Babesia co-infection and Lyme disease
Ticks that carry Lyme disease can also carry other infectious diseases. The most common are babesia, ehrlichia, and bartonella.
Babesia is a protozoal parasite which infect red blood cells and eventually destroy them. Babesia infections are similar to malarial which is also a protozoal parasite, but carried and transmitted by mosquitos.
Symptoms of the Lyme disease co-infection babesia include headaches, fatique, anorexia, muscle and joint pain, balance problems, feelings of chest compression, shortness of breath, fever, chills, nausea, malaise, cough, and drenching sweats.
When combined with Lyme disease, the symptoms of babesia can be more severe and include severe headaches, hemolytic anemia, central nervous system involvement, fever, and chills.
Babesia and Lyme disease don't just co-exist, they act synergistically. Meaning that they help each other thrive and the collective symptoms are more severe then if only one disease existed.
it is important to support the liver, kidneys, and spleen when dealing with babesia co-infections.
According to Stephen Buhner, Artemisinin is the primary herb to treat babesia. The use of artemisinin for babesia was pioneered by Qing Cai Zhang as an adjunct in his treatment of Lyme disease.
Other supporting herbs include Red root and boneset tea.