Babesia, Artemisinin and other possible treatments questions

I am being treated for Babesia with Mepron and Azithromycin, off and on for over a year now, can't seem to get rid of it.

I would like some suggestions of what people have used that took care of the problem for them. I am debating trying the herb Artemisinin, I'm not sure what manufacturer to buy from and what dose to take?  I'm concerned about having horrible herxing with taking this...anyone out there with some experiences they can share.

Also, I'm open to hearing of any other herbs/treatment you have found that have worked.

Thanks,

Tammy

Mepron and Azithromycin didn't work for me. Artemisia caused a herx initially but didn't rid me of babesia. Artemisia isn't for daily use, it's better in pulses. It killed them, but not all of them. My opinion is that it didn't work because of another pathogen, either black mold or bartonella. I've read you can not cure babesia if you have bartonella without getting rid of the bartonella first. A month of Levaquin with being on houttunyia for 6 months didn't cure my bartonella as I still have the red papules and my insomnia came back within 2 days of stopping the Levaquin. I've stopped all meds for now.

I take 2 tsp of Mepron and 800mg of Nutricology-brand Artemisinin (+ Omnicef and Bactrim) twice a day on a MWF pulsing schedule. Two weeks on, then the 3rd week I'm only on Coartem (MWF still) and then am completely off for a week. My impression is that 800mg is a high dose for Artemisinin, because the packaging says that one serving is 200mg a day, and I take 1600mg a day...I have read on here that some folks start with 200mg and work up. You may want to consider that approach.

As for your question about herxing, I had already been taking Omnicef and Bactrim when my LLMD added the Mepron and Art, so I can only tell how the latter two affected me as a pair...they are definitely potent! However, because I added them at the same time, I cannot disentangle their individual effects. I have definitely been herxing on them, but I've still been able to work full-time. For me, they have caused significant nerve/neuropathic pain -- which felt like a brand new symptom, though I had experienced lesser, diffuse pains in those same areas prior to diagnosis. Not sure if these drugs cause similar herx symptoms in folks, but something to be aware of in case you experience significant nerve pain out of the blue once you add Art. It feels like you could roast s'mores on my feet. ;)

Hi Tammy,

Thanks very much for the encouragement for working full-time. It is certainly a challenge. Overall, I'm hanging in there. It's so hard to measure progress sometimes, because of the daily ups and downs. Lately the nerve pain has been my worst symptom, though I still have a host of others (major day sweats at times, a fever, stiff neck, eye issues, and oh so lovely brain fog). It's scary just how rapidly I've become deconditioned during all of this, as if my body is succumbing to the illness, but I just remind myself that my body is fighting a war, and I'll ramp up on exercise on my good days...that will hopefully help establish a virtuous cycle of recovery.

I'll send you the name of my doctor in just a moment.

Thanks Opugirl, I'll look into Rhodiola. I've never heard of that one.

We almost have to be dealing with multiple strains or other protozoans that are not killed by Mepron and Azithromycin. I could suppress mine or just keep them at bay with just Azithromycin. Cryptolepsis up to 30 drops three times a day helped, but wouldn't finish them off.

TracyF said...
I am new to this as far as diagnosis, but was bit around 1982. I am getting my information from a person who owns his own Health Food Store and he also has Lyme.

He uses an herb called Teasel. I just bought Ecstatic Earth and will be starting it next week.

Detoxing always helps me also. Colonics, ionic foot baths, FIR saunas...

Hope this helps!

Hi, Tracy F

I have used Ecstatic Earth in the past and I am considering using the same Teasel Tincture again. What was your experience with this Teasel Tincture from Ecstatic Earth? Thank you .