with Stephen Harrod Buhner, master herbalist
After a year of proliferating and debilitating symptoms, I was finally diagnosed with Lyme. I started oral Doxycycline (and will continue for at least 3 months, I’m told) and taking the 3 herbs in the core protocol as well as sarsaparilla. I’m about a month into treatment and have been able to work my way up to 4 capsules each 3x/day. (I find 4x/day to be logistically difficult.) I have a few questions for you:
1) In your book on page 78 you state that “Andrographis is perhaps the best primary herb to use in the treatment of lyme disease.” However, on page 74 in your update you say that “the single most important herb is Japanese Knotweed, secondarily Cat’s Claw … Andrgraphis is problematic … may produce side effects.” If one is able to tolerate it, do you still recommend Andrographis or are the potential risks greater than the potential benefits? I am clearly feeling better for the first time in a long time and was planning to stay at my max dose for all herbs for at least 3 months. Is it best not to stay on this particular herb long term?
2) Should these herbs be taken with or without food? Separately from any other antibiotic/food/supplement (ie. dairy, calcium iron, magnesium, zinc etc.)?
3) Do any of these herbs help break up the encysted forms so they a can be eradicated? I’m also trying to follow the Collagenous Tissue Support recommendations and taking red root for lymph system cleansing. It’s a lot of pills to swallow in a day. Is it possible to condense the collagen protocol? If so, which supplements would be the most important? Thank you so much for your assistance. It’s a challenge riding the ups and downs of this disease and I’m trying hard to stay focused on the solution. I think I’ve looked at every book written on this subject and yours has by far been the most informative and helpful to me. I look forward to your response.
Stephen’s response:
I think andrographis is fine if you do tolerate it. Over time I have come to feel that knotweed followed by cat’s claw are the two best primary herbs followed by eleuthero followed by andrographis then stephania. (In the last book updates I did not notice that andrographis statement.) If you tolerate it (that is, no allergic reaction) there is no reason not to be on the herb long term. If you are feeling better, keep at it. If you experience digestive upset, take them with food, otherwise it doesn’t matter. Yes, andrographis helps break the encysted forms. The red root should be taken as a tincture, not a pill. The most important for the collagen protocol are glucosamine, pregnenolone, biosil.
posted on December 11, 2009 | 4,233 views | tags: andrographis, biosil, Borrelia burgdorferi, collagenous tissue support protocol, glucosamine sulfate, Healing Lyme, lyme disease, pregnenolone, take herbs with food?
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
Karen
March 9, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Dear Stephen,
I wanted to say that I love your book!
Recently I have purchased powdered extracts of Japanese Knotweed, Smilax, and Andrographis. Each one is labeled as 5:1. The problem is, I do not have any idea how to take these. Do I have to put them in caps or can I take them in water or juice? I have no idea of how to measure them out either. I have Chronic Lyme and want to do the protocol. Any pointers? Thank you for any info or links you might provide.
Karen
earthwalker
March 10, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Hi Karen,
I’m sorry but Stephen’s column is closed to new questions until June. Please see the note just under his photo in the right column above, where there is a link to his email address. You can write him directly if you wish, but he’s very busy and it might take a bit to get a response. You might get a quicker response if you contact the company you purchased the herbs from. They should be able to advise you. Best, Julie