Lyme Disease & Tick-Borne Illnesses: A Natural, Evidence-Informed Approach to Recovery

Dr. Joe Phiakhamta, DAOM, L.Ac
Sep 15
10 min read

Updated: 10 hours ago

Key Takeaways

Tick-borne illness is often multi-systemic, involving infections, allergies, gut issues, nervous system dysregulation, and toxicity.
Conventional care is essential for acute infection, but often incomplete for long-term recovery.
Acupuncture, herbal medicine, muscle testing, and detox provide targeted support when applied strategically and in phases.
True healing requires a system that respects the order in which the body needs to repair.
Personalized care matters. You are not a protocol, you are a whole person.
With the right support, recovery is not only possible, it’s expected.

When it comes to tick-borne illnesses, many people are searching for ways to support their health that feel effective, gentle, and truly holistic. At True Acupuncture & Wellness, I specialize in addressing complex, chronic conditions like Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome, mold toxicity, and co-infections using a comprehensive, natural approach. My goal is to support healing on every level, physically, emotionally, and energetically, while uncovering and addressing root causes.

Ticks are more than a nuisance. They can transmit serious infections including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome, as well as co-infections like Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Rickettsia, Mycoplasma, and viruses such as Epstein-Barr and Coxsackie. Many patients I work with also have overlapping challenges like mold exposure, gut dysfunction, MCAS, and post-viral syndromes. The good news is, natural therapies can play a powerful role in recovery.

What Are Tick-Borne Illnesses?

Tick-borne illnesses include a range of bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections, most of which go far beyond the classic “bullseye rash.” Here are some of the most common I see in clinic:

Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi, B. mayonii, and other strains) often hides in tissues and can evade immune detection, creating chronic fatigue, neurological symptoms, pain, and immune dysfunction.
Alpha-gal syndrome is not an infection but a delayed immune reaction to red meat, dairy, and gelatin caused by a sugar molecule introduced by the Lone Star tick. It is often overlooked and misdiagnosed.
Co-infections include:
- Babesia, a parasite similar to malaria, causing air hunger, dizziness, night sweats, and fatigue.
- Bartonella, a bacteria known to create nerve pain, mood swings, skin striations, and immune dysregulation.
- Ehrlichia and Anaplasma, which can cause immune suppression and flu-like symptoms.
- Mycoplasma, linked to autoimmune-like symptoms, gut issues, and fatigue.
- Rickettsia, which can affect blood vessels and skin.
- Viruses, especially Epstein-Barr and Coxsackie, that often reactivate when the immune system is overwhelmed.

In clinical reality, many people don’t just have one of these. They have several—plus the inflammation, gut damage, nervous system dysregulation, and emotional exhaustion that come with it.

Why Conventional Treatment Doesn’t Always Resolve It

Standard care often begins and ends with antibiotics. While appropriate in acute infections, antibiotics alone don’t always clear persistent infections, reset immune responses, or help the body recover from inflammatory damage.

Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) is now widely recognized, but it’s only part of the picture. Patients are also dealing with:

Ongoing inflammation
Mold exposure
Food sensitivities
Histamine overload
Nervous system hyperactivity
Hormonal depletion
Emotional and trauma-related symptoms

This is why a functional, layered, and whole-body approach is essential.

What Does a Natural Approach to Tick-Borne Illness Look Like?

The foundation of my care includes:

Custom Herbal Support: I use traditional formulas and modern botanical strategies that support immune regulation, circulation, detoxification, and antimicrobial activity. These may be delivered as teas, tinctures, granules, or capsules depending on individual tolerance and need.

Acupuncture & Auricular Therapy: Acupuncture helps regulate immune function, reduce pain, and restore nervous system tone. I also offer auricular acupuncture, including a highly specialized ear needle system for immune regulation and allergy desensitization.

Muscle Testing: I use frequency testing methods to identify stressors like infections, food sensitivities, toxins, or hormone imbalances. This helps us pinpoint your priorities and identify what types of support your body can best handle at any given phase.

Detoxification & Drainage: Tick-borne illnesses often leave the body burdened with toxins and inflammatory byproducts. I guide patients through phase-based detox protocols that support the liver, lymphatic system, gut, kidneys, and mitochondria, carefully sequenced to reduce flares and improve outcomes.

Food & Nutrition Guidance: I often recommend anti-inflammatory, gut-friendly, or low-histamine diets to help reduce immune burden. For patients with alpha-gal, MCAS, or multiple sensitivities, I offer step-by-step guidance to expand food tolerance safely.

Emotional & Nervous System Support: Chronic illness affects the whole person. Through acupuncture, herbs, and lifestyle tools, we work on calming overactive stress responses, supporting sleep, and helping you reconnect with your sense of peace and vitality.

How to Safely Use Natural Tick Treatments at Home

Many patients want to take charge of their healing at home, and I fully support that, safely.

Here's how:

• Work with a qualified practitioner to ensure proper dosing, timing, and combination of supplements or herbs

• Begin slowly and build gradually, especially if you are sensitive or have MCAS

• Use only high-quality, practitioner-recommended products

• Focus on foundational support first, drainage, hydration, rest, and nourishment

• Never ignore worsening or acute symptoms; natural medicine works best when integrated with appropriate medical care when needed

Supporting Your Immune System Naturally

Your immune system is your frontline defense, and your long-term recovery partner. In my clinic, immune support may include:

• Specific acupuncture points are chosen based on tcm pattern to target and regulate inflammatory pathways

• Nutritional guidance to restore depleted nutrients like zinc, selenium, magnesium, and B vitamins

• Herbal formulas to support Wei Qi (protective energy), clear lingering pathogens, and promote tissue repair

• Tools to support nervous system recovery, including adaptogenic herbs, sleep strategies, and mindset shifts

Understanding Co-Infections and Chronic Complexity

Many patients who suspect or know they have Lyme disease are actually dealing with a combination of infections and underlying imbalances. Babesia may cause night sweats, air hunger, and dizziness. Bartonella can show up as nerve pain, irritability, or strange stretch marks. Mold toxicity, gut pathogens, and viruses often compound the picture.

This is why I don’t rely on one-size-fits-all protocols. My approach is personalized, phased, and adaptable. We often start with drainage and foundational support before addressing infections directly. We also work to calm immune overreactions, especially in cases of MCAS, alpha-gal, or other allergy-like presentations.

How TCM Helps Where Others Stop

TCM sees the body as an interconnected system, much like a garden. When one part suffers, others are affected. This perspective is especially powerful when dealing with chronic tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and others. These infections often don’t follow a linear path and can trigger complex, multi-system dysfunction. This is where TCM shines, it doesn’t wait for a lab to flag something “out of range.” It sees patterns before they become problems.

In clinic, I commonly see the following TCM patterns emerge in those with chronic tick-related illness:

Qi Deficiency

You might feel exhausted even after rest. Your immune system may feel “flat,” with frequent infections or slow recovery. This shows up as Spleen Qi deficiency (poor digestion, fatigue, loose stools, bloating), Lung Qi deficiency (low immunity, SOB, chronic cough), or Kidney Qi deficiency (low stamina, poor memory, weak lower back/knees, hormonal dysregulation).

Clinical Focus: Boosting Qi through acupuncture and tonic herbs helps restore energy production, improve nutrient absorption, and re-regulate immune function.

Blood Stasis

Pain that is fixed, stabbing, or worse at night often points to blood stasis. This can also manifest as menstrual issues (clots, cramps), chronic headaches, or neuropathy. Long-standing infections can “knot” the blood and lead to poor microcirculation — which means sluggish tissue repair and toxin clearance.

Clinical Focus: Acupuncture and blood-invigorating herbs enhance microcirculation and help reduce chronic pain and inflammation.

Dampness

Dampness in TCM refers to sluggish fluids that congest the body. Think brain fog, heavy limbs, digestive bloating, or chronic sinus congestion. This pattern is especially common in those exposed to mold or who have slow lymphatic drainage and biofilm congestion from co-infections or environmental toxins.

Clinical Focus: Draining dampness with specific herbs and digestive support formulas, combined with cupping, acupuncture, and movement, clears the way for clearer thinking and better metabolic function.

Heat Toxins

These are often caused by pathogens, chronic inflammation, or an overburdened immune system. Symptoms include irritability, insomnia, skin rashes, burning urination, or inflammatory flares. It can also overlap with autoimmune-like presentations and mast cell dysregulation.

Clinical Focus: Cooling, anti-inflammatory herbs and acupuncture points are used to purge heat, reduce histamine-type reactions, and support liver function.

What I Do Differently at My Clinic

1. Acupuncture for Immune Regulation and Nervous System Reset

Acupuncture helps regulate the autonomic nervous system, reduce inflammation, support circulation, and lower pain signals. I also use auricular acupuncture, including SAAT (Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment), for allergy and immune-related conditions like alpha-gal, dairy, mold, pork, and more.

A 2022 study showed electro-acupuncture reduced joint inflammation in a Lyme arthritis model by influencing the vagus and sciatic nerves. Clinical studies and meta-analyses confirm acupuncture’s benefits in chronic pain, fatigue, and inflammatory conditions.

By selecting points that stimulate detox pathways and calm overactive immune responses, acupuncture supports both recovery and symptom relief.

2. Customized Chinese Herbal Formulas and Botanical Medicine

Herbs are not one-size-fits-all. I create custom formulas based on traditional diagnostic patterns and clinical goals such as:

Clearing heat and toxins
Supporting liver and lymph drainage
Expelling parasites
Reducing inflammation
Strengthening digestion and nutrient absorption
Rebuilding Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang

Modern research shows that herbs like Japanese knotweed, cat’s claw, Chinese skullcap, and others inhibit Borrelia in vitro. While not a replacement for antibiotics in acute infection, these herbs provide meaningful support in chronic or unresolved cases.

Formulas are prepared as granules, tinctures, or capsules, depending on the patient’s sensitivity and what tests strong via muscle testing.

3. Muscle Testing for Real-Time Clinical Clarity

Energetic muscle testing (applied kinesiology) allows me to assess:

Active infections or microbial stressors
Nutrient deficiencies
Supplement compatibility
Toxic burden and drainage readiness
Food sensitivities
Hormonal or neurological interference patterns

This helps us tailor your treatment plan in real-time and avoid unnecessary guessing. It’s especially helpful when lab testing is inconclusive, inaccessible, or not tolerable.

4. Detoxification and Drainage as Foundational Care

Detox is not about taking binders and hoping for the best. I use a systematized drainage-first approach. This supports the:

Liver
Lymphatic system
Kidneys
Gut
Mitochondria

Without these systems functioning properly, pushing pathogens out can backfire. That’s why detox comes in stages:

Open up drainage
Repair energy systems (mitochondria, adrenal)
Calm inflammation
Support immune regulation
Remove pathogens in a tolerable sequence

We don’t start with kill-phase protocols. We start with getting your body ready to respond.

5. Food, Nutrient, and Lifestyle Therapy

Food is both information and medicine. In tick-borne illness and chronic inflammatory states, I often recommend:

Low-histamine or anti-inflammatory diets
Vegan DAO or digestive enzyme support
Elimination and reintroduction tracking
Support for MCAS-type responses
Nutrient assessment and correction for zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, and more

I also teach pacing strategies, breathwork, gentle movement, cold exposure when appropriate, and emotional regulation techniques. You’ll receive support for the physical and emotional sides of chronic illness.

6. Phase-Based Treatment That Matches Your Physiology

Instead of giving you 10 products on Day 1, we use a stepwise method:

Phase 1: Drainage and stabilization
Phase 2: Gut and microbial terrain
Phase 3: Systemic immune support
Phase 4: Deep detox and co-infection focus
Phase 5: Repair and rebuild

This is especially helpful for patients who are extremely sensitive or have tried other protocols that led to flare-ups or fatigue.

Why This Approach Works

This approach works because it matches the complexity of the illness. It focuses on root cause systems: immune, lymphatic, nervous, gut, emotional, and energetic. It also gives patients a structure and sense of direction.

Patients who stick with the process often experience:

Decreased allergic responses (e.g., alpha-gal, dairy, histamine)
Reduced pain and inflammation
Mental clarity and emotional steadiness
Improved digestion and bowel regularity
Deeper, restorative sleep
Confidence and control over their healing path

A Holistic Lifestyle for Healing

In addition to clinical treatments, I help patients create sustainable routines that include:

• Tick prevention education

• Mindful movement and pacing

• Emotional regulation tools

• Tracking small wins and progress markers

• Resilience-building practices like breathwork or journaling

A Note on Safety and Scope of Care

If you’ve just been bitten by a tick, or you’re experiencing acute neurological or cardiac symptoms, I strongly recommend seeking immediate medical care. Early treatment, especially in acute Lyme disease, is critical.

That said, many people continue to struggle long after those initial stages. Whether the infection was missed, treatment was incomplete, or symptoms evolved into something more complex, my role is not just to “support the body.”

My role is to help you build resilience and guide you through the chronic and recovery phases of tick-borne illness, while directly addressing the underlying bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and toxic burdens that are often still active.

I use a combination of acupuncture, custom herbal formulations, muscle testing, targeted botanical and nutraceutical protocols, and strategic detox to not only regulate the immune and nervous systems, but to identify and treat persistent infections and co-infections.

Each case is different. In some, the microbial burden is still driving inflammation. In others, the immune system is stuck in a loop long after the original infection has been cleared. Often, it’s both.

This is why we test, reassess, and treat in a sequence that matches your current physiology, not just a diagnosis.

Ready to Begin?

If you’re navigating Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome, co-infections, mold toxicity, or related immune challenges, I’m here to help. At True Acupuncture & Wellness in Franklin, TN, we combine the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine with the clarity of modern diagnostic insight, offering care that’s personal, flexible, and grounded in decades of clinical experience.

References

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About Dr. Joe Phiakhamta, DAOM

Dr. Joe is a licensed acupuncturist and Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine based at True Acupuncture and Wellness in Franklin, Tennessee. He specializes in chronic pain, allergies, tick-borne illnesses, immune system imbalances, and gut health issues. Dr. Joe integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine, SAAT acupuncture, and herbal medicine to provide personalized care that restores balance, enhances well-being, and offers lasting relief from complex and often misunderstood conditions.