New update from Dr. Rawls

Thanks for posting, Bones.

I see that Cryptolepis is mentioned - which is one of Buhners herbs for Babesia.
It’s got to be the worst tasting herb of them all!!

Thanks! So Japanese knotweed and Chinese skullcap are also effective against babesia. Sweet!! Interestingly, I finished up a bottle of crypto not long ago and ended at 35 drops 2x day. I was surprised I got that high and had no herxing or improvements that I could tell. That said, I never thought babesia was a driver for me, although it’s possible I have it. I never tested positive for it.

It was a 2 oz bottle and wasn’t completely full. I started with 10 drops, I think, and increased by about 3 drops every day or two. So, it didn’t take too long. By the time I finished the bottle, I was at 35 drops, but I was also out of crypto, LOL!! I stopped when the bottle was empty.

I had taken it before at probably no more than 10 drops, and I think I had some type of herxing from it with head symptoms. It was long ago and very brief, so I don’t remember much.

It’s the tincture that is so bitter!

Don’t you find that with the Cryptolepis?

paulB,

I have never made my own tinctures. I have always bought from Buhner recommended sources - usually Woodland Essence. Even in water, the alcohol extracted tinctures have distinct taste. Sometimes I put drops directly in my mouth and hold it for a few seconds before swallowing water. Some of the tinctures are exceedingly bitter. Crypto is known to be pretty awful tasting.

i have been using Buhner herbs including Cryptolepis for 5 years - and also making my own tinctures for 3years - so will pass on a bit of a brain dump on Cryptolepis

Cryptolepis is very strong tasting, like strong soil / earthy and strong woody taste together - unmistakeable once tasted.
the roots are used and should be long and spindly with a brittle pale yellow cork like outer half that cracks off the inner tougher higher lignum containing inner half.
its very tough to grind down fully - due to the tough inner
the tincture should also be bright yellow - yellow enough to die cloth with a pretty bright colour

a ratio of 5 parts liquid to 1 part dried finely ground(important) herb to liquid is recommended and the liquid should be 40% water 60% alcohol. it is also important to be slightly acidic. as many of the active compounds in Cryptolepis are only highly soluble in acidic media. so add 15ml of apple cider vinegar per 500ml of menstruum or similar.

the tinctures are typically macerated for 4 weeks - and should be shaken vigorously every day - to stop a kind of sediment forming and preventing further extraction of active compounds.

Buhner's dose for Babesia is 5ml 3x - and he reports others who failed this regime have had success at high dose Cryptolepis tincture at 3x 15ml a day

so although herx / flare might be a limiting factor - i think if it were me i would want to get to at least the recommended dose.

for info / reference - i have this issue also - and started on 10 drops( 0.25ml) 4x a day of a combination tincture including - sida, alcornea, Cryptolepis, houttuynia and mahonia (a berberine herb) and had flares - some quite severe - but over time (18months) have built up to pretty much max Buhner doses - a total of 5ml 4x a day (so 20x more than when i started) - and now that i have stopped ramping up the dose - the flares seems to have stopped and symptoms seem to be gradually improving

Post Edited (Garzie) : 4/29/2021 7:48:29 AM (GMT-6)

Notime4lyme said...
Has anyone had trouble with constipation from either cryptolepis or alchornea?

Not me. I have never noticed any herbs causing constipation. In my case, constipation seems more related to gut inflammation and pathogens like ropeworm and possibly yeast. They increase inflammation and then when something starts killing them, they cause loose bowels and mass expulsions of “stuff.”

Thank you, Garzie. I've saved your post for reference. I haven't tried tincturing Crypto yet. Thus far I've been using a 50% alcohol solution, and plan to go six weeks with them.

Moving to tinctures has helped me gain control over my dosing. And it's clear that in general I have been under-dosing, which largely accounts for my dubious rate of healing progress. Currently I'm taking about 1.8ml of crypto per day. I toned it down a bit and ramped up Sida.

I think my detoxing has been a limiting factor. I started Neem and after a few days thought I would die. I've now started bentonite clay. That has its own inaugural herxes, but after they subside I think I'm going to see results on all fronts.

Thanks again!

WBF, it was simply a 1 lb jar of Vitacost's own label of Neem. I only dipped the tip of a teaspoon in it daily, and that was enough after a few days. I plan on going back to it when my current adjustments calm down.

BTW, I like the literal reading of your theme verse:
"For every word (rhema) of God will not be without power"