What Is Lyme Disease
Understand Borrelia burgdorferi infection, how it progresses, why it becomes chronic, and the symptoms that affect every system of the body.
What Lyme disease is →
Lyme Disease Center
A Dedicated Integrative Lyme Disease Centre Since 1991
Since 1995, St. George Hospital has treated more than 12,000 patients with chronic Lyme disease, using multimodal inpatient protocols that address the full complexity of tick-borne illness.
- 12,000+ Lyme Patients
- 35+ Years of Lyme Expertise
- Patients from 60+ Countries
- Published Lyme Research
Why St. George Hospital
A Different Approach to Lyme Disease
Chronic Lyme disease is one of the most misunderstood and undertreated conditions in modern medicine. Standard antibiotic courses often fail to resolve the complex, multi-systemic symptoms that patients experience for months or years after initial infection.
Contrary to common belief, Lyme disease is not transmitted exclusively by ticks. Evidence supports transmission through mosquitoes, horse flies, and congenital pathways. Clinical observations also raise questions about potential person-to-person transmission, with multiple family members frequently presenting with active Borrelia infection.
At St. George Hospital, we have spent over three decades developing an integrative, multimodal approach that addresses the full spectrum of tick-borne illness, including persistent Borrelia infection, co-infections such as Bartonella and Babesia, immune dysregulation, neurological involvement, and the systemic inflammation that drives chronic symptoms.
Our treatment is structured into distinct clinical modules: the Core Lyme module (2 weeks of hyperthermia at 41.6–41.8 °C / 106.9–107.2 °F with combination antibiotics), the Co-Infection Module (10 PDT sessions with Riboflavin + UV/blue light and apheresis), and the Microbiome Restore Week (microbiome transplantation and gut restoration). Additional blood purification and neural therapy are available based on individual findings. Protocols are developed by Dr. Julian Douwes and supervised by Dr. Angelina Svircev.
Our Track Record
Decades of Dedicated Lyme Treatment
30+Years Treating Lyme (Since 1995)
12,000+Lyme Patients Treated
30,000+Whole-Body Hyperthermia Sessions
60+Countries Worldwide
Explore Our Lyme Disease Program
Comprehensive Resources & Treatment Information
Learn about our diagnostic methods, treatment protocols, and the integrative philosophy that has guided our approach to tick-borne illness since 1995.
Diagnosis
Why standard testing misses chronic Lyme, and how our advanced diagnostic approach identifies the full picture of infection and immune disruption.
How we diagnose Lyme →Treatment Protocol
Our comprehensive, individualized treatment approach combining antimicrobials, hyperthermia, immune support, and detoxification.
How we treat chronic Lyme →Co-Infections
Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and other tick-borne co-infections that complicate diagnosis and require targeted treatment.
Co-infections we test for →Multimodal Therapy
How we combine hyperthermia, apheresis, immune therapy, detoxification, and more into one coordinated protocol, planned by one team.
How the Lyme therapies combine →The Lyme programme since 1995
The history of Lyme disease treatment at St. George Hospital, from the first observation in 1995 to today's modular inpatient protocol.
The Lyme programme since 1995 →
“Chronic Lyme disease is not a single infection. It is a multi-systemic illness that requires a multi-systemic treatment approach. You cannot treat the whole patient with a single antibiotic.”
Friedrich Douwes M.D. (1945–2022)
Founder of St. George Hospital
Over 40 years of clinical experience in integrative Lyme disease treatment
Today, our Lyme disease program continues under the care of Angelina Svircev M.D., with treatment protocols developed by Julian Douwes M.D. (Chief Medical Officer).
Why Patients Choose Us
What Sets Our Lyme Program Apart
Comprehensive Diagnosis
We use advanced laboratory testing, including specialized Borrelia culture, ELISpot, CD57 analysis, and co-infection panels to identify what standard tests miss.
Whole-Body Hyperthermia
Our hyperthermia protocols raise core body temperature to create conditions hostile to Borrelia spirochetes while enhancing immune function and antibiotic efficacy.
International Patient Support
We welcome patients from around the world and provide coordination for travel, accommodation, translation, and follow-up care with your home physicians.
Multimodal Treatment
We combine up to 12 treatment modalities in a single, coordinated protocol, including antimicrobials, hyperthermia, apheresis, immune therapy, and detoxification.
Co-Infection Expertise
We routinely test for and treat Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma, and other co-infections that perpetuate symptoms.
Evidence-Based Protocols
Our treatment approach is grounded in decades of clinical experience and supported by published research on hyperthermia, Borrelia biology, and integrative Lyme care.
RELATED THERAPIES
Therapies Used in Our Lyme Program
H.E.L.P. Apheresis
Blood filtration removes inflammatory proteins, microclots, and pathogen-associated toxins that perpetuate chronic Lyme symptoms.
What H.E.L.P. apheresis involves →Whole-Body Hyperthermia
Controlled fever therapy targets heat-sensitive Borrelia organisms and activates the immune system's anti-pathogen response.
What a whole-body hyperthermia session involves →Ozone Therapy
Medical ozone provides antimicrobial support and immune modulation, a key component of our multimodal Lyme protocol.
What ozone therapy involves →Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
Antimicrobial PDT penetrates biofilm-protected Borrelia colonies that resist standard antibiotic treatment.
What photodynamic therapy involves →Immune Therapy
Targeted immune support restores the immune competence needed to control and clear chronic Lyme infection.
What immune therapy involves →FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common Questions About Lyme Treatment
How long does the Lyme treatment program last?
The Core Lyme module is 2 weeks. If co-infections are present, the Co-Infection Module adds 2 additional weeks. The Microbiome Restore Week adds 1 more week. A full comprehensive program is typically 3-5 weeks depending on your diagnostic findings.
What is the success rate of your Lyme treatment?
The majority of our Lyme disease patients report significant improvement in their symptoms following treatment. Whether and how much symptoms recede shows in the follow-up measurements; we discuss what is realistic for your history in the first consultation. Outcomes depend on the duration of illness, the presence of co-infections, and individual patient factors. Our medical team will discuss realistic expectations during your initial consultation.
Can I bring a companion with me?
Yes. We welcome companions and can arrange accommodation for a family member or partner during your stay. Many of our international patients travel with a companion, and our patient coordination team can help arrange suitable arrangements in Bad Aibling.
Will you coordinate with my home doctor?
Yes. At the end of your treatment, we provide a comprehensive treatment report for your home physician. We also offer remote follow-up consultations to ensure continuity of care and can communicate directly with your doctor if needed.
What happens if I need additional treatment?
Many patients return for additional treatment cycles, particularly those with complex co-infections or long-standing illness. We offer remote follow-up consultations between visits to monitor your progress and adjust recommendations. Subsequent treatment stays are typically shorter than the initial program.
How soon will I feel improvement?
Some patients notice improvement during their treatment stay, while others experience a gradual recovery over the weeks and months following treatment. Changes often continue over the months after discharge, which is why follow-up consultations are scheduled.
What does the programme cost?
There is no fixed price. After our physicians have reviewed your findings, you receive an individual estimate that lists the daily inpatient rate, diagnostics and therapy blocks. Treatment is self-pay; the itemised invoice can be submitted to a US insurer for out-of-network review. We cannot promise reimbursement.
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.