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Artemisia Annua (Whole Herb)-How Much?

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Posted 4/11/2017 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone taking Artemisia Annua, the whole herb and not Artemisinin that could tell me how much they take a day. My capsules are 500 mg and I pulse 5 days on and 5 days off.

I currently take two a day with malarone and am wondering if that is something I need to increase eventually as I am able to handle the herx.
Posted 4/11/2017 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
I've never taken it, and I'm not sure anyone is on right now that has.

IMO, every treatment should be increased gradually as you are able to handle a minimal amount of herx.
Was this prescribed or were you given a general amount to shoot for with the protocol?

Buhner advises no more than 1200 a day for 7 days, a month or two max, but more than that can cause neurotoxicity.

Post Edited (julymorning) : 4/11/2017 2:06:49 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/11/2017 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
Julymorning, Oh I thought that Artemisinin was the one that might cause neurotoxicity. I didn't realize that the whole herb did too.

Yes my doctor prescribed it but I guess I'll just stick to the two capsules. Thanks!
Posted 4/11/2017 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
July, are you sure that was for artemesia annuua and not arteminisin?
"One caveat: artemisinin is an isolated constituent, taken from Artemisia annua. Babesia will NOT develop resistance to Artemisia annua but it may to artemisinin due to the simple nature of the compound. For long term use I DO NOT recommend the use of artemisinin but DO RECOMMEND the use of Artemisia annua whole herb and/or cryptolepis tincture. If artemisinin does not work with 90 days it probably will not work."
buhnerhealinglyme.com/herbs/developing-resistance-to-herbs/
(although I would beg to differ on that last statement about not working after 90 days - I was in treatment for a year, but Buhner says if it's going to work, it will work withing that time period)
Posted 4/11/2017 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys! My doctor had me taking 500mg Artemisia Annua 2x a day everyday and i took it for about 2 months straight.
Posted 4/11/2017 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Skyy, I was beginning to think I was the only one taking Artemisia Annua! Thanks for responding. Do you think it helped you? I am really herxing on it and I think it is hitting both my babesia and lyme.
Posted 4/11/2017 9:14 PM (GMT 0)

Traveler said...
July, are you sure that was for artemesia annuua and not arteminisin?
"One caveat: artemisinin is an isolated constituent, taken from Artemisia annua. Babesia will NOT develop resistance to Artemisia annua but it may to artemisinin due to the simple nature of the compound. For long term use I DO NOT recommend the use of artemisinin but DO RECOMMEND the use of Artemisia annua whole herb and/or cryptolepis tincture. If artemisinin does not work with 90 days it probably will not work."
buhnerhealinglyme.com/herbs/developing-resistance-to-herbs/
(although I would beg to differ on that last statement about not working after 90 days - I was in treatment for a year, but Buhner says if it's going to work, it will work withing that time period)


If you have his book Healing Lyme 2nd edition please see page 386 and also note that he makes no distinction between "arteminisin" and "artemesia annuua". They are mentioned together like one is the common name and the other latin name the latin name in parenthesis.

However now that I've had to read it 4 complete times, the 2nd warning is in reference to arteminisin, and since I was in error reading that he was lumping the two together beyond his intro, I apologize.
Posted 4/11/2017 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Artemisia seems pretty safe from everything I've read. It's the artemisinin that one has to really figure out pulse schedules for, I think there are different ideas on best pulsing schedule.

I take artemisia, haven't had problems with it. It does make me herx though, not as much as when I first started it. I'd recommend pulling back a bit if the herxes are too strong, like reducing your daily dose or even dosing every other day or something like this to give you a breather. You can always build into the full dose over time.
Posted 4/11/2017 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
But the 'title' (bolded letters) say "arteminisin" (artemesia annua), which the name in the parenthesis are to clarify what he is talking about, as in the arteminisin comes from artemesia annua.

Notice that a few sentences in, he states "Very high doses (5000 mgs day of arteminisin for three days) have caused liver damage, which corrects upon stopping th supplement. Arteminisin has a slightly chronotropic effect on the heart. It causes hypotension. "

So, he keeps talking about arteminisin, not the whole herb, artemesia annua. He actually goes into quite a bit of detail about the whole herb, artemesia annua in his 'Herbal Antibiotics' book (pages 140 -156). The section starting on page 154 ( whole herb vs Arteminisin) is really quite interesting.
Posted 4/11/2017 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Yes Traveler, I have apologized. I was in error, I saw that, finally. No buts from me, I was wrong, I admitted it.
Posted 4/11/2017 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
July, it's not a matter of who is right, it's just a learning process - which is made harder by having these infections!!! We are all just learning here, no judgement.
Posted 4/11/2017 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the hard work you all do to help me on my never ending journey. I'll try increasing slowly. This is the only place I can get real help!
Posted 4/11/2017 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Loutucky, i couldnt tell if i was herxing from the Artemisia Annua itself or from my ABX combo.

Our Mods always remind to up your detox to lower your herxes. ☺️

July, traveler, Girlie, thank you so very much for everything you do for us here. 😘 I for one wouldnt be able to really figure these things out on my own. These things are way too complicated for me! ☺️
Posted 4/12/2017 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
We all look to those that have been through this before to help us through. That's the beauty of forums like this one! I just happen to think that this is the best one! smilewinkgrin
Posted 4/12/2017 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
I'm going to take this one step further.

I believe it's the Artemisinin semi synthetic derivatives - Artesunate and Coartem (Artemether and lumefantrine) that can cause liver damage. But not the Artemisinin itself.
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