People often come into our Lyme clinic under a cloud of doom. They’ve read on the internet that Lyme never really goes away, and that they are never going to feel normal. Of course, I immediately try and reassure them that this does not have to be the case; if properly treated, Lyme can go dormant for many years, or never flare again. It’s similar to herpes, a virus that stays in the neurological system and may never surface again, or it flares periodically and is treated.

The challenge in treating Lyme Disease is related to the challenge in diagnosing it. Since it’s mostly a clinical diagnosis, we look at history and symptoms first and then use lab tests to confirm our suspicions. Similarly, we have no magic blood test that tells us when to stop treatment; we must use the patient’s symptoms as our guide.  Here is an overview of medications and therapeutic treatments I have found to be highly effective:

 Antibiotics are the basis of Lyme treatment. Since spirochetes are resilliant, we use fairly high doses, and treat for a minumum of six weeks (and sometimes much longer – it’s not uncommon for me to have patients with chronic Lyme on antibiotics for 6-9 months a year). Click here to read more about my Lyme Disease antibiotic protocol.

IV Therapy is considered after other possibilities are exhausted. If it’s decided on, we usually will have a PICC line inserted surgically so that antibiotics can be given at home under a nurse’s supervision. We also use a “pulsed” regimen, treating 4-5 days a week with a break, and treating for a minimum of 12 weeks (read more here).

Although I have not seen much success with botanical medicine, there are several herbal medications that I use – most commonly, Cat’s Claw (Saventaro), Olive Leaf extract, and Artemesinin. I use these usually in combination, as a “step-down” regimen, when I am finishing a course of antibiotics.  Several herbal protocols (Cowden’s and Beuhner’s) are used by herbal practitioners; I have found them difficult to take and resulting in widely varying responses.

My practice has also seen very positive results from Hyberbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a useful adjunct to medical treatment. Patients lie in the canvas tank while oxygen is pumped in under low pressure (1.3 ATA). The treatments, usually an hour-long, enliven the brain cells and enhance the healing process. We recommend 20-30 treatments, usually once or twice/week.

Finally, I always prescribe nutritional supplements to offset the negative affects of the disease and of the medications, as well as to aid in tissue repair and boost the immune system. The basics are a Lyme Transfer factor made from cholostrom, which boosts the immune system; Vitamin D, also to boost immunity; Serraflazyme to help break down the biofilm surrounding and harboring the spirochete; Fish Oil as an anti-inflammatory to promote healing; and Sacro B to offset an overgrowth of dangerous bacteria in the bowel (a possible side-effect of antibiotics).

For further discussion – it’s worth mentioning three complicating factors with chronic Lyme: the problem of co-infections, transmitted through the tick bite; the biofilm that surrounds and harbors the spirochete, potentially inhibiting treatment; and the toxins that the spirochete produces that stay in the neurological system, causing chronic symptoms even after the Lyme is successfully treated. More on that next Lyme post. Happy 4th to all.