Herbal Remedies For Lyme Disease

Essential Oils From Garlic And Other Herbs Kill Lyme Disease Bacterium

Oils from garlic and several other common herbs and medicinal plants show strong activity against the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. These oils may be especially useful in alleviating Lyme symptoms that persist despite standard antibiotic treatment, the study also suggests.

The study, published October 16 in the journal Antibiotics, included lab-dish tests of 35 essential oils–oils that are pressed from plants or their fruits and contain the plant’s main fragrance, or “essence.” The Bloomberg School researchers found that 10 of these, including oils from garlic cloves, myrrh trees, thyme leaves, cinnamon bark, allspice berries and cumin seeds, showed strong killing activity against dormant and slow-growing “persister” forms of the Lyme disease bacterium.

“We found that these essential oils were even better at killing the ‘persister’ forms of Lyme bacteria than standard Lyme antibiotics,” says study senior author Ying Zhang, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Bloomberg School.

Oils from thyme leaves, cumin seeds and amyris wood also performed well, as did cinnamaldehyde, the fragrant main ingredient of cinnamon bark oil.

“At this stage these essential oils look very promising as candidate treatments for persistent Lyme infection, but ultimately we need properly designed clinical trials,” he says.

Subculture Studies To Evaluate The Activity Of Natural Product Extracts Against Stationary Phase B Burgdorferi

To confirm the activity of the natural product extracts in eradicating the stationary phase B. burgdorferi cells, we performed subculture studies as previously described . We further tested the top active natural product extracts to ascertain if they could eradicate stationary phase B. burgdorferi cells at 1 or 0.5% by subculture after the treatment . Treatment with 1% Cryptolepis sanguinolenta extract caused no regrowth in the subculture study . However, the other natural product extracts including Polygonum cuspidatum, Artemisia annua, Juglans nigra, and Uncaria tomentosa could not eradicate B. burgdorferi stationary phase cells as many spirochetes were still visible after 21-day subculture . At 0.5%, all the natural product extracts treated samples grew back after 21-day subculture , however, only one of the three Cryptolepis sanguinolenta extract treated samples grew back. This indicates that 0.5% Cryptolepis sanguinolenta extract still has strong activity and could almost eradicate the stationary phase B. burgdorferi cells. By contrast, the clinically used antibiotics doxycycline and cefuroxime at clinically relevant concentration could not sterilize the B. burgdorferi stationary phase culture, since spirochetes were visible after 21-day subculture .

Extraordinary Herbs For Lyme Disease

In my journey with Lyme disease, Ive discovered a ton of natural ways to treat Lyme, including by using herbs for Lyme disease!

Herbs are a fantastic tool for wellness and recovery. They support the bodys natural processes instead of covering over symptoms, as many over-the-counter drugs do. Theyre also gentle and generally can be used by anyone, even us sensitive Lymies!

Its easy to incorporate herbs into your Lyme disease protocol since you dont need a prescription and there are very few side effects from adding herbs to your Lyme diet.

At the bottom of this page, youll also find my recipe for an herbal tea for Lyme disease, which is the tea I use almost every day to help with support and Lyme symptoms as Im healing.

Please note that Im not a doctor. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This website contains affiliate links- meaning that if you follow a link to something I recommend, I might receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. More info here.

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Herbs For Lyme Disease

There are many herbs that are fantastic for pretty much anyone to take, such as adaptogens , which help to bring the body back into balance no matter where its at.

There are a couple of more specific herbs for Lyme disease that are super helpful for specific Lyme symptoms and problems.

These herbs can be a great part of chronic Lyme disease treatment.

Ive also included links for you to find good places to buy each herb. Its important to find somewhere to buy from that you can trust, and that offers high-quality herbs that havent used pesticides or herbicides, and thats why I always buy my herbs from Starwest Botanicals.

Read on to find out which herbs are best for you to include in your Lyme disease herbal protocol!

Stevia Shown To Kill Borrelia Burgdorferi:

Recent studies have revealed evidence that whole leaf stevia extract may be effective at killing the spirochetes Borrelia Burgdorferi, the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease . The study showed that exposing the bacteria to stevia leaf extract eliminated Lyme disease, even when the bacteria was in its dormant form.

While more studies are still needed before stevia leaf extract becomes a prescribed natural cure for Lyme disease, that doesnt mean it isnt worth trying at home along with some of the many other natural remedies discussed. It is important to know that pure stevia leaf extract is different from powdered stevia in the supermarket. You can however purchase pure stevia leaf extract in supplement form.

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Powerful Home Remedies For Lyme Disease

The home remedies for Lyme disease include the use of herbs like wormwood, oregano, and clove for eliminating the underlying infection. Garlic, valerian, passionflower, and Ganoderma mushrooms are also good for treatment.

Increasing the intake of water, eliminating gluten from your diet, and increasing consumption of lean organic proteins like nuts, avocados, flaxseed, and fish oil can help, as well as a high-fiber regimen. Astragalus, elderberry, and olive leaf can also be used to eliminate the effects of Lyme disease.

Johns Hopkins: Herbal Medicines Effective Against The Bacterium That Causes Lyme Disease In Laboratory Study

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In a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with colleagues at the California Center for Functional Medicine and Focus Health, surveyed the power of 14 plant-based extracts to kill Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme diseases, compared to the currently used Lyme antibiotics doxycycline and cefuroxime.

The researchers tested the extracts effectiveness in vitro, in test tubes, against the free-swimming planktonic form of the bacterium as well as against microcolonies. Microcolonies are aggregates of bacteria and the first stage in the development of biofilms structured bacterial communities that stick to a surface and are embedded in a slimy extracellular matrix.

The researchers show that plant extracts from black walnut, cats claw, sweet wormwood, Mediterranean rockrose, and Chinese skullcap had strong activity against B. burgdorferi, outperforming both tested antibiotics.

The strongest performers by far were Ghanaian quinine and Japanese knotweed .

These findings are exciting as they offer opportunities for improved treatment of persistent Lyme disease, which is not helped by the current standard treatment, says co-author Dr. Ying Zhang, professor in the Bloomberg Schools department of molecular microbiology and immunology. We are interested in further evaluating these potent herbal medicines through animal studies as well as clinical trials.

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Apple Cider Vinegar Lugol’s Iodine

1 User Review

lyme disease

I have been using 1 tsp.organic ACV, 1 tsp. organic honey and one drop of Lugol’s iodine in water that has fluoride and chlorine filtered from it. Filter pitcher is on amazon. I take it with breakfast and lunch and dinner I take the ACV and honey without the iodine. Seems to be the best thing I have ever tried. I may increase the iodine to two drops because it is really giving me a tiny bit of energy in just a week.

I learned about my LD just four months ago and realize I have had it my entire life. I had already been taking Iodoral and ACV with honey at 25mg per day. Recently, I upped it to 100mg a day, dividing the doses between Iodoral and Lugol’s, because of my gum disease. My gums have quieted down and I am feeling good. I am shocked that iodine isn’t first on the list for treating lyme.

OMG!!! ..talk about misinformation!! If you had it for WHOLE life I seriously doubt that you would be living still. This disease robs you of your life, become “housebound”, so ill the thought of even getting out of bed to shower is a BIG commitment. Feels like a 24/7 =365 days flu or killer hangover from drinking cheap booze -it hurts & it can kill you eventually . Must get tested by IGeneX lab, only lab that specializes in testing for Lyme & co-infections. If you think you might have some form of arthritis that your DR. cannot nail down …DO NOT EVER let ANY DR. suggest cortisone shot -can & will make your symptoms 10X worse.

Best Natural Cures For Lyme Disease

Flaxseed Oil

Oil extracted from a flaxseed is rich in omega 3 fatty acids. This nutrient helps to boost the human bodys immune system.If you know that you have been bitten by a tick, apply one teaspoon of flaxseed oil on the affectedpart and spread gently. For severe cases of lyme disease, consume three to five teaspoons of the oil everyday.

Aloe Vera

Extract the fresh juice of an aloe vera plant and apply on the affected skin. It lends a cool soothing feeling that helps to reduce inflammation and rashes in the case of lyme disease. You can also drink one glass of aloe vera juice daily to flush out harmful toxins that attack the body when suffering from lyme disease.

Garlic Cloves

Garlic has antiseptic properties that help to kill the borrelia bacteria that settle on the skin surface and in the blood if a person is detected with the lyme disease.Keep cloves of garlic bandaged with a clean cloth on the affected skin overnight for complete cure of lyme disease. You can also drink garlic juice after keeping garlic cloves immersed in water overnight or chew garlic cloves. Do not consume garlic in empty stomach.

Olive Leaf Extract

The extract of olive leaves serves as natural antibiotic in curing lyme disease. These extracts effectively fight the bacteria spread by ticks and cure the infection, body ache and fever.

Vitamin C

Echinacea

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Botanical And Natural Medicines

A panel of natural product extracts: Polygonum cuspidatum, Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, Artemisia annua, Juglans nigra, Uncaria tomentosa, Scutellaria baicalensis, Stevia rebaudiana, Cistus incanus, Andrographis paniculata, Ashwagandha somnifera, Dipsacus fullonum rad, grapefruit seed extract, LL37, monolaurin, colloidal silver, and relevant solvent controls were identified. The botanical medicines or natural products were chosen based on anecdotal clinical usage and preclinical data from the literature. Primary criteria for selecting compounds for the present study included agents that had shown significant anti-borrelial effects in previous studies, have favorable safety profiles and can be absorbed systemically. Additional criteria for selecting compounds included anecdotal reports from patients and/or providers, anti-biofilm effects and ability to cross the blood brain barrier.

Mic Values Of The Active Natural Product Extracts

Because the activity of antibiotics against non-growing B. burgdorferi is not always correlated with their activity against growing bacteria , we therefore determined the MICs of these natural product extracts against the replicating B. burgdorferi as described previously . The MIC values of some natural product extracts such as Artemisia annua, Juglans nigra, Uncaria tomentosa were quite high for growing B. burgdorferi, despite their strong activity against the non-growing stationary phase B. burgdorferi cells . On the other hand, the top two active natural product extracts Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and Polygonum cuspidatum showed strong activity against the growing B. burgdorferi with a low MIC and also non-growing stationary phase B. burgdorferi .

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Ionic Vs Metallic Colloidal Silver

From the table, it can be seen that increasing particle sizes not only decreases the number of particles for a given amount of silver, but also decreases the number of exposed silver atoms. For instance just doubling the particle size from 10nm to 20nm decreases the number of particles by a factor of eight. Is it any wonder that smaller metallic particles work better? Many sources claim that smaller particles are more effective because they have more surface area. This is not logical if one particle can kill one pathogen as has been shown with photomicrographs. This author believes that the real reason is simply that smaller particles means that there are more of them for a given weight of silver. More particles equals a higher chance that a silver particle will encounter a pathogen and kill it.On a one to one basis of particle counts, metallic silver is far more efficient at killing pathogens than ionic silver with much less risk of causing Argyria. Also, the particle size of metallic silver is very important in that it determines how many particles are available for killing pathogens. Based on the findings of scientific research, there is no benefit to consuming ionic silver, and it is actually detrimental as it exhibits significant toxicity to normal cells. Metallic silver is effective against most bacteria

Glen,

You said,

‘I’ll be taking big doses for a month or so, and normal amounts for probably the next several months after that.’

Thank you.

Botanicals And Essential Oils

Botanical medicines are foundational interventions in the functional medicine approach to Lyme disease. There are many botanical protocols available for Lyme disease however, it can be confusing trying to determine which protocol and products to use. At CCFM, we have extensive experience using botanical protocols for Lyme and can create a protocol that is customized to your specific needs. Some of the botanical protocols and companies we use for the botanical treatment of Lyme include the Buhner Protocol, Byron White Formulas, Beyond Balance, and Nutramedix.

Herbalist Stephen Harrod Buhner, a pioneer in the use of botanical medicines for Lyme disease, has developed a botanical protocol that we use with many of our Lyme patients at CCFM. The protocol is centered around several keystone herbs, including Japanese Knotweed, Cats Claw, and Andrographis. Botanicals that can be added to the core protocol, based on the patients needs, include Astragalus and Smilax Buhner recommends Astragalus as a preventative measure for those who live in Lyme endemic areas. You can learn more about Stephens protocol in his book Healing Lyme: Natural Healing and Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis and Its Coinfections.

Some of the botanicals with anti-Borrelia activity include:

• Cryptolepis sanguinolenta
• Cinnamon bark essential oil
• Clove essential oil

Certain essential oils also demonstrate anti-Borrelia activity 3, including:

Antibiotics

Disulfiram

Dapsone

Methylene Blue

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Herbs For Lyme Disease Treatment

Herbs have been used as a medicinal treatment for thousands of years. Many people have turned to herbal remedies to help provide relief from Lyme disease when antibiotics didn’t completely help eliminate symptoms.

One research study found that a combination of doxycycline and baicalein provides additional healing benefits. According to a 2020 laboratory study, seven herbal medicines have been shown to kill B. burgdorferi in test tubes:

• Cryptolepis sanguinolenta
• Scutellaria baicalensis

Garlic has antibacterial effects and may help prevent tick bites. One study determined that people who took garlic supplements reported fewer tick bites than the placebo group. Garlic essential oil has been shown to eliminate the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

Garlic can interact with certain medications, so speak with your healthcare provider before using it to prevent or treat Lyme disease.

Steviaa natural sweetener and sugar substitute derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plantmay be effective in treating Lyme disease. A study published in the European Journal of Microbiology and Immunology discovered that stevia extracts are more effective in killing Lyme disease bacterium in the lab than the standard antibiotics.

Setting The Stage For Chronic Inflammation

Though the immune system plays a key role in protecting cells of the body from microbe invasion, the health of cells is also a major player. When cells become chronically stressed, they are more susceptible to being invaded by intracellular bacteria and other microbes. There are five primary categories of factors that weaken cells and set the stage for the chronic inflammation associated with Lyme disease.

#1. Poor diet

When cells arent fed properly, they cant function properly. Processed foods sourced from grains, beans, and grain-fed meat are overloaded with raw carbohydrates and refined fats that disrupt cellular functions. On the other hand, theyre deficient in the nutrients that cells need to function properly. Poorly nourished cells cant properly defend themselves against microbes.

#2. A toxic environment

In the modern world, chronic exposure to low levels of toxic substances and free radicals in food, water, and air is hard to avoid. The list includes man-made toxins associated with petroleum products, free-radicals in processed food, and natural toxins such as mold. In addition, the acid and free radicals associated with inflammation are highly toxic to cells. Toxic substances disrupt cellular processes, damage internal working parts of the cells, and weaken cell membranes. Weakened cells are more vulnerable to microbe invasion.

#3. Chronic stress

#4. Physical stress

#5. Microbes

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Lifestyle Remedies For Tick

If caught early enough, Lyme disease can typically be treated using several lifestyle remedies.

Regular exercise augments the amount of oxygen in the body and blood, which acts to destroy the Lyme bacteria in the blood.

Additionally, probiotics taken daily boosts the number of good bacteria in the gut, supplementing the immune system.

Complementary And Alternative Therapies

You should never treat Lyme disease with complementary therapies alone. Anyone who has Lyme disease needs to take antibiotics to cure the disease and avoid complications. Lyme disease does affect many parts of your body, so including complementary therapies along with standard treatment may help.

Some people believe they have long-lasting complications from Lyme disease. Using CAM therapies to treat these long-lasting complications is controversial. Conventional doctors believing that CAM practitioners may be attributing too many random symptoms to Lyme disease. Make sure you see reputable doctors, whether conventional or CAM practitioners, and educate yourself so that you can be your own advocate.

Always tell all of your doctors about the herbs and supplements you are using or considering using.

Nutrition and SupplementsHerbs

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider. Some helpful herbs include:

Homeopathy

In some cases, such as Lyme disease, a professional homeopath may prescribe specific remedies without considering the individual’s constitutional state. Such remedies for Lyme disease include:

• Arsenicum album
• Thuja

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