Healing Lyme: Natural Healing and Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis and its Coinfections

by Stephen Harrod Buhner

Book review by Kathleen Boehning

In my dear friend’s care while recovering from surgery, Kate offered me a book to read that she had just brought back from her latest weekend apprenticeship with Master herbalist, Stephen Harrod Buhner. Over the next few days I lay on my friend’s porch couch, watching the many birds feasting in the numerous feeders and reading this book in rapt attention. Buhner masterfully conveys in-depth research, warning of the scope and depth of this epidemic disease. This book provides a long overdue look at this under diagnosed and devastating condition, in all its guises. It provides hope to those left in the wake of HMOs lack of answers.

The spirochete bacteria family, Borrelia, of which there are numerous species, causes variations of what we call Lyme around the world. It has been around for millions of years. The ticks,  mosquitoes, mites, fleas, and biting flies that carry this family, have been infecting mammals, birds, reptiles and us for a very long time. Recently, there’s evidence of human contact with this bacteria in Asia that dates back as far 30,000 BCE. They survive by cleverly evading immune defense systems. They can change form within one minute by going from a corkscrew shape to a tight round sphere. In this form they are able to defy detection from our immune warriors and through normal blood tests. It can stay in this dormant state for up to 10 months, which explains the cyclical nature of antibiotic resistant and relapsing Lyme.

According to Harvard Medical School’s Jonathan Eldow, M.D., “Epidemiological data suggests that the actual evidence of Lyme disease could be as much as 10 times higher than CDC (Center for Disease Control)  data indicate (20,000 cases per year) a result of a restrictive case definition from the CDC.” Harvard researchers say the actual infection rate is more likely 200,000 new cases each year. More sensitive tests need to be performed by more specially trained technicians to stop the progression towards permanent affliction. Ailments stemming from this tenacious bacteria causes a broad assortment of problems particularly affecting the nerves, joints, brain, eyes, skin, etc. It likes collagen and colonizes in the joints. The spirochete has been found in all body fluids, including tears, breast milk and semen of humans sufferers. It is able to pass through the vaginal wall and can be passed to the fetus. Within hours of infection, it enters the spinal fluid, the meninges and brain tissue causing nerve pain, stiff necks, headaches, personality changes, sleep and cognitive problems. It is thought that many cases of Alzhemeirs are undetected Lyme.

The classic bulls-eye rash happens in few cases. This author of many important books on herbs, such as Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives to Drug-resistant Bacteria and Herbs for Hepatitis C and the Liver, makes exception of his anti-antibiotic stand when it comes to Lyme. The longer the disease goes untreated, the less likely antibiotics are to be effective. Although research shows antibiotic success rates range between 70-95%, these statistics don’t take into account the 35% relapse rate. Spirochetes were even found in those who were on antibiotics for years. (Another famous spirochete, syphilis, was found in the brains of those treated with antibiotics.) Mr. Buhner also recommends specific homeopathic drugs immediately on exposure (Apis 30C, 3x day for 3 days if there is a rash, Ledum 1M 3x day for 3 days for tick bite). Blood tests won’t show evidence of infection for a minimum of 3 weeks, and even then negative results don’t necessarily rule out infection. The sooner the treatment the better one’s chance of winning against a long fight against this clever invader.

The majority of Buhner’s book is devoted to the regime of herbs that bring relief for those who are weakened from this disease and possible coinfections. It is written for both physicians and their patients, and he advises patients to skip over parts not understood. His Core Protocol is primarily three herbs, andrographis, Japanese knotweed and cat’s claw. The core herbs have a broad application in the treatment of this disease. They are anti-spirachetical, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, immunostimulant. They improve cognition, cross blood/brain barrier, reduce die-off reactions, improve white blood production, particularly CD57, which is a marker for infection. It’s no wonder 2 out of 3 of his core herbs are in Irwin Natural’s Immune Shield, a cold season formula.

In most case he recommends capsules; some of them standardized, some not. He says Japanese knotweed (polygonum cuspidatatum) must be standardized to 8% resveratrol and andrographis to 10% of four andrographolides. Cat’s claw on the other hand, he emphatically insists should not be standardized at all. He is very precise in his instructions as to the form and dosage, providing warning of drug interactions and contraindications. These are not advised during pregnancy nor if taking blood thinners.

He recommends the addition of other herbs for more specific problems, such as astragalus, artemisia annua, and red root. Astragalus can be used as a preventive and for the early stages. It is not to be taken where there is late stage, chronic Lyme as it will do you more harm than good.

At this writing, we have brought in the core herbs. We have his preferred reservatrol by Source Naturals. He prefers Herb Pharm’s eleuthero, which he feels is the strongest available.  He recommends it immediately on exposure and for the depression that accompanies Lyme, as it’s an MAO inhibitor. He recommends Planetary Herbs’ standardized astragalus, which is beneficial for numerous aspects of Lyme, like fatigue and enhancing spleen, thymus, lung and liver functions. I’m still looking for stephania, which is helpful for the Bell’s Palsy, ocularborreliosis, neuroborreliosis, headaches, arthritic edema knees or other joints where they are hot and red. Buhner gives modest but solid nutritional advice for each condition, such as l-carntine for heart issues. Again, I want to stress reading the dosage instructions and precautions before starting this regime. He encourages a slow build-up in dose to prevent possible nausea from die-off effects. It is imperative that the high dose be achieved and maintained to have positive effects. 

There are extensive resources and references at the end of the book as well as sources for these herbs and labs that provide more accurate tests. The web link he mentions, www.lymediseaseassociation.org led me to more information. The National Institute of Health had a conference in October of this year and concluded that there is a significant amount of misdiagnosis in chronic Lyme. Stephen Harrod Buhner’s book is filling a void for those who have suffered so from this depilating disease.