Stevia and Lyme Disease

How Stevia Leaf Extract Could Help with Lyme Disease

Growing up and wandering through the hills of West Virginia, finding a tick on you was a common event. There was always a concern of disease, but we just made sure there was no “bulls-eye rash” and went about our business. I am Dr. Aaron Workman of Chambers Medical Group, one of the highest rated car accident medical care facilities in Lexington, Kentucky. Over the years I have had various friends and family develop problems following those bites, particularly Lyme disease, caused by the bite of an infected deer tick. This can lead to a range of different symptoms from fatigue, joint pain and various neurological issues that require long term treatments. Antibiotics are the primary treatments, but there is also research that suggests stevia leaf extract may also offer benefits. Let us talk about this natural sweetener and how it may assist in the fight against Lyme disease.

Stevia Leaf Extract

Stevia comes from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant and can be found on grocery aisles as a sugar substitute across the country. I first learned about this as a substitute for artificial sweeteners, but it also has potential medicinal properties that make it worth reading up on. Some of these studies have examined its antibacterial and antifungal properties that allowed researchers to focus on its effect against Lyme disease.

The Link

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. This nasty pathogen can form protective layers around itself called biofilms that make it more resistant to regular antibiotics. These biofilms help the bacterium hide within the infected person’s body, making Lyme disease much harder to treat, sometimes ending up with chronic symptoms.

A study by researchers at the University of New Haven showed stevia leaf extract was able to disrupt Borrelia burgdorferi biofilms in laboratory settings. The extract ended up being more effective than some of the commonly used antibiotics in Lyme disease treatment. This research is still in its early stages and has not been replicated in humans, but it shows stevia’s potential as a complementary treatment against Lyme disease.

A study in the European Journal of Microbiology and Immunology, 2015, concluded that “Stevia whole leaf extract, as an individual agent, was effective against all known morphological forms of B. burgdorferi.”  On the contrary, a study in the Journal of Frontier Medicine, 2020 showed it had little or no activity against the stationary phase of B. burgdorferi. It is clear there is more research that needs to be completed to come to a conclusion on effectiveness in humans.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Not only has this extract been shown to work against biofilms, but it also contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Chronic inflammation is one of the parts of Lyme disease that leads to symptoms like fatigue and joint pain. This could add one more viable approach to improving quality of life following this disease.

This does not mean that you can go out and purchase stevia leaf extract expecting it to cure your Lyme disease. Unfortunately, real life does not imitate lab conditions and antibiotics are still standard when it comes to treatment. What this does mean is incorporating stevia extract into a broader treatment plan may enhance the effectiveness and support the body in healing. You should always talk to your doctor before trying any new treatments, but you may also need to find a specialist that knows about the various options when it comes to treating Lyme Disease.

Stevia leaf extract offers another promising addition to complimenting various mainstream treatments used against Lyme disease, especially due to its potential to disrupt bacterial biofilms and reduce inflammation. More research is needed to confirm its effectiveness in human patients, but its laboratory findings are exciting to read. If you or a loved one is fighting against Lyme, discussing newer options like stevia leaf extract with a healthcare provider could be a step toward better health.

— This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

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