Multimodal Lyme therapy at ImunoMedica Clinic
The multisystemic and multidimensional nature of Lyme disease proves that one can achieve the cure only with a multimodal and integrative approach. Therefore, we introduced most therapies that have been proven effective in treating Lyme infection and associated co-infections, as well as in the recovery from the disease.
Thus, we administer conventional antibiotic-centered therapies associated with treatments such as total hyperthermia and hyperbaric oxygen and complemented by other therapies such as vitamin C infusions or other anti-inflammatory and bactericidal extracts. The treatments that aim at restoring the microbiome and enhancing detoxification mechanisms play an important role in counteracting the Herxheimer reaction specific to the destruction of biofilms and bacteria.
Standard and
adjuvant therapies
in Lyme disease
Antibiotics
in Lyme disease
We choose the antibiotics in Lyme disease, dosages, and administration duration according to the disease stage, i.e., Erythema Migrans, early dissemination, or late dissemination (Lyme arthritis or neuroborreliosis). Laboratory tests, intolerance tests, the patient's clinical condition, and, most importantly, whether and which antibiotics have already been administered are also considered. The antibiotics we are using in the ImunoMedica Clinic are following the most recent guidelines and reviews.
Hyperthermia
in Lyme disease
Since the early 1980s, research has found that the multiplication, motility, and survival of Borrelia depend on temperature. But each strain has an optimal temperature range for proliferation. For example, strain B31 (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto) has an ideal mean temperature of 33°C and a growth range of 22°C to 39°C; for strain BR75 (Borrelia afzeli) the optimum is found at 35°C, while the range for multiplication is 20-40°C. For strain BR14 (Borrelia garini) the optimum temperature is 37°C with a growth range of 20-41°C. A bactericidal effect of temperature was also observed for strains sensu stricto and aphosa at 41°C. All strains except BR14 (Borrelia garini) will survive at 41°C. At 42°C, garini cannot survive either, although, at 41°C, it can still multiply and has motility.
Hyperbaric oxygen
in Lyme disease
Hyperbaric oxygen is the therapy that creates one of the most hostile environments for Borrelia survival during therapy, acting synergistically with antibiotics and other integrative therapies used in the treatment of Lyme disease.
Hyperbaric oxygen has a bactericidal and bacteriostatic action, which is mainly manifested against anaerobic and microaerobic microorganisms, such as Borreliosis. This fact is the first explanation of the significant effects of hyperbaric oxygen in Lyme therapy observed experimentally. However, the bactericidal and bacteriostatic action of hyperbaric therapy targets several mechanisms, such as the production of reactive oxygen species that have a strong antibacterial effect. However, suppose hyperbaric oxygen is administered at low pressures, below 1.5 atmospheres. In that case, it can favor the growth of certain types of bacteria, so under these conditions, it is not indicated in Lyme disease therapy.
- Hyperbaric Oxygen acts synergistically with antibiotics, depending on their nature. It enhances angiogenesis (the multiplication of blood vessels in the body), favouring the action of antibiotics in tissues and organs that are normally less vascularised.
- Hyperbaric oxygen helps to penetrate the bacterial cell wall. Studies show that antibiotics can be more easily incorporated in the presence of increased oxygen tension, which is greatly increased in hyperbaric therapy.
Most of the time, the tick bite does not only transmit Lyme disease. In many cases, it is associated with other microorganisms that induce pathologies that are often overlooked in the treatment of Lyme disease. Among the most critical co-infections of Lyme disease, we find Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Bartonella, and Ehrlichia.
Secondary co-infections or opportunistic infections such as Candidiasis, Chlamydia Pneumoniae, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr Virus, Human herpes virus 6, streptococci, and mycotoxins also flourish on the ground of suppressed immunity from Lyme disease. All this means that in treating Lyme disease, therapies that play an essential antiviral, antifungal, and anti-infective role, generally therapies that stimulate immunity, should also be taken into account.
Oxidative bactericidal
and antiviral therapies
in Lyme disease
Vitamin C
in Lyme disease
Vitamin C's antimicrobial, bactericidal, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antifungal effect is based on various molecular mechanisms, mainly its antioxidant and immunomodulatory potential. All of these make it highly effective for supportive treatments for Lyme disease. The 10- to 100-fold higher concentration of vitamin C in leukocytes relative to plasma is the best evidence of the crucial role vitamin C plays in a host of immune cell functions, such as proliferation and differentiation, beyond its potent anti-inflammatory effect.
Thus, vitamin C plays an essential regulatory role in the functioning of monocytes and macrophages, the innate immune system's first line of defense against invading pathogens. Vitamin C protects neutrophils against oxidative stress, improving cell motility in response to chemotactic stimuli. It also plays a vital role in the proliferation and function of B, T, and NK immune lymphocytes, so crucial in the fight against Lyme disease.
Ozone therapy
in Lyme disease
Research has shown that ozone kills microorganisms by destroying their outer membranes or capsules. In addition, unlike human cells, which possess enzymes that can repair damaged DNA, pathogenic microorganisms do not have this protective capacity. Ozone acts selectively on pathogens found in the body without harming healthy cells. Repeated ozone treatments are necessary because certain forms of viruses and fungi are more susceptible to the effect of ozone at different stages of their development. Some microorganisms are more resistant than others and therefore require more prolonged treatment. Viruses with more lipids in the outer capsule are more susceptible to the action of ozone: herpes, mumps, measles, influenza, rabies, HIV, Epstein Barr virus, Coxsackie virus, cytomegalovirus.
Intravenous laser
in Lyme disease
Blue light radiation
- lowers the level of inflammation in the body.
- stimulates complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, increasing cellular ATP production.
- stimulating the production of reactive oxygen species destroys microorganisms in the bloodstream. The action is primarily evident in bacteria where blue light radiation produces reactive oxygen species through its absorption by bacterial porphyrins.
- in combination with riboflavin, has antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic effects.
- stimulates microcirculation by increasing NO.
- can be used as photosensitizers for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (for bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases) in combination with riboflavin and curcumin.
UVB, UVA, UVC
in Lyme disease
Ultraviolet irradiation of blood, also known as haemo-irradiation, was first used in the 1930s to combat the polio virus and later for other pathogens. By the 1940s and early 1950s, the therapy was already being used for conditions such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Unfortunately, the advent of antibiotics meant that this non-invasive method of fighting infections was soon abandoned. But the spread of antibiotic resistance today has brought UV blood irradiation into the spotlight.
Borrelia burgdorferi can persist in the human body, not only in spirochetal form but also in antibiotic-resistant biofilm form. And resistance to antibiotic treatment can be recorded even after long-term antibiotic therapy.
Treatment resistance and disease recurrence are associated with biofilm-like aggregates in Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia garinii both in vitro and in vivo. This fact allows Borrelia to withstand the most adverse environmental conditions and explains the need for therapies that contribute to biofilm destruction in advanced forms of Lyme disease.
Biofilm destruction
and toxin removal
EDTA chelation
in Lyme disease
Biofilms are communities of micro-organisms that self-encapsulate in an extracellular polymeric substance, making them more resistant to the immune system and antibiotics. One of the most important causes of antibiotic resistance in Borrelia strains is the organization of this bacterium into colonies that are not only unaffected by drugs but are often impossible to detect in Borrelia testing.
EDTA is known as one of the most potent biofilm disruptors by chelating calcium, magnesium, and iron contained in biofilms. Studies conducted so far highlight the powerful effect of EDTA in destroying bacterial biofilms on catheters and beyond, in several bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Proteobacteria, but especially in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, where EDTA has been shown to be 1000 times more effective than Vancomycin in destroying this bacterium. Biofilms of the fungus Candida Albicans were also susceptible to EDTA.
Chelation of heavy metals in Lyme disease
Heavy metals feed inflammation, inhibit the immune response and impair detoxification mechanisms. This fact creates the best ground for Borreliosis and other co-infections to increase their aggressiveness and be impossible for the body to control.
Chelation therapy helps remove these toxins and heavy metals from the body, which are also often associated with biofilm formation.
Medicines and enzymes
in Lyme disease
Because fibrins are one of the basic materials in biofilm formation, it has been shown that certain antifibrinolytic enzymes can be very effective in destroying them. These include Serrapeptase and, more recently Lumbrokinase, but also Stevia, N-Acetyl Cysteine, or drugs such as Plaquenil have proven effective in destroying biofilms.
The destruction of spirochetes and the release of a large number of endotoxins into the blood leads, in many cases, to the appearance of the Herxheimer reaction. This fact involves worsening symptoms, with the formation of mild fever, joint pain, headache or myalgia, a strong feeling of being sick, or other symptoms encountered before. Detoxification and antioxidant therapies help eliminate endotoxins from the body more quickly or neutralize their effect.
Detox
Hydrocolonotherapy
in Lyme disease
Much of the toxins and heavy metals are eliminated through the colon in the chelation process. For this reason, cleansing the colon of food waste deposited over time becomes a necessity in the detoxification process. Also, restoring the microbiome plays a crucial role in improving the immune response and certain metabolic functions necessary in treating Lyme disease.
Benefits
of hydrocolontherapy
1. Efficient digestive system
As the colon cleanses, it clears the way for better absorption of nutrients. If waste remains in the body for too long, it becomes a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and leads to illness. A detoxified colon allows undigested waste to pass easily through and out, which solves problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, bloating and gas, diarrhea, and even oesophageal reflux.
2. Strengthens the immune system
It creates a clean and healthy environment for growing good bacteria, leads to the disappearance of candidiasis, thrush, and bad breath, and increases absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Detox juices
in Lyme disease
It is often difficult, if not impossible, for the chronically ill to purchase the necessary ingredients and prepare their meals to meet the requirements of a diet that meets medical recommendations.
Patients can get the juices, salads, or foods suitable for a detox program right from our clinic, prepared in our laboratory from the highest quality ingredients.
Detox sauna
in Lyme disease
The infrared sauna is perhaps the best means of detoxification, given that the skin is the body's largest excretory organ, with a surface area of approximately 1.5-1.9 m2. According to studies, in comparison with the classic sauna, infrared sauna increases by 15%-20% the sweat carried by the sebaceous (apocrine sweat) glands - containing cholesterol, endogenous or exogenous fat-soluble toxins (xenobiotics), heavy metals, ammonia, and uric acid, etc. In a traditional sauna, 95-97% of the sweat is water released by the eccrine sweat glands, while the effort from a far-infrared thermal system contains only 80-85% water, the rest being sweat from the sebaceous glands.
An essential feature of Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndrome is the triggering of an excessive pro-inflammatory response during the infection that persists into the post-infectious period. This mechanism can lead to a chronic inflammation syndrome, persistent even after the end of antibiotic treatment. In Lyme arthritis, this inflammation results in synovial tissue damage, vascular damage, and fibrosis.
As for Neuroborreliosis, inflammation of the brain or the central and peripheral nervous system induces a state of permanent fatigue, mental confusion, headaches, insomnia, memory loss, demyelination, neurodegeneration, etc. These are just some of the effects of chronic post-treatment inflammation that require an anti-inflammatory therapeutic approach until the inflammation subsides and the person can resume a normal life.
Anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant therapies
PEMF Curatron
in Lyme disease
Low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields are perhaps the most effective magnetotherapy, resulting in many pathologies. Among these technologies, the Curatron is at the forefront, currently considered the most effective computer controlled PEMF technology.
Mainly, studies show that the use of PEMF magnetotherapy leads to an improvement in the circulation and functioning of the endocrine systems, immune response, and a reduction in inflammation.
Research results show that PEMF can improve tissue recovery by modulating inflammation signaling pathways. Thus, it is found that, following exposure of cells to this low-frequency electromagnetic field, the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-3, IL-4, and IL-10, increases, and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in autoimmune diseases and Lyme, such as IL-1b, IL-6, IL-17A, and TNF-α, decreases.
Molecular hydrogen
in Lyme disease
Hydrogen (H2) is a non-toxic, natural, simple, selective antioxidant molecule that is effective in combating oxidative stress and inflammation and in regulating the signaling of several pathways involved in various pathologies.
Biological effects
a) antioxidant effects
The most potent toxins in the body are toxic free radicals, which can be generated by many pathogenic factors, ranging from physical factors (ionizing radiation and ultraviolet light) to chemical factors (chemical toxins) and biological factors (bacteria, viruses, infections, and the biotoxins they release), as well as abnormal immunity (such as rheumatoid arthritis).
Hydrogen molecules scavenge toxic free radicals by the following means:
- Activates the Nrf2-Keap1 system; induces activation of antioxidant response elements (ARE); and secretes various cytoprotective proteins such as glutathione, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and heme-1 oxygenase.
- Activates the transcription factor Fox01; regulates the expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and CAT; and reduces mitochondrial damage and massive free radical generation.
- Activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, regulates cell growth, and remodels energy metabolism, thereby achieving anti-apoptotic effects.
Manual therapies
Lymphatic drainage
in Lyme disease
The lymphatic system is an essential part of the immune system but also a vital detoxifying organ as part of the circulatory system. The lymph helps remove interstitial fluid and dissolved substances from tissues (such as waste products, bacteria, fats, proteins, peptides, and other macromolecules), initiates and coordinates immune responses to remove cellular debris, and helps absorb fats and other substances from the gastrointestinal tract. The lymph nodes function as filters of toxic substances and play an essential role in immune processes.
Reflexology
in Lyme disease
Reflex therapy causes blood vessels to dilate and blood flow to accelerate, causing more blood to be pumped to the organs corresponding to the reflex areas. Thus, acupressure improves the excretory functions of the kidney, ureters, and bladder. At the same time, it can invigorate the function of the lungs and bronchi, inducing an increased exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs and bronchi. This is how foot reflexology and acupressure can detoxify, improve blood circulation and dispel blood stagnation.
Reflexotherapy has also proven effective in relieving acute and chronic pain in diseases of the musculoskeletal system, internal organs, nervous, immune, and endocrine systems, emotional disorders, and anxiety.
Frequently asked
questions about
Lyme disease therapy
-
How long does the treatment of Borreliosis last in the Immunomedica clinic?
The treatment takes place over three weeks. Suppose there is advanced neurodegeneration on peripheral nerves and beyond, with cortical damage and demyelination. Specific therapies, such as hyperbaric oxygen should continue for up to 30 days to improve neurogenesis and angiogenesis.
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What are the side effects of the proposed therapies?
A specific toxicity assumes any treatment with antibiotics, but the other associated therapies, such as restoring the microbiome's health, will not only prevent the antibiotics from harming the body but will improve immune processes, nutrient assimilation, and other vital processes dependent on healthy gut flora.
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Can therapy lead to a worsening of symptoms?
Indeed, the Herxheimer reaction produced by the elimination of endotoxins following the destruction of spirochetes can lead to such a phenomenon, but supporting the body through detoxifying therapies has this role precisely, to eradicate this reaction or to diminish it to the level where it becomes insurmountable.
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Can I receive a personalized treatment program?
Yes, but only after you contact one of our clinic doctors to inform us about your health, disease history, and tests.
One of Europe's Premier Lyme Disease Treatment Centers Operates at ImunoMedica Clinic
How can you become a patient of our clinic?
Throughout the whole process, from your initial contact, through treatment and after you leave our clinic, our patient coordinators will guide you through the steps and support you with all their expertise, attention and kindness.
First inquiry
We will ask you to fill in our medical evaluation and data consent sheet, furthermore to provide us with all your relevant medical records.
Online consultation
with our medical team
You will be scheduled for a detailed consultation about your case including medical history, recent findings and specific therapeutic recommendations.
Therapy plan
& cost estimate
Your personal patient coordinator will provide you your personalized preliminary treatment plan and you will also receive the associated cost breakdown.
Confirmation
for treatment
After confirmation your personal patient coordinator will inform & support you about all the steps and arrangements to be taken prior to arrival to our Clinic.
*
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Phone: +40.771.518.946, e-mail: office@imuno-medica.ro