Chronic Lyme disease is not a single problem with a single solution. It is a convergence of persistent infection, immune failure, chronic inflammation, toxin accumulation, and systemic damage that requires a coordinated, multi-pronged therapeutic strategy.
Our program is built on three clinical modules, each designed by Dr. Julian Douwes to address a specific dimension of the disease:
Additionally, all patients may receive blood purification (apheresis, immunoadsorption, plasma exchange) or Neural Therapy (procaine injections) based on individual diagnostic findings. This modular, synergistic approach is the defining characteristic of Lyme treatment at St. George Hospital.
Each therapy is selected and sequenced based on the individual patient’s diagnostic findings, co-infection profile, treatment history, and clinical response.
Core body temperature is raised to 41.6–41.8 °C (106.9–107.2 °F) for 120 minutes per session under continuous medical monitoring. The Lyme Package includes 2 sessions. At these temperatures, Borrelia spirochetes lose structural integrity and become dramatically more susceptible to concurrent antibiotic therapy. Hyperthermia also activates heat shock proteins and improves circulation to infected tissues.
Targeted heat application to specific body regions where infection concentrates, including joints, the spine, and areas of localized pain. Local hyperthermia achieves even higher tissue temperatures than whole-body protocols and is used to address focal symptoms while complementing systemic treatment.
Therapeutic blood filtration that selectively removes inflammatory proteins, immune complexes, endotoxins, and fibrinogen from the bloodstream. In Lyme patients, apheresis rapidly reduces systemic inflammation, clears circulating toxins released during bacterial die-off, and improves microcirculation to tissues harboring infection.
Carefully selected combination antibiotic regimens administered intravenously for maximum tissue penetration. We use agents that target all three morphological forms of Borrelia (spirochetes, round bodies, and biofilms) as well as specific co-infections. Timing of IV antibiotics is coordinated with hyperthermia sessions for synergistic effect.
Intravenous laser therapy delivers multiple wavelengths directly into the bloodstream via a fiber-optic catheter: blue (405 nm) with Riboflavin for antimicrobial action, green (532 nm) for oxygen uptake via hemoglobin binding, yellow (589 nm) for detoxification and serotonin metabolism, red (635 nm) for anti-inflammatory and mitochondrial ATP production, infrared (810 nm) for deepest tissue penetration and stem cell activation, and UV for immune activation. The Co-Infection Module includes 10 sessions combined with apheresis. I.V. laser therapy reaches intracellular co-infection pathogens (Bartonella, Babesia, etc.) that antibiotics cannot access.
Controlled induction of therapeutic fever using bacterial lysates to activate the body's natural immune cascade. Unlike hyperthermia, fever therapy triggers the full physiological fever response, including cytokine release, immune cell mobilization, and enhanced phagocytosis. This therapy has been refined at St. George Hospital over decades.
Thymus peptide therapy to restore T-cell function, high-dose IV vitamin C (up to 50g), IV glutathione, zinc, selenium, and B vitamin infusions. These protocols address the immune suppression that is characteristic of chronic Borrelia infection and restore the body's ability to maintain remission after active treatment ends.
Comprehensive detox protocols including IV glutathione, liver support (phospholipids, silymarin), activated charcoal and cholestyramine binders, colon hydrotherapy, infrared sauna therapy, and lymphatic drainage. These protocols manage the toxin burden from bacterial die-off and are essential for preventing severe Herxheimer reactions.
Medical-grade ozone administered through various routes (IV, rectal, topical) to improve oxygen utilization, stimulate antioxidant enzyme production, and provide direct antimicrobial effects. Ozone therapy supports mitochondrial function and enhances cellular energy production, which is often severely compromised in chronic Lyme patients.
Individualized physical therapy programs to maintain mobility, reduce pain, and support recovery during and after intensive treatment. We address the musculoskeletal consequences of chronic infection, including joint inflammation, muscle weakness, and deconditioning that accumulates during prolonged illness.
Chronic Lyme disease profoundly impacts mental health through both direct neurological effects and the psychological burden of prolonged illness. Our psychotherapy support addresses treatment-related anxiety, depression, trauma from medical dismissal, and cognitive rehabilitation strategies.
Anti-inflammatory dietary protocols, targeted supplementation based on laboratory-identified deficiencies, and gut restoration programs. Many Lyme patients have significant micronutrient deficiencies and gut dysbiosis that must be corrected to support immune function and treatment response.
The core module targets Borrelia directly. Two whole-body hyperthermia sessions at 41.6–41.8 °C (106.9–107.2 °F) for 120 minutes each disrupt spirochete structural integrity. Concurrent combination antibiotics over the full 2 weeks achieve dramatically higher tissue penetration during and after heat exposure. Daily detoxification manages Herxheimer reactions from bacterial die-off, while immune support infusions restore the body's ability to maintain progress.
Extended antibiotic therapy disrupts the gut microbiome, which is critical for long-term immune recovery. This module begins with gastroscopy and colonoscopy to assess GI health and deliver a living microbiome cocktail directly to the upper and lower digestive tract. This is followed by 3 days of targeted bacterial enemas to reinforce colonization, combined with concurrent detoxification to clear residual antibiotic metabolites.
For patients with confirmed co-infections (Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Mycoplasma), this module uses 10 I.V. Laser Therapy (PDT) sessions where laser light is delivered directly into the bloodstream via a fiber-optic catheter. Six wavelengths target different mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes: blue (405 nm) with Riboflavin for antimicrobial ROS generation, green (532 nm) for oxygen uptake, yellow (589 nm) for detoxification, red (635 nm) for microcirculation, infrared (810 nm) for deep tissue penetration and stem cell activation, and UV for immune activation. Apheresis blood purification sessions remove the inflammatory debris from pathogen destruction. For severe co-infection cases, Plasma Exchange and Red Blood Cell Exchange may be recommended for more aggressive blood purification.
Each module addresses a dimension that single-modality treatment cannot reach. Hyperthermia + antibiotics eliminates Borrelia. I.V. Laser Therapy + apheresis eliminates co-infections. Microbiome restoration rebuilds the immune foundation. Additional blood purification (H.E.L.P. Apheresis, immunoadsorption, Plasma Exchange, RBC Exchange) or Neural Therapy (procaine) can be added at any stage based on individual diagnostic findings.
This modular, synergistic approach is why patients travel from around the world to St. George Hospital — and why many describe their treatment as life-changing.
While the multimodal framework is consistent, every treatment plan is tailored to the individual patient. Factors that determine your specific protocol include:
Your treatment team reviews diagnostic results, clinical findings, and treatment response daily to adjust protocols in real time. This responsive, individualized approach is only possible in an inpatient setting with experienced Lyme disease specialists.
The scientific rationale for multimodal Lyme treatment is supported by multiple lines of evidence:
Our clinical outcomes over 35+ years demonstrate that patients treated with the full multimodal protocol achieve significantly better results than those who receive any single component in isolation. We continue to refine our protocols based on ongoing clinical experience, new research findings, and patient outcomes data.
Combination Antibiotics
Co-Infection Module
LLLT (6 Wavelengths)
Microbiome Restore
Additional (optional)
Contact our team to learn how our multimodal approach can address the full complexity of your condition.
