The Cowden Protocol – Search is a structured, herbal-based program designed to manage chronic Lyme disease and co-infections using rotating botanical antimicrobials, detoxification support, and immune modulation.
Overview
The Cowden Protocol, also known as the Cowden Support Program (CSP), was developed by Dr. W. Lee Cowden, MD, and is offered through NutraMedix. It is a holistic, multi-system approach to treating Lyme disease, targeting the three forms of Borrelia bacteria (spirochetal, cyst, and L-form), co-infections, and biofilm communities that protect the bacteria from conventional treatments tiredoflyme.com+1. The protocol also addresses detoxification of the liver, kidneys, blood, brain, nervous system, and lymphatic system, supports energy metabolism, corrects magnesium deficiencies, and removes heavy metals tiredoflyme.com+1.
Components
The protocol uses 14 NutraMedix products, including seven key herbs known as Microbial Defense. Two of the primary herbs, Banderol and Samento, have been shown in vitro to eliminate all forms of Borrelia and disrupt biofilms more effectively than doxycycline lymeguide.info. The program is structured into six sequential monthly bundles, with formulas rotated strategically to prevent microbial adaptation and optimize efficacy nutramedix.com+1.
Duration and Cost
The typical duration of the Cowden Protocol is six to nine months, depending on the patient’s response. Dr. Cowden recommends continuing until the patient feels better for two consecutive months, with the option to repeat months 7–9 if needed tiredoflyme.com+1. The cost is approximately $350 per month, making it a relatively accessible do-it-yourself option compared to long-term antibiotic therapy tiredoflyme.com.
Clinical Evidence
Clinical observations and studies suggest the protocol is effective for many patients with chronic Lyme disease:
Dr. Richard Horowitz, a founding member of ILADS, reported that 70–80% of patients with advanced Lyme Borreliosis improved over six months, even if they had not responded to multiple courses of antibiotics lymeguide.info+1.
A six-month study in his clinic found that 70% of patients remained symptom-free for months to years, compared to high relapse rates with conventional antibiotics alone tiredoflyme.com+1.
A nine-month observational study in Germany showed that 80% of patients reported symptom improvement, and 90% had improved laboratory results lymeguide.info+1.
Advantages
Targets multiple forms of Borrelia and co-infections simultaneously
Reduces reliance on long-term antibiotics, minimizing risks like gut dysbiosis and resistance
Incorporates detoxification, immune modulation, and energy support
Structured rotation of botanicals prevents microbial adaptation
Considerations
Individual responses vary; not all patients achieve full remission
Requires adherence to a multi-month regimen
Best used under guidance of a clinician familiar with Lyme disease and herbal protocols The Cowden Protocol occupies a middle ground between aggressive antibiotic therapy and unstructured herbal self-treatment, offering a systematic, evidence-informed approach for managing chronic Lyme disease and its complex co-infections directintegrativecare.com.
Cowden Protocol for Lyme Disease – Search Videosis a holistic, herbal-based treatment for Lyme disease that targets multiple forms of Borrelia bacteria and co-infections, showing reported improvement in 70–80% of chronic Lyme patients.
Overview
The Cowden Protocol, developed by Dr. William Lee Cowden, M.D., is a multifaceted, do-it-yourself approach to managing Lyme disease, particularly chronic or late-stage cases. It is designed to address the three anatomical forms of Borrelia burgdorferi—spirochetal, cyst, and L-form—as well as co-infections, immune dysfunction, detoxification needs, and energy support due to nutrient deficiencies like magnesium tiredoflyme.com+2.
Components
Cowden Protocol 9 Month Program – Dr. Kevin Passero including herbal Microbial Defense agents such as Banderol and Samento, which have been shown in vitro to eliminate all forms of Borrelia, including biofilms and cysts. These herbs have demonstrated greater effectiveness than doxycycline in breaking down cysts and biofilms lymeguide.info+1. Other components of the protocol support:
Detoxification of the liver, kidneys, blood, lymphatic system, and nervous system
Immune modulation to enhance the body’s response to infection
Biofilm dissolution to improve antimicrobial efficacy
Heavy metal removal and Krebs cycle support for energy production tiredoflyme.com+1
Administration and Duration
The Cowden Protocol is typically rotated monthly, with products taken daily according to a set schedule. Dr. Cowden recommends continuing the protocol until a patient feels well for two consecutive months, which usually results in a 6-month course. If improvement takes longer, months 7–9 may be repeated until sustained wellness is achieved tiredoflyme.com+2. Some patients may require cycling on and off certain herbs like Samento and Cumanda to target different bacterial forms effectively lyme-disease-research-database.com.
Clinical Evidence
Dr. Richard Horowitz, a leading Lyme disease practitioner, reported that 70–80% of patients using the full Cowden Protocol experienced significant improvement, even after failing multiple courses of antibiotics lymeguide.info+1.
A 6-month study by Dr. Horowitz found that patients on the full protocol remained well for months to years, compared to high relapse rates with conventional antibiotics alone tiredoflyme.com.
A 9-month observational study in Germany showed 80% of patients had symptom improvement and 90% had improved lab resultslymeguide.info+1.
Safety and Tolerability
Toxicological studies indicate that the herbs used in the Cowden Protocol are non-toxic, even at doses far exceeding typical recommendations, and do not cause intestinal dysbiosis lymeguide.info. The protocol is generally considered safe for home use, though monitoring and adherence to dosing schedules are important.
Summary
The Cowden Protocol offers a holistic, herbal-based alternative for managing chronic Lyme disease, targeting multiple bacterial forms, co-infections, and systemic support. It is affordable, home-based, and supported by clinical observations showing significant improvement in a majority of patients who have not responded to conventional antibiotic therapy tiredoflyme.com+2.
Lyme Disease: The New Epidemic
Lyme Disease is one of the most stubborn, treatment-resistant infections in the world. It is also spreading rapidly on all continents. Recent research indicates that, in addition to tick bites, Lyme Disease may also be transmitted by sexual contact and bites from other insects.
Borrelia Burgdorferi, the elusive and dangerous bacteria responsible for Lyme Disease, can mimic many seemingly unrelated diseases, leading to frequent misdiagnosis of the infection.
More difficult than diagnosing Lyme Disease is successfully treating it. In many cases, standard antibiotic treatment fails and symptoms persist. When this occurs, Lyme Disease becomes chronic, leading to indefinite suffering.
As a result of misdiagnosis, low treatment success rates, and the worldwide prevalence of this insidious infection, Lyme Disease is becoming a burgeoning threat to public health. In fact, it is estimated that there are more than 200,000 new Lyme Disease cases per year in the United States alone―many of which are not diagnosed and treated properly. Lyme Disease represents a clear and present danger to the health of hundreds of thousands of people in dozens of countries.
David Edwards, M.D., a leading alternative physician practicing in Reno, Nevada, has said that the animal kingdom is on a crash course with the microorganism kingdom, and one day, microorganisms will win.
In the case of chronic Lyme Disease, microorganisms have won―chronic Lyme Disease sufferers often do not recover. However, a small percentage of people do recover―by outsmarting their Lyme Disease.
It is scientifically impossible that bacteria can think or be intelligent in the same way human beings can. Yet, Lyme Disease bacteria evade the human immune system and escape the best treatments modern medicine has to offer. Whether you think of these bacteria as intelligent or merely adaptable, it doesn’t change a thing―Lyme Disease bacteria are capable of advanced survival activities which lead to prolonged infection and misery.
What is the difference between someone who recovers from Lyme Disease and someone who remains sick? In a word, information. Information leads to either poor treatment decisions and recovery stagnation, or wise decisions and steady progress.
In this book, you’ll find 10 treatments, both conventional and alternative, that have helped the author during his battle with Lyme disease. In short, you will find a wealth of information to get you started with your Lyme disease research.
Don’t let Lyme Disease bacteria win the battle in your body. Outsmart your Lyme Disease! (Consult a physician before beginning any new treatments).
These treatment protocols and supplements were chosen not just for their individual benefits, but also their synergy when used together as part of a treatment program. Lyme Disease is a multi-faceted illness and recovery requires use of multiple, cooperative treatments.
A Comprehensive Guide
In addition to the above treatments and supplements, the book also equips you with a wealth of supportive information:
An exclusive interview with Willy Burgdorfer, Ph.D., the man who discovered Lyme Disease.Dr. Willy Burgdorfer, the Swiss‑American entomologist who discovered Borrelia burgdorferi — the bacterium that causes Lyme disease — was interviewed in the documentary Under Our Skin, with excerpts now available online.About the interviewThe footage comes from Under Our Skin, a documentary that includes Dr. Burgdorfer’s own words on his research, the discovery of Lyme disease, and its broader implications for public health YouTube. The interview captures his reflections on:
How he identified the tick‑borne spirochete as the cause of Lyme disease in the early 1980s.The scientific process and challenges in linking the pathogen to human illness.His views on the importance of understanding vector‑borne diseases and the need for continued research.
Where to watch or access it
YouTube: A curated excerpt is available on the Under Our Skin channel, which includes selected passages from the interview YouTube.Internet Archive: The full Excerpts From Interview With Willy Burgdorfer video is free to stream or download Archive.Alternate recording: Willy Burgdorfer Talks About Lyme Disease is also archived on Internet Archive, offering additional commentary Archive.
Fast forward six years. The much-awaited sequel, Under Our Skin 2: Emergence, has been released. It updates us about what has transpired on the broader Lyme disease issues and tells us how the individuals we met in Part 1 are doing today. (How heartening to see that most have improved vastly in terms of their health and moved on with their lives!)
The physicians are a different story. Drs. Jones and Jemsek, hounded by their respective medical boards, are still in there slugging, but the financial and emotional tolls on both have been staggering. Furthermore, Dr. MacDonald’s life has taken several astonishing turns since the filming of Part 1.
Among the new voices in Under Our Skin 2 is my colleague Lorraine Johnson, Executive Director of LymeDisease.org. She cogently lays out conflicts of interest and other policy issues that continue to impede progress in the Lyme arena.Part 2 also deals more with international aspects of the disease, interviewing experts from Australia, Canada, Germany and Norway, among others.
One of the most thrilling aspects of the film for me was seeing footage of Lyme protests from different cities around the world: Washington DC, Strasbourg, Berlin, Victoria BC, Oslo, Brussels, Sydney, London and San Francisco. (We see Jordan Fisher Smith, now considered an international spokesperson for Lyme disease, at two of them–Oslo and San Francisco.)
Those protests—which gave encouragement to so many and helped raise global awareness of Lyme disease—might never have come about without the spark towards action provided by the original Under Our Skin. So the process comes full circle.If you haven’t seen the first film, I recommend you do so immediately.
And then follow it up with Part 2 as soon as possible. Watching these two documentaries is the simplest way to get up to speed on one of the most critical health care issues facing America today. Information is power–and we won’t fix this Lyme problem without it.Who was Dr. Willy Burgdorfer?Born in Basel, Switzerland in 1925, Burgdorfer earned his Ph.D. in zoology, parasitology, and bacteriology from the University of Basel and the Swiss Tropical Institute Wikipedia+1.
A leading figure in medical entomology, he worked at the U.S. Rocky Mountain Laboratory and later joined the Lyme Disease Foundation’s board. In 1982, he discovered Borrelia burgdorferi, named in his honor, which confirmed Lyme disease as a tick‑borne spirochetal infection Wikipedia+1.
He passed away on November 17, 2014, at age 89 Wikipedia.
Why it mattersThese interviews provide a rare, first‑hand account from the scientist who identified the Lyme disease pathogen, offering insight into the history of the disease’s discovery, the scientific methods used, and Burgdorfer’s advocacy for public health awareness.
Tip: For the most complete experience, watch the Under Our Skin YouTube excerpt for context, then explore the Internet Archive versions for the full interview and additional commentary YouTube+2.
Under Our Skin 2 – Emergence – From Hell to Hope” revisits the Lyme disease crisis by giving a voice to patients, doctors, and experts.
The documentary highlights:
. The progression and impact of chronic Lyme disease . The ongoing challenges in obtaining a diagnosis and appropriate treatment . Medical advances, controversies, and glimmers of hope for those affected
Directed by Andy Abrahams Wilson, this second installment shows how—despite the nightmare of the disease—new solutions and greater recognition can restore hope to patients.
Alicia September 3, 2014at 1:45 pm
Kuddos to the folks who created these documentaries. The first one was instrumental in my ability to diagnose both my husband and myself with Lyme and various co-infections. It is the best primer out there that educates on the medical, political, and cultural climate of Lyme Disease and the reasons why folks are being misdiagnosed and under treated.
Part two continues by including more facts revealing that many on the CDC panel have vested interests with patents, particularly with vaccinations. This should be outlawed. We can not have those in public health in collusion with big pharma and research mostly being done in University settings. Until this changes, folks will continue to suffer.
The saddest aspects of “Emergence” are the vilification of incredible doctors who have successfully treated Lyme patients, and the divorces caused or spurred on by this dreadful disease. I can attest to the very real challenges this disease causes. Lyme patients clearly need more acceptance, support, and treatment.
Hot-off-the-press clinical research from James Schaller, M.D., a Lyme literate medical doctor (LLMD) who practices medicine in Florida. Dr. Schaller’s research focuses on Lyme Disease co-infections such as Babesia, Ehrlichia, and Bartonella, as well as indoor mold toxins and their negative health effects.
Information on sauna therapy using dry heat, steam, and ozone.
Practical, hands-on guidelines for using antibiotics, with analysis of more than 20 different kinds of pharmaceutical antibiotics, herbal antibiotics, and IV antibiotics. How to order specialized antibiotics from compounding pharmacies. A look at antibiotic categories, mechanisms of action, and therapy optimization.
Discover the amplified effects of antibiotics when they are used as part of the Marshall Protocol, and read a 10-page section on the author’s personal experience with the Marshall Protocol. The entire Marshall Protocol is explained in clear and simple terms, so you can finally understand this mysterious treatment.
Diet and lifestyle considerations with discussion of processed sugar, exercise, liver health, and digestion.
An in-depth tutorial on Lyme Disease bacteria, including bacterial pathology, lifecycle activities, and transformational capabilities. Special coverage of microorganisms in mental illness and autoimmunity.
Political and legal challenges facing Lyme patients and physicians, including the difficult and unpopular diagnosis process, and the current hostile treatment environment. Find out how to be self-reliant and take control of your healing.
Sunlight and artificial light, and how they impact the recovery process.
Critical information on mercury toxicity with an explanation of why mercury poisoning often accompanies Lyme Disease. Evaluation of several methods of mercury testing and detoxification.
Coverage of allergies, anti-inflammatory drugs, acid/alkaline pH, electromagnetic treatments, sources to purchase affordable supplements, and much more!
The book concludes with a chapter that goes beyond just telling you about the treatments―it explains how the author learned to integrate them into a comprehensive treatment plan after years of trial and error.
Would you like to learn more before buying the book? Feel free to browse these excerpts, which are available online, free of charge:
directintegrativecare.com.
Lyme Disease: The New Epidemic
YouTube. The interview captures his reflections on:
Archive.Alternate recording: Willy Burgdorfer Talks About Lyme Disease is also archived on Internet Archive, offering additional commentary
Wikipedia+1.
