Astragalus dose different in book vs. this website

by Stephen Harrod Buhner | Apr 28, 2012 | astragalus, dosage info, Herbs, The Basics | 10 comments

Dear Stephen,
Since coming off doxycycline 5 weeks ago (taken for 1 month for early disseminated lyme and an unidentified rickettsial coinfection) I have been following your protocol but am confused about the astragalus dosage. On page 124 of Healing Lyme you recommend starting at 3,000 mg per day and working up to 16,000 mg per day, for active lyme infection. 2,000 mg per day is recommended as a tonic or preventative dose. I ramped up to 4,500 mg per day which is still well short of the maximum recommended in your book. However this website now says 1,000 mg per day. Should I cut it? I made spectacular progress in the first 3 weeks but seem to be going backward a little now – note that my doses of knotweed and andrographis are still at the very low end of your suggested range though. Thanks for your help.

Stephen’s response:
Well, what I am meaning IN GENERAL, not in specific cases, is:

For prevention if you live in a lyme endemic area: 1000mg daily

If you get bit by a tick, or if you notice a bulls eye rash, immediately begin taking 1000mg 3x daily, increasing it every week by 1000mg, so the second week use 2000 mg 3x daily, the third 3000 mg 3x daily, and so on. Essentially to ramp up the immune response markers needed to either prevent infection or reduce symptoms to mild.

This is essentially an immediate response to the onset of acute infection. There are some people who, I think, can use astragalus who have been infected for some time, but that is pretty much a case-by-case sort of thing and the dosage would vary considerably. Let me know if this takes care of the confusion.

Stephen

Author

Stephen Harrod Buhner

Stephen Harrod Buhner was an Earth poet and an award-winning author of twenty-four books on nature, indigenous cultures, the environment, and herbal medicine including the acclaimed book Healing Lyme: Natural Healing & Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis & Its Co-infections.

Stephen came from a long line of healers including Leroy Burney, Surgeon General of the United States under Eisenhower and Kennedy, and Elizabeth Lusterheide, a midwife and herbalist who worked in rural Indiana in the early nineteenth century. The greatest influence on his work, however, was his great-grandfather C.G. Harrod who primarily used botanical medicines, also in rural Indiana, when he began his work as a physician in 1911.

Stephen’s work has appeared or been profiled in publications throughout North America and Europe including Common Boundary, Apotheosis, Shaman’s Drum, The New York Times, CNN, and Good Morning America. Stephen lectured yearly throughout the United States on herbal medicine, the sacredness of plants, the intelligence of Nature, and the states of mind necessary for successful habitation of Earth.

He was a tireless advocate for the reincorporation of the exploratory artist, independent scholar, amateur naturalist, and citizen scientist in American society – especially as a counterweight to the influence of corporate science and technology.
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Stephen Buhner is no longer living and this Q + A column on Planet Thrive is closed to new questions. It will be kept on our website so readers can access vital information in the archives, communicate with each other in the comments section, and find herbs, books + lyme adjuncts in our directory. If you want to read more of Stephen’s writings, please see his website at: stephenharrodbuhner.com.

Elizabeth on February 16, 2016 at 6:26 pm

Hi Stephen,

I have seen variations of this question in your Q&A. Basically, I’d like to know why astragalus is contraindicated for people with chronic lyme? I noticed this information on your site here, but have not noticed any such information in the second edition of your Healing Lyme book. Also, to confirm, astragalus is safe to use as a preventative tonic indefinitely at 1000mg per day during “off season” for ticks?
Sarah on March 14, 2016 at 1:49 pm

Hi Elizabeth,

I was wondering the same thing. I found a reference in this article:

http://www.betterhealthguy.com/images/stories/PDF/PHA/2010_4.pdf

On page 10 it says that astragalus may cause autoimmune issues in those with chronic lyme and is best avoided.

All the best,

Sarah
healing lyme admin on July 24, 2016 at 11:46 am

Hi Elizabeth,
Stephen’s response:
For some people it can make symptoms worse, I talk about this more in depth in the second edition of Healing Lyme where I do note that for some people it really does make the condition worse, for some it helps. It is safe to use indefinitely.
Josiane Lagache on July 28, 2016 at 1:45 am

Dear Stephen
We lost our Son from Lyme disease borrelia garinni in Belgium Europe.He took antibiotica but iT didnt work.for HIM.What have we to do immediately after a tick bite? Homeopathic Ledum Pallustre or what is there to take in ?
What is the traktement for children >3 and baby < 3 yaers?
Thank you for your Answer we are zo afraid and traumatised ….
healing lyme admin on July 28, 2016 at 9:08 am

Hi Josiane,
I am so sorry for your loss, that is just awful. The Q & A is no longer open for questions. The good news is that your questions have already been answered and you can find them on the buhnerhealinglyme.com website. For new tick bites, Stephen typically recommends taking astragalus – 3,000 mg daily for 30 days, 1,000 mg daily thereafter, indefinitely. Also: using a paste made of andrographis tincture mixed with green clay, the paste applied on the tick bite area can often prevent an active infection. See also: recent tick bites. For past questions on children, see https://buhnerhealinglyme.com/category/lyme/children/ Blessings, Julie
Jan on September 22, 2016 at 4:18 pm

I have heard that Manuka honey, with it’s natural antibiotic properties, can be an effective Lyme treatment. Hesitate to try as it is a sugar, and sugar is a no-no with Lyme. Yes or No???
Denise Chapman on February 18, 2018 at 11:32 am

What is the dosage for chdonic carditis on Astragalus? Does it also help with EBV? Thanks!r
Nancy Sliwa on February 21, 2018 at 8:28 pm

I have been attempting to digest all the information in the new edition of Healing Lyme, and start the core protocol just a few days ago, plus additions for Chlamydia co-infection, especially the berberine eye drops. My eyes have been getting more and more sore, red, and itchy, and every morning they are glued shut with exudate. I hope this is a healing reaction, but I am concerned I may be damaging my eyes. Should I back off the treatment, or power through?
Nancy Sliwa on February 21, 2018 at 8:34 pm

I have started the core protocol plus was wanting to add tryptophan for neural involvement, but I read in Healing Lyme that tryptophan feeds chlamydial co-infection. Should I not add tryptophan if I have a confirmed chlamydia co-infection?
healing lyme admin on March 1, 2018 at 10:23 pm

Hi Nancy,
I’m not sure what to tell you (Stephen no longer does the Q & A here) but he has always said to reduce dosage or stop for a few days if symptoms/side effects become too much to bear. Then slowly increase. Some people are very sensitive and need to start with very low doses. I am hoping others will respond here and share their experiences. I would proceed with caution since it is your eyes, err on the side of safety. You might try sending Stephen a message on Facebook or on the Facebook Healing Lyme group. Best wishes to you, Julie