Understanding Babesia and Bartonella: Co-Infections You Shouldn’t Ignore
If you’ve been treated for Lyme disease but still feel unwell, co-infections like Babesia and Bartonella may be the missing piece. It’s a scenario I see far too often: patients who’ve gone through months (oreven years) of treatment for Lyme, only to find themselves still battling fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, night sweats, strange pains, or mood swings. They've followed the protocols, taken the antibiotics, and yet… they’re stillnot themselves.
One of the most overlooked reasons for this lingeringillness is the presence of co-infections—stealth pathogens that areoften transmitted through the same tick bite that delivered Borrelia (Lyme),but which behave very differently in the body.
Babesia and Bartonella are two of the mostcommon—and most disruptive—of these co-infections. They’re notorious for flying under the radar, especially when testing is incomplete or symptoms don’t follow the classic textbook descriptions. Many conventional providers don’t look forthem at all. And when they do, false negatives are common, leaving patientsfeeling dismissed or misdiagnosed.
What makes these infections so tricky is that they don’talways cause fevers or swollen joints. Instead, they often show up as psychiatricsymptoms, unexplained neurological changes, night sweats, oxygen issues, skin problems, or hormone crashes. They affect the immune system, nervoussystem, mitochondria, and even vascular health. And they don’t always respondto the same treatments used for Lyme.
At Restorative Medicine Center, we specialize inuncovering these hidden layers of chronic illness. Through our Root Cause Triad approach, we evaluate not only microbial infections like Babesia and Bartonella, but also the toxins and stress-related responses that keep yourbody stuck in survival mode. A functional medicine perspective allows us to digdeeper, ask better questions, and create personalized plans that support truerecovery—not just symptom suppression.
Babesia: TheParasite That Mimics Other Illnesses
Babesia is a protozoal parasite—similar to malaria—thatinfects red blood cells and is commonly transmitted through tick bites. WhileLyme disease (Borrelia) often gets the spotlight, Babesia is one of the most under diagnosed and under appreciated co-infections we see in patients with lingering orunexplained chronic illness. In some cases, Babesia may be the primarydriver of symptoms, even when Lyme is no longer active.
Although the primary route of transmission is through Ixodesticks (the same species that transmits Lyme), there’s emerging evidencethat other vectors or blood transfusions may also be involved. Once inthe body, Babesia sets up camp inside red blood cells—disrupting oxygentransport and creating a cascade of downstream dysfunction.
Babesia Symptoms Functional MedicineRecognizes
Many of Babesia’s symptoms don’t follow the classic “infection”pattern and often mimic other conditions like anxiety, anemia, adrenal fatigue,or even POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). Here are the mostcommon signs we look for:
● Air hunger – feeling like you can’t get adeep breath, even when oxygen levels are normal
● Sweats and chills, especially nightsweats, often in the absence of a fever
● Dizziness or a sense of imbalance,particularly when changing positions
● Fatigue and muscle weakness that can feelprofound and out of proportion to activity
● Anxiety and insomnia, often described as “wiredbut tired” or restless energy at night
Why It’s So Often Missed
Conventional Babesia testing relies on blood smears orlimited antibody testing, which are notoriously insensitive, especiallyin chronic cases. By the time someone is struggling with long-term symptoms,their antibody levels may no longer be elevated, and parasites may not bevisible under a microscope.
That’s why functional medicine digs deeper—we relyheavily on clinical presentation, detailed symptom timelines, andadvanced testing when appropriate (including PCR and specialty lab panels).More importantly, we recognize patterns that traditional medicine tends tooverlook. For example, if a patient reports unexplained air hunger, nightsweats, and post-exertional fatigue—Babesia moves high on our clinical radar.
Babesia’s ability to disrupt oxygen delivery andmitochondrial function makes it a key player in many chronic illnesses.When left unaddressed, it can perpetuate fatigue, cognitive fog, andinflammatory responses—even if everything else looks “normal” on paper.
Bartonella: The Hidden Driver of Neuropsychiatric and Vascular Symptoms
Bartonella, often referred to as “Cat Scratch Fever,” is a stealthy bacterial infection that has the unique ability to infect the vascularsystem and nervous system. While commonly associated with a mild illnessfrom cat scratches in children, Bartonella is far more complex—and dangerous—whenit becomes chronic or is part of a Lyme disease co-infection picture.
Bartonella can be transmitted through:
● Ticks (often alongside Lyme and Babesia)
● Fleas or flea-infested animals
● Scratches or bites from infected cats ordogs
● Possiblyeven through lice or biting flies
Key Symptoms of Bartonella
Bartonella tends to target the nervous system, bloodvessels, skin, and immune regulation, making its presentation highly diverse and, at times, bewildering. Patients often describe bizarre or intense symptoms that have been previously dismissed or misdiagnosed.
Some hallmark signs include:
● Neuropathy, tingling, burning, or electrical sensations—often in the hands, feet, or face
● Rage episodes, intense anxiety, or panic attacks that feel disproportionate or unprovoked
● Streak-like rashes (red or purple) that resemble stretch marks but appear in odd places and without a cause
● Light and sound sensitivity, especially in overstimulating environments
● Foot pain, particularly in the morning orafter periods of rest, that may mimic plantar fasciitis
Bartonella is especially known for affecting the psychiatricand emotional landscape of both adults and children. It can mimic or exacerbate conditions like bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD,and PTSD—which is why it's sometimes referred to as a “neuroinflammatory”infection.
Bartonella’s Role in PANS/PANDAS andAutoimmune Brain Inflammation
In children and teens, Bartonella has been increasinglyimplicated in PANS/PANDAS—a neuroimmune condition marked by the suddenonset of OCD, tics, mood swings, rage attacks, school refusal, and cognitivedecline. This occurs when the immune system, triggered by infection, begins attackingthe brain, specifically the basal ganglia.
We also see Bartonella triggering or exacerbating autoimmuneencephalopathy in adults—where inflammation in the brain leads to drasticmood changes, memory issues, and behavioral shifts.
What makes Bartonella especially dangerous is that it often hidesin biofilms, disrupts blood vessel integrity, and evades immune detection,making standard antibiotics and conventional treatment approaches lesseffective on their own.
TreatingCo-Infections Naturally: A Functional Medicine Approach
When it comes to treating co-infections naturally, wehave to go far beyond simply “killing bugs.” Chronic infections like Babesiaand Bartonella don’t just exist in isolation—they disrupt the immunesystem, burden the detox pathways, and create widespreadinflammation and nervous system dysregulation. That’s why at RestorativeMedicine Center, we take a comprehensive, whole-person approach rootedin the Root Cause Triad: Microbes, Toxins, and the StressResponse.
Comprehensive Evaluation
Every treatment plan begins with a deep dive into:
● Symptom history and timeline trackingto identify patterns, flares, and early clues of co-infections
● Advanced testing, including microbialpanels, immune biomarkers, mycotoxin testing, mitochondrial markers, and inflammatorylabs—used selectively and strategically
● Environmental and emotional stressorsthat may be suppressing immune function or contributing to relapse
Natural Strategies for Treating Co-Infections
Herbal Antimicrobials
Rather than relying solely on long-term antibiotics (whichmay not be effective or tolerated), we use well-researched botanicals thataddress pathogens and modulate the immune system:
● Cryptolepis, Japanese Knotweed, Sidaacuta, Houttuynia, and artemisinin—each with unique activityagainst Babesia, Bartonella, and Lyme
● These herbs also support lymphatic flow, reduceinflammation, and have fewer long-term side effects
Immune Modulation
When the immune system is in overdrive or exhausted:
● Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) to calmautoimmunity and reduce neuroinflammation
● Adaptogens like ashwagandha, rhodiola,and eleuthero to support adrenal resilience
● Medicinal mushrooms (e.g., reishi,cordyceps) to regulate immune tone without overstimulation
Mitochondrial Support
Co-infections often hijack energy production, leavingpatients feeling weak, foggy, and easily depleted. We support cellular energywith:
● CoQ10,B vitamins, carnitine, magnesium, and PQQ
● This helps patients tolerate treatment betterand recover more fully
Inflammation Reduction
Targeting inflammation is critical for both symptom reliefand long-term healing:
● Curcumin,omega-3 fatty acids, resveratrol, and quercetin
● Combined with an anti-inflammatory dietto reduce triggers and stabilize mood, energy, and pain levels
Detox and Drainage Support
As pathogens die off, they release endotoxins that can make patientsfeel worse—unless the body is supported in clearing them.
● Binders like charcoal, chlorella, orbentonite clay to trap toxins in the gut
● Lymphatic therapies like dry brushing,infrared sauna, gentle movement, and castor oil packs
● Emphasis on hydration, bowel regularity,and gentle liver support to ensure safe detoxification
You’re NotCrazy—You’re Infected
If you’ve been told your symptoms are “just stress,” “justanxiety,” or “all in your head,” please hear this: you are not crazy—you’relikely dealing with a complex biological reality. Babesia and Bartonellaare real, persistent infections that can hijack your nervous system, yourenergy, your mood, and your quality of life.
The truth is, many patients never fully improve until co-infectionsare properly recognized and addressed. These pathogens are masters ofstealth and inflammation, and unless they're part of your treatment plan, youmay continue to feel stuck, even if Lyme has been treated.
The good news? You don’t have to stay stuck.
Functional medicine offers a different path forward—onethat doesn’t rely solely on antibiotics or ignore your lived experience. Bylooking at the whole picture and treating the terrain, not just the infection,we help patients reclaim their vitality, calm their immune systems, and trulyheal.
If you’ve been diagnosed with Lyme disease but still feelunwell—or you suspect that co-infections like Babesia or Bartonella may bebehind your symptoms—we’re here to help.
At Restorative Medicine Center, we specialize in treatingco-infections naturally using a personalized, root-cause functionalmedicine approach. We don’t just target pathogens—we work to restore immunebalance, reduce inflammation, and rebuild your resilience from the inside out.
Let’s get to the root—together.
📍 Dr. TeresaBirkmeier-Fredal, MD Restorative Medicine Center
705 Barclay Cir #115, RochesterHills, MI 48307
📞 Phone: 248.289.6349
📠 Fax: 248.289.6923
🕘 Office Hours: Mon -Thurs: 9am - 5pm; Fri: Closed
🌐 www.restorativemedcenter.com