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A year ago, my doctor told me about heat shock protein therapy. I had never heard of it. He explained it like hyperthermia, but with a new twist to release heat shock proteins into your body. I had heard about hyperthermia for treating Lyme, but never heat shock proteins. So after researching, I decided to take a chance and try the procedure to help cure my Lyme and the neurological issues my chronic Lyme caused.
What are heat shock proteins?
Heat shock proteins are specific proteins that form when cells are temporarily exposed to temperatures above their average growth temperature. These heat shock proteins monitor other cellular proteins to ensure they maintain healthy form and function. They can also prevent cell damage by eliminating free radicals throughout the body and support cellular antioxidant capacity. Beyond that, heat shock proteins can identify cancerous cells and pathogens in the body and initiate
an immune response. Finally, heat shock proteins also have positive effects on the brain, including the growth of new brain cells, improved focus, increased ability to learn and retain information, and repairing damaged neurons.
How does heat shock protein therapy treat Lyme?
The Borrelia microorganism responsible for Lyme disease is thermolabile, meaning it is susceptible to heat and destroyed at high temperatures. Researchers found that as temperatures progress from 39° C (or 102.2° F) to a top temperature of 41.6° C (or 106.9° F), spirochetes become immobile, shed their protective outer layer, and then die after prolonged exposure to heat. Hyperthermia and Heat Shock Protein Therapy raise your body temperature above 106° F to fight off the Lyme. Heat Shock Protein Therapy is a better treatment than hyperthermia because of ta patented technology used to monitor your brain temperature to ensure it does not go above dangerous levels. Research shows that if a patient is given an antibiotic after their body temperature is elevated to 106.9° F (41.6° C), the medication’s efficacy becomes amplified 60-fold. Thus, as your body is heated (known as hyperthermia), the temperature kills Lyme microbes, increases antibiotics’ effectiveness, and decreases microbes’ resistance to antibiotics.
Heat Shock Protein also helps Lyme patients because it resets the depressed immune system caused by the Lyme and its co-factors. Furthermore, this treatment reproduces heat shock proteins in your brain, helping repair Lyme’s neurological damage.
A little about the procedure?
It is the same-day outpatient treatment. Besides the pre-treatment bloodwork and testing, the actual procedure was only two hours. However, it is a grueling two hours. Having your body temperature raised to above 106 degrees is very uncomfortable. Mental toughness is crucial to get through the procedure. However, as soon as it was over, I immediately felt better. My neurological symptoms reversed immediately, as well as my joint pain. I was able to resume normal life the next morning.
My before and after:
Take a look at my videos of before and after treatment on my IG Stories. Before treatment, I had trouble walking in a straight line and lifting one leg and standing still. After treatment, I was able to do all these things normally. My joint pain has come back after 3-4 months, but my Lyme tests still come back negative, and my neurological difficulties have not returned.
My talk at ILADS:
Last year, I was able to speak at ILADS about my treatment with Dr. Abrieu. He talked about the science behind the procedure, and I spoke about my experience.
Unfortunately, Heat shock protein therapy, like hyperthermia treatment in Europe, is costly and not covered by insurance. However, those that have done it have seen a positive effect in their recovery.