with Stephen Harrod Buhner, master herbalist
I’m new here and hoping you can help me out with a little advice, I have Lyme (probably still) and Babesia (definitely). I’ve been on various parts of your protocol for probably about a month now, maybe 3 weeks ago I started getting worse chest pains, trouble breathing and real difficulty eating. After research I decided I probably had Babesia and 2 weeks ago I began Artemisinin treatment, which made my life much much better within a few hours. I could eat again and over the next few days the chest pains and breathing troubles receeded.
One week ago I saw a LLMD and added Malarone to treatment, which helped to ease some more internal pain in various other areas (like bottom tips of rib cages, stabbing pains in gut, etc). Also the night sweats seemed to become less common and intense. I have also been continuing Artemisinin treatment. The LLMD said my blood looked really dark for my age and I fear the Babesia may have made me somewhat anemic as I have all the symptoms of Erythromelalgia, a rare disorder that includes paresthesis of the fingers and toes, as well as red or purplish skin tone in the hands and feet, aggravated by heat, exercise and other factors that aggravate my symptoms. The condition can apparently be caused by anemia.
Over the last few days the chest pains have started coming back and the last few nights I have been having vivid nightmares and mild night sweats have returned. After several days of doing better my hands and feet seem to be becoming more irritated more often and I have been swallowing mouthfuls of ground thyme and whole cloves to try and stave off anemia and help circulation. I’ve also been taking 3,000mg of fish oil and 2,000mg of B12 a day for the past few days. I know that’s a lot of background info and now I come to the point; two multi-part questions I have.
1) Is there anything more I can be doing to aid my circulation in the event of fewer red blood cells because of Babesia, or to increase my red blood cell production; 2) I have read that the stomach develops enzymes in response to Artemisinin after a week or so which inhibits Artemisinin’s bioavailability. I have read that drinking grapefruit juice with the Artemisinin inhibits the enzyme from destroying it, but I have also read that anti-oxidants may interfere with Artemisinin’s effectiveness and grapefruit juice is full of vitamin C. Are you aware of any of this controversy and if so, please share your thoughts with me.
Stephen’s response:
Thank you for taking the time to write; I am so pleased the book has helped you. As to your questions:
1) Red blood cell population can be increased through a number of avenues. Here are some of them.
To Increase red blood cell production:
a) to increase red blood cell production quickly you might try Tang Kwei Gin, 1 tbl 3x daily
b) to create more red blood cells more slowly in a tonic manner you might consider a tea daily, made from alfalfa, red clover, oat straw, peppermint, and yellow dock root. Place in one quart container: 2 tbl yellow dock root, 1 ounce each of alfalfa, oat straw, red clover, and 1/4 ounce peppermint. Fill with hot water and let steep overnight. drink the whole quart each day.
c) miso soup daily
d) 2 tbl each chlorella and spirulina daily.
(NOTE: it makes sense when treating a chronic condition where you are taking lots of herbs to register with your state and get a resale license, easy to do. Then you can arrange to buy from companies like Starwest botanicals at wholesale prices under a DBA with your resale license.)
e) fresh juice daily: wheat grass, beet root, carrot, celery
to stimulate circulation:
a) fresh ginger, two pieces about the size of your thumb, grated or juiced. Add to 8 ounces hot water, pinch of cayenne, a squeeze of lime, honey. Drink 2-4 cups daily. Will also help immune function.
2) As to your query about artemisinin, I am not sure there is alot to that. The studies in the treatment of antibiotic resistant malaria found it effective and make no mention of problems with stomach enzymes or antioxidants. However, if you feel that it is no longer working as well as it once was you might try cryptolepis instead, available from www.woodlandessence.com.
posted on October 25, 2007 | 1,067 views | tags: anemia, artemisinin, Babesia, Borrelia burgdorferi, cryptolepis, cryptolepsis, erythromelalgia, grapefruit juice, Healing Lyme, lyme disease, Malarone, Tang Kwei Gin
Andrographis
400 mg tablets: Nature's Way
<400 mg tablets: Paradise Herbs
400 mg tablets: Planetary Formulas Full Spectrum
Japanese Knotweed (Resveratrol)
Green Dragon Botanicals
100 mg tablets: Paradise Herbs
bulk, wildcrafted: Woodland Essence
bulk and Source Naturals 500 mg tablets: 1st Chinese Herbs [Editor's note: As of September 2011, we have received reports that some people have had bad reactions to Source Naturals brand Resveratrol but have done fine with Paradise herbs. Sometimes the brand makes all the difference.]
Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)
500 mg capsules: Raintree
bulk, sustainably harvested: Raintree
Cryptolepis
tincture: Woodland Essence
Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)
Herb Pharm tincture - alcohol-based
Herb Pharm tincture - glycerite (alcohol-free)
250 mg capsules: Nature's Way
Stephania Root
Caution: New research has shown stephania
unsafe for use in pregnancy.
1st Chinese Herbs
Woodland Essence
ARTICLES BY STEPHEN BUHNER
The Use of Apis and Bi-Edta in the Treatment of Lyme Disease
Some Arguments against the Standardization of Herbalists
Gaian Voices Interview with Stephen Harrod Buhner
Depth Diagnosis in the Practice of Sacred Plant Medicine
The Lost Language of Plants
The Health Benefits of Water Fasting
Herbelegy
The Fall of Gruit and the Rise of Brewer's Droop
Paradise Lost: Of Healing, the Sacred, and Beer
The Yeast of the Ancients
BOOKS BY STEPHEN BUHNER
Monika
June 7, 2010 at 6:39 am
Dear Stephen,
You recommended Tang Kwei Gin to anemia.When can I get it? IIs it:http://www.1stchineseherbs.com/dang_gui_su_wan.html?
Best regards
Monika
earthwalker
June 7, 2010 at 9:40 am
Hi Monika,
If you’d like Stephen to answer your question, you’ll need to submit it using the purple “submit a question” button under his photo in the upper right corner of this page. He does not read all comments on published Q & A columns.
Otherwise, I would just suggest doing a Google search for “Tang Kwei Gin” or “organic Tang Kwei Gin” and finding a company that seems reputable. Let us know if you find a good source! Thanks, Julie