Stephen Harrod Buhner, Earth poet
STEPHEN HARROD BUHNER
Stephen Buhner is an Earth poet and the award-winning author of fifteen 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. His work has been profiled in The New York Times, CNN, Good Morning America and other media throughout North America and Europe. Since October 2006, Stephen has tirelessly answered hundreds of questions from those following his herbal protocol through his Q & A column.
Healing Lyme by Stephen Harrod Buhner
HEALING LYME
Published in 2005, Healing Lyme: Natural Healing And Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis And Its Coinfections by Stephen Harrod Buhner examines the leading scientific research on lyme infection, its tests and treatments, and outlines the most potent herbal medicines and supplements that offer help - either alone or in combination with antibiotics - for preventing and healing the disease. It is the essential guide to lyme infection and its treatment. Thousands of people have used the protocol to successfully manage their symptoms. buy the book
Cat's Claw
LYME PHILOSOPHY
Rather than making it a priority to kill the lyme spirochetes in any form, Stephen's approach to managing lyme disease is as follows:
1. Support collagen structures so that damage to the body systems ceases;
2. Enhance immune function so that the body can deal with the organism itself;
3. Shut down the inflammatory pathways the spirochetes initiate, especially in the CNS;
4. Treat symptoms;
5. And only then, try and kill the spirochete.
Herb capsules
CORE PROTOCOL
1. Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) (Source Naturals Resveratrol with 500mg Polygonum cuspidatum per tablet) - 1-4 tablets 3-4x daily for 8-12 months;
2. Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) (Raintree) - 1-4 tablets 3-4x daily for 2-3 months, then 2-3 capsules 3x daily;
3. Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) (HerbPharm tincture) - 1/2 to 1 tsp upon rising and at lunch;
4. Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) - 1,000mg daily (not to be used in chronic lyme)



10% off at 1st Chinese Herbs iHerb.com Mountain Rose Herbs

MAXIMUM CORE DOSAGES

Japanese Knotweed capsules (Source Naturals Resveratrol with 500mg Polygonum cuspidatum per tablet)

150 lb adult: 1-4 tablets 3-4x daily
100 lb adult: 10 tablets total daily split into three doses
60 lb child: 5 tablets daily split into three doses, tincture is probably better here
30 lb child: 3 tablets daily split into three doses, but would prefer tincture for child this small

Japanese Knotweed tincture
150 lb adult: 1 teaspoon 3x daily
100 lb adult: 2/3 teaspoon 3x daily
60 lb child: 1/3 teaspoon 3x daily
30 lb child: 1/5 teaspoon 3x daily

Cat's Claw capsule (Raintree brand)
150 lb adult: 1-4 tablets 3-4x daily
100 lb adult: 10 tablets total daily split into three doses
60 lb child: 5 tablets daily split into three doses, tincture is probably better here
30 lb child: 3 tablets daily split into three doses, but would prefer tincture for child this small

Cat's Claw tincture
150 lb adult: 1 teaspoon 3x daily
100 lb adult: 2/3 teaspoon 3x daily
60 lb child: 1/3 teaspoon 3x daily
30 lb child: 1/5 teaspoon 3x daily

Eleutherococcus tincture
150 lb adult: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon upon rising and at lunch
100 lb adult: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon upon rising and at lunch
60 lb child: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon upon rising and at lunch
30 lb child: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon upon rising and at lunch

Astragalus capsule for new tick bites - not to be used in chronic lyme
150 lb adult: 1,000 mg daily
100 lb adult: 1,000 mg daily
60 lb child: 1,000 mg daily
30 lb child: 1,000 mg daily

Astragalus tincture for new tick bites - not to be used in chronic lyme
150 lb adult: 1 teaspoon 3x daily
100 lb adult: 1 teaspoon 3x daily
60 lb child: 1/2 teaspoon 3x daily
30 lb child: 1/3 teaspoon 3x daily

Note: Additional herbs can be added based on your symptoms. Read this article for more on the latest updates to the Healing Lyme protocol.

Recent Q & As

  • Herbs to support Th1 and Th2?

    Dear Stephen, Can you recommend a source in which we can read about which herbs support Th1 and Th2?...

  • Blood blisters after taking Japanese knotweed

    Dear Stephen, After 2 days on Japanese knotweed, I developed a few blood blisters on my lips and a blood vessel in my eye became inflamed. Should I try a smaller dose or just no...

  • Herbs contraindicated with Advil or Tylenol?

    Dear Stephen, Do any of these herbs contraindicate with over the counter (OTC) pain medications, such as Advil and Tylenol?...

  • Dosage for smilax tincture too high?

    Dear Stephen, I started Smilax tincture yesterday with 15 drops. Today I did 15 drops diluted in water and the OCD symptoms were through the roof. Are 15 drops too much?...

  • Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) – toxic or not?

    Dear Stephen, Do we know for certain that grapefruit seed extract does not have systemic absorption, or is there just not enough research about that? Do you think that grapefrui...

  • Sleep and weight loss problems

    Dear Stephen, I weight 320 pounds, and I'm trying to lose weight. When I work to resolve my blood sugar problems, my sleep problems and all the rest of my symptoms get worse; i...

  • A thank you from a recovered reader

    Dear Stephen, It took time for your herbs to bring me back to normal, but they did. Thank you so much for researching and writing the book. My life (and family's life) has been ...

  • Treating brucella

    Dear Stephen, I have been treating lyme for two years now with some progress. Currently I am on the core protocol. My last blood test came back positive for brucella. Are there ...

  • Taking artemesia and cryptolepis at the same time

    Dear Stephen, I am being treated for babesia with larium and septra. Can artemesia and cryptolepis be taken along with these medications, and can they both be taken at the same ...

  • Treating Coxiella burnetti (Q fever)

    Dear Stephen, Can I use your protocol to treat Coxiella burnetti? I'm suffering with this for 20 years now and I am 51 years old....

  • Numbness in face – cheeks, mouth, jaw and neck area

    Dear Stephen, I have had lyme for 1 year and 4 months now. One of my symptoms is that I get an numb sensation that is sometimes bad, other times not so noticeable, in my face ak...