Planet Thrive

Japanese knotweed

• Possible knotweed reaction
  Dear Stephen, I found some Andrographis on the Oregon coast, ate about an inch long segment of it and I started to feel uneasy, head foggy, spacey...
• Trans-reservatrol
  Dear Stephen, What is the scoop on trans-resveratrol? Are the brands of resveratrol you recommend the "trans" form - and does it even matter?
• Knotweed preparation
  Dear Stephen, In a previously answered question in your column about "capsule vs. decoction," you wrote to someone about using the whole herb or whole form, tinctures, and decoctions with regards to knotweed.
• Breastfeeding on protocol
  Dear Stephen, I am nursing a 10-month-old. Which herbs can I safely take while breastfeeding and are there any herbs that will help protect the baby or do I just assume the baby is going to come down with it?
• Houttuynia for bartonella?
  Dear Stephen, Do you have an opinion on the herb houttuynia, which is being used by Dr. Zhang for bartonella, and do you know of any American herbs with similar properties?
• Orthostatic tachycardia (POTS)
  Dear Stephen, A year ago I very suddenly developed what has been labeled as P.O.T.S (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). When I sit or stand up my heart rate increases by 20-30 bpm or more.
• Bismacine to kill encysted lymes?
  Dear Stephen, A friend of mine said that bismacine is the only known thing that will kill off encysted lymes. What is your perspective on that?
• Intractable neck discomfort / choking symptoms
  Dear Stephen, I feel like I am being choked and when I move my neck from side to side my sternocloidomastoid muscles feel like they are so tight and ache so much.
• Herb best for brain fog
  Dear Stephen, My lingering symptoms are persistent frontal HA/pressure and waxing and waning fog. Any thoughts on which herb can be used to help to clear the fog?
• Skin fungi herbs
  Dear Stephen, The only problem that's still with me, is pre-lyme skin fungi (before only in my toes, now in my fingers). I suffer from that in winter only, for more than a decade.
• Protocol for young children
  Dear Stephen, My 3 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with Lyme and has been on antibiotics (abx) for about 3 months now. I would like to transition her to herbs.
• Wasting time and resources?
  Dear Stephen, I started your herbal program at least a year ago and have only ramped up to 4 Sarsaparilla 3x day and 2 Resveratrol 3x day. Have I been wasting my time by not including the other herbs?
• Core protocol and antibiotics longterm?
  Dear Stephen, I would like to know whether you have any experience in having patients use your core protocol along with antibiotics long term. Are there any contraindications?
• Plant estrogens
  Dear Stephen, I am extremely sensitive to plant hormones or precusors, which makes certain herbs and essential oils impossible for me. I worry about resveratrol therefore. Will knotweed have a similar effect?
• Herbs against TBE?
  Dear Stephen, I would like to ask about any good anti-viral herb 'specific' against tick-born encephalitis (TBE).
• Japanese knotweed and hot flashes
  Dear Stephen, I've tried both the Source Natural resveratrol and Plum Flowers Hu Zhang and both give me sleep disabling hot flashes. Is that because of their phytoestrogens knocking my stronger estrogens off?
• Mixing Cowden and Healing Lyme protocols
  Dear Stephen, I am on the Cowden protocol and am considering adding in andrographis and japanese knotweed and just wondered if you had any suggestions.
• Bell’s palsy of the gut
  Dear Stephen, Do you have any herbal suggestions for the lyme associated symptom, Bell's Palsy of the Gut? I am having some success with Triphala and Neem.
• Severe skin burning
  Dear Stephen, My primary symptom from Lyme is severe skin burning. I have not been able to wear shoes/socks for five years. What do you suggest to stop this awful pain?
• Herbs for Morgellon’s disease?
  Dear Stephen, I am curious whether you have had experience treating Morgellon's Disease with your Healing Lyme protocol.
• Herbal interaction with Klonopin
  Dear Stephen, Do the herbs andrographis, red root tincture, or smilax interfere with Klonopin (Clonazepam)?
• Intolerance to knotweed?
  Dear Stephen, My question now is about knotweed. I could take it for a few months last year in low doses but recently developed a clear reaction to it.
• Brain swelling and small intestine help
  Dear Stephen, What else can I take to reduce brain swelling? What helps generate tissue for the small intestine?
• Andrographis allergic reaction
  Dear Stephen, I wanted to report to you another allergic reaction to Andrographis - I had a sudden attack of hives that gradually worsened until my whole body was bright red with huge white welts that were extremely hot and itchy.
• Chinese herbs
  Dear Stephen, My question is about Chinese herbs: forsythia, isatis, gardenia, coptis, phellodendron, houttunya, lonicerae.
• Low blood pressure
  Dear Stephen, Can andrographis make your blood pressure TOO low? My normal BP is 90 over 60.
• Biopure tinctures
  Dear Stephen, What do you think about Biopure tinctures? Do you still think the whole herb is better/ safer than these tinctures?
• Decoctions vs Capsules
  Dear Stephen, Does it matter whether we take Japanese knotweed (resveratrol) as the whole herb in capsule form or as a decoction?