New in Version 4
The Ross Lyme & Tick-borne Diseases Protocol–Version 4 update, released 6/17/24, has a number of significant changes.
Name change. In Version 4, I have updated our name to include “tick-borne”. This recognizes that people can have Bartonella, Babesia, or other tick-borne diseases, separate from having Lyme (Borrelia) infection.
But there are more significant updates than our name change. Version 4
- Emphasizes plant-based foods recommendations in Part 2. Diet;
- Promotes healthy intestinal microbiome—even on antibiotics with a new Part 3. Healthy Intestinal Microbiome; and
- Includes an herbal antibiotic only option to treat the three Bs (Borrelia, Bartonella, and Babesia) simultaneously in Part 12. Lyme Infection and Part 13. Bartonella & Babesia Infections.
- Moves lifestyle, and related areas, of sleep, diet, healthy intestinal microbiome, and exercise to the front of the protocol to emphasize the key role these areas have in recovery.
Introduction
These are support and treatment guidelines to treat chronic Lyme or tick-borne infections. This protocol addresses most problems that keep a person from getting well. It is more comprehensive than the antibiotic focused Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS), and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. While herbal and prescription antibiotics may decrease the germ load in chronic Lyme and tick-borne infections, they often do not correct the underlying problems that cause ongoing symptoms.
The Ross Lyme Support Protocol includes essential steps for the beginning and throughout a chronic Lyme disease or tick-borne infection treatment. It is designed to:
- boost the immune system,
- improve detoxification,
- speed recovery,
- kill the infections, and
- protect and repair from the harmful effects of the infections and the herbal or prescription antibiotics.
- low energy,
- pain,
- insomnia,
- brain, neurologic, and thinking problems (brain fog), and
- immune compromise and suppression.
Herxheimer Reactions. When a person starts a Lyme disease or tick-borne infection treatment or changes herbal and prescription antibiotics, it is common to experience some worsening in symptoms. See Herxheimer Die-off Reaction: Inflammation Run Amok for more information about this and the steps you can take to treat it.
Treatment Length and Persistence. Generally, it takes a minimum of six months to see if these supports and treatments will help. Supplements can speed recovery, but treating Lyme still takes time. Once you have marked improvement, then you can likely stop many of these nutritional supports except for probiotics, curcumin, ashwagandha, and a good multivitamin. See Getting Healthy: Will I? When? How Do I? for more information about Lyme disease and tick-borne infection treatment length and persistence.
About Supplements. Throughout this protocol I include supplements as nutritional supports based on their known functions. Basic research and my clinical experience show they may help the various symptoms and problems in Lyme disease and tick-borne infections.
Disclaimer
These guidelines are based on the best available research, and what I find clinically useful in my Seattle practice. The ideas and recommendations on this website and in this guideline are for informational purposes only. For more information about this, see the sitewide Terms & Conditions.
Generally I avoid recommending specific supplement products within this protocol, but use generic ingredients instead. However, in Part 3. Intestinal Microbiome, I use specific product names to avoid confusion over products I find useful. Regarding these specific products:
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Diagnosis, Tests, and Relapse Prevention
Diagnosis
Tests
Relapse Prevention
Before Treating Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Infections
Make Sure It Is Not Mold Toxin Illness
Mold toxin illness can look just like Lyme disease or chronic tick-borne infections. Both mold toxicity and chronic infections trigger a reaction in the immune system that produces too many inflammation chemicals called cytokines, which cause most of the problems seen in both illnesses.
If your illness began while you were living or working in a building with obvious mold, I suggest treating for mold toxin illness first. To clarify this point, if you were in good health, then you had an obvious mold exposure, and got sick—treat mold toxicity first. I find correcting this issue may prevent the need to treat Lyme disease or tick-borne infections, even if you test positive for infection. Once the mold toxins are removed, the immune system can keep Lyme or other infections under control.
If it is not clear if Lyme and tick-borne infection or mold toxins are the cause of your illness, then you can treat both problems at the same time.
For more information, read Mold and Lyme Toxin Illness and Positive Lyme Test, No Symptoms, Don’t Treat.
Very Allergic? Treat Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
Chronic infections can trigger excessive allergic reactions to food, prescription and natural medicines, and the environment. If this is your problem, consider using supplements, diet, and medicines for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. For more information, read Mast Cell Activation Syndrome & Lyme.