I was going to take Kudzu tomorrow to see if it will help lower brain inflamation. Anyone know dosage or abx interactions? Is it a good one to try?

I will check my Buhner Bart book - I think he has it in there ... back later

I'm just here to compete with Girlie :P

From the bart book:

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(The Mycoplasma chapter)

With severe brain/CNS involvement, use:

Kudzu root tincture, ¼ teaspoon 3–4x daily.

With neural pain, use:

Kudzu root tincture, ½ teaspoon 3–4x daily.

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Later in the book:

Dosage

In traditional Chinese medicine the usual dose is 6–12 grams per day of the powdered root. Dosing in the West is usually 1 gram per day. Tincture dosage in mycoplasma infection: ½ teaspoon 3–4x daily.

Post Edited (RainyCloud) : 7/9/2020 10:31:01 PM (GMT-6)

I am using it tincture form per the buhner book - it's in his last Lyme book covering Chlamydia and Rickettsia
I use it at 2.5ml / 1/2 tspn 4x a day.

I have had no herx from it - and usually herx strongly from anything antimicrobial - so I think its actions are mainly anti-inflammatory.

Buhner says it can take quite a long time to start to reverse CNS inflammation - due to the complex nature of the mechanisms involved. as I had understood his writings he speaks of these mechanisms as a kind of vicious circle of inflammation-causing mechanisms acting together to make the inflammation worse - and taking quite a while to reduce even when you have managed to break the chain.

that was my experience also - my headaches ( positive lyme and suspected Bart) were all day every day and quite intrusive for around 9months prior to this - have now dropped to background level or hardly perceptible most of the time after 1-2months on the herb. sleep has improved also.

also taking
Skullcap 4ml 4x
Uncaria Rhynchophilla 4ml 4x
Knotweed 20g powdered herb a day
Andrographis extract ( 10%) 400mg 2x

all of which are active for anti-inflammatory actions in the CNS - per Buhner's writing and belive the combination has benefited me in a way I don't think any single particular herb on its own would have done.

my experience is herbal treatments are mainly subtle in their action and this is why several need to be combined to get appreciable benefits.
Except for strong direct antimicrobial herbs like berberines, sida, teasel etc - these can p[ut me on my back with even small doses!

also
I have seen mention on other websites that Kudzu is believed to have anti-Mycoplasma activity - but have not been able to find any references to support that

And in this forum, there was a rather long post recently that mentioned it is somehow a natural equivalent of Disulfiram - but again have not ben able to find any supporting references.

with knotweed - both my partner and I took it in the first year of illness and did not detect any great benefit
but that was mainly in tablet form - up to 4off 400mg 4x a day per buhner.

however later in the illness when I was more systematic and organized and keeping a detailed chart of symptoms I noticed i had more better days when on it and so increased the dose and had more benefit again so stuck with it. by no means a cure-all but I do believe it helps somewhat.

I have not seen any evidence that Kudzu affects neurotransmitter balance either way. it may help reduce excitotoxicity but i am not sure.

"And in this forum, there was a rather long post recently that mentioned it is somehow a natural equivalent of Disulfiram - but again have not ben able to find any supporting references."

https://hams.cc/kudzu/

Fifth paragraph talks about kudzu being natural disulfiram it not nearly as powerful.

Thanks! For the web info wvmike

potsnpans said...
Just wanted to point out that the similarity of kudzu and disulfiram (Antabuse) that is noted in the link above, only concerns acetaldehyde build up. This is the mechanism that they both share in deterring alcohol consumption.

Acetaldehyde build up is not believed to contribute to disulfiram's effectiveness in treating Lyme and co. Disulfiram is thought to kill borrelia in some other way, perhaps via a metal ion exchange/process that is necessary for their survival. That's the latest I've heard anyway...

yes, that's as I understand it also. I didn't know about acetaldehyde degradation inhibition with kudzu - but have low alcohol tolerance since getting ill and don't drink anymore so other than tinctures it shouldn't be an issue.

I think the dose used in the studies in the link was quite high vs Lyme dose also.