Episode 560: MCAS, Chronic Lyme Disease, GLP-1 Agonists, Biofilms, and the Future of Precision Medicine — Dr. Tania Dempsey, MD
Tick Boot Camp
In this powerful Tick Boot Camp Podcast interview, Matt Sabatello sits down with Dr. Tania Dempsey, MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician and internationally recognized expert in Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Lyme disease, autoimmune conditions, and complex chronic illness.
In this comprehensive conversation, Dr. Dempsey delivers one of the most forward-thinking and in-depth discussions ever featured on the podcast — connecting the dots between persistent symptoms after Lyme, immune dysregulation, biofilms, nervous system dysfunction, and groundbreaking research on GLP-1 receptor agonists as mast-cell stabilizers.
This episode offers science, clinical insight, and — most importantly — hope for patients who have tried everything and are still struggling.
Lyme Disease, MCAS, and Why Patients Stay Sick
Why Treating Lyme Alone Is Often Not Enough
Dr. Dempsey explains why many patients continue to experience inflammation, pain, neurological symptoms, and relapses even after treating Lyme disease and co-infections. According to her clinical experience, this is most often due to primary Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, not persistent infection alone.
Key insight:
> Lyme disease frequently acts as the trigger, but MCAS is often the driver of ongoing symptoms.
Dr. Dempsey clarifies the critical difference between:
Primary MCAS (pre-existing immune dysfunction worsened by infections)
Secondary MCAS (rare; resolves completely once infection is treated)
She notes that in decades of clinical practice, she has never seen true secondary MCAS fully resolve without ongoing mast-cell management.
SOT Therapy: When, Why, and How It Works Best
Dr. Dempsey provides a nuanced and experience-based explanation of Supportive Oligonucleotide Technique (SOT) for Lyme and co-infections.
She addresses common criticism:
One-time SOT treatments are rarely sufficient
Chronic Lyme often involves multiple strains of Borrelia , Babesia , and Bartonella
Her most successful cases involve:
Repeated testing
Sequential SOT treatments targeting specific strains
Immune system support between rounds
Adjunctive therapies such as herbs, antiparasitics, and mast-cell stabilization
She shares a remarkable case of a young woman with severe neuropsychiatric symptoms who — after years of persistent SOT treatment combined with MCAS management — is now thriving, off psychiatric medications, and successfully completing college.
Biofilms: Why They Matter in Chronic Infection
Dr. Dempsey firmly states that biofilms are a critical barrier to recovery in chronically ill patients.
Key points:
Biofilms exist in the gut, sinuses, blood, and tissues
They protect microbes from antibiotics, herbs, and immune attack
Resistant biofilms may involve extracellular DNA (Z-DNA), discussed at ILADS
Therapies discussed:
Enzymes such as lumbrokinase and nattokinase
Ozone therapy
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) for severe cases
Her message is clear: if you cannot reach microbial reservoirs hidden in biofilms, infections cannot be fully controlled.
GLP-1 Agonists, Immune Modulation, and Breakthrough MCAS Research
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists as Mast-Cell Stabilizers
Dr. Dempsey presents groundbreaking findings from her published case series:
“The Utility of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Mast Cell Activation Syndrome”
Key details:
47-patient case series
Micro-dosing of GLP-1 agonists
Primary medications used: tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) and semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy)
Unlike weight-loss protocols, Dr. Dempsey uses very low doses to target immune modulation — not appetite suppression.
What GLP-1 Therapy Improved in MCAS & Lyme Patients
Reported improvements included:
Cognitive clarity and brain fog
Chronic pain
Neuropsychiatric symptoms
Anxiety and depression
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Systemic inflammation
Hormonal dysregulation
In some cases, patients experienced improvement within one or two doses.
Dr. Dempsey explains that mast cells express GLP-1 receptors, and activation sends a signal of safety, reducing inflammatory mediator release.
Unexpected Findings: Muscle Mass and Antibody Reduction
Contrary to common concerns, Dr. Dempsey observed:
Preserved or increased muscle mass in the majority of patients
Improved mitochondrial function and exercise tolerance
Reduction in chronic antibody production (including Lyme Western Blot bands)
She shares a striking case where a patient with long-standing positive Lyme antibodies saw antibody levels decline for the first time in over a decade after GLP-1 therapy — despite infection already being treated.
This supports her hypothesis:
> MCAS can drive persistent immune activation even when infection is no longer present.
Side Effects, Screening & Who Should Not Use GLP-1s
Potential side effects (usually mild):
Nausea
Delayed gastric emptying
Occasional vomiting in sensitive patients
Important clinical notes:
Some patients respond better to semaglutide vs tirzepatide
A small subset may require dose cycling or pulsing
Antibody formation against GLP-1 drugs is a potential research focus
Non-Pharmaceutical Alternatives to Increase GLP-1 Activity
For patients who cannot tolerate medications, Dr. Dempsey outlines alternatives.
Herbal & Supplement Options
OptimumGLP Synergy (herbal blend designed to support GLP-1 signaling)
Calocurb (GLP-1 supportive compound)
These options may:
Reduce inflammation
Help stabilize appetite and blood sugar
Calm mast-cell activity
Diet-Based Strategies
Dr. Dempsey explains why higher-protein and carnivore-leaning diets may benefit MCAS and Lyme patients:
Protein and fat stimulate endogenous GLP-1
Reduced food triggers
Improved metabolic stability
Patients do not need to eat exclusively meat — but increasing high-quality protein intake is often beneficial.
Nervous System, Trauma & Mast Cell Feedback Loops
The episode explores how:
Mast cells and nerves exist in a bidirectional feedback loop
Chronic fight-or-flight worsens immune activation
Therapies discussed:
Limbic retraining programs ( Primal Trust , Gupta Program)
Vagal nerve stimulation
Apollo Neuro wearable
Ketamine-assisted therapy
Psychedelic microdosing (emerging area)
Breaking the mast-cell / nervous-system loop is often essential for healing.
Women’s Health, PCOS & Autoimmune Illness
Dr. Dempsey shares a critical insight:
> In her practice, every PCOS patient also has MCAS.
She explains how:
Mast cells respond to estrogen, progesterone, insulin, and cortisol
Hormonal fluctuations can trigger MCAS flares
MCAS may underlie PMS, PMDD, endometriosis, and reproductive pain syndromes
GLP-1 therapy may offer new hope for women suffering from inflammatory gynecologic symptoms linked to Lyme and MCAS.
Advocacy, ILADS & The Future of MCAS Research
Dr. Dempsey discusses her work with:
ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society)
ISMCAS (International Society for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome)
ISMCAS goals include:
Funding MCAS research
Educating clinicians globally
Supporting patients and advocacy efforts
She encourages patients to:
Educate themselves
Share credible research with providers
Move on from doctors unwilling to listen
Final Takeaway
This episode redefines what root-cause medicine truly means.
Healing chronic Lyme disease often requires addressing:
Immune dysregulation
Mast cell activation
Nervous system dysfunction
Hormonal imbalance
Metabolic inflammation
Dr. Tania Dempsey offers a roadmap — grounded in science, compassion, and innovation — for patients