Every revolution in medicine begins with a moment of observation — a patient who reacts differently, a result that defies expectations, a question that refuses to go unanswered. At St. George Hospital, the story of our globally recognized Lyme disease treatment began not in a laboratory, but in the quiet recovery of a cancer patient — and a surprising disappearance of her Lyme symptoms.
In 1998, Dr. med. Friedrich Douwes was treating a cancer patient with extreme whole-body hyperthermia — a therapy designed to weaken tumor cells by raising the body’s core temperature to over 41.6°C. What happened next was unexpected: The patient, who also had severe Lyme symptoms, reported complete relief from her fatigue, joint pain, and neurological issues. Not only had the tumor responded — the Borrelia bacteria appeared to have vanished. Intrigued, Dr. Douwes began to investigate.
Dr. Douwes worked with microbiologists and clinicians across Europe to explore the heat sensitivity of Borrelia burgdorferi. Studies confirmed what he had observed: Borrelia is thermolabile — it begins to die at sustained body temperatures above 41.6°C. Moreover, heat increases antibiotic penetration, immune activity, and metabolic clearance. This led to a novel hypothesis: If patients receive heat and antibiotics at the same time, recovery is possible even in chronic cases.
Over the following years, the team at St. George Hospital refined what is now known as Antibiotic-Augmented Thermoeradication (AAT). The protocol includes whole-body hyperthermia, intravenous antibiotics, detoxification therapies, immune regulation, and — when needed — co-infection treatment. More than 5000 patients from over 90 countries have since completed this program. Many arrive exhausted, disbelieved, and bedridden. Most leave with renewed energy, restored clarity, and a new beginning.
In 2014, the Australian program “Sunday Night” featured two investigative documentaries on Lyme and the treatment at St. George Hospital. The medical establishment responded with skepticism — but the patients responded with hope. The resistance only reinforced the need for honest science, innovation, and compassion. Today, St. George Hospital is recognized worldwide as a pioneering center for chronic Lyme therapy. What began as an observation has become a movement.
