Stephen Harrod Buhner is an outstanding American herbalist and author of many books and publications. He has developed a natural cure for Lyme disease and tick-borne diseases based on clinically tested herbs. Buhner’s meticulous work and deep understanding of Lyme disease allowed him to choose unique, most useful herbal responses to this disease.
Herbs recommended by Buhner, due to the complex chemical structure, have a very wide spectrum of activity. Not only do they directly kill Borrelia bacteria, but they also increase the efficiency of the immune system and alleviate various symptoms of Lyme disease. The Buhner protocol consists of herbs included in the basic protocol and numerous additional herbs, strengthening the operation of the entire protocol.
The Buhner protocol is currently one of the best known and effective herbal protocols used for Lyme disease, and thousands of people using it present with positive treatment effects.
Usually we first start by trying to directly fight the infection. According to Buhner, borreliosis and infections causing tick-borne diseases, due to their specificity and complexity, require a more comprehensive approach:
- Strengthening collagen structures, which protect the body against damage caused by infection with Borrelia bacteria,
- Strengthening the immune system, due to which the body mobilizes itself to fight the infection,
- Alleviation of inflammation initiated by bacteria, especially in the central nervous system, by modulating the cytokine cascade,
- Treating of symptoms,
- Killing of borreliosis spirochetes and tick-borne pathogens.
Ideally, all the foregoing stages should be carried out in parallel.
This comprehensive approach gives very good therapeutic results.
ENDOTHELIAL PROTECTION
By protecting endothelial cells against Lyme infection, we stop the bacterial movement in our body. Over time, this results in a lack of access to the nutrients, which bacteria need to survive and replicate.
Buhner recommendations:
Japanese knotweed (Lat. Polygonum Cuspidatum) is a root in the form of ground tincture or tablets.
More on endothelial protection may be found in the publication: Stephen Harrod Buhner “Healing Lyme: Natural Healing of Lyme Borreliosis and the Coinfections Chlamydia and Spotted Fever Ricettsioses.” Second edition.
CYTOKINE REMODULATION
Herbs that are specific for interfering with the cytokine cascade, which the organisms initiate during infection, retain most of the inflammation in the body and interfere with the ability of pathogens to locate and enter target cells, accumulate nutrients and reproduce.
Buhner recommendations:
Salvia miltiorrhiza and Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) tinctures.
More on cytokine modulators may be found in the publication: Stephen Harrod Buhner “Healing Lyme: Natural Healing of Lyme Borreliosis and the Coinfections Chlamydia and Spotted Fever Ricettsioses.” Second edition.
COLAGEN PROTECTION
Most of the body injuries occur during infections because bacteria break down collagen structures and use them as food source. Restoring collagen structures of the body helps reverse or reduce many of the damages caused by Borrelia bacteria in our body.
Buhner recommendations:
More on collagen protection may be found in the publication: Stephen Harrod Buhner “Healing Lyme: Natural Healing of Lyme Borreliosis and the Coinfections Chlamydia and Spotted Fever Ricettsioses.” Second edition.
SUPPORTING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
The healthier the immune system, the fewer symptoms of Lyme disease and smaller damage to the body. Restoring the immune system in case of reduced immunity is crucial in the successful treatment of Lyme disease.
Buhner recommendations:
- Cat’s Claw (Lat. Uncaria tomentosa), inner bark
- Cordyceps
- Ashwagandha (Lat. Withania somnifera)
- Siberian Ginseng (Lat. Eleutherococcus senticosus)concentration 1:5 (not 1:1)
- Licorice root (Lat.Glycyrrhiza)
More on supporting the immune system may be found in the publication: Stephen Harrod Buhner “Healing Lyme: Natural Healing of Lyme Borreliosis and the Coinfections Chlamydia and Spotted Fever Ricettsioses.” Second edition.
ANTISPIROCHETAL ACTIVITIES
Antitreponemal herbs. These herbs can often help reduce the number of spirochetes in the body and support the healing process.
Buhner recommendations:
More on antitreponemal activity may be found in the publication: Stephen Harrod Buhner “Healing Lyme: Natural Healing of Lyme Borreliosis and the Coinfections Chlamydia and Spotted Fever Ricettsioses.” Second edition.
NEUROBORRELIOSIS
Supporting and strengthening physiological structures, while stimulating the reconstruction of damaged tissues (e.g. nervous structures), reduces the number of symptoms and helps restore the body to health.
In case of neuroborreliosis Uncaria rhynchophylla should be added to Basic Protocol.
More on neuroborreliosis may be found in the publication: Stephen Harrod Buhner “Healing Lyme: Natural Healing of Lyme Borreliosis and the Coinfections Chlamydia and Spotted Fever Ricettsioses.” Second edition.
REDUCTION OF SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS
Bacteria can form quite a wide range of symptoms. Any symptom that will be eliminated or reduced will significantly improve the quality of life and give strength in the treatment process.
More on reducing specific symptoms may be found in the publication: Stephen Harrod Buhner “Healing Lyme: Natural Healing of Lyme Borreliosis and the Coinfections Chlamydia and Spotted Fever Ricettsioses.” Second edition.