Holistic Bartonella Treatment Center in Scottsdale, Arizona
Bartonella is a bacteria that invades red blood cells and blood vessel lining. Inside these cells, it evades the immune system response, leading to persistent infection. Bartonellosis is one of Lyme’s most serious coinfections, producing symptoms that include headache, fatigue, swollen glands, and a streaked rash in the early stages.
Neurological symptoms are common, including encephalopathy, a form of brain damage or disease that may lead to seizures. Cognitive dysfunction and central nervous system lesions sometimes occur. Bartonella is the cause of more serious conditions, including cat scratch disease, Carrion’s disease, and trench fever.
There are almost 40 characterized species of Bartonella about 15 of which are implicated in human illnesses. They are gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria that grow very slowly. Their average dividing time is about 22-24 hours, which is much longer than the 20 minutes that E. coli species (another rod-shaped bacteria) require. Their average size is about 2 micrometers in length and 0.5 micrometers in width. One unique characteristic of Bartonella is that their membrane has a “Type IV Secretion System” that supports their ability to attach to and invade various target cells, such as endothelial and red blood cells.
Symptoms of Bartonella
Bartonella and Borrelia species both cause acute and chronic infections that can be difficult for physicians to discern unless the patient has known exposure and recognizable clinical symptoms. Unfortunately, the latter is not a reality for many patients who become infected. Patients may first be diagnosed with another condition, like lupus or multiple sclerosis, before having testing done for bartonellosis or Lyme borreliosis. Why do these very different illnesses have similar symptoms?
The simple answer is that the body has a limited number of ways that it can respond to stress from bacterial infections. This host response is the result of a combination of differences between people in general health, genetic factors, and immune status that are integral to determining how an individual will respond to an infection. One person may experience neurologic symptoms, whereas another might only experience joint pain despite having the same infection. This makes it extremely difficult to define clinical patterns for infections, especially those that can lead to multi-systemic diseases like bartonellosis and Lyme borreliosis.
Differentiating Lyme Disease vs Bartonella Symptoms
The main differences between bartonellosis and Lyme borreliosis symptoms typically occur early in the infection. However, many patients do not experience the “classic” signs that define acute infections.
Cat scratch disease (Bartonella henselae Infection) is described as fever and lymph node swelling near the location of a cat scratch or bite. However, this acute presentation of bartonellosis is not the only course of infection. Trench fever (Bartonella quintana infection) and Carrion’s disease (Bartonella bacilliformis infection) come with their own set of symptoms.
Bartonellosis may be associated with long, thin, red marks on the skin called striae, but more research is required to understand Bartonella species’ role. However, it is associated with a skin condition called bacillary angiomatosis primarily in immunocompromised individuals.
The CDC reports that 20-30% of patients who are exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi develop a bullseye rash called erythema migrans. This rash can also have other appearances. Most patients do not have the rash, or they may not see the rash if it is small or covered by hair. They can also experience facial palsy or extremely swollen joints.
How do you treat a chronic Bartonella infection?
There are various treatment regimens that have been used in Bartonella infections. There doesn’t seem to be a one size fits all option for all patients. Sometimes herbal protocols can be helpful alone or combined with a variety of other therapeutic interventions, like dietary changes, immune support, efforts to heal the gut, detoxification, and electromagnetic frequency machines.
Sometimes antibiotics are necessary and research suggests that multiple antibiotics are often needed at the same time due to the high rate of resistance that develops in the Bartonella organisms.
Does antibiotic resistance play a role in Bartonella infections?
Yes, antibiotic resistance plays a significant role in Bartonella infections. In the April 2019 issue of Antibiotics, research on antibiotic resistance from Johns Hopkins was published in the article “Identification of FDA-Approved Drugs with Activity against Stationary Phase Bartonella henselae.” What they found was that a number of drugs that were not routinely used for Bartonellosis and without previous evidence for antibacterial activity did in fact completely eradicate the stationary phase B. henselae after 3 days in culture. They also found that the drugs currently used to treat Bartonellosis such as rifampin, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin had poor activity against the stationary phase B. henselae. This is consistent with what we are seeing in clinical practice. Many patients are being treated with conventional antibiotics and not getting better and this is causing other doctors to question the diagnosis of the infection in these patients. These patients can have a chronic infection with Bartonella and yet not respond to treatment.
Many infectious disease doctors think Bartonella is a harmless infection and the reason why Lyme patients have antibodies against Bartonella is that it is a common infection. If antibody-tests are not helpful in all cases what tests are there that can differentiate between an active/chronic or past infection with Bartonella?
There are a number of tests such as PCR and FISH that can be done to help understand whether Bartonella infection is active. Unfortunately, these tests don’t always confirm the diagnosis. A diagnosis of Bartonellosis should still be considered in a patient who is negative on PCR and/or FISH, especially in the setting of clinical signs and symptoms and very elevated antibodies to one or more Bartonella species.
Some physicians say to patients with complex illnesses that they suffer from depression, anxiety, OCD, or a range of other psychiatric disorders.
Bartonella Infection Treatment
It is common for Lyme Disease patients to be suffering from additional tickborne co-infections such as babesia, Epstein-Barr virus, and Bartonella. Bartonella is an opportunistic infection found in many people. If the person is healthy and the immune system functions well the patient does not have any trouble. But if the person's immune system is compromised due to Lyme disease, childbirth, severe flu, mold, heavy metals, and other life stressors then the immune system begins not to work as well and the Bartonella begins to grow.
Interestingly about 40% of cats carry this bacteria there for a cat scratch or bite can allow this bacteria to enter your body weren’t like dormant for years. Bartonella can also come from bites of ticks, sand flies, mosquitoes, and fireflies
After a tick bites a person it takes this into its stomach and then later in Jack’s it back into that same patient. In this manner, the tech can inject not only lime but also Bartonella and the parasite Babesia and the microbe Ehrlichia and various other infections such as rocky mountain spotted fever and viruses. About 40% of tick bites and Calfornia Carry Bartonella.
The main symptoms of Bartonella include emotional instability and mood swings, anxiety and panic attacks, depression, vibration or trembling of the body, numbness and tingling, pseudoseizures, sensitivity to light, sounds and smells of foods, headache, joint or muscle pain, heartburn reflux, pelvic or bladder pain. Bartonella is unique in that it creates an overexcites the nervous system the immune system with a very unusual set of symptoms which need to be examined closely by every physician and patient. I had patients describe a burning and crawling sensation over the skin in later have found them to have Bartonella.
Not one laboratory test but many laboratory tests are essential to do. Not only is antibody tighter so important but also DNA testing and PCR are sometimes needed. Remember and a negative test does not rule it out you need to keep testing when you have a clinical suspicion
Treating Bartonella infections always needs to be done after evaluating for all the various infections that can result in a patient like this. Also, mold testing heavy-metal testing viral testing immunity testing just to mention a few are necessary. After treating this for several years I now realize that immunity is essential and evaluation of immune function is of paramount importance. Are use various different modalities including antibiotics, O-Zone, ultraviolet light, herbal supplements homeopathic treatments, and electrical treatments. Reconstitution of the immune system with both Stem Cells and exosomes and elimination of all toxins is of paramount importance
We know how difficult it can be when you’re deciding which doctor to finding answers for your health If you have any additional questions or would like more information about our services and natural treatment options, give us a call at 1-866-379-8381 and speak directly with a patient care coordinator to learn more about your treatment options at Brio Medical.
Brio-Medical is non-participating and opted out of all insurance contracts including Medicare, Medicaid, and other private insurance companies.
To assist patients with financial assistance for treatment, Brio-Medical has partnered with Medical Bill Gurus, a 3rd party medical billing company that specializes in assisting patients to secure insurance reimbursements at medical providers that are non-participating and do not accept insurance.
Brio Medical is located in the heart of Scottsdale, Arizona, just 15 minutes away from Downtown Phoenix and the Phoenix International Airport (PHX).
Brio-Medical treats all forms of cancer, Lyme Disease, environmental disease, autoimmune, and chronic degenerative diseases such as chronic infections, auto-immune disease, and fine-tuning the body to slow the aging and degenerative process of the body.
We have a proven track record of successful diagnosis and treatment of numerous diseases, dysfunctions, and traumas. We offer a specific preventative wellness program to fight early signs of disease and aging for those individuals who strive for healthy living and improved longevity.
To view all the conditions we treat, visit the Conditions We Treat page or click on one of the links below:
- Integrative Oncology
- Lyme Disease
- Mold Toxicity
- Tick-borne Coinfections
- Environmental Disease
- Autism
- PANDAS / PANS
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME)
As the premier integrative wellness center in Arizona, Brio Medical specializes in offering a hybrid of both conventional and alternative treatments to provide patients with a variety of non-toxic and science-based treatments leveraging research from around the world.
Most typical cancer, Lyme Disease, and environmental disease protocols attack other aspects of the patient’s health and cause multiple complications, some of which are very serious and debilitating, it is our philosophy that in order to strengthen the body, enhance the immune system, and the natural disease-fighting aspects of the patient while starving cancer and creating a host environment that is not conducive to the growth of reproduction of the cancer cells, spirochetes, or other biological threats. We stress the concept of “biochemical individuality”, where no two patients are treated identically.
At Brio Medical we are proud to offer the most comprehensive options for treatment at the most competitive prices in the integrative medical industry:
- IV Therapy
- Hyperthermia
- High Dose Vitamin C
- Mistletoe Therapy
- Ozone Sauna
- Emotional Healing
- Oxygen Therapy
- PEMF Therapy
- Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation
- Regenerative Medicine
- Chelation Therapy
- BEMER Therapy
- Biophotonic Therapy
- Red Light Therapy
- IV Glutathione
- IV Phosphatidylcholine
- IV Hydrogen Peroxide
- IV NAD+
Call us today at 1-866-379-8381 or sign up for a free case evaluation to speak with a patient care coordinator to review your treatment options and learn if you qualify for the Brio Medical insurance deposit program, where you only pay a deposit for the full treatment protocol sign up for a free consultation.
Brio Medical is an outpatient facility. If you choose to do treatment with us, you will come into our clinic to receive your treatment and then leave. If you do not live in the area, we work with preferred hotel partners near our clinic where you may stay during your treatment, as well as provide transportation to and from the clinic for your convenience.
Brio Medical works with patients and their families receive discounted rates and many provide shuttle service to and from our center. To learn more please visit the Lodging and Accommodations page to help plan your journey to healing in Scottsdale, Arizona.
At Brio-Medical, we realize that not everyone has the financial means readily available for a long-term treatment plan. We also know that most insurance companies don’t cover healthcare costs for integrative treatments received from non-participating medical providers.
We want you to know that there is plenty of financial help for patients seeking treatment. You still have the option to choose the treatment that resonates with you.
To view all of the financial resources, visit our dedicated FINANCIAL RESOURCES page.
Medical Bill Gurus
Medical Bill Gurus is a 3rd party medical billing and patient advocacy service that specializes in helping patients secure insurance reimbursements for treatments received at non-participating medical providers.
To qualify for insurance reimbursements, patients will need to have a private PPO insurance policy with qualifying out-of-network coverage that is provided through an employer, health sharing, or other group entity administered insurance plan.
Medical Bill Gurus has partnered with Brio Medical to offer the deposit program where patients pay a deposit for the full treatment program, only being responsible for a fraction of the treatment cost upfront in lieu of paying the full cost of treatment.
Unfortunately, patients with Medicare, Medicaid, or HMO insurance plans would not qualify for insurance reimbursements.
Much attention in recent years has focused on dietary considerations in chronic disease – yet, just as there I no one-treatment fits all therapeutic approach to cancer or Lyme Disease, neither is there one diet fits all. We must be attentive to individuality in the diet as we are to individuality in therapy.
Brio-Medical uses an integrative approach to the treatment of cancer, Lyme Disease, anti-aging, and other chronic illnesses. Our integrative treatment protocols combine the best of conventional and alternative modalities based on the recovery of the biological performance of each patient. We take a holistic approach to healing, treating the body, mind, and spirit, to treat each patient on an individual level with our personalized medical protocols.
With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Alarcio provides comprehensive care for patients, especially children, who suffer from neurologic disorders such as seizures, neuromuscular disorders, sleep problems, headaches, cerebral palsy, and many other neurologic conditions.
Dr. Alarcio earned her medical degree from the University of the East College of Medicine in the Philippines and completed her pediatric residency and first year of neonatal intensive care training before migrating to the US. She then completed a second pediatric residency at King Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, and her Child Neurology Fellowship at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. Patients love Dr. Alarcio’s gentle manner, expertise, and promising approach to healing “all of you, not just part of you.”
Dr. Alarcio graduated from Medical School at the University of the East College of Medicine in 1988. Then she completed her residency at the University of California at Los Angeles Harbor Medical Center. Afterward, she finished her fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, where she focused on pediatric neurological conditions.
Dr. Alarcio has since been recognized as a top doctor in Pediatric Neurology in 2014 and 2017. She has published academic work entitled The Brain, the Immune System, and Encephalopathy. In 2014 Dr. Alarcio was featured as a leading physician speaker at the West Coast PANDAS/PANS Symposium as well as the FACES Encephalitis Conference in La Jolla, California.
As you begin your journey to healing, it is natural to feel overwhelmed or anxious about your decision to receive treatment away from home. When you are ready, a patient care coordinator is awaiting your call to go over your treatment options and help you plan a trip to visit the Brio Medical clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. To help you start your journey, we have provided links to patient resources below to help guide you on how to become a patient.
Dr. Mitchell first realized his strong passion for helping people through the wellness field while working at a drugstore in high school. That experience inspired him to earn a graduate degree in pharmacy and help people for more than 24 years. While practicing as a compounding pharmacist and consultant pharmacist, Dr. Mitchell learned that many of the drugs dispensed for treatment were ultimately harming patients by suppressing their symptoms while allowing the underlying cause of illness to remain untreated. With this epiphany, Dr. Mitchell decided to pursue medical school and provide patients with the best of both naturopathic and conventional medicine. He completed his medical degree from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
Dr. Mitchell’s first experience in using natural, restorative healing came before he even entered medical school, when he helped both his wife Ann and a family member with debilitating illnesses. His wife suffered from a painful back injury for years and was told by the “best doctors” that only drugs and surgery would help. At 20 months old, the family member was diagnosed with autism and was told that there was nothing doctors could do to reverse the disorder. His love for these members of his family kept him from accepting these answers and urged him forward to find alternatives, which included DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) training education.
While in school to earn his NMD, Dr. Mitchell trained under leaders in environmental medicine and autism, including Walter Crinnion, ND, Jessica Tran, ND, William Rea, MD, and Elizabeth Mumper, MD. Through that work, Dr. Mitchell developed his own treatment protocols and was able to further reverse the autism disorder and allow his family member to recover, develop, and thrive as a neuro-typical child at home and in the public classroom. Dr. Mitchell’s wife Ann recovered and was able to return to work following orthomolecular nutrient therapy and lifestyle changes.
The philosophy behind the Brio-Care System is the synergistic intersection of alternative and conventional medicine based on the principle that a healthy body does not develop the disease with an intact immune defense system.
We believe that healthcare for each person is unique, and the approach to maintaining and improving health and healing should be holistic, treating the mind, body, and spirit. Our approach seeks to restore and strengthen the biological capacities of the body to renew, repair, and heal, with specific emphasis on the immune system. Our treatments are designed to “kick start” self-renewal and healing.
Watch the video below from the Founder of Brio Medical, Rusty Roberts, and his personal story of his mom's experience with chemotherapy and healing from cancer holistically that inspired him to start the Brio Medical integrative wellness center in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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Brio-Medical Treatment Philosophy
Guiding Principles To Hope And Healing
All Treatment Programs Are Individualized. One Size Does Not Fit All! The Treatment Plan Designed For You Will Be Based On Personal History, Physical Exam, Labs, Imaging, Medications, Allergies, And Your Overall Health. When You Are Seriously Sick You Need Serious Help. Brio-Medical, Combines Natural Supplement IV’s Along With Specialized Equipment To Boost The Bodies Ability To Respond To Disease And Injury. This Is Where Hope Is Restored Thanks To Our Highly Trained Staff And Our Unique Combination Of Treatments & Therapies.
Principle 1:
Your Biology Is Controlled By Your Thoughts
All Treatment Programs Are Individualized. One Size Does Not Fit All! The Treatment Plan Designed For You Will Be Based On Personal History, Physical Exam, Labs, Imaging, Medications, Allergies, And Your Overall Health. When You Are Seriously Sick You Need Serious Help. Brio-Medical, Combines Natural Supplement IV’s Along With Specialized Equipment To Boost The Bodies Ability To Respond To Disease And Injury. This Is Where Hope Is Restored Thanks To Our Highly Trained Staff And Our Unique Combination Of Treatments & Therapies.
Principle 2:
Eat Healthy Food
That Is Organic, Non-Gmo, Whole Foods. This Also Includes Avoiding Refined Sugars Like Sodas, Cakes, Candies, And Anything With High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). HFCS Is A Genetically Modified Product. Fruits Are Acceptable But Juice Should Be Limited To Leafy Green Vegetables With A Granny Smith Apple To Taste. The Idea Is To Avoid A Spike In Blood Sugar And Subsequent Strong Insulin Response.
Principle 3:
Drink Plenty of Water
The Body Consists Of About 60-70% Water. Water Loss By The Body Is Termed Sensible, Loss From Urine And Stool Or Insensible, Loss From Respiration And Evaporation (Sweating). Water Is Lost By The Body All The Time Which Is Why It Needs To Be Replenished. The Body Needs Water For Digestion, Excretion, Absorption, Circulation And Regulation Of Body Temperature.
Principle 4:
Get Some Sleep
The Majority Of Americans Suffer From Sleep Deprivation Which Causes Mental, Emotional And Physical Fatigue. Sleep Debt Has An Effect On The Immune System And Healing. Research Has Shown In Mammalian Models That Animals Who Get More Sleep Have Higher Levels Of White Blood Cells (WBCs) Which Are Paramount To An Immune Response. Inadequate Sleep Is Also Associated With Breast, Prostate And Colon Cancers.
Principle 5:
Detoxification
Most Cancers Take Years To Form. The Standard American Diet (SAD) Including Alcohol Creates An Acidic And Inflammatory Environment In The Body That Leads To A Number Of Health Issues Including Diabetes. Then Take Into Account A Daily Bombardment Of Environmental Toxins (Toxicants), Such As Cigarette Smoke, Diesel Fuels, Pesticides, Herbicides, Pollution, Toxic Metals, And GMOs, Etc That Further Elevates The Total Toxic Burden Of The Body. No Wonder Chronic Illness Is On The Rise!
Principle 6:
Supplementation
Specific Nutrients, Vitamins, Minerals, Fatty Acids, Adaptogens, Botanicals, Etc That Are Used To Replete The Body From Depleted States. As The Immune System Becomes Strengthened And The Toxic Burden Reduced, The Body Can Start To Heal. Quality Of Supplements Vary, So Discuss With Your Naturopathic Or Integrative Practitioner Before Purchasing.
Principle 7:
Exercise
There Are So Many Benefits To Exercise And Movement. Exercise Makes You Feel More Energetic And Healthier And It Positively Impacts The Immune System. Exercise Eases Depression And Anxiety And Reduces Chronic Stress By Slowing Down The Release Of Stress Hormones.
Principle 8:
Balancing The Milieu
This Is The Internal Terrain Of The Body. Our Body Hosts White Blood Cells, Red Blood Cells, Hormones And Even Microorganisms To Name A Few. For Example, Bacteria Is Needed In The Gut To Promote Digestion And Metabolism Of Food And Produce Vitamins B12 And K. These Good Bacteria Are Killed By A Number Of Things Including Antibiotics, Anesthesia, And Heavy Metals Which Can Lead To An Overpopulation Of Pathogenic Bacteria And Even Candida In The Gut. Balancing This Terrain Is Important Because Everyone Always Has Cancer Cells. Fortunately We Also Have Mechanisms In Place That Such As Tumor Suppressor Genes That Protect Cells. Balancing The Body’s Internal Environment Is Done By Incorporating The Above Principles And Letting It Becoming Your Lifestyle.
Principle 9:
IV Therapy And Specialized Equipment
When You Are Seriously Sick You Need Serious Help. Brio-Medical, Combines Natural Supplement IV’s Along With Specialized Equipment To Boost The Bodies Ability To Respond To Disease And Injury. This Is Where Hope Is Restored Thanks To Our Highly Trained Staff And Our Unique Combination Of Treatments & Therapies.
The greatest testimony to the benefits and results of the treatments offered at Brio-Medical comes from the inspiring stories told by actual patients and their families. From hopeless PET scans to Western Blot Tests indicating no positive bands, we can say that our research and dedication have made a difference in the lives of our patients. Don’t take our word for it, please take a moment to watch these amazing stories and know that we are always ready and eager to make a difference in your life or the life of a loved one who may be dealing with chronic illness.
I have worked closely with the founders of Brio for over a year now. These are great, passionate people whose goal in life is to bring health, hope and happiness to those that need it the most. They care about their patients and do everything in their power to improve their quality of life and do so successfully. Brio Medical is truly changing lives and I am proud to be a part of it!
Finding Brio was an answer to prayer and I’m so glad I went. I believe it’s really helped me along in my cancer healing journey. They opened my understanding to whole new aspect of healing in regards to our electrical system and how it can make or break us. The owners passion and love for people really came out in our daily interactions. They have the latest technology for alternative cancer treatment, and the combination of their many state-of-art cancer therapies makes Brio powerful cancer killing clinic.
Positive. It was so refreshing to receive such joyful care in relaxed confidence while in the midst of a very trying, stressful season of life.
I saw Dr. Kollin for cancer prevention. In 2014 I had pain on the left side which occasionally radiated to my left breast. Ultrasound showed nothing but fibrous breasts. The origin of the pain could never be pinpointed. She had me apply a lotion to my torso daily. After a few months, I began to have eruptions under the left breast and increased the lotion applications as instructed. The eruptions progressed, the pain on the left side increased. After 4 months the eruptions stopped and the skin healed. The pain on the left side is gone. Follow up u/s has shown that the breasts are no longer fibrous. Incidentally, they are no longer tender when menstruating. I am so thankful for dr. Kollin. She listened and supported me. She is truly caring.