Acupuncture and Lyme disease can work as an ancillary treatment to the traditional medical model of sustained antibiotics. Lyme disease is a tick-transmitted, spirochetal, inflammatory disorder causing a bulls eye type rash that comes from a tick bite. If left untreated neurologic, joint destruction and heart problems can all develop. The affected joints in particular can be painful and about 10% of patients develop chronic knee problems. The problem with the disease is that it has to be caught early and differentiated from other inflammatory etiologies such as Reiter’s syndrome and RA. From a Chinese perspective Lyme is often seen as a wind damp condition or a Qi and Yin deficiency pattern. In utilizing Acupuncture and Lyme an acupuncturist would prescribe a series of treatments to help balance the body’s energy and fight the disease. Acupuncture points would be selected based upon the readings of the patients tongue and pulse. Treatments are generally a hour in length and the length of treatment might extent out several weeks. Certain western herbs have also been shown to be effective in treating lyme such as Teasel and Sarsaparilla. Insofar as lyme is a spirochete similar to syphilis any effective treatments for syphilis would have potential for lyme as well. More traditional Chinese formulas to help treat the condition are Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin and San Miao San are easily obtained in over the counter form.