‘Botanical Support for Lyme Disease & Co-Infections: Natural Therapies with Rio Health'

To download a PDF of the presentation, click here.

Questions and Answers:

Addressing the various questions related to minerals and Lyme disease, including the questions about detrimental effect of mineral supplementation in Lyme cases and the question of the association between a pharmaceutical (antihistamine) to prevent the uptake of manganese by Borrelia:
A number of attendees queried my mention of minerals and immune defence,  mentioning that mineral supplementation is considered by some to have detrimental effect in Lyme disease and is thus contraindicated.  Thank you so much for these questions and pointing out an omission in my webinar information.
The link between minerals and Lyme relates to the fact that Borrelia, like other microbes, need minerals for survival.  Borrelia differ from other microbes in that they have require manganese.
Most bacteria, like humans, utilise iron; bacteria seek it for their own means.   Humans have developed an immunological response (utilising liver production of hepcidin) that prevents iron absorption into the bloodstream via the intestines, thus starving the bacteria of iron (unfortunately also affecting haemoglobin in host blood). Whilst this method is a useful immune defence against iron-requiring bacteria, it is not effective against Borrelia which have developed complex biological manoeuvres, no longer requiring iron.  Thus, the human body cannot so easily limit the damage from Borrelia bacteria since no similar immunological response has been developed with respect to manganese which Borrelia instead requires.
If Borrelia needed lead or mercury this wouldn’t be an issue since these are both unrequired and undesired in humans, but humans also require manganese—for maintaining blood sugar levels, for tissue repair (re production of collagen—a favourite food of Borrelia) and for nervous system function.
The presence of Borrelia will impact host levels of manganese.  The impact of deficient amounts of manganese will be felt by the human host before impacting Borrelia bacteria since the need is relative to size and even a small amount of manganese will provide enough for some bacteria to survive.
And these pathogenic bacteria are not the only bacteria to require manganese; the beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum also essentially requires manganese.
Minerals essential to immune health, when depleted by microbes, leave the host (and possibly beneficial bacteria) deficient in that mineral and potentially detrimentally further impacting the host immune resistance.  To ensure the human body is replete in minerals, excessive amounts are not indicated; but sufficient mineral levels to support immune function and detoxification pathways are advisable. However, levels must be determined to ensure correct level of supplementation.  I should have mentioned this in my webinar.
Regarding iron, the protozoal parasite Babesia infects and destroys RBCs so can cause anaemia.
Zinc as well as Manganese is thought to have a critical role in regulation of virulence in Borrelia.  These are important considerations.  But the human host needs to be able to defend itself via an as-optimal-as-possible immune system.

What is needed is an adequate amount of these essential (to human) minerals with the goal to support the host’s need to defend and heal.
Deliberate deprivation of these essential minerals (to the invading microbe) would equally deprive the human host.  Such deficiency would potentially negatively impact recovery from immune assault, and, where antimicrobials are being used, would potentially impact detoxification pathways, potentially increasing die-off reactions and making the client feel much worse.
I should have emphasized in my webinar the need to check clients for deficiency of minerals using red cell mineral analysis (not hair mineral analysis). If an individual is deficient in any of these necessary minerals, body processes which require that (those) mineral(s) would be impacted.
The immune system uses both copper and iron, for example, for phagocytosis and these minerals are important for enzymes used by the immune system to fight invading pathogens.
The oxidized (used) minerals can deposit in skin and hair (e.g. copper) which is one reason why hair mineral analysis is not a useful means to assess mineral deficiency.  The oxidized minerals need to be eliminated or reduced via use of antioxidants.
Lyme sufferers are often depleted in copper, magnesium and manganese.  And sometimes iron in cases of babesiosis.
Kryptopyrroluria, as mentioned in the webinar, is also shown to associate with Lyme borreliosis, affecting white blood cells and involving depletion of zinc, manganese and magnesium.  Again, red cell testing is needed to determine deficiency and monitor levels during supplementation.
Regarding manganese and anti-histamines, this research from 2015 is mentioned in an article entitled ‘Common Allergy Medication May be Effective in Starving and Killing the Bacteria that Causes Lyme Disease’,  which discusses a pharmaceutical anti-histamine (specifically an H1 receptor blocker) able to prevent manganese from entering the cell wall of Borrelia.  The article discusses the potential of the pharmaceutical to inhibit the bacteria’s transport system, thus starving the bacteria and causing it to die in test tubes.
Whilst this research offers insight, it is an in vitro study and, I believe, has yet to be confirmed in humans.  The study used spirochaetal forms of Borrelia and, whilst the pharmaceutical-exposed spirochetes exhibited massive structural deformities, on exposure to the pharmaceutical, massive round bodies (an inactive form of Borrelia) formation occurred. Thus, the Borrelia went into hiding. Whilst antihistamines are not antibiotics, it is also unknown if resistance might develop to the antihistamine (a concern mentioned in the study).   Antihistamine pharmaceuticals have, of course, their own list of side effects which can negatively impact health, particularly immune health (e.g. via impacting saliva, a very important immune defence factor, and beneficial gut flora, also important for immune defence).
Generally, bacteria scavenge the body for trace metals and have special cell wall adaptations (called transport proteins) to internalise these metals. BmtA, the specialised transport protein for Borrelia burgdorferi, binds with manganese which  the Borrelia bacteria needs to harm its host. Inhibition of its transport system may reduce levels of the bacteria. Further research is needed to investigate the full impact in vivo of BmtA inhibition on Borrelia long term.

Regarding the questions about root canals—and what is recommended to tell clients re whether to have a root canal:
Below are the answers I supplied to similar queries after the webinar on Oral Health (which is already available as an online learning resource to fully qualified professionals registered with our Practitioner Program).
I need to point out that I am not specifically trained in dentistry or endodontics although I have read extensively on the subject in research (soon to be presented as a published book).  As I am not qualified in dentistry or endodontics, my advice to a client would be as set out below.  The role of the Nutritional Therapist would be to alert the client to the potential issue so they can discuss this with the relevant specialist. (The same would be true of ocular associations with Lyme disease, i.e. suggest the client have an eye check-up, informing the eye specialist of the Lyme diagnosis.)
These are the answers provided to similar questions after my previous webinar on Oral Health:

What to do about teeth with root canals? How do reduce bacteria in the roots?
For dealing with teeth already have had root canal treatment, I recommend discussion with an up-to-date dentist (preferably a biological dentist) who is aware of the problems re cavitations and root canal-treated teeth, can assess your individual circumstances including health issues and explain your personal options. These options may include: to do nothing, or to have re-treatment with more thorough technologies for example using ozone gas which better eliminates bacteria and using seals with more biocompatible materials, or to have the root canal tooth removed properly as a surgical procedure to ensure no part of the tooth breaks off and the area is properly cleaned—this last option may involve other considerations regarding the space left by the missing tooth—for example, shifting of other teeth if no replacement is considered, and a host of issues if a dental bridge or implant is considered. I would absolutely suggest coconut oil pulling, careful dental hygiene, use of a water pik, and using antimicrobials—as capsules, tinctures and/or teas alongside a detoxification protocol.

Do you have a protocol to prevent root canals?
Prevention of gingivitis and periodontitis—all the protocols mentioned in the presentation—so primarily good oral hygiene—using toothbrush, flossing, interdentals and water pik. Also, regular dental check-ups. Using an antimicrobial tea like cat’s claw which makes a pleasant tasting tea and has immune supportive properties as well as anti-bacterial properties. Apparently, there is a type of thermal imaging which may help determine if and where a problem may be– but I don’t know if that has gone beyond experimental stages or anything further than that.

Any comments on cavitations?
The dentist Stuart Nunnally suggested use of a type of 3D x-ray (CAT Scan) known as Cone Beam Image to determine if cavitations are infected. Look for a dentist experienced in dealing with these. I don’t know how easy it would be to find one, but I suggest starting by looking at biological dentists/practitioners (e.g. IABDM—I only found 2 listed in the UK though there may be others) and the IAOMT (the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology) of which 21 are listed in the UK.

Can you please tell us more about how glyphosate allows access to metals like aluminium?
Both glyphosate and aluminium are environmental toxicants; they work synergistically to induce neurological damage.  Glyphosate disruption to gut bacteria can lead to overgrowth of Clostridium difficile; p-Cresol (a toxic product of C.difficile, linked to autism) enhances uptake of aluminium via transferrin.  Seneff S et al, 2015.

What’s the therapeutic dose for stevia?
Stevia can be used as a sweetener (usually 3-5 drops). Therapeutic dose could be as high as 30 drops twice daily—taken on an empty stomach.

Regarding the question about antibiotics and use of combinations of antibiotics (particularly mentioning macrolides and flagyl with tetracyclines/penicillin) to jointly tackle various forms of Borrelia:
Please see the webinar on Bacteria and Bacterial Infections (which will soon be posted on our website, for fully qualified registered practitioners) for more information about the very real threats of antibiotic resistance and the health and environmental risks involved in antibiotic use.
Preference always must be for natural ingredients to address health issues.
I have seen information about antibiotics on the ILADS website but haven’t yet seen any research which indicates multiple antibiotic use for Lyme & co-infections. I am interested to see any literature showing combined antibiotic use that effectively inhibits ALL pleomorphic forms of Borrelia and addresses the co-infections.  Such research needs to be in comparison with the effects of botanical combinations for the same mix of Borrelia forms and co-infections.  I would welcome full study PDFs of such research.  I am not trained in pharmaceuticals and do not have access to a pharmacist who also knows about natural remedies that I can ask, but I am always interested in good science.

Regarding the question about a client with the typical bullseye mark but not showing any physical symptoms although has unusual blood test results (low WBC count):
Firstly, regarding Bull’s Eye rashes—the rash that develops due to Borrelia-infected tick bites does not always present as a Bull’s Eye rash, and a Borrelia-infected tick bite can also result in no observable rash.  Not all Bull’s Eye rashes indicate Lyme since the tick may not be Borrelia-infected.  As covered in the webinar, an optimally functioning immune system may mean, even if bitten by an infective tick, symptoms may not manifest at the point (in time) of the bite.
However, if there is/was a bull’s eye rash it is wise to consider precautionary measures.
Immune support would be one such precautionary measure and is indicated by this client’s blood test results.
As ever, it comes back to immune health. If the immune system is functioning optimally, the symptoms are less likely to manifest.  A bite from an infective tick may not result in symptoms for years.

I would like to thank all listeners who took the time to ask questions and, especially to the many practitioners who sent in positive feedback about this and the previous webinars.