Microbial Defense Support, Phase 1

Written by Dr. Ryan Kneessi, ND

No AI plan? Take our free supplement quiz.

The mechanisms this protocol supports

The immune system relies on clear signaling to respond to microbes and then return to a calm state. When that signaling stays switched on, people often describe fatigue, achiness and brain fog.

Methylation and antioxidant enzymes that depend on selenium help the body manage the extra workload of immune activity, and a balanced gut microbiome supports healthy immune signaling throughout the body.

Research has linked persistent immune activation and microbial imbalance with lingering symptoms after tick-borne infections, including Lyme-related symptoms. Tick-borne infections need evaluation and care from a medical provider, and this protocol is meant only as nutritional support alongside that care.

What is in the protocol

The exact products and directions are listed in the Fullscript plan, and here is what each one is commonly used to support.

Biocidin is a broad-spectrum botanical blend that is commonly used to support a healthy balance of microbes throughout the digestive tract. Proflora4R is a restorative probiotic formula that pairs beneficial bacteria with prebiotics and botanicals to support a balanced microbiome and a healthy gut lining. G.I. Detox+ is a binder blend that is commonly used to support the gentle removal of unwanted compounds through the digestive tract.

Foundation Formula from Return Healthy combines andrographis, Japanese knotweed, cat’s claw, milk thistle, eleuthero and turmeric, herbs that are commonly used to support immune function, antioxidant defenses and the liver’s elimination pathways. Selenomethionine is a well-absorbed form of selenium, a mineral the body needs for antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and for normal immune and thyroid function. Methyl Balance provides methylated B vitamins that support methylation, a chemical process the body uses to process compounds, balance neurotransmitters and maintain DNA.

You may also want to look at the Phase 2 protocol of this protocol.

How to use it thoughtfully

Please talk with your provider before starting, especially if you take medications, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition. This page does not list amounts, so follow the label or the specific guidance your provider gives you. When you can, add one product at a time so it is easier to notice how you feel.

Sleep, nourishing food, daily movement and stress care are the foundation, and supplements are meant to build on them. Some people notice temporary changes in how they feel when starting botanical products, so go slowly and stay in touch with your provider.

What the research shows

Phase 1 has not been tested as a whole in a clinical trial, so the studies below cover related approaches.

Herbal blends have been compared with an antibiotic for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). In a 2014 Johns Hopkins clinic study by Chedid and colleagues, 104 adults with a positive breath test took either the antibiotic rifaximin or commercial herbal blends for four weeks. The follow-up breath test was negative in 46% of the herbal group and 34% of the rifaximin group, a difference that was not statistically significant. The study looked back at records rather than randomly assigning people, and it used herbal products other than the ones in this protocol.

Broad herbal blends can interact with medicines. In a 2008 study by Gurley and colleagues, 14 days of goldenseal, an herb found in some antimicrobial blends, raised blood levels of the test drug midazolam by about 60% in 16 healthy volunteers by slowing a liver enzyme. It was a small study, but it is a good reason to review your medications first.

For the probiotic step, a 2010 meta-analysis by McFarland of 27 trials in 5,029 adults found that Saccharomyces boulardii roughly halved the risk of antibiotic-linked diarrhea. Evidence for other gut concerns was promising but less certain.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Belkaid Y, Hand TW. Role of the microbiota in immunity and inflammation. Cell 2014. PMID: 24679531. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4056765/
• Aucott JN, et al. CCL19 as a Chemokine Risk Factor for Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndrome: a Prospective Clinical Cohort Study. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2016. PMID: 27358211. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5014924/
• Morrissette M, et al. A Distinct Microbiome Signature in Posttreatment Lyme Disease Patients. mBio 2020. PMID: 32994327. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7527730/
• Rayman MP. Selenium and human health. Lancet 2012. PMID: 22381456. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22381456/

Browse all A-Z protocols