not diagnose or treat specific diseases or conditions; instead, we identify energetic patterns that may indicate imbalances or stressors in the body. By addressing these underlying imbalances, individuals can support their overall well-being and enhance their body’s natural healing processes.
Preventing Tick-Borne Illness Starts With Preventing Tick Bites
A little tick prevention goes a long way. Help reduce the risk of getting a tick-borne illness like Babesiosis with some of these strategies:
Stay on Trails: When hiking or walking in wooded or grassy areas, stay in the center of trails to avoid brushing against vegetation where ticks may be lurking.
Use Tick Repellent: Insect repellents containing DEET or permethrin are popular options for preventing ticks. Those looking to decrease toxins can try natural essential oils like citronella, lavender, or eucalyptus. These oils can be diluted with a carrier oil and applied to your skin or clothing. There are many natural tick-repellent recipes on the internet! Everyone has different risk factors and belief systems around tick repellant. Choose what suits your needs.
Wear Protective Clothing: To minimize exposed skin, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and closed-toe shoes. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots to create a barrier against ticks.
Perform Tick Checks: After spending time outdoors, conduct thorough tick checks on yourself, your children, and your pets. Pay close attention to areas such as the scalp, underarms, groin, and behind the knees.
Shower After Outdoor Activities: Showering within two hours of coming indoors can help wash away ticks that have yet to attach.
Create Tick-Safe Zones: Consider creating tick-safe zones in your yard by mowing lawns, removing leaf litter, and creating a wood chips or gravel barrier between wooded areas and recreational spaces.
Implementing these preventive measures can minimize your risk of tick bites and reduce the likelihood of contracting tick-borne illnesses.
If you are concerned that you have encountered a tick with one of these microorganisms and are looking for alternative and holistic support, please read our post, Bioenergetic Testing? What Is It and Now May It Help You?
