If you have ever been bitten by a tick, flea, mosquito, gnat, or mite or have been sexually active with someone who has been bitten, then you are at risk for Lyme Disease. Lyme can also be transmitted from mother to unborn child and through breast-feeding. Contaminated food can also pass along the disease.

Forget what you have been told about "bulls-eye" rashes and deep woods excursions ? they only make up a small percentage of the population infected by Lyme. Lyme Disease is not rare. It is an epidemic. Lyme disease and the inflammation produced because of it are also most likely a factor in the severity of many individuals' autoimmune symptoms ? if not the cause. (The Lyme Disease "outbreak" of the mid-1970's caused arthritis.) According to the renowned Dr. Cowden, "?more than 50% of chronically ill people may have Lyme contributing to their condition". (http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/25/lyme_disease.htm)

Lyme, which was not even recognized in the United States until 1975, may be one of the most misunderstood and devastating diseases of our day. The test normally used to detect Lyme disease is extremely unreliable. This test does not look for the Lyme causing borreliosis bacteria. Instead, the test looks for the antibodies that your body has produced against Lyme causing bacteria. The problem is that Lyme can go undetected by your immune system for a long period of time, so those antibodies are not produced against it. Even after antibodies are produced, they are generally found in the tissue, not the blood of an infected person. The result is a negative blood test even if Lyme is present all over the body. Many organ systems can be invaded before an infected person even feels any symptoms. Some will never feel symptoms. (http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/25/lyme_disease.htm)

Dr. Jo Anne Whitaker (no known relation to the author) developed a test that looks for the Lyme borreliosis bacteria, not the antibody. Dr. Whitaker's lab has tested thousands of people for the presence of Lyme causing bacteria. Every test performed by her lab since 1999 has been positive for Lyme disease. (http://www.healthynewage.com/herbal-health-newsletter2.htm)

Lyme causes autoimmunity in the brain and central nervous system, not just the joints. It can mimic MS, Chronic Fatigue, and many mental illnesses.

Heidi Whitaker is an author and speaker on the topic of nutritional support of autoimmune disease. She is also the co-owner of http://www.healthydivas.com. To read other articles written by Heidi or to learn how to participate in her next free teleseminar, visit her blog at http://autoimmune.myblogsite.com/blog. .