Lyme disease
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A bacterial infection passed on by the bite of an infected tick. It often starts with a spreading rash or fever and aches and, if untreated, can reach the joints, nerves or heart. Most people recover fully with antibiotics; for some, tiredness, aches or foggy thinking linger for months.
You might notice
- a recent tick bite, or time in woods, long grass or gardens (bites can go unnoticed)
- a red rash that slowly spreads, sometimes with a clearer centre
- fever, chills, tiredness or achy muscles and joints
- a swollen knee or other large joint, which may come and go
- a droop on one or both sides of the face, or tingling in the hands or feet
- tiredness, aches or foggy thinking that linger after treatment
Who can help
- Dr. Tenesha Wards · Chiropractor (DC) · Functional MedicineProfile →
- Dr. Michelle Cárdenas, ND · Naturopathic Doctor (ND)Also works with skin + hairProfile →
- Gabrielle La Chapelle · MS · Functional Health PractitionerAlso works with skin + hairProfile →
Start with a doctor who looks at the whole picture: an integrative MD or a naturopathic doctor.
See whole-picture practitioners →Where it can overlap
- Inflammation
Lyme disease involves inflammation. Established
- Joint pain
Lyme disease can show up as joint pain. Established
- Immune symptoms
Lyme disease can show up as immune symptoms. Associated
6 more threads +Fewer threads −
- Brain fog
Lyme disease can show up alongside brain fog. Established
- Fatigue
Lyme disease can show up as fatigue. Established
- Headaches
Lyme disease can show up as headaches. Established
- Autoimmune conditions
Lyme disease is sometimes explored alongside autoimmune conditions. Associated
- ME/CFS
Lyme disease is sometimes explored alongside ME/CFS. Associated
- Sleep changes
Lyme disease can show up alongside sleep changes. Associated
Established: well documented · Associated: linked, not a cause · Emerging: early research · Woo exploration: worth exploring, not yet sourced. A link isn't a cause.
Keep exploring
4 sources · how we checked
Everything on this page was researched from clinical guidance, government health sources and published reviews first, then single studies. Where a connection is only worth exploring, it says so.
- AAN/ACR/IDSA 2020 Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and American College of Rheumatology (ACR) · 2020 · Clinical guideline
- Chronic Symptoms and Lyme Disease U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · 2026 · Government health source
- Lyme disease (NICE guideline NG95): Recommendations National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) · 2018 · Clinical guideline
- Signs and Symptoms of Untreated Lyme Disease U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · 2024 · Government health source
A note from Woo: Body Map is here to help you explore and ask better questions. It isn't a diagnostic tool or a substitute for medical care. Relationships shown here represent areas that may be associated or worth exploring, not a diagnosis or statement of cause.
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