BARTONELLA - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Updated: Oct 24
Below you will find the solutions for Bartonella mentioned most often by respected Lyme literate doctors and researchers, including prescription options to discuss with your doctor.
Short on time or energy? A quick-view graphic with the key points is at the bottom of this post.
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Many of these have their own post, and product suggestions are included in each post, if interested.
Bartonella education:
Bartonella most common symptoms:
DR. MARTY ROSS'S HERBAL PLAN
Dr. Marty Ross updated his Bartonella guide in 2026. His top herbal plan is:
- Cryptolepis: working up from once a day to 2.5 ml three times a day (5 ml if Babesia is being treated too)
- Japanese knotweed: starting at 5 drops twice a day and adding 1 drop per dose each day until you reach 30 drops twice a day (he holds the dose steady during a die-off reaction)
- Liposomal cinnamon, clove and oregano oil capsules: 1 capsule twice a day, with about 75 mg of oregano in each capsule
He finds herbal plans help about 75% of the time and prescription plans about 85% of the time, and that most people need 4 to 6 months of steady treatment.
Another herbal plan he uses is Houttuynia with Sida acuta, along with the same cinnamon, clove and oregano oil capsule:
- Houttuynia: 5 drops twice a day, adding 1 drop per dose until you reach 30 drops twice a day
- Sida acuta: 1/4 teaspoon three times a day, increasing to 1/2 teaspoon three times a day after a week if tolerated
BIOFILM AND FIBRIN SUPPORT
Bartonella can hide in biofilms and fibrin, so Lyme literate doctors often add support to help break through.
- Lumbrokinase: Dr. Ross uses it to help break down fibrin. I've rotated between Boluoke and Allergy Research Group Lumbrokinase, and some people use Boluoke as their main one. It affects blood clotting, so ask your doctor first, especially if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding problem or are allergic to earthworms.
- Biocidin: Dr. Richard Horowitz lists it among his biofilm agents. The LSF liquid below is not recommended during pregnancy and contains walnut.
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WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS
- A 2021 Johns Hopkins lab study found black walnut, cryptolepis and Japanese knotweed were the most active herbs against Bartonella. Chinese skullcap looked active in the first screening but did poorly in the longer 7-day test, and cat's claw didn't show much activity. This was a test-tube study, and the researchers caution against treating yourself with these herbs.
- A 2019 lab study from the same research group found oregano and cinnamon bark oils among the most active essential oils against Bartonella, with clove bud oil also active (older source, still worth reading).
- A 2021 Tulane lab study found that no single antibiotic stopped Bartonella growing inside cells on its own, but the combination of azlocillin and azithromycin did.
COMBINATION FORMULAS TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR
- Crypto Co-Max by Quicksilver Scientific: cryptolepis and Japanese knotweed, plus a little artemisinin, in a liposomal liquid. These are the two herbs in Dr. Ross's top herbal plan, and both were among the most active herbs in the Johns Hopkins lab study. Contains alcohol. Check with your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.
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More cryptolepis options, including Crypto-Plus, are in my Cryptolepis post:
- Bacteril by Terry Naturally: cinnamon bark, clove bud, oregano and thyme oils in one softgel. My Lyme literate doctor chose this one for me years ago. Cinnamon, clove and oregano oils are part of some Lyme literate doctors' Bartonella protocols. Contains gelatin (important if you have alpha-gal). Check with your doctor if pregnant or nursing.
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PART OF STEPHEN BUHNER'S PROTOCOL
Herbalist Stephen Buhner's Bartonella protocol comes from his 2013 book (older source), and it is still respected and used by many practitioners. It includes:
- Japanese knotweed, to protect the blood vessels
- Sida acuta, to protect red blood cells
- Isatis (also called woad), Houttuynia and Alchornea, as an optional combined tincture
- Red root, for the lymph system and spleen
- Milk thistle, for liver protection
- Hawthorn, for heart protection
- Rhodiola and ashwagandha, to help balance the immune system
- Cordyceps, EGCG with quercetin, and pomegranate juice, to help calm inflammation (the cytokine cascade)
- L-arginine, to protect the lining of the blood vessels. Please be careful: lab studies and a case report suggest high doses may help herpes-type viruses, like shingles, flare in some people, so check with your doctor first.
- Vitamin E (optional)
PRESCRIPTIONS LYME LITERATE DOCTORS USE
Every Lyme literate doctor has their own approach, so work with yours.
- Dr. Marty Ross's first choice is methylene blue with an antifungal (fluconazole or itraconazole), which he finds best for Bartonella brain fog. He also uses combinations built around rifampin or rifabutin, or a macrolide (clarithromycin or azithromycin) with a tetracycline (doxycycline or minocycline).
- Dr. Richard Horowitz uses multi-drug combination protocols. Along with other medicines, they can include doxycycline or minocycline, rifampin, sometimes azithromycin, and later methylene blue. For chronic Bartonella he then uses 2-week pulses, and he finds most people need at least four pulses, spaced about 6 to 8 weeks apart. He found that doxycycline or azithromycin with rifampin alone often eased symptoms, but Bartonella came back once they were stopped. This is from his own clinical experience.
- Dr. Robert Mozayeni has used clarithromycin with rifampin as his base, supports the adrenals during rifampin, and warns that opening biofilms too quickly can make people feel sicker.
Please be careful: rifampin can make birth control less effective, and methylene blue can interact with some antidepressants.
My related prescription posts:
https://www.riseabovelyme.com/post/antibiotics-why-using-only-one-is-not-recommended-in-chronic-lyme
LEARN MORE
My short educational video on Bartonella:
RELATED RISE ABOVE LYME POSTS
BARTONELLA EDUCATION
BARTONELLA MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS
BIOFILMS - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
TRANSMISSION OF LYME, BABESIA AND BARTONELLA
SOURCES
Dr. Marty Ross, Bartonella treatment guide (updated 2026)
LymeDisease.org - Dr. Richard Horowitz, Medical Detective series on Bartonella: "Effective treatments for Bartonella infections," "Explaining DDDCT protocol for treating Bartonella" and "2-week pulses of antibiotics for chronic bartonellosis" (February and March 2025)
Dr. Robert Mozayeni, interview with Better Health Guy, Episode 185 (2023)
Stephen Buhner - Healing Lyme Disease Coinfections: Complementary and Holistic Treatments for Bartonella and Mycoplasma, book (2013, older source, still worth reading)
Bay Area Lyme Foundation - Herbal medicines demonstrate potency against Bartonella, Johns Hopkins lab study (August 2021, older source, still worth reading)
Infectious Microbes and Diseases - Botanical medicines with activity against stationary phase Bartonella henselae, Johns Hopkins lab study (September 2021, older source, still worth reading)
Antibiotics - Essential oils with activity against Bartonella henselae, Johns Hopkins lab study (2019, older source, still worth reading)
Global Lyme Alliance - Antibiotic susceptibility of Bartonella grown in different culture conditions (2021, older source, still worth reading)
Pathogens - Antibiotic susceptibility of Bartonella grown in different culture conditions, Tulane lab study (June 2021, older source, still worth reading)
American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports - Recurrent herpes zoster ophthalmicus (shingles of the eye) in a young, healthy person taking high doses of L-arginine, case report (December 2019, older source, still worth reading)
Disclaimer: Rise Above Lyme makes no claims about any possible benefit of using any product mentioned within this site. Always consult with your doctor before adding anything. The information shared is based on personal experience, years of accumulated researched resources from Lyme Literate doctors and polls conducted within Lyme groups from actual patient experience using these solution ideas.
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