Lyme Disease Root Cause Care
Reviewed by Dr. Martin Hart , DC & Dr. Koji Aoki, DC
Root-Cause Functional Care for Complex and Persistent Symptoms
Lyme disease can present very differently from one individual to another. While some people recover quickly, others experience persistent, multi-system symptoms that linger for months or even years. For those individuals, finding answers can feel frustrating and overwhelming.
Keystone Total Health, located in Columbia, Tennessee, serves individuals throughout the greater Nashville area and welcomes clients from across the United States who are seeking a comprehensive, root-cause approach to Lyme disease, mold illness, and complex chronic conditions.
Lyme Disease and Mold Illness: A Common Overlap
Lyme disease frequently overlaps with Mold Illness (CIRS). Both conditions can:
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Drive chronic immune activation
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Increase inflammatory burden
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Affect cognitive and neurological function
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Contribute to fatigue and digestive dysfunction
When Lyme disease and mold illness coexist, symptoms are often more complex and persistent. Identifying whether one or both are contributing factors is an important step in clarifying care priorities.
Why Lyme Disease Can Become Chronic or Persistent
Persistent Lyme-related symptoms are not always driven by infection alone. In many cases, ongoing symptoms are influenced by immune dysregulation, inflammation, nervous system stress, and impaired detoxification capacity.
Factors that may contribute to chronic Lyme patterns include:
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Delayed diagnosis or treatment
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Co-infections and immune burden
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Overlapping environmental stressors
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Nutrient and mineral depletion
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Nervous system dysregulation
This is why many individuals with Lyme disease also experience symptoms consistent with Chronic Fatigue, Hormone Imbalances, or Gut & Digestive Issues.
How Do You Measure Up?
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme Borreliosis
Definition:
Lyme disease is a vector-borne disease that can lead to chronic fatigue, extreme lethargy, and may trigger and/or mimic auto-immune symptoms in patients. In epidemiology, a disease vector is any living agent that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen such as a parasite or microbe, to another living organism. Agents regarded as vectors are mostly blood-sucking insects.
Causes:
Lyme disease is caused by a specific bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi and its co-infections. These pathogens are spread by ticks, blood sucking insects, during pregnancies (mother to child), and potentially between spouses. The most common signs of infection include joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, body aches, and a rash known as erythema migrains (EM).
Concern:
Studies have documented cases of Lyme disease that appeared to trigger or mimic autoimmune diseases, including Sjogren's syndrome, dermatomyocitis (DM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and spondyloarthritis (SpA).
Western Medicine Disconnections:
Did you know many medical professionals think 100,000 new cases of Lyme Disease are diagnosed each year? That would be terrible enough, but the actual prevalence is 10x greater at 300,000 new cases each year in America alone! Many traditional medical professionals simply do not have formal education, training or experience to treat it, and frequently tell patients they cannot possibly have Lyme Disease. Unfortunately, this often puts patients on a years-long chase for the unobtainable.
These frequently asked questions cover Lyme disease symptom patterns, why symptoms may persist, and how a root-cause functional approach can help clarify contributing factors. Keystone Total Health supports clients in Columbia, TN, the Nashville area, and nationwide through in-person and virtual care options.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a vector-borne illness caused by Borrelia bacteria and may be complicated by co-infections and immune dysregulation. Some individuals recover quickly, while others experience persistent symptoms.
What are common Lyme disease symptoms?
Symptoms may include fatigue, joint or muscle discomfort, brain fog, headaches, neurological symptoms, sleep disturbance, mood changes, and immune-related concerns.
What is chronic Lyme disease?
“Chronic Lyme” is a term often used to describe persistent symptoms following initial infection. Root-cause care focuses on understanding immune stress, inflammation, nervous system involvement, and overlapping contributors.
What causes Lyme brain fog?
Brain fog associated with Lyme-related illness may be influenced by inflammation, immune activation, nervous system stress, and metabolic strain rather than infection alone.
How do you evaluate Lyme-related health patterns?
Evaluation includes a comprehensive history, symptom analysis, and personalized testing when appropriate to assess immune activity, inflammation, detoxification capacity, and overlapping stressors.
Can Lyme disease overlap with mold illness?
Yes. Mold illness and Lyme disease frequently coexist and may amplify symptom burden. Addressing both patterns is often necessary for progress.
Why do Lyme symptoms fluctuate?
Symptoms may fluctuate due to changes in immune signaling, stress response, detoxification capacity, or environmental exposures.
Do you work with Lyme clients nationwide?
Yes. Keystone Total Health is based in Columbia, TN, serves the Nashville area, and supports clients nationwide through in-person intensives and virtual follow-up when appropriate.
Lance • Keystone Total Health Patient
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"I'm a chronic Lyme patient (multiple co-infections, mold toxicity, heavy metal toxicity, CIRS, EBV, etc) with loads of digestive problems, the typical joint & muscle pain, migrating skin issues and neurological dysfunction that has severely compromised my vision, balance, and mental state.
Dr. Hart is THE doctor you want on your team if you have a health timeline anything like mine. I can confidently say that he is the leading expert on chronic Lyme treatment in the United States, and I've flown all over the U.S. seeking treatment."
Why Lyme Disease Is Often Missed or Incompletely Addressed
Many individuals with Lyme-related concerns are told testing is negative, symptoms are stress-related, or nothing further can be done. Conventional approaches may not evaluate functional immune response, inflammatory patterns, detoxification capacity, or overlapping stressors that can influence recovery.
At Keystone Total Health, we look beyond surface-level findings to assess how infections may be interacting with:
Isn't it time you are seen by someone who understands Lyme Disease and can address its many issues, side effects, and conditions?
Dr. Aoki and Dr. Hart are both deeply experienced with patients who have been diagnosed with Lyme Disease. They’ve taken on patients who have been misdiagnosed by PCPs, PAs and the larger medical institutions with everything from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), multiple sclerosis (MS), fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases including Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis, to Sjogren's syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, psychiatric disorders, and thyroid disease, among others.
Here’s How We’ll Do This Together
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Book Your Keystone Root Cause Analysis™
During your initial one-hour appointment with one of our practitioners, the Keystone Root Cause Analysis™ provides a comprehensive, root-cause evaluation that reviews physical, environmental, and social factors to understand your symptoms and identify personalized next steps.
Common Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease symptoms often involve multiple body systems and may fluctuate over time.
Neurological & Cognitive Symptoms
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Brain fog
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Memory or concentration difficulties
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Headaches
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Dizziness
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Sensory sensitivity
Neurological symptoms are among the most common reasons individuals seek care for persistent Lyme-related illness.
Musculoskeletal Symptoms
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Joint stiffness or discomfort
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Muscle pain or weakness
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Migratory aches
Immune & Inflammatory Symptoms
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Chronic inflammation
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Recurrent illness
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Heightened immune reactivity
Digestive Symptoms
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Bloating or digestive discomfort
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Food sensitivities
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Irregular bowel patterns
Digestive symptoms often overlap with underlying Gut & Digestive Issues.
Energy & Autonomic Symptoms
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Persistent fatigue
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Exercise intolerance
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Sleep disruption
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Temperature sensitivity
These patterns frequently overlap with Chronic Fatigue and nervous system dysregulation.
"When it comes to patients with Lyme disease, I leave no stone unturned. My goal is to empower my patient so they can restore their freedom. I understand that everyone’s body is different, requiring and deserving of individualized care. This is one of several core commitments that I will make to you."
Dr. Koji Aoki, Keystone Total Health
How Lyme Disease Is Evaluated at Keystone Total Health
At Keystone Total Health, Lyme disease is evaluated through a root-cause functional approach that looks beyond isolated lab results.
Evaluation may include:
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A comprehensive health and symptom history
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Assessment of immune and inflammatory patterns
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Personalized functional testing when appropriate
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Evaluation of detoxification capacity and nervous system regulation
Testing is selected based on the individual and interpreted within the full clinical picture, not in isolation.
Many clients choose to undergo this process through the Keystone Root Cause Intensive, which provides a structured and immersive evaluation for complex chronic conditions.
Conditions That Commonly Overlap With Lyme Disease
Lyme disease frequently overlaps with other complex conditions, including:
This overlap is why a comprehensive, root-cause-focused approach is often necessary.
Who Lyme Disease Root Cause Care Is Best Suited For
Lyme disease evaluation may be helpful for individuals who:
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Have persistent symptoms despite prior treatment
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Experience brain fog, fatigue, or inflammatory symptoms
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Suspect mold exposure or environmental triggers
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Have overlapping conditions such as mold illness, gut dysfunction, or autoimmune patterns
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Feel their symptoms have never been fully explained
Care is not intended for emergency or acute medical situations.
