Medical tourism, a practice that has attracted foreign visitors to Mexico for various cosmetic procedures over the years, is now increasingly drawing attention for a different reason – alternative treatments for chronic and life-altering diseases, including Lyme disease. This emerging trend has raised concerns among health experts who worry about the safety and effectiveness of such treatments.
In the realm of Lyme disease, these alternative interventions encompass a range of therapies, including hyperthermia (which induces fever to target Lyme-associated bacteria), stem cell therapy, extended courses of antibiotics, and plasmapheresis treatment, involving the exchange of plasma.
For many Canadians like Marnie Freeman, the quest for effective Lyme disease treatment has led them south of the border. Freeman, who hails from Vancouver, received a Lyme disease diagnosis in 2019 after Canadian tests yielded negative results. Debilitating symptoms such as facial numbness and chronic pain drove her to explore treatment options in Mexico.
Freeman’s journey led her to the Sanoviv Medical Institute, located in Rosarito, just south of Tijuana. There, she underwent two weeks of treatment, including hyperthermia and intravenous antibiotics, at a cost of $29,000 Canadian dollars, covering both medical procedures and accommodation.
Remarkably, Freeman experienced an improvement in her symptoms during her stay at the clinic. Encouraged by the clinic’s staff, she was advised to continue treatment for an additional six months, but she chose not to proceed.
“One of the reasons I chose that facility was their overall, full-body approach to healing,” said Freeman. “It represented something in health care that we don’t see in our country, as far as looking after the full mind, body, spirit — and that resonated with me.”
Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and primarily transmitted through infected nymphs and adult female ticks, poses a significant health challenge. In Canada, diagnostic and treatment standards for the disease remain a subject of debate and controversy.
While some patients like Freeman have reported positive outcomes following alternative treatments abroad, these unorthodox interventions raise questions among medical experts. The safety, efficacy, and long-term consequences of such treatments warrant further investigation and scrutiny.
As more Canadians turn to medical tourism in search of relief from Lyme disease symptoms, healthcare professionals and regulatory authorities must grapple with the complexities of this emerging trend to ensure that patients receive safe, evidence-based care in their quest for healing.
The allure of medical tourism for Lyme disease treatment underscores the urgency of addressing gaps in the diagnosis and management of the disease within Canada’s healthcare system and highlights the need for more research and guidance in this critical area of medicine.
