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Five Methods for Reversing Neurological Inflammation from Lyme Disease
For people diagnosed with Lyme disease that have chronic headaches, memory problems, and meningitis
by Greg Lee

Have you ever driven along a foggy road? On a drive through the mountains, I was enveloped by a thick fog. I had to slow down to 10 miles per hour because I could only see a few feet in front of me. My anxiety would increase if I saw something in the road. With my knuckles tightly grasping the wheel, my mind was hyper-focused on not hitting another car or a tree. How is driving through the fog similar to inflammation in the brain from Lyme disease?

Similar to fog along the road, inflammation from Lyme disease can slow down the brain.

Lyme disease produces toxins and lipoproteins which trigger the immune system to produce many different kinds of inflammation. In the cerebrospinal fluid of Lyme disease patients, multiple inflammatory compounds have been detected: Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-12 (IL-12), Interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) and the chemokine ligands CXCL12 and CXCL131. In another lab study, primary microglia cells, which are macrophages found in the brain and spinal cord, co-cultured with B. burgdorferi released inflammatory compounds IL-6, IL-8, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand-2 (CCL2), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand-3 (CCL3), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand-4 (CCL4), and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand-5 (CCL5)2. Increased levels of an excitotoxin called quinolinic acid have been detected especially in Lyme patients with central nervous system inflammation3. Lyme patients with brain inflammation can have a variety of symptoms.


Lyme inflammation can aggravate symptoms of pain, swelling, poor concentration, and mood swings.

Elevated inflammatory compounds have been associated with physical, mental, and emotional symptoms in patients. Some of these people report symptoms of brain fog4, concentration difficulties, memory recall problems, forgetfulness5, confusion, being spaced out, feeling ADD (attention deficit disorder), unable to process information, easily overwhelmed, and easily distractable. Physical symptoms have been described as pressure pushing out from the inside of the head, meningitis, chronic headaches6, dizziness7, vision problems8, stiffness, and a thick feeling in the head. Other people have described feeling depressed, suicidal, hopeless9, a lack of motivation, anxious10, and a lack of joy. Some medications help with reducing symptoms associated with Lyme inflammation.

Medications like Celebrex and Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) can help relieve symptoms.

LDN has been shown to reduce inflammatory symptoms, depression, and cognitive issues11. Patients with Lyme disease have reported significant reductions in pain levels and inflammatory symptoms from LDN and Celebrex. Minocycline and doxycycline also reduce inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) , IL-6, and IL-812. Unfortunately, some patients do not respond to LDN or Celebrex. And other patients may experience photosensitive skin reactions13 or digestion problems with extended antibiotic use14.

Are there natural treatments and remedies that can help to reduce inflammatory symptoms in the brain with minimal side effects?

Fortunately, there are five methods that can help to alleviate symptoms of Lyme disease inflammation in the central nervous system.

These five methods include treatments and remedies that help patients to quickly relieve and eliminate the symptoms of inflammation in the nervous system. These methods have been effective in patients that have not improved with anti-inflammatory medications. These treatments and remedies draw out inflammation and toxins directly or have inhibited inflammatory cytokines in lab and animal studies.

Reduce CNS Inflammation Method #1: Cupping and bloodletting.

Cupping combined with bloodletting has been practiced for thousands of years in Asia and the Middle East. Lyme patients with CNS inflammation have multiple suction cups placed on the head and neck to draw out toxins from the nervous system. Next, the cups are removed and needles are inserted to make very small holes to draw out the toxins. The needles are removed and the cups are placed back on. In each cup, a small quantity of fluid is drawn out of the body. In cupping studies, the extracted blood has been found to be high in toxins15 and inflammatory compounds16. Lyme disease patients that become more inflamed with antibiotics report greater mental clarity, reduced swelling and head pain, and increased emotional ease immediately after receiving cupping and bloodletting. Liposomal herbs also help with reducing inflammatory symptoms in the central nervous system.

Reduce CNS Inflammation Method #2: Liposomal herbs and supplements

A liposome is a microscopic particle that is surrounded with a fat also called a lipid. Liposomal remedies are more effective at penetrating inside the brain17 and the nervous system18 than their non-liposomal equivalents. When anti-inflammatory herbs and supplements are delivered via liposomes, patients with inflammatory symptoms experience greater relief of head pressure, sleep disturbances, and less painful emotions. These liposomal mixtures contain compounds that are formulated for reducing cytokines and chemokines that have been found in Lyme patients with inflammation and CNS symptoms and detected in lab studies.

Inflammatory cytokine / chemokine: anti-inflammatory herbs and supplements

CCL2: Buplerum, Chinese name: Chai Hu19, Salvia miltiorrhiza Chinese name: Dan Shen20, and Huperzine A21.
CCL3: Radix Sophorae, Chinese name: Ku Shen22 and Scrophularia, Chinese name: Xuan Shen23.
CCL4: Scrophularia, Chinese name: Xuan Shen24.
CCL5: Lemongrass, Chinese name: Xiang Mao Cao25 and Nelumbo nucifera, lotus seed, Chinese name: Lian Zi26.
CXCL12: Nigella sativa or black cumin seed, Chinese name: Hei Zhong Cao Zi27 and Astragalus membranaceus, Chinese name: Huang Qi28.
CXCL13: none found at the time of publication.

IL-6: Pueraria, Chinese name: Ge Gen29, Gotu Kola, Chinese name: Ji Xue Cao30, Andrographis paniculata, Chinese name: Chuan Xin Lian31, Isatidis root, Chinese name: Ban Lan Gen32, Polygonum cuspidatum, Japanese knotweed,Chinese name: Hu Zhang33, and Scutellaria, Chinese name: Huang Qin34.
IL-8: Turmeric, Chinese name: Jiang Huang35, Tree peony, Paeonia Suffruticosa, Chinese name: Mu Dan Pi36, Scutellaria baicalensis, Chinese name: Huang Qin37, Schisandra chinensis, Chinese name: Wu Wei Zi38, Ginger, Chinese name: Gan Jiang39, and Crataegus fruit, Chinese name: Shan Zha40.
IL-12: Peony, Chinese name: Bai Shao41, Scutellaria baicalensis, Chinese name: Huang Qin42, Salvia root, Chinese name: Dan Shen43, and Stephania tetrandra, Chinese name: Fang Ji44.
IL-18: Emblica officinalis fruit, Ayurvedic name: Amalaki, Chinese name: Yu Gan Zi45, Cordyceps, Chinese name: Dong Chong Xia Cao46, Crataegus fruit, Chinese name: Shan Zha47, Nigella sativa, Chinese name: Hei Zhong Cao Zi48, Turmeric, Chinese name: Jiang Huang49, Pulsatilla, Chinese name: Bai Tou Weng50, and Salvia miltiorrhiza, Chinese name: Dan Shen51.
IFN-γ: Stephania tetrandra root, Chinese name: Fang Ji52, Acanthopanax senticosus, Chinese name: Ci Wu Jia53, Taraxacum officinale, Chinese dandelion, Chinese name: Pu Gong Ying54, and Peony, Chinese name: BaiShao55.
Quinolinic acid: Sida cordifolia, Chinese name: Ke Dong, Ayurvedic name: Bala56. Essential oils have also helped to clear inflammation in the nervous system.

Reduce CNS Inflammation Method #3: Sublingual essential oils

Lyme disease patients with CNS inflammation are given a customized formula of essential oils to take under their tongue (sublingual) and also in liposomal form to reduce inflammation in the nervous system. Anti-inflammatory essentail oils may include: lemongrass57, clove58, Nigella sativa or black cumin seed59, ginger60, turmeric61, and thyme62. Patients report better sleep, reduced head pressure, less post nasal drip, and greater mental clarity. Not only essential oils, but also Frequency Specific Microcurrent can be used to reduce inflammation.

Reduce CNS inflammation Method #4: Frequency Specific Microcurrent
Frequency Specific Microcurrent uses millionth of an ampere electrical currents to reduce toxicity and inflammation. Frequencies for decreasing inflammation, detoxifying, and promoting healing are combined with frequencies to target inflamed areas of the brain and nervous system. These anti-inflammatory frequencies can be directed into areas of the brain like the forebrain, midbrain, cerebellum, pineal, pituitary, basal ganglia, cingulate, meninges, prefrontal cortex, or the temporal lobe63. Acupuncture and moxabustion can also help to target CNS inflammation.

Reduce CNS inflammation Method #5: Acupuncture and moxabustion

In human and animal studies, acupuncture64 and herb partition moxabustion have been effective at reducing inflammatory compounds65. Herb partition moxabustion places on a patient’s skin powdered anti-inflammatory herbs: cones of artemisia argyii (ai ye) over a combination of aconite cortex, Chinese name: Fu Zi or Cao Wu or Chuan Wu, Safflower, Chinese name: Hong Hua, and Salvia root, Chinese name: Dan Shen. The herbs are ignited to release their medicinal properties to reduce inflammation. Many treatments and remedies can help to address neurological inflammation symptoms.

Multiple remedies and treatments can help to reduce symptoms of neurological inflammation from Lyme disease.

Similar to driving out of the fog, the proper combination of cupping and bloodletting, liposomal anti-inflammatory remedies, essential oils, Frequency Specific Microcurrent, acupuncture and moxabustion helps your brain to overcome the symptoms of neurological inflammation from Lyme disease. Since some of these remedies and treatments require specialized training, work with a Lyme literate Chinese medicine practitioner to develop a proper, safe, and effective strategy for your condition.