Stephania Root

I have been having ongoing issues with my eyes, which seems to be common lately. I just read in one of my Lyme books that Stephania Root is supposed to help that. I know that Buhner talks about it as an anti-inflammatory tool. I read something that he wrote about an eye wash, but I am not referring to that but rather ingesting it either through pills or tinctures. Has anyone used this or anything else that has helped with constant red eyes. I look as though I have been on month long bender, only I don't drink. Perhaps I should start?

Thank you for the response. I actually do know about the wash, but the Lyme bible that I have, suggested that it can be used in a pill form. It makes sense, to me, that if you have a systemic infection, you could treat it systemically. Who knows? I feel as though I am making this up as I go along, which I am starting to realize, is the most important aspect of this disease. No matter what a doctor says, I know my body better than anyone. I am also hoping that I am more resilient and tougher than these critters. I know this sounds out there, but if I give into them, then they think that they can have their way with me. If I keep on coming up with different ways to outsmart them, then perhaps, they will give up and move out of my body? It would be nice to think that that is the case and for today, that thought is what is keeping me plugging along.

Margaret,

I think that since it is a part of a lyme protocol (Dr. K uses Stephania as one of the 5 herbs to treat lyme and co-infections), I would say it is possible to cause a herx, but you can start at low doses--I guess for you that would mean 1/10 of a drop, if there is such thing :)

This is a website that lists 10 items (and a lot more if you scroll down) that help with asthma (they mention Licorice, too) that may not give you a herx because they doesn't target lyme specifically:
http://www.natural-homeremedies.com/homeremedies_asthma.htm
You can find more natural remedies if you scroll down including nutrition tips to prevent symptoms of asthma.  It's worth a try--they are things that are easy to get or you may even have them in the house already.

Maybe you can find better websites, I just pulled this up right now and I would say honey and ginger are pretty safe to use--maybe you can mix some with Licorice? Dried ginger is not as effective, so if you get some fresh root ginger and shave it, it is much more effective.

Reishi seems to be an anti-viral and a immune booster, so maybe that's why you are experiencing a herx.   Maybe you can use it slowly and build up?  It may hit the virus you are dealing with and that's hy you are herxing?  More about Reishi here: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-905-REISHI%20MUSHROOM.aspx?activeIngredientId=905&activeIngredientName=REISHI%20MUSHROOM

I hope this helps and I am so sorry you are dealing with this on top of everything else!

Hugs

I ordered the tinctures, not the pills. The only reason that I mentioned the pills is that Dr. K talks about ingesting Stephania, not using it as an eye wash, for the eyes. I wanted to make the distinction about that.

I always prefer to take tinctures to pills because I think you have more control over the dose. My LLMD has prescribed BW tinctures for me, which I like a lot. This is my second go around with Lyme so I have to start all over again with them. Since I am rarely sleeping with this disease, it is really easy for me to space them out.

Actually, I may have been wrong about the Yerba Santa. I was thinking about Ephedra, and I guess they're not the same.

M

Mr. M:

Glad to see you back :)

I don't have that book, I think I read somewhere he will write a new book, so I am waiting on that one. Have you heard that he is writing a new Lyme book? I hope he is, because I am waiting for it LOL