Lyme Treatments

Lyme Treatment Options

There are a staggering number of treatment options available for chronic Lyme disease. Everyone is different and will respond to treatments in their own way. What works can also depend on co-infections and any other underlying health conditions you’re dealing with. Another major factor is cost—treating Lyme can quickly drain a bank account.

I can’t say which treatment will work best for you—that’s something best explored with a Lyme-literate practitioner. But I can share what has helped me personally, as well as what I’ve seen work for others who’ve made significant improvements or even reached full remission.

How Do You Know If Something Is Working?

When treating Lyme disease, it’s not always straightforward—sometimes you feel worse before you feel better. One common sign that a treatment is working is the Herxheimer reaction.

A Herxheimer reaction is a temporary flare-up of symptoms that occurs when Lyme bacteria die off during treatment, releasing toxins faster than the body can eliminate them. While it can feel uncomfortable or discouraging, it often indicates that the treatment is effective and the immune system is actively responding.

Supporting your body’s detox pathways can help ease these symptoms and make the process more manageable. As frustrating as a Herx reaction can be, it usually becomes easier to handle as your bacterial and viral load decreases.

Other signs that a treatment is working might include:

• Increased energy

• Improved sleep

• A gradual reduction in some symptoms

  
  

Everyone’s journey is different, but these shifts—both challenging and encouraging—can all be part of the healing process.

Herbs: A Natural Ally in Lyme Recovery

Herbs are one of the most commonly used treatments among Lyme patients—and for good reason. They’re accessible, easy to take, and have a strong track record of helping people manage symptoms and support recovery.

Everyone I’ve met who fully healed from Lyme included herbs in their protocol. They used them not only to target Lyme and co-infections, but also to strengthen the immune system and support detoxification.

Some of the most effective herbs for Lyme include:

• Japanese Knotweed

• Cryptolepis sanguinolenta

• Cat’s Claw

  
  

Many people choose herbs over antibiotics because they tend to be gentler on the body. But don’t let the word “natural” fool you—herbs can be just as powerful as pharmaceuticals. That’s why they should always be used mindfully and under professional guidance. When managed properly, herbs can play a vital role in the healing journey.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for Lyme

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, helping to boost healing and fight infection. A 1998 study by Dr. William Fife at Texas A&M found that HBOT significantly improved symptoms in 84% of chronic Lyme patients. The high oxygen levels used in HBOT were shown to be lethal to Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

HBOT is one of my favourite Lyme therapies—it’s relatively low-cost, easy to use, and has real benefits. Not only can it help kill off Lyme bacteria, but it also supports the repair of damage caused by the infection.

Treatment is simple: you sit in a chamber for about an hour. During that time, you can read a book, relax, or catch up on Netflix. Some HBOT centers recommend daily sessions for several weeks. Personally, I started with one session per week, gradually building up to two—and occasionally three—times per week. Like any treatment, too much too soon can trigger a Herxheimer reaction, so it’s best to ease in slowly. Many chambers offer adjustable pressure settings, allowing you to start gently and build up at your own pace.

⚠️ Note: HBOT may not be suitable for people with Babesia, so always consult a

practitioner before starting.

Bioresonance Therapy for Lyme Support

Bioresonance is a gentle, non-invasive therapy that uses electromagnetic frequencies to detect and correct imbalances in the body. The idea is that every cell emits its own unique energy signal, and when illness or stress is present, those signals can become distorted. Bioresonance devices are designed to read these frequencies and then send corrective signals back to the body to support healing and restore balance.

During a session, you typically sit or lie down while connected to the device via electrodes or hand-held pads. Sessions are relaxing and usually last between 30 to 60 minutes.

Bioresonance was actually one of the first treatments I tried. At the time, I was very unwell, so it was hard to get a clear sense of how my body was responding. After my fourth session, the world went into lockdown and I wasn’t able to continue.

Although I didn’t complete my treatment, I’ve since spoken to many people who credit bioresonance as a key part of their healing journey—and some have even reached remission with its help.

Autohemotherapy & Rectal Insufflation: My Experience with Ozone Therapy

Autohemotherapy involves drawing a small amount of your own blood, infusing it with ozone, and then re-injecting it into the body. This process stimulates the immune system and supports healing on a cellular level.

Rectal insufflation, on the other hand, delivers medical ozone gas through the rectum, where it's absorbed into the bloodstream. It’s a less invasive method but still highly effective, commonly used in integrative medicine to support detoxification, combat infections, and reduce inflammation.

Both of these ozone therapy methods have been vital in my recovery and are practices I still use regularly. After struggling with long COVID for three months, just one session of autohemotherapy helped get me back on track.

Early on in my healing journey, I invested in a home ozone machine that allowed me to do both rectal insufflation and make ozonated water—another tool with wide-ranging benefits. Ozonated water is believed to support detoxification, improve gut health, and help fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Some studies have even highlighted its antimicrobial effects in dental and wound care.

IV Therapy

IV therapy delivers nutrients, vitamins, and medications directly into the bloodstream, allowing for faster and more effective absorption than oral supplements. When treating disease, it can boost the immune system, support detoxification, reduce inflammation, improve hydration, and replenish deficiencies. It’s especially helpful for those with gut issues or chronic illness who may have trouble absorbing nutrients through digestion.

I found IV therapy—especially high-dose vitamin C—to be a good method of boosting my immune system and fighting off fatigue. Although it isn’t a direct treatment for Lyme, it offers the body vital support and nourishment.

High-dose IV vitamin C is used to support a variety of health conditions beyond general immune boosting. It has been shown to help with chronic infections such as Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and other viral illnesses. It’s also used as an adjunct therapy in cancer care to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as in autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and mold toxicity.

IV vitamin C can support post-viral recovery, including long COVID, and aid in wound healing and tissue repair. Its powerful antioxidant effects help support cellular repair, detoxification, and overall immune function.

Foundational Support for Healing

This is just a small sample of the Lyme disease treatments that I have personally experienced. No matter which treatment path you choose, supporting the foundations of health is absolutely essential.

Healing the gut, focusing on proper nutrition, supporting detoxification pathways, prioritizing rest and relaxation, and incorporating gentle movement or exercise all play a vital role in recovery. These core areas help strengthen the body, improve resilience, and create the conditions needed for any treatment—conventional or alternative—to be more effective.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on personal experience and is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any treatment or making changes to your health regimen. Individual results may vary.