What if chronic Lyme persists not because treatment failed, but because antibiotics alone were never designed to address the full complexity of the disease?

In the final episode of this three part Lyme disease series, Dr. Aaron Hartman is joined by Veronica Porterfield, MS, LN, MPAS, PA-C to explore why antibiotics alone are often not enough to resolve chronic Lyme disease. Drawing from both functional medicine and clinical experience, they explain how Borrelia can evade treatment through biofilms, immune suppression, and dormant forms, making long term recovery more complex than standard protocols suggest.

The conversation dives into advanced treatment strategies that go beyond antibiotics, including biofilm disruptors, herbal antimicrobials, immune and detox support, and careful sequencing of care. Dr. Hartman and Veronica emphasize the importance of addressing gut health, hormones, stress, sleep, and nervous system regulation alongside antimicrobial treatment. This episode highlights why effective Lyme care must be personalized, layered, and holistic to support durable healing in chronic illness.

About the Host

Dr. Aaron Hartman, MD is the founder of Richmond Integrative and Functional Medicine. He specializes in root cause care for complex chronic illnesses including Lyme disease, mold illness, autoimmune conditions, and post infectious syndromes. His work integrates functional medicine, environmental medicine, and trauma informed care to help patients restore resilience and long term health.

About the Guest

Veronica Porterfield, MS, LN, MPAS, PA-C is a clinician with extensive experience in Lyme disease and complex chronic infections. She brings a functional and integrative perspective to Lyme treatment, focusing on individualized care, immune regulation, detoxification support, and sustainable recovery strategies beyond standard antibiotic protocols.

Key Topics Covered

1. Why short antibiotic courses often fail in chronic Lyme disease
2. Differences between IDSA and ILADS based treatment perspectives
3. How Borrelia evades treatment through biofilms and dormant forms
4. The role of biofilm disruptors in improving antimicrobial effectiveness
5. Immune dysregulation and complement system interference in Lyme
6. Detox support including glutathione, Epsom salt baths, and binders
7. Herbal antimicrobials and anti inflammatory botanicals such as Japanese knotweed and cryptolepis
8. Transitioning from antibiotics to herbal protocols for durable improvement
9. Managing Herxheimer reactions and inflammatory flares
10. The importance of gut health, probiotics, sleep, stress regulation, and trauma informed care
11. How treatment sequencing must be individualized based on tolerance and symptom burden

📲 Follow & Resources

Dr. Aaron Hartman & Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine

Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/

YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD

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