HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Stephen Buhner Herb Questions

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/16/2017 11:03 PM (GMT -5)
So I'm shopping online at the moment for the different herbs that Stephen Buhner recommends. Is there a reason why I should choose one over the other as far as the tincture or capsules? I'm thinking I can control the amounts I ingest better with the tincture so that I can see if I have any negative side effects with it. And I know I need to go slow to gauge my response to each of the herbs but once I'm ok with them, can they all be mixed together and taken at one time?
Posted 1/16/2017 11:12 PM (GMT -5)
The tinctures are better when trying to ramp up slowly...as in a couple drops at a time.

I always put the tinctures together in 1/4 cup of water. (approx. - i never measured the 1/4 cup)
Posted 1/16/2017 11:33 PM (GMT -5)
If you have a problem with the alcohol, is the only drawback I can think of with tinctures. Most people don't mind that little bit. So much easier than swallowing caps.

I was mixing all of mine together but I've also taken them one at a time, if it wasn't convenient to close my nose off with anything (plugging the nose diminishes the taste somewhat).

I don't think it hurts to use other something other than plain water, though I wouldn't use anything hot.

Don't forget to start one herb at a time, no matter what form it is, so if you have any kind of a reaction, herx or whatever, you know what caused it. Wait about 3-4 days between each new addition.
Posted 1/16/2017 11:34 PM (GMT -5)
Yes, they can be taken all together at the same time in a little water. Sometimes some of them make it taste yuckie, so have a chaser handy.

I went low and slow with each one, getting up to my max and then adding in another herb. Slow and cautious and if you don't feel well, back down and go even slower.

I love the tinctures and at one time I had about 10 in my glass of water.

But, don't overdo it. In everything use caution and go slow testing each one to see how your body likes it.
Posted 1/17/2017 12:50 AM (GMT -5)
Are these different? One says Cat's Claw and the other says Chinese Cat's Claw.

Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is listed under his core protocol

Gou-Teng (Uncaria rhynchophylla) is listed under "If you have neuroborrelliosis". Woodland Essence lists it as Chinese Cat's Claw and not Gou-Teng.

So, am I supposed to take the regular Cat's Claw and the other one also if I have the neuro symptoms?
Posted 1/17/2017 6:56 AM (GMT -5)
I agree with your logic OP. Tinctures or powder. I've found VERY small incremental changes can produce dramatic affects with some herbs so you want maximum control. Plus if you're getting caps you might as well just get powder and not pay for someone to put them in gelcaps. That's the cheapest. But if you can afford tinctures or a particular herb calls for it those are easy too
Posted 1/17/2017 1:21 PM (GMT -5)

SapphireBaby said...
Are these different? One says Cat's Claw and the other says Chinese Cat's Claw.

Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is listed under his core protocol

Gou-Teng (Uncaria rhynchophylla) is listed under "If you have neuroborrelliosis". Woodland Essence lists it as Chinese Cat's Claw and not Gou-Teng.

So, am I supposed to take the regular Cat's Claw and the other one also if I have the neuro symptoms?

That's why the scientific names (Uncaria tomentosa) are listed, not just the common names (cat's claw), so we can be sure we get the right one. I *believe* you should choose one or the other, and not do both forms of cat's claw, at least in the beginning.

I also agree with starting with tinctures, then transitioning over to either capsules or bulk powders to take once you are up to a larger dose of tinctures. Tinctures begin to get expensive at the higher doses.

If anyone needs to avoid the alcohol (we really are only taking drops of alcohol, but it still bothers some people), there are tinctures made with glycerin.
Posted 1/17/2017 1:56 PM (GMT -5)
Are you just starting the Buhner protocol? If so, I'm new and would like to know where you got your Japanese Knottweed which is the first thing listed on the protocol. Thx & good luck with it.
Posted 1/17/2017 9:40 PM (GMT -5)
I'm not Traveler, but Buhner does indeed suggest using both Uncaria's if you have neuroborreliosis, per his book, second edition.
Posted 1/17/2017 10:04 PM (GMT -5)
If I may make a suggestion.....if you're going to start with Buhner's core protocol, and which to add in other herbs for your specific issues, wait to do the adding until you are well established on the core group, which, if you're going to be able to, should be started one at a time anyway for a few days before adding another. Sometimes it may take as long as 4 days to have some kind of reaction (herx or otherwise) to a new herb. But 3 days is the minimum.

In other words, if you're going to use both kinds of Uncaria's, start the core one first, and add the other a little later.
Posted 1/17/2017 11:09 PM (GMT -5)
I've been taking both Cat's claw. Working great!!!
Posted 1/17/2017 11:46 PM (GMT -5)
I took both.
Posted 1/18/2017 8:59 AM (GMT -5)
I took both per Buhner's instructions in his new Lyme book.....and I continue to take both per the advice of the Buhner-recommended herbalist I consulted.

The two different strains of Cat's Claw have different actions - all of which benefit those of us with Lyme.
Posted 1/18/2017 10:04 AM (GMT -5)
LOL! 1000Daisies! That's why I put in there that I *think* you should choose one or the other. I KNOW you should choose only one to start, then proceed carefully, as they could produce a larger herx when used together, simply because they are so closely related - BUT I was not sure about not using them together ever, so that's why I wrote it that way.

Never a problem asking me questions or even disagreeing with me! No one is always right, particularly not me. I still have a LOT to learn!!!

See? I stand corrected!!! smile
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply