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Will you please take a quick look at my Buhner protocol? Looking for some advice.

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Posted 12/8/2017 12:46 AM (GMT -5)
Hi, I was just wondering if there are any herbs I can add to the Buhner protocol that might speed up my recovery?

I'm doing it pretty much exactly as according to his website, since I can't afford the book right now:

- Japanese Knotweed
- Cat's Claw
- Andrographis
- Gou Teng

So I'm doing exactly the way it's described here: buhnerhealinglyme.com/the-protocols/

I was wondering if there's anything else I can add? Maybe something I'm missing out on something since I don't have the book right now?
Or maybe something Buhner isn't aware of?

Thank you so much!
Posted 12/8/2017 1:22 AM (GMT -5)
LymeSick - How long have you been taking the herbs? You will want to slowly ramp up to higher doses.

I wish there was a way to speed up our recovery!


After awhile on Lyme herbs - will you be also adding in some herbs for Bartonella and Babesia?
Posted 12/8/2017 1:25 AM (GMT -5)
Here's a thread on Buhner's protocol...the core protocol is listed - if you're interested:

/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3879712
Posted 12/8/2017 1:55 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Girlie,

Thank you so much for looking at my post and for your kindness.
It goes a long way. Your help is so useful.

I have been on the protocol for maybe 1 month, but then I stopped for a month, and now I'm back for maybe 2 weeks.

What motivates me is that every time I start the protocol I herx pretty bad, so I feel like that's a sign that it's working, which is positive to me.

I have not added anything for co-infections yet, I think part of me is secretly hoping it's "just" Lyme which I tested positive for, maybe I'm in denial though, there's a good chance that's happening. Especially since I can't afford more testing.

I can buy so many herbs for the price of one test, that it's hard to justify, although maybe I should consider it. Maybe I should start thinking about coinfections.

Thank you again for your help and link, I greatly appreciate it. I did not have the full protocol.

I've been sick for almost 4 years, I didn't find out until this year it was Lyme, it hasn't been easy.
Posted 12/8/2017 2:47 AM (GMT -5)
Definitely wait before adding in herbs for the co-infections. You've just recently started. No rush.

If you're herxing badly - just go lower and slower...

I doubt if it's 'just' lyme (as if that isn't enough, hey?) - but good to stick with what you're doing now - since you are herxing, you don't want to add anymore - unless it's supportive herbs.
Posted 12/8/2017 3:58 AM (GMT -5)
Hi lymesick, just out of curiosity have you taken abx in the past or did you go straight to herbs?
Posted 12/8/2017 5:06 AM (GMT -5)
Hi what are you most troublesome symptoms?
Posted 12/8/2017 6:03 AM (GMT -5)
Girlie, thank you again!

Szabo246, I did antibiotics for 4-5 months, but no matter which antibiotic I tried, I had terrible side effects.

goshawk, my main symptoms are fatigue and brain fog. I don't even really have any physical pain, unless I'm herxing, but even then it's very mild. It would be so nice to be able to get through a day and actually be able to accomplish things. Lack of motivation is the wrong word because I definitely WANT to do things, but I just don't have it in me to start or finish anything.
Posted 12/8/2017 6:48 AM (GMT -5)
Like Girlie said, do be careful adding in herbals if you are herxing a lot. Herbals are potent and can be medicinal. They may have side effects and/or contradictions so always do your own research when making your medical decisions.

I am not an medical expert.

All this below is taken from Buhner's 2nd edition of "Healing Lyme"

I would highly recommend his books if you are doing herbals, there is so much more important information than just the treatment protocols.

Buhner suggest Cordyceps tincture:1/2-1 tsp 3X day
Eleutherococcus senticosus(1:5 formulation not the 1:1) Tincture, 1/2 tsp 3X daily.
Withania somnifera ,powder :1/2 tsp in a.m.,1 tsp. p.m. before bed.
Glycyrrhiza tincture:1/4 tsp. 3X daily.
These are all part of his IMMUNE re modulation.

For Fatigue: Eleutherococcus tincture :1:5 formulation as a tonic, 1/2 tsp 3 -6 X day.(Note:if it is severe or acute onset use the 1:1 or 2:1 formulation,pulse every ten days. When it becomes less severe, convert to the 1:5 formulation.

Codyceps is also listed for brain fog

But he lists these first: Ginkgo biloba:standardized 150 mg 2X daily,
Phosphatatidyl-serine:100 mg 3X daily
Centella asiatica(gotu kola):500 mg 2x daily or tincture 1/4 tsp 2 x daily(may cause headaches).

He lists a chronic fatigue formula:

This is VERY SPECIFIC for reversing chronic fatigue, especially if it is long term.

Note: all herbs must be powdered.
To Make:
Take two parts(for example,4 oz.) each of :Spirulina,milk thistle seed,licorice, Astragulus,tumeric,dandelion root,and nettle leaf, and...
One part each(for example 2 oz.) each of ;chlorella,burduck root,ashwaganda,eleutherococcus,bladderwrack, and dried wheatgrass juice.

Mix them well in a very large bowl.

Dosage:
1. I normally take 1/4 cup of the powder, blended in a blender in water or juice in the morning and late afternoon.The dose can be adjusted up or down as necessary.
Posted 12/8/2017 8:34 AM (GMT -5)
goshawk really appreciate you typing all of that out for me.

It is so helpful to me and I'm going to be using this information for sure!!!

Thank you again, I saved your comment!

I think maybe I'll slowly add Eleutherococcus.

I'm a bit worried about Cordyceps because I'm sensitive to mold, so I'm not sure because of the fungi, but it's something to think about for sure.
Posted 12/8/2017 9:48 AM (GMT -5)

goshawk said...

He lists a chronic fatigue formula:

This is VERY SPECIFIC for reversing chronic fatigue, especially if it is long term.

Note: all herbs must be powdered.
To Make:
Take two parts(for example,4 oz.) each of :Spirulina,milk thistle seed,licorice, Astragulus,tumeric,dandelion root,and nettle leaf, and...
One part each(for example 2 oz.) each of ;chlorella,burduck root,ashwaganda,eleutherococcus,bladderwrack, and dried wheatgrass juice.

I noticed Astragalus listed here. Buhner says Astragulus can make chronic Lyme worse. If you're sick from a recent known tick bite, it should be okay. If you've been sick for a good while or don't know when or how you contracted Lyme, then use Astragalus cautiously and pay attention to how your immune system responds. If it revs up your immune system too much or causes worse inflammation, then it may be you have chronic Lyme and need to leave that out until you heal.

Andrographis - noticed you're taking this. Buhner said it causes hives for some. If at any point you get hives or unusual skin symptoms STOP the andrographis.
Posted 12/8/2017 10:20 AM (GMT -5)
Lymesick,

I noticed you said your main symptoms are fatigue and brain fog. Also noticed you said you tested positive for Lyme but don't want to spend money right now on testing for coinfections. That's understandable. Just wanted to comment that there are some other infections that can cause those symptoms in the absence of other Lyme symptoms. Mycoplasma and chlamydia pneumonia and EBV (Epstein Bar virus). If you have insurance, those can easily be tested by regular labs. If you have positive IGM titers or unusually high IGG titers for those, then you likely are battling that too.

Buhner has protocols for treating those, as well, that can be taken along with the herbs for Lyme. Sometimes other infections, including viruses, can prevent your immune system from dealing with Lyme.

According to Buhner's Herbal Antiviral book, the top 7 antiviral herbs are: Chinese skullcap, Elder, Ginger, Houttynia, Isatis, Licorice, Lomatium.

I would get these herbal combination and gradually add them:

1. Chinese skullcap/danshen combo tincture from Woodland Essence. This is for cytokine remodulation and is in the full Lyme protocol.

2. IHA formula from Woodland Essence. (Isatis/Houttynia/Alchornia). This is in the bartonella protocol. Isatis and Houttynia should help with viruses in addition to bartonella, and Alchornia is in both the bartonella and babesia protocols and is a systemic antibiotic.

Last note: I also have mold illness and wasn't sure about Cordyceps. When I first tried it, I took it for 3 days and my chemical sensitivities flared. I was scared to take it again until this week. I decided to just take one dose every few days to see what would happen. So far so good. I still had MCS flares off and on when I wasn't taking Cordyceps, so I didn't think the mushroom was the cause. Just buy a small amount and try it and see how it affects you.

I would advise buying small bottles of any tinctures to see how they affect you. Then once you know where you're going with the protocol and how you respond, then you can order the most cost effective quantities.

Sorry if I overwhelmed you with so much info.
Posted 12/9/2017 4:47 AM (GMT -5)
WalkingbyFaith thank you so much!

You did not overwhelm me at all, this is all extremely useful to me!

Like you said, I should get the small bottles to see how it goes. I had been thinking about Danshen, so I think buying that tincture would be a good first bottle to take smile
Posted 12/9/2017 6:22 AM (GMT -5)
Do you have bart or myco? ..houttynia and allicin were a staple for many months with bvt ...
Posted 12/9/2017 10:48 AM (GMT -5)
The biggest thing that was missing from my protocol was patience.

Lyme is not like any other illness. It can really take some time. I went slowly because I was so afraid of herxing. Herxing to me is an imbalance and that is not good for me.

Nice and slow and consistent. It is not easy and it would be easy to give up. But if you do the work, you will get there. Just stay with the protocol. I will post it here for you.

1. Protecting endothelial structures (pg 214) - Polygonum cuspidatum (Hu Zhang or Japanese Knotweed)

2. Cytokine remodulation (pg 214) - Salvia miltiorrhiza (Red Sage or pinyin: dānshēn) and Scutellaria baicalensis (Skullcap or Huang Qin)

3. Collagen protection (pg 214) - Great lakes gelatin, Vit C, Selenium, etc - My personal recommendation for collagen is Protein Essentials Hydrolyzed Collagen.

4. Immune remodulation (pg 215) - Unicaria tomentosa (Cat's Claw), Cordyceps mycelium (a mushroom), withania somnifera (ashwagandha), Eleutherococcus senticosus, Glycyrrhiza (licorice)

5. Antispirochetal (pg 215) - Andrographis
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