The Lyme Educator

04/15/2026

💥BIG NEWS💥The prominent scientific journal, Frontiers, published a groundbreaking article on the perinatal transmission of Lyme disease, discussing Lyme transmission from mother-to-baby. This article is the result of the 2022 Banbury Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory meeting of international Lyme disease experts, funded by the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation.

Participants represented academia, clinical medicine, government agencies, and foundations to confront the long-overlooked issue of perinatal transmission of Lyme disease, and LymeLight Foundation was present and proud to represent the patient voice sharing that we believe approximately 50% of LymeLight recipients were born with Lyme disease. Together, we highlighted a critical gap in medicine—and called for urgent action.

🔍 Key takeaways:
• Lyme bacteria can cross the placenta, meaning transmission from mother to baby is possible
• Adverse outcomes have been reported—but risks remain unclear
• Research has stalled for decades, leaving major gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcomes
• Some mothers are asymptomatic or undiagnosed, making detection especially challenging
• Early treatment appears to improve outcomes—but best practices need to be established

📢 The lesson is clear:
We need better research, standardized diagnostics, and clear clinical guidelines to protect families.

Read the full article here: www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2026.1794120/full

04/14/2026

Ticks can be THIS TINY 🤯🤯

Even the smallest ticks can cause big problems, having the potential to spread a multitude of diseases to humans. As the weather warms up, you may begin seeing ticks in grassy or wooded areas. Protect yourself by using bug repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants in wooded areas, and checking for ticks after being outside.

Learn more about ticks at https://bit.ly/4r4gt5F

04/12/2026

This is a great tutorial on how to make homemade tick tubes 🐭🌿

Such a simple, proactive way to help reduce ticks around your home, especially if you’re dealing with Lyme or trying to prevent it for your family.

Has anyone here tried making these before? I’d love to hear what’s worked (or not worked) for you!

04/06/2026

The red fox in your neighborhood is protecting your family from Lyme disease.

Here's the science:

→ White-footed mice are the primary reservoir for the Lyme disease bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi)
→ Baby ticks feed on mice and GET infected
→ Those infected ticks then bite humans
→ More mice = more infected ticks = more Lyme disease

Enter the fox:

→ A red fox eats 3,000-4,000 mice per year
→ Foxes are one of the most effective mouse predators in suburban areas
→ Studies show: areas with more fox activity have FEWER cases of Lyme disease
→ When fox populations decline (from coyote pressure, habitat loss, or human persecution), mouse populations EXPLODE

This is called the "ecology of fear":
→ Even fox PRESENCE causes mice to hide more and forage less
→ Reduced mouse activity = fewer tick encounters
→ The fear itself provides protection

But here's what we do:

→ Call animal control when we see a fox
→ Set traps
→ Post panicked neighborhood alerts
→ Remove the one animal keeping Lyme disease in check

Red foxes in suburban areas:
→ Are NOT dangerous to humans or pets (they weigh 8-15 lbs)
→ Do NOT attack children
→ Hunt mice, rabbits, squirrels, and insects
→ Are shy and avoid confrontation
→ Mange (which makes them look sick) is treatable — call wildlife rehab

If you have a fox: congratulations.

Your neighborhood has a Lyme disease control program.

It's free. It's furry. And it works nights. 🦊

04/04/2026

This week, we received a nymphal lone star tick from Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and confirmed it was infected with Borrelia lonestari bacteria. This is a pathogen that can cause Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) in its host.

Amblyomma ticks from the Old Line State have also tested positive for Ehrlichia ewingii and Ehrlichia chaffeensis (ehrlichiosis) and Rickettsia parkeri (rickettsiosis).

Instead of guessing what a tick could have exposed you to, send it to TickReport to know for sure! Testing for pathogens that can cause Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and more begins at just $60—visit us at www.tickreport.com or email us at support@tickreport.com for more information!

03/05/2026

This passed in IL last year. Hoping this passes in MO as well.

One Missouri representative is seeking to pass a law that would mandate the state to track and record cases of the tick-borne allergy alpha-gal syndrome.

02/24/2026

Chronic fatigue syndrome is linked.

02/23/2026

🌿 A Little Wellness Gift Just for You! 🌿

Hey everyone! I’m excited to share a special little wellness gift with you. I have a few of doTERRA’s VMG+ packs to share, and I’d love for you to experience how it can brighten up your daily routine.

Here’s what it can do for you:
Supports heart and brain health 🧠❤️
Boosts your energy and immune system ⚡🛡️
Helps with digestion and gut health 🌿
Promotes comfortable joints, mobility, and balanced hormones 🧘‍♀️
Enhances your skin’s glow and helps maintain a balanced mood ✨

And the best part? VMG+ is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free from artificial colors, flavors, soy, dairy, and nuts. Plus, it’s delicious!

Note: This is especially for those of you who don’t have a doTERRA account yet—just a friendly way to share something new. 💚

Drop a comment below if you’d like to give it a try. I can’t wait to share this with you!

02/21/2026

If you’re brushing and flossing but still dealing with bad breath… this might be the missing piece 👇

✨ Tongue scraping ✨

Most people don’t realize that your tongue holds onto bacteria, food debris, dead cells, and toxins — especially toward the back. That white coating you sometimes see? That’s buildup. And it can absolutely affect breath, taste, and even overall oral health.

Here’s why I love adding tongue scraping to a daily routine:

🦷 Fresher breath
The majority of bad breath bacteria live on the tongue — not your teeth.

👅 Improved taste
Removing buildup allows your taste buds to function better. Many people say food tastes brighter and more flavorful.

🦠 Reduces harmful bacteria
Less bacterial load in the mouth can support healthier gums and reduce plaque.

💎 Cleaner mouth feel
You know that just-left-the-dentist feeling? Tongue scraping helps maintain that.

🌿 Supports whole-body wellness
Your mouth is the gateway to your body. Reducing bacterial overgrowth may support digestive and immune health.

How to do it:
• Use a stainless steel or copper tongue scraper
• Gently scrape from back to front (2–3 passes)
• Rinse scraper between passes
• Do it before brushing, once daily

It takes 10 seconds. That’s it.

Once you start, you’ll never skip it again — it’s one of those “why didn’t I do this sooner?” habits.

Do you tongue scrape daily? 👇

Need a tongue scraper? Buy one here: https://amzn.to/3ZP0BsQ

02/02/2026

Burning pain with normal EMG is common in small fiber and post-infectious conditions. Learn why standard nerve tests miss this pain—and what it means.

01/12/2026

Congenital Lyme

01/12/2026