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)



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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

  • Sarsaparilla oil

    Dear Stephen, Is there a way to make or get sarsaparilla oil?...

  • Autoimmune and use of astragulus to ward off infection

    Dear Stephen, My grandson (4 now) is Type 1 diabetic and my daughter has an unspecified autoimmune disorder. He was bit yesterday. Are there any particular considerations when h...

  • Effect on liver and kidney

    Dear Stephen, How do these herbs effect the liver and kidneys?...

  • Arrhythmia with nocturnal apnea

    Dear Stephen, I have been struggling with arrhythmia, nocturnal apnea and insomnia for several months. I feel like I am suffocating in my sleep....

  • At rope’s end: Severe neuro lyme or bart

    Dear Stephen, I have had lyme and bart and KPU for a long time. I have done many treatments over the past 4+ yrs, including oral and IV antibiotics. My symptoms seem to have got...

  • MS-like symptoms

    Dear Stephen, I have been on your Core protocol for about 5 months now and most of my lyme-related symptoms have cleared up, however, I'm now dealing with multiple sclerosis (MS...

  • Cryptolepis with antibiotics

    Dear Stephen, Currently I'm treating babesia and lyme with malarone, cefuroxime axetil, and nystatin (antifungal). Can cryptolepsis be added to these RX's? Thank you....

  • Babesia and treponema medium while pregnant

    Dear Stephen, I have babesia and treponema medium. I was wondering if you can tell me what herbs I can take to eradicate this while pregnant?...

  • Treating lyme after the doxycycline

    Dear Stephen, I got the 30 days of doxycycline but was studying abroad during that time in Europe. When I came back to the U.S., I had severe depersonalization, permanent drunkn...

  • Iron and magnesium deficiency

    Dear Stephen, I continue to hear that certain vitamins and minerals actually feed lyme. And yet, most of us find ourselves extremely deficient in them....

  • Lichen planus

    Dear Stephen, I was on IV antibiotics for 16 months and I developed Lichen planus in my mouth and on my fingernails. What would you suggest to help resolve this problem?...