'Botanical Support for Lyme Disease & Co-Infections'
sponsored by Rio Health

Please note, this is a transcript of the questions received and have been reproduced verbatim in relation to any grammatical errors.

LINK TO THE ACADEMY QUIZ FOR FREE PRODUCT VOUCHERS: https://riohealthpractitioners.co.uk/blogs/news/rio-health-academy-quiz-for-free-products-botanical-support-for-lyme-disease-co-infections-introducing-the-rhsp

PLAYED DURING THE WEBINAR BUT WITHOUT AUDIO.  RECOMMENDED TO VIEW: Link to video 1 (approximately 2 minutes) (3 year old suffering neuroborreliosis):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUP6EjMbgfE

Link to video 2 (floaters): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aadrXH6oic

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO VIEW:  Link to video 3 (approximately 3 minutes) (life cycle of babesia): https://youtu.be/JOakxoorjoQ

Skullcap is mentioned in many protocols for Lyme but isn’t included in your RHSP, why?

Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) is indeed an excellent broad-spectrum antiviral. 

The primary infection in Lyme disease is bacterial (Borrelia burgdorferi) with its main co-infections being bacterial and parasitic (Babesia=parasite, Bartonella= bacteria, Anaplasma=bacteria, Rickettsia=bacteria, Mycoplasma=bacteria).  Many of the antimicrobials in the RHSP are broad-spectrum and will have action against bacteria, parasites, and fungi as well as against viruses. Cat’s Claw, the broad-spectrum antimicrobial taken almost daily throughout the RHSP, has anti-viral properties.

Opportunistic infections commonly found in Lyme clients include herpes viruses and these must also be addressed.  In part, these will be addressed by the broad-spectrum antimicrobials (Cat’s Claw, Otoba), but the RHSP also includes 2 useful antivirals: Cecropia (Takuna) and Houttuynia.  And, in the PRE-RHSP, Cistus incanus has antiviral (as well as anti-biofilm) properties, and in the POST-RHSP, Pau d’Arco tea has antiviral properties.

If a client has diagnosed viral co-infections, or the practitioner suspects there are viral infections involved, additional antiviral support may be needed.  This could be provided by adding Chinese Skullcap to the client’s personalized program.  All Lyme clients will have different symptoms, different infections, and different needs. This is why personalizing the program is so important.

For example, if a practitioner has a client with suspected Lyme with a diagnosed EBV infection, starting with the PRE-RHSP with some added Chinese Skullcap may benefit—with the Chinese Skullcap dosing continuing as necessary as the client begins the RHSP.

Have you any studies on your RHSP?

Whilst we do not have any studies on the RHSP, Rio Health are trialling the program with 3 Lyme clients through 3 practitioners in our practitioner network.  Two of these clients have recent diagnoses—confirmed by test.  One of these two started the RHSP after using prescribed antibiotics. The 3^rd client has chronic Lyme, with a positive test approximately 6 years ago.

Feedback thus far has been very positive.

Is there any evidence of low pancreatic enzymes associated with Lyme?

Thus far, I haven’t seen any evidence in the literature that this is a problem suffered by all (or most) Lyme sufferers, though low pancreatic enzymes would impact nutrients obtained from food which would potentially impact immune health. I would be interested to know if this is a problem practitioners tend to see in all or most of their Lyme clients.     

Regarding enzymes: the Serrapeptase enzyme provided in the RHSP is included for aiding biofilm breakdown.  The new Bromelain Plus product that will replace the Serrapeptase will be included for this same purpose. These enzymes are taken on an empty stomach for the purposes of aiding biofilm breakdown. To have effect on the digestion of food, enzymes need to be taken at the beginning of a meal.

Practitioners who want to support their Lyme client’s digestion with digestive enzymes could personalize their client’s RHSP by adding the epigenar Enzyme Complex to be taken at the beginning of meals.

Another aspect to this question is that deficiency of zinc associates with lower pancreatic enzymes as well as with reduced immunity as this important mineral affects multiple aspects of the immune system. Mineral deficiencies—including magnesium and zinc—are not uncommon in Lyme sufferers.  If a Lyme client is found to have zinc deficiency, supplementation should be considered to correct this.

What if mould is an issue as well, does that need treating first or is it covered with the RHSP?

Moulds (a type of fungi) are addressed in the RHSP primarily by the antifungals in the program; these are Huacapurana (Cumanda) and Mulateiro Plus.  The chlorophyll in Green Magma, Parsley and Cilantro Plus also provides antifungal action. In addition, Cat’s Claw, Otoba, Mulateiro Plus, Inula and Stevia have antifungal action.  Pau d’Arco is another useful antifungal and is included in the POST-RHSP.  The early part of the RHSP is focusing on fungal (and mould) issues.

If mould is a known problem for a client, their environment should be addressed first. Once the environment is improved, the RHSP will have better effect.  Please have a look at the webinar on fungal infections for more information:  https://riohealthpractitioners.co.uk/blogs/webinars/webinar-1

Note that if more support for fungal/mould infections is required by a client, the RHSP can be personalized with the addition of one of the 2 Barberry products (Barberry Leaf by Rio Health or Barberry Root by epigenar), or Garlic capsules by epigenar may be usefully added to the RHSP.  Or an earlier addition of Pau d’Arco (tea, capsules or tincture) and/or Liposomal Glutathione (by epigenar)—both in the POST-RHSP—could be useful.

Are the products in RHSP vegan?

Most of the products in the RHSP are suitable for vegans. All the tinctures are suitable for vegans. 

Those RHSP products that are not vegan-friendly are as follows:

• Vitamin D3 & K2 drops: is vegetarian but not vegan.
• Curcumin Forte (in PRE-RHSP): is vegetarian but not vegan
• Serrapeptase: is vegetarian but not vegan.
  • The Serrapeptase (which is not vegan) in the RHSP will soon be replaced by the new Bromelain Plus product. This new Bromelain Plus product is vegan.

If magnesium is used by biofilms, why is low magnesium problematic?

Good question.

The Lyme sufferer will have low magnesium for a variety of reasons, including that biofilm depletes levels. Deficiency of this important essential mineral is problematic in and of itself; magnesium deficiency also impacts the immune system.  The client will need supplemental magnesium to ensure they are not deficient.