Welcome to the Borreliose Centrum Augsburg!

The Borreliose Centrum Augsburg (BCA) is a medical institution for the holistic treatment of tick-borne diseases (infections).  Due to a combination of several suppliers the center combines diagnosis, laboratory, therapy and rehabilitation under one roof in a unique way.

Note:  a second centre in the north of Germany in Blankenburg is now available since September 2009.  The Borreliose Centrum Blankenburg (www.b-c-bl.de), as the centre is called, uses the diagnosis and therapy standards that were developed in Augsburg.

We are very concerned about the general recognition of "chronic Lyme disease" as a real illnesss.  Unfortunately, many medical institutions/organisations and health insurance companies still negate that certain pathogens - such as Borrelia (spirochete bacteria) - do not only cause severe ailments and symptoms during the acute state, i.e. immediately or several weeks after the tick bite, but also years after the bite in case of insufficient treatment.

It is also often misjudged that besides Borrelia bacteria, so called co-infections (e.g. Chlamydia, Rickettsia, Bartonella, etc.), which are other pathogens, can also lead to similar symptoms.  Many doctors in Germany and in other parts of the world underestimate the danger and risks associated with these infectious pathogens.  Particularly the immune defense is often overcharged and therefore decreased in patients with these infections.  You can find more information about the controversy of chronic Lyme disease, which is primarily taken place between two American organisations, in "FAQs" under point 4.

 But:  not everything is a chronic Lyme disease!  There are many illnesses that show similar symptoms and ailments as chronic Lyme disease.  That is the reason for the diagnosis being very complex.  Besides the differential diagnosis (comparison of various disease patterns) a comprehensive laboratory diagnosis is also needed, which is much more complex than the standard laboratory testings.

Basic, holistic approach to therapy (e.g. in cases of chronic Lyme disease – overwiew)

Several measures are important during a chronic Lyme disease with strong ailment syptoms (including psychosomatic symptoms and ailments) besides killing the pathogens (Lyme-Borrelia, usually with antibiotics).  These measures include reducing chronic inflammations, strengthening of the immune system and the body's immune defences as well as improvement of body functions (including organ functions).

Basis: Treatment with antibiotics (“Augsburg Scheme” for several weeks/months – in accordance to the guidelines of ILADS)

+ supporting “Accompanying therapies”, such as 

• Module “Milieu corrections (incl. deacidification & detoxification + change of diet“
• Module “Dietary supplements + naturopathic remedies”
• Module “Physiotherapies + electro therapies“
• Module "Pain therapy“
• Module "Mental coaching “
• Package "Gain vitality“: Rehabilitation and strengthening of the immune system   

+ "Change of life style“ (measures for "Self care" by patients)

The BCA cooperates with doctors from all over (local, regional, national, international) and supports these as well as their patients in questions regarding laboratory diagnosis for tick-borne diseases and possible co-infections, as well as successfull therapy implementation (incl. information about "accompanying therapies", change of diet, dietary supplements & natural remedies, "ambulant rehabilitation", "self-help", etc.).

From Lyme disease specialists (incl. your family doctor) we expect for them to take the illness serious and listen to you.  We know it is often the cases that Lyme disease is misjudged and chronically ill patients are then classified as mentally instable or severely depressive.

For us, the doctors should be responsible for providing all medical services (diagnosis & therapie).

Diagnosis: The physicians of the Medical Partnership perform a detailed anamnesis and induce special tests (blood analysis) to diagnose Borrelia bacteria and accompanying infections. They are experienced in comparing Lyme-disease with other, similar disease patterns (differential diagnosis).

TherapiesTherapies:  The doctors supported by us are particularly orientated towards chronically ill patients (long-term patients). They have special competences in pain therapy as well as in „mental coaching “.  They diagnose and treat holistically according to the international guidelines of ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, USA - www.ilads.org) and the recommendations of the German Borreliosis Society (Deutsche Borreliose Gesellschaft e.V.).

The main aim is the "detection" and "fighting" of Borrelia bacteria and possible other co-infections (bacteria and viruses).  This is a complex matter in case of chronic Lyme disease and usually requires a long-term antibiosis with high dosages of antibiotics over several months.  We are happy to send you detailed information about the treatment, if your GP is unsure about such therapies.  Under "News" and question 4 of the FAQs you will find specific articles to download.

In case of chronic progressions of Lyme disease the importance of treating chronic inflammations is often underestimated.  Chronic inflammations are responsible for the ailments and pain in most cases.  It is also essential to restore the weakened immune defense and reactive it.  From our experience accompanying therapies are necessary in addition to the antibiotic treatment.  More information is under "Therapies".

The B-C-A- Borreliose-Centrum-Augsburg GmbH & Co. KG with its two business units allows a broad spectrum of “Accompanying Therapies” (Link) – in addition to the services of the Medical Partnership.  It also offers an “Ambulant Rehabilitation Weekly Program for Intensive Treatment” with medical day care for chronically ill patients. (Link).

Note:  Patients who do not wish to undergo an antibiotic treatment, can also get information about alternative therapy plans (e.g. based on photon-therapy in combination with natural remedies and accompanying therapies).

Our experience is that chronic Lyme disease is curable in most cases, only in very few cases an improvement of symptoms cannot be accomplished.  A long-term antibiotic treatment is a "must" in most cases.  With the help of supporting "accompanying therapies" and "self-help" measure (Link) patients can improve the effectivness of the medication (usually antibiotics), strengthen the immune system and effectively fight Borrelia bacteria and co-infections.

For chronically ill and long-term patients we recommend the "ambulant rehabilitation program for intensive treatment" in our day medical clinic (Link) for 5 days or longer (recommendation: min. 2-3 weeks up to 4 months).  The therapists support and coach you in all aspects of the normally necessary change of lifestyle (mentally/activity/nutrition). If you cannot spare the time for a long term treatment at the BCA, we will introduce you to the therapies and will instruct your attending doctor at home to continue the treatment.

It is the ambition of our holistic approach to therapy to help the patients to become symptom-free faster and again resilient as well as to integrate them again into their private and professional surroundings. We want you to regain the belief for a future without Lyme disease.

The Borreliose Centrum Augsburg was founded in July 2006.  Our patients also come from other European countries (including Scandinavia), Russia, North America, Asia and Australia.