Systemic Hyperthermia
Whole-Body Hyperthermia
Whole-body hyperthermia raises the core body temperature in a controlled medical setting to activate the immune system, damage cancer cells systemically, and combat persistent infections throughout the body.
What it is
What Is Whole-Body Hyperthermia?
Whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) is a systemic treatment that elevates the patient’s core body temperature to between 38.5 and 42 degrees Celsius, depending on the protocol. This simulates a natural fever response, which is the body’s own mechanism for fighting disease.
The treatment activates immune cells, increases circulation, and creates conditions that are hostile to cancer cells and pathogens. It is one of the most powerful immunological tools available at St. George Hospital.
How it works
How Does It Work?
The patient lies in a specialized hyperthermia system that uses water-filtered infrared radiation to gradually raise body temperature. The entire process is monitored continuously by medical staff, with real-time tracking of core temperature, heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure.
Mild WBH (38.5-40C) is used for immune activation, while moderate WBH (40-42C) provides more intensive anti-tumor and anti-infective effects. The elevated temperature directly damages heat-sensitive cancer cells and pathogens while stimulating natural killer cells and heat shock protein production.
Who it is for
What Conditions Does It Treat?
- Cancer (used alongside chemotherapy or immunotherapy)
- Chronic Lyme disease and co-infections
- Post-COVID syndrome
- Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction
- Chronic inflammatory conditions
Could this belong in your plan?
That depends on your findings, not on the therapy. Send what you have with a short history; a physician reads it before the video call and tells you whether this treatment belongs in your program.
In the room
What a session feels like
- Before A physician reviews your vital signs. You get an IV line and a temperature probe, and you lie down under the heating unit with a nurse at the bed.
- During The whole session takes 4–6 hours: heating, a plateau at the target temperature set for your protocol (up to 42 °C), then a supervised cool-down. It feels like a strong fever: heat, sweating, a fast pulse, thirst. You are given fluids and you doze. A nurse and a physician are with you.
- Afterwards A rest period follows, and you will feel wrung out that evening. Sessions are spaced across the program.
Evidence
Evidence & Safety
Whole-body hyperthermia has been studied in numerous clinical trials, particularly in oncology. Research published in journals such as the International Journal of Hyperthermia demonstrates improved treatment outcomes when WBH is combined with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. St. George Hospital has been using WBH for over 30 years and has contributed extensively to the published literature on this therapy.
Where we use it
Used in These Departments
Lyme Disease
See the Lyme programme →Post-COVID
See the Long COVID programme →Chronic Fatigue
See the chronic fatigue programme →Request a consultation
A video consultation in English before you travel. A physician reviews your findings first; we reply by email within one business day (Mon–Fri).
Mon–Thu 08:00–17:00, Fri 08:00–14:00 (CET/CEST)+49 8061 398-0info@clinicum-stgeorg.de
St. George Hospital is a specialist hospital, not an emergency department. In a medical emergency in Germany, dial 112.