Needed, Anti-bacterial herbs and immune builders.

[Shanti]

I had Lyme disease early in the spring. Turns out I still do. The antibiotics didn't work. Its now chronic Lyme disease.
Lyme is a bacterial infection, Borrelia burgdorferi.
I could use some good herbal attacks to help the situation, especially since I have a compromised immune system, which doesn't help the situation.

If you know of easy to obtain, especially in the wilds up here in the greats lakes region, that have properties for being antibacterial and/or immune building, could you please list them and perhaps their best receipt for usage?

I have been researching/using some I know of like burdock (Arctium lappa) and I just added creeping charlie, (Glechoma hederacea) and their are others I am trying. Since it may be several more months or possibly years dealing with this, I have time to try and try till I find something that works.

And please add the scientific names too because common names can often be used for different species depending on the area.

Oh and presently I have stopped meds from the doc cause we ran out of ones I can try. Now its a, gee lets just wait and see for awhile. But as it turns out I am not the only one who fails at the drugs. Quite a few find failure with the drugs. Some people get over it themselves and some don't and struggle for many years.
I am hoping to get over it myself so I don't have to play guinea pig anymore with stuff that I am either allergic to or that makes me sicker than the Lyme disease does.
The only family of drugs I have been able to use have been sulfur based. But those have failed. So I am out of synthetic prescription drugs to try for now and its time to go herbal.

Thanks you for any herbals you can tell me about that I can research and hopefully try.

I also am doing the anti-oxidants with a regular drinking of green tea.
And honey. I am using fresh, local honey for its positive properties.

[Cindlady2]

Camomile (all kinds)
Plantain (common or narrow)Plantago major or Plantago lanceolata
Echinaccea (all types)
Garlic
Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra

These are ones I could think of "off hand" and would have to check my books on dosage. If you want to combine any I would recommend using tinctures. That way you can add a few drops to your teas. Licorice you have to be carefull of using too much too often. The way I tell people to do it if they need it for a long time is 10 days on 4 days off and after 6 weeks take 2 weeks off. This gives time for your liver to recoup.

Plantain is one of my favorite herbs! It's the best for cuts and bruises and I have even cleaned up the early stages of gangrene with it. I also works very well as an internal antibiotic. I use 20 - 40 drops of tincture in with a tea. And it's FREE! LOL

If you want to do allot of "wildcrafting" herbs I would recommend getting
Peterson Field Guides - Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants By: Steven Foster/ James A Duke
I'm on my second copy because I wore out the first one!
Good luck! :)

[Cindlady2]

LOL..... I just had a thought (no that's not the funny part) you have so many grazing animals you might not have much plantain left! Most leaf eaters and grazers love it!

[Faol-chù]

Some liver cleansing herbs are:

(And I'm not including the latin names, partly because I don't remember them, and partly because you are highly unlikely to get the confused with anything.)

Burdock Root, Dandelion Root, Yellow Dock Root, Oregon Grape Root, Licorice Root, Cat's Claw...
You might try mixing these with some Cleavers, Birch Leaf, Alfalfa, Yarrow, Nettles, Uva Ursi (Bearberry), elder flower.

Take note that there are a lot of roots listed...Roots 'draw', and work to cleanse the liver, and generally pull things out of your body... which ultimately frees the liver up to be more efficient about filtering foreign substances from the body. You might also add some Milk Thistle seed to your mixture.

You need to drink a LOT of WATER...forgo salt, sugar, fat, and white flour. Eating a lot of fresh (raw) fruits and vegetables might be a good idea as well. If you think you are up to it, you might try a cleansing fruit and vegetable juice fast, lasting 3 days....to push this stuff out of your system. You would need a juicer, and you could drink your tea with it, as well. (Research before doing! It's not for everyone!)

Another herb which you might decide to try is Goldenseal Root...But it's expensive, and it's harsh...but you might need harsh. (??)

Other things which people have used in the name of getting rid of infection are:

colloidal silver
oil of oregano

Research either one of these carefully before doing!!!

Astragalus root is an excellent immune builder...BUT RESEARCH BEFORE USING. This is not something you want to use while the organism that infects you is still in your body, because it will strengthen IT, too. It's strictly to use to RECUPERATE.

You might also like to read through this:

http://www.healthfreedomsolutions.com/lymedisease.htm

(In reference to the below post, hypericum (also mentioned in the above link, albeit in homeopathic form, is found in St. John's Wort.)

Good luck and get well!!

Le meas,

[Stormwt]

Doesn't St. John's Wort boost the natural immune system? I take it around my period cos I always used to get ill!

[Shanti]

LOL..... I just had a thought (no that's not the funny part) you have so many grazing animals you might not have much plantain left! Most leaf eaters and grazers love it!
Yup they do gooble up plantain. But i have a huge patch of it by the house that has just exploded in growth from all the rains.
I've used it externally for skin probs on people and our dog, but I never looked into it beyond that.
See, its funny. I know about plantain, but since I have used it for so long for a few specific things, I didnt think about it for this.
Thats whats great about asking others for assistance, they can bring thoughts back that have been overlooked or forgotten.
Thanks Cindlady!

I have a field guide to medical herbs, but it is really generalized on what plants are helpful for what. It basically makes every plant useful for everything.
I'll definitely take a look at the book you recommend. :)

[Shanti]

Some liver cleansing herbs are:

(And I'm not including the latin names, partly because I don't remember them, and partly because you are highly unlikely to get the confused with anything.)

Burdock Root, Dandelion Root, Yellow Dock Root, Oregon Grape Root, Licorice Root, Cat's Claw...
You might try mixing these with some Cleavers, Birch Leaf, Alfalfa, Yarrow, Nettles, Uva Ursi (Bearberry), elder flower.

Take note that there are a lot of roots listed...Roots 'draw', and work to cleanse the liver, and generally pull things out of your body... which ultimately frees the liver up to be more efficient about filtering foreign substances from the body. You might also add some Milk Thistle seed to your mixture.

You need to drink a LOT of WATER...forgo salt, sugar, fat, and white flour. Eating a lot of fresh (raw) fruits and vegetables might be a good idea as well. If you think you are up to it, you might try a cleansing fruit and vegetable juice fast, lasting 3 days....to push this stuff out of your system. You would need a juicer, and you could drink your tea with it, as well. (Research before doing! It's not for everyone!)

Another herb which you might decide to try is Goldenseal Root...But it's expensive, and it's harsh...but you might need harsh. (??)

Other things which people have used in the name of getting rid of infection are:

colloidal silver
oil of oregano

Research either one of these carefully before doing!!!

Astragalus root is an excellent immune builder...BUT RESEARCH BEFORE USING. This is not something you want to use while the organism that infects you is still in your body, because it will strengthen IT, too. It's strictly to use to RECUPERATE.

You might also like to read through this:

http://www.healthfreedomsolutions.com/lymedisease.htm

(In reference to the below post, hypericum (also mentioned in the above link, albeit in homeopathic form, is found in St. John's Wort.)

Good luck and get well!!

Le meas,
Wow thanks for all the info.
Its great having things to research and try.

Sometimes I get to feeling overwhelmed because there are so many things to look into. Sometimes, I just dont know where to start.
I knew I could ask for help here and I could find direction.

Thanks so much for helping and suppling a start to me searching. :)

[willa]

You've been given some good advice but I'll add just a little more.
Goldenseal is good but shouldn't be taken for more then a week at a time on a daily basis & use with caution if you have rageweed allergies. Licorice root shouldn't be taken for extended periods either & don't use if you have high blood pressure.
Some of these may be repeats but dandelion root, ginseng, hawthorn, horsetail & marshmallow root rebuild the blood & tissue.
Milk thistle & redclover for liver & bloodstream.
Garlic, papaya, bromelain, & ginger are good anti-inflammatories & pain relievers, along with primrose oil.
Vitamina A, C & E, selenium & taurine are important in rebuilding the immune system.
Hope your feeling better soon.

[lamoka]

Might I recommend some nutracuticals.. either immuplex or congaplex.. they were described as natures antibiotics to me by a naturopath.. I realize they aren't herbs that you go pick as such but still along the line you are exploring..
great luck to you

[Faol-chù]

I was reminded of something yesterday, and I thought of your situation...

To build your immune system, you might look into royal jelly, a bee product, or possibly bee propolis.

A small bit o information can be found about them here:

http://www.draperbee.com/catalog/page1.htm

Be well!

[Kaylara]

Check out the Wikipedia entry on the subject:



Treatment

Antibiotics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotics) are the primary treatment for Lyme disease.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-Sherris) Penicillin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penicillin) was first demonstrated by researchers to be useful against Borrellia in the 1950s; today the antibiotics of choice are doxycycline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doxycycline), amoxicillin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoxicillin) and ceftriaxone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceftriaxone).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-Sherris) Macrolide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrolide) antibiotics are also used.
Persons who remove attached ticks should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of tick-borne diseases for up to 30 days. A three day course of doxycycline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doxycycline) therapy may be considered for deer tick bites when the tick has been on the person for at least 12 hours. Patients should report any Erythema migrans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythema_migrans) over the subsequent two to six weeks. If there should be suspicion of disease, then a course of Doxycycline should be immediately given for ten days without awaiting serology tests which only yield positive results after an interval of one to two months.
In later stages, the bacteria disseminate throughout the body and may cross the blood-brain barrier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood-brain_barrier), making the infection more difficult to treat. Late diagnosed Lyme is treated with oral or IV antibiotics, frequently ceftriaxone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceftriaxone), 2 grams per day, for a minimum of four weeks. Minocycline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minocycline) is also indicated for neuroborreliosis for its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.[52] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-25)[53] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-26)

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lyme_disease&action=edit&section=13)] Antibiotic treatment controversy

Further information: Lyme disease controversy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease_controversy) With little research conducted specifically on treatment for late/chronic Lyme disease, particularly lyme encephalopathy, treatment remains controversial. Currently there are two sets of peer-reviewed published guidelines in the United States; the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS)[54] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-27) advocates extended courses of antibiotics for chronic Lyme patients in light of evidence of persistent infection (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease_microbiology), while the Infectious Diseases Society of America[55] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-28) does not recognize chronic infection and recommends no treatment for persistent symptoms. Double-blind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-blind), placebo-controlled (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo) trials of long-term antibiotics for chronic Lyme have produced mixed results.
A controversial new guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Academy_of_Neurology), finds conventionally recommended courses of antibiotics are highly effective for treating nervous system Lyme disease.[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)] They find no compelling evidence that prolonged treatment with antibiotics has any benefit in treating symptoms that persist following standard therapy. The guideline is endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). However, these guidelines refer mostly to early acute lyme neuroborreliosis, as there is a paucity of studies on late lyme encephalopathy and parenchymal CNS disease. The guideline leader was John J. Halperin and was co-written by Gary Worsmer and Eugene Shapiro, neither of whom are neurologists. Halperin, Worsmer and Shapiro were all co-authors of the IDSA Lyme guidelines released in 2006 by the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/journal/issues/v43n9/40897/40897.html). There is significant disagreement with this guideline (www.ilads.org).
The latest double blind, randomized, placebo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo)-controlled multicenter clincal study, done in Finland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland), results indicated that oral adjunct antibiotics were not justified in the treatment of patients with disseminated Lyme borreliosis who initially received intravenous antibiotics for 3 weeks. The researchers noted the clinical outcome of said patients should not be evaluated at the completion of intravenous antibiotic treatment but rather 6-12 months afterwards. In patients with chronic post-treatment symptoms, persistent positive levels of antibodies did not seem to provide any useful information for further care of the patient.[56] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-29)

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lyme_disease&action=edit&section=14)] Antibiotic-resistant therapies

Antibiotic treatment is the central pillar in the management of Lyme disease. In the late stages of borreliosis, symptoms may persist despite extensive and repeated antibiotic treatment.[57] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-30)[58] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-31) Lyme arthritis which is antibiotic resistant may be treated with hydroxychloroquine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxychloroquine) or methotrexate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methotrexate).[59] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-32) Experimental data is consensual on the deleterious consequences of systemic corticosteroid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corticosteroid) therapy. Corticosteroids are not indicated in Lyme disease.[60] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-33)
Antibiotic refractory patients with neuropathic pain responded well to gabapentin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabapentin) monotherapy with residual pain after intravenous ceftriaxone treatment in a pilot study.[61] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-34) The immunomodulating, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory potential of minocycline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minocycline) may be helpful in late/chronic Lyme disease with neurological or other inflammatory manifestations. Minocycline is used in other neurodegenerative (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurodegenerative) and inflammatory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflammatory) disorders such as multiple sclerosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_sclerosis), Parkinsons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinsons), Huntingtons disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntingtons_disease), rheumatoid arthritis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheumatoid_arthritis) (RA) and ALS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALS).[62] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-35)

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lyme_disease&action=edit&section=15)] Alternative therapies

A number of other alternative therapies have been suggested, though clinical trials have not been conducted. For example, the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbaric_oxygen_therapy) (which is used conventionally to treat a number of other conditions), as an adjunct to antibiotics for Lyme has been discussed.[63] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-Taylor) Though there are no published data from clinical trials to support its use, preliminary results using a mouse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murine) model suggest its effectiveness against B. burgdorferi both in vitro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro) and in vivo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vivo).[64] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-Pavia) Anecdotal clinical research has shown potential for the antifungal azole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azole) medications such as diflucan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluconazole) in the treatment of Lyme, but has yet to be repeated in a controlled study or postulated a developed hypothetical model for its use.[65] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-36)
Alternative medicine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_medicine) approaches include bee venom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_venom) because it contains the peptide melittin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melittin), which has been shown to exert inhibitory effects on Lyme bacteria in vitro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro);[66] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme%27s_disease#_note-37) no clinical trials of this treatment have been carried out, however.



It seems like if it's become chronic, your treatment options are limited. Sorry hon, I can't find anything that claims to be good against Lyme's Disease. Apparently it requires a very specific type of antibacterial and even that does not guarantee sucess in treatment if it's gone beyond a certain point. But I'll keep looking, and I'll ask my grandfather. (Who was a toxicologist and also had Lyme's disease.)

[Rick]

Raw honey is a great anti-biotic, internal or external.

[Shanti]

I was reminded of something yesterday, and I thought of your situation...

To build your immune system, you might look into royal jelly, a bee product, or possibly bee propolis.

A small bit o information can be found about them here:

http://www.draperbee.com/catalog/page1.htm

Be well!
Thanks I already know. We have cured many ills in this house with bee supplies. :)
I cant afford royal jelly, so thats out.
Locally we had a cheap an awesome supply from family down the road that has their own hives. But our region got hit with that unknown malady thats killing all the bees. There are no active hives now in my area. :(

I cant afford buying raw bee stuff online, not with the cost for product and the shipping.

I still have 20 gallons of raw honey I am using. So I'm good there. :)

[Shanti]

Raw honey is a great anti-biotic, internal or external.Thank you. I have 20 gallons of the stuff from the family down the road.:)

[Shanti]

Check out the Wikipedia entry on the subject:
It seems like if it's become chronic, your treatment options are limited. Sorry hon, I can't find anything that claims to be good against Lyme's Disease. Apparently it requires a very specific type of antibacterial and even that does not guarantee sucess in treatment if it's gone beyond a certain point. But I'll keep looking, and I'll ask my grandfather. (Who was a toxicologist and also had Lyme's disease.)
Yeah, I know, kinda to well.
But hey, the prob is not really all that much is understood.
So you never know what may work! :)

[Nitefalle]

I would also make sure that you are stocking up on the good bacteria in your body, as well, so it can help your body fight off the bad bacteria and boost the immune system. Acidophilus mixtures with live cultures wouldn't hurt.

[princeether]

Cats Claw tincture added to raw honey is great ;)

[Amilee]

Raw honey is a great anti-biotic, internal or external.


Ditto advice from me too! But don't use the cheap stuff....Get a proper cone!!

[Lenfantdefleur]

I'm sorry to hear that you have lyme disease, and i pray that you get well soon. If you're still looking for advice i know that lemon balm has antibacterial properties. You can usually find them in plant nursery's down here in texas, and i hear that tea tree oil is antibacterial too. If you could spare the money, you might want to seek out a pro. herbalist. I hope that helps. If you couldn't afford to get some lemon balm, i'd be more than happy to send you some from my garden. I hope you get well soon.

Michelle

Oh and here is the scientific name for lemon balm: Melissa officinalis

[synopa]

Most of what I was going to say has been said! So I'll just agree on the milk thistle and red clover. I would take the milk thistle in capsule form and drink the red clover as a tea. Also my favorite immunity booster is a garlic and onion sandwich! to prepare, slice fresh onion and cloves of garlic on a slice of bread. piling high, fold over and eat. The bread helps you to get it down, but beware.........you will smell! Anyway, during flu season, or at first sign of cold, or illness I'll eat these several times a day.

Hope your much better soon!:thumbsup:

[Godgifu]

This thread's quite old, but I thought I'd add in something about Four Thieves Vinegar (http://spellcasters-source.blogspot.com/2010/06/four-thieves-vinegar.html), originally used as an antipestilential vinegar (meant to be smelled or rubbed on the body) but later used for various medicinal and household purposes due to its antibacterial nature. The 'standard' recipe is Red Wine Vinegar, Lavender, Absinthe Wormwood, Roman Wormwood, Rosemary, Sage, Mint, Rue, Garlic, Sweet Flag, Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, and Camphor; but lots of variations exist, using different herbs or different types of vinegar. Some people like to eat a spoonful or two a day and say it has various health benefits.

There's also a variation used in Italy called Seven Thieves Vinegar that's so potent in scent it's apparently used to bring people out of swoons!

[Walela4871]

Hi Shanti,

I'm so sorry to hear about your condition :( I've heard how tough lyme disease is, and I'm so sorry you have to go through that.

As for herbs, I know this stuff probably isn't available in the wild, but Chinese medicine would definitely be worth looking into. I had a friend who practiced it in Korea, and a lot of it is really good for building the immune system. Again, I don't know how accessible this would be to you, but it's a great resource if you can find it.

Also, ginger and wasabi have strong antibacterial properties, and were originally eaten with sushi to prevent any risk of food poisoning. Wasabi may be hard to find for you, but I think ginger is available in pretty much most supermarkets. Ginseng is fantastic as well, if you can get ahold of the whole root and not just the supplements, without breaking the bank. Koreans sometimes cook it in soup to boost their overall health in the summer.

Lastly, garlic and burdock was mentioned in some previous posts, and I've noticed the former is used in HUGE amounts in Korean cooking and burdock root (or gobo) is used a lot in Japanese cooking, and I am a firm believer in using food as medicine. You may not be able to get ahold of the other ingredients for making Korean or Japanese food, but garlic is good in anything and burdock root is great in soups and pilafs, really easy to cook. Just scrape the skin off the root with the back of a knife under running water, then slice into strips and toss it into whatever you're cooking. Cooking these things with your food could be a great way to get extra amounts into your body, in addition to the medicinal ways you've been using them.

Garlic and ginseng seem to work well enough for Korean people, from what I've observed. Bumping into a Korean granny on the street is a lot like being shoulder-checked by a tree. Those ladies are strong and healthy.

Anyway, I know most of this stuff isn't easily available in the wild, but I hope it's helpful info for you nonetheless.

Best of luck to you, and may you recover fully.

[Shanti]

Thanks everyone but as this thread is old, I think I should update.
Since this thread I have gotten very heavy into herbal studies and now make all my own tinctures and various other remedies.

I do want to point out one thing that has been mentioned, vinegar. If you have digestive probs be careful with vinegar. I have severe issues, bleeding ulcers, and vinegar is a nono for me. I could do major damage ingesting it. So please always research thoroughly and take into considerations all health issues you may have before experimenting even with natural products.