Are all herbs in Buhner's protocol necessary?

No, you don't need all of the herbs.

I would try to do several out of the core protocol for each infection - if possible...and then add in ones that pertain to your symptoms.

I personally think Hawthorn is a very good one - especially if you have Bartonella.
...even more so if you've had it for 3+ years.

You could just concentrate on the lyme for now...and later down the road add in some bart/babs herbs.

Sida Acuta is good for both bart and babs.
Keep the knotweed when you move to the co's as well.

I'm not 'through' the fire yet...I'm still on fire...hoping that it will be put out soon.

I did not use all the herbs and I healed. My story is in my signature line.

Hang in there and most importantly listen to your body.

I truly believe in helping your body learn to handle lyme. I don't believe you will kill lyme. You just teach your body how to keep it in remission.

I don't believe in overload and overdoing herbs. You can take so much stuff that your body gets confused. I think sometimes a little is a LOT.

I took my herbs one at a time to see how I handled it all the way to my maximum of that herb. It is not quite as expensive as titrating up to the bottle's recommended dosage. On some herbs I ended up taking one dropper, 3 times a day. Other herbs I was at 2 droppers, 3 times a day. And then there were the herbs that I only needed a couple of drops.

These are all great points, thank you guys. I should have mentioned, i have never tested positive for lyme- as of now i only have bart, mycopkasma and chlamydia pneumonia. Haha, only.

Like you guys mentioned, i hate taking too much and like to keep it minimal to just the necessary, im not one for herbs or supplements that help with symptoms, only the core issues.

I do know that. Ive been tested 11 or 12 times and several of those have been top notch LLMD's and credible labs. They all seem pretty confident i dont have it

No one knows if they will need all of the herbs in a protocol to heal or not. Some don't and some do.

I only tested positive for Lyme after a full year of treatment aimed at Lyme. The Lyme bacteria are VERY good at manipulating the body's internal components for it's survival, one of which is hiding from the immune system. It can change it's outer surface proteins at any time, can change into a form (round body, also known as cysts) that can resist any attacks from any thing, and it can hide in biofilms. It can also lower immune function all by itself to protect itself from being recognized as easily. Crafty little buggers!

I don't think we can say that there is no way a person can have those infections without Lyme, but it's highly unusual.

My personal opinion here is that it is not just the herbs that heal our lyme. It is a combination of detoxing, nutrition, sleep, mental attitude and the herbs.

I've definitely been on the detoxing/immune boosting train for a while- over a year. I got rid of all my stuff (moldy house) and have been camping in the desert. Things are so much better out here, but the disease is obviously still there. While here i keep my diet great, good circadian rythems, coffee enemas, etc..

Are there any herbs on top of the JK, cat's claw, sida, houttuynia, cordyceps and red root that are specifically needed to kill the lyme bacteria? I put together a comprehensive one for batronella, just not sure if that's enough if lyme is there, too.

According to Buhner, andrographis is the only antispirochetal herb, so yes, it's a necessary herb.

For cytokine remodualtion, he recommends Salvia miltiorrhiza (red sage) and scutellaria baicalensis (skullcap) though.

Houttuynia is for the treatment of Bartonella.

From what I'm reading on the website that is set up for following Buhner's, it sure seems that way:

"Regarding lyme and autoimmunity, lyme and ALL the coinfections have an autoimmune dynamic to them, and I pretty much hate the TOA controversy, for reasons that I go into in the book. I think it misplaced. What needs to happen in autoimmune conditions is that the bacteria stimulate the immune system to cause inflammation in the body which then breaks down cellular tissue so that the bacteria can feed on the nutrients that are released. The bacteria in fact create and control a form of autoimmunity, however, THAT WAY OF THINKING about IT, I.E. AUTOIMMUNITY, IS NOT VERY EFFECTIVE. It is a controlled use of the immune system of the host species to get food, NOT an out of control autoimmunity which is something that happens during cytokine storms in diseases such as severe influenza. So, what you are doing is activating parts of the immune system and deactivating others. The two herbs that accomplish this the best in lyme are cat’s claw and knotweed root. However, Chinese skullcap and cordyceps are also very good for reducing the cytokine cascade, i.e. the “autoimmunity.” "

(I edited that comment only to underline one part)
buhnerhealinglyme.com/herbs/cats-claw-autoimmunity-and-hashimotos-thyroiditis/


In his Healing Lyme book (2nd edition), I've only read where he states that it's necessary for Neuroborreliosis.

Yes, in his 2nd edition of Healing Lyme, page 215, he states that "IF you have neuroborreiosis, it is crucial to add to the core protocol:
Uncaria rhynchophylla (cat's claw)
*Tincture - 1/2 - 1 tsp 3 - 6 times daily, depending on severity of brain infection."

That way you can look it up when you get the opportunity. Have you done a library search? Maybe even an interlibrary loan? Do you have a support meeting you go to where someone might let you borrow the book for a month so you can read through it? Just some thoughts to hopefully help you get your hands on it sooner. I understand when you have to decide if you buy the book or the herbs. I was blessed with someone gifting a few of his books to me, otherwise I wouldn't have them.

Artermix - there is a ton of information in Buhner's books that aren't on the website.

And..the protocols are expanded in his books.

It's Astragalus that shouldn't be used with chronic lyme - as it can cause an autoimmune reaction.