Dear Stephen,
I just recently switched from antibiotics to your protocol. My lyme symptoms got better on antibiotics then severely worse after a year so I believed it was time for a change. I am still new to the protocol so I haven’t had enough time to make a great comparison, but I read that many people develop resistance to the herb combination after two years. What’s your take on this? Have you dealt with patients on the protocol for 2+ years? Also I would appreciate some tips for a healthy lyme oriented diet. Thank you!
I just recently switched from antibiotics to your protocol. My lyme symptoms got better on antibiotics then severely worse after a year so I believed it was time for a change. I am still new to the protocol so I haven’t had enough time to make a great comparison, but I read that many people develop resistance to the herb combination after two years. What’s your take on this? Have you dealt with patients on the protocol for 2+ years? Also I would appreciate some tips for a healthy lyme oriented diet. Thank you!
Stephen’s response:
I have not heard that to that extent though I have heard of it a few times. In general, the herbal protocol needs to be altered for each individual based on symptoms. In general, if you are not well after a year on the protocol, then it needs to be altered based on the individual’s symptom picture. A few people do need to stay on a very reduced intake of cat’s claw and knotweed indefinitely but here we are only talking about one capsule 3x daily of each. A healthy lyme diet would be a healthy diet, essentially one that helps support healthy bones and joints (cartilage healthy diet). There are a lot of them on the Internet.
I have not heard that to that extent though I have heard of it a few times. In general, the herbal protocol needs to be altered for each individual based on symptoms. In general, if you are not well after a year on the protocol, then it needs to be altered based on the individual’s symptom picture. A few people do need to stay on a very reduced intake of cat’s claw and knotweed indefinitely but here we are only talking about one capsule 3x daily of each. A healthy lyme diet would be a healthy diet, essentially one that helps support healthy bones and joints (cartilage healthy diet). There are a lot of them on the Internet.
Stephen
I have successfully used the Buhner protocol since maybe 2006 graduating from full doses of Andrographis, Resveratrol, Smilax, Cat Claw, first Stephania then quiting that & using Teasel root- first tablet/capsuls then decoctions because the herbs worked, but I still had issues, then graduating to making tinctures myself. Yes, after a few years of tincture, the bugs seemed to develop a resistance to it; then, the last two batches made were very good again. The difference I think is that the intermediate batches I increased each herb from the initial 125 grams per herb to 150 grams still using a 1:4.5 to 1:5 herb liquid ratio whicch resulted in no headroom in each quart jar. The last 2 batches I allowed more head room in the quart jars using 125 grams herb with a 1:4.5 or 1:5 ratio of herb to liquid, the alcohol % ranging from 40% to 75%(everclear). 40% alcohol tinctures were effective. Note, this was a maintenance situation working for one year or more, then needing to do it again. If I could handle the 4 shots per day & do this for 6 months, the bugs would be either dead, or in the cellar with the door locked n key thrown away. Be carefull with driving!!!