BIOFILMS - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Updated: 2 days ago
Biofilms are a big deal when treating, and many practitioners have not treated them adequately. Please talk with your practitioner about them. My list of top biofilm busters is below.
Short on time or energy? A quick-view graphic with the key points is at the bottom of this post.
Want to understand what biofilms are and see the newest research? My Biofilms education post is here:
Buy links are right under each product. Sign up here first for the Fullscript discount (25% off):
WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS SO FAR
- 2023: Dr. Samuel Shor and Dr. Sunjya Schweig reviewed over 400 articles on herbal and natural treatments for Lyme, Bartonella and Babesia, and listed over 30 of them. Their summary table lists cat's claw, Chinese skullcap, black walnut, monolaurin, oregano, cinnamon and clove as active against the biofilm form of Lyme in lab studies. Dr. Schweig shared that these can be used on their own or alongside prescription medicines. Human trials are still needed.
- 2023: A review in Integrative Medicine of 18 herbs used by Lyme patients found that cat's claw, Chinese skullcap, Japanese knotweed, sweet wormwood, Cryptolepis, thyme and oregano oil were active against Lyme bacteria in lab studies. The authors noted there are no human trials yet, and that some herbs can interact with medicines and raise the risk of bleeding, low blood pressure or low blood sugar.
- 2020: Johns Hopkins researchers, working with two California doctors, tested herbs in the lab against the hard-to-kill, slow-growing form of Lyme bacteria. Cat's claw, Cistus incanus, Japanese knotweed, black walnut, Chinese skullcap, sweet wormwood and Cryptolepis were all active, and some did better than the antibiotics tested. Only Cryptolepis fully cleared the bacteria in follow-up testing.
- 2018: A lab study by researchers in Finland found that Biocidin killed Lyme spirochetes, some within minutes, and held back the growth of round bodies and biofilms.
- 2017: In a Johns Hopkins lab study, oregano, cinnamon bark and clove bud oils wiped out the slow-growing, persister-type Lyme bacteria with no regrowth, and some of the top oils broke up biofilm-like clumps.
- These are lab studies, not studies in people. Please talk with your doctor before adding anything, especially essential oils.
TOP BIOFILM BUSTERS
BOLUOKE / LUMBROKINASE
A top choice of Lyme-literate doctors and the one most often recommended in our groups. It may help break up the fibrin that holds biofilms together. Learn more and find products here:
Buy here (Researched Nutritionals Lumbrokinase):
Buy here (Allergy Research Group Lumbrokinase):
Need 25% off Boluoke? Email us to arrange that discount with your practitioner at theriseabovelyme@gmail.com
BIOCIDIN
Recommended by many Lyme-literate doctors. Studied in a 2018 lab study. Learn more and find products here:
Fullscript also carries several Biocidin products. Search "Biocidin" after signing up through the Fullscript link at the top of this post.
INTERFASE PLUS (KLAIRE LABS)
A popular enzyme blend made for biofilms, with serrapeptase and EDTA. Contains egg.
Buy here (Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic InterFase Plus: enzyme blend with serrapeptase and EDTA; contains egg, not for use during pregnancy):
BLACK WALNUT
Listed as active against Lyme biofilm in lab studies. Avoid with a tree nut allergy. Learn more and find products here:
CAT'S CLAW (SAMENTO) AND OTOBA BARK EXTRACT
Used together. Cat's claw is listed as active against the biofilm form in lab studies. Learn more and find products here:
CHINESE SKULLCAP
Listed as active against Lyme biofilm in lab studies. Learn more and find products here:
CISTUS INCANUS
Active in the 2020 Johns Hopkins lab study. Learn more here:
ENZYMES (NATTOKINASE, SERRAPEPTASE)
Other enzymes some members use. They have not been studied against Lyme biofilms yet. Learn more and find products here:
Buy here (Xymogen ProteoXyme: enzyme blend with serrapeptase and bromelain, the one I use):
GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT
Learn more and find products here:
MONOLAURIN
Listed as active against Lyme biofilm in lab studies. Learn more and find products here:
NAC
Learn more and find products here:
OREGANO, CINNAMON BARK AND CLOVE BUD OILS
Listed as active against the biofilm form in lab studies. Learn more and find products here:
BEFORE YOU START
- Read the warning on each bottle, and talk with your doctor before trying any of these, especially if you take other medicines.
- Lumbrokinase and enzyme blends say to check with your doctor first if you take blood thinners or have a bleeding risk. Some herbs can also interact with medicines.
MY EXPERIENCE
- I have personally used a majority of these in my protocol over the years.
- I currently use Boluoke (lumbrokinase) and ProteoXyme, and I rotate different enzymes. I'm still on NAC.
- In the past, I also used Cistus incanus, grapefruit seed extract and monolaurin.
RELATED POSTS
LUMBROKINASE / BOLUOKE (COMPARE BRANDS AND SAVE)
CYST FORMS OF LYME
SOURCES
LymeDisease.org, Herbs for Lyme, Bartonella and Babesia (2023)
Dr. Samuel Shor and Dr. Sunjya Schweig, Natural treatments review (2023)
Integrative Medicine, Herbs for Lyme review (2023)
Johns Hopkins, Herbs against Lyme bacteria (2020, older source, still worth reading)
University of Jyväskylä, Biocidin lab study (2018, older source, still worth reading)
Johns Hopkins, Essential oils against Lyme (2017, older source, still worth reading)
Dr. Marty Ross, Lumbrokinase (2026)
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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