Herbs or antibiotics?

[cave76]

A continual subject here.

A reliable member in a different forum attended a conference given by Stephen Buhner (herbalist with good reputation) and was given permission to tape his speech. Here is one take-away point:

Buhner feels that tickborne diseases are so serious that he would advise treatment with antibiotics and prescription meds FIRST or in conjunction with herbs.

[mojogal]

Dr Schaller who writes many books on Lyme and co-s is here in Florida, a friend of mine sees him (at $1000 a pop) he suggested this as well as my LLMD.

It is called HH2 by Dr Z. If you google it (or PM me) I can tell you the place to order from. Its expensive but as I mentioned, it really prevents the lesions and I always herx if I have been off of it for a while.

[wonko]

Yes, my LLMD also administered some herbal treatments, and I always felt betting knowing that the person writing the Rx's and suggesting the herbs was one and the same!

Are you willing to post the name of the herb you use for Bart, or would you PM me with the details?  While I consider myself done with treatment, Bart was my biggest problem and to be honest I do still have some symptoms that could be attributed to it.  I briefly tried the "A-Bart" formula but stopped since I moved away from the LLMD who was administering it.

[mojogal]

I agree with you. My LLMD knows which herb I am on. She told me about this herb for my Bartonella.

I know it works because if it runs out I always break out in my very painful lesions. This one is kind of expensive and since I am on disability, I can't always afford it.

[cave76]

http://reference.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker

This is one site where you can check to see if there's an interaction between drug-drug or drug-OTC or drug-herbal.

There are others also.

But I'd double check anyway. A pharmacist might be able to help you too.
But DO tell your doctor. S/he needs to know.

[wonko]

I think it is always prudent for a patient to tell their doctor which herbal treatments or supplements they are using.  Some combinations of herbs and prescriptions can cause one medication not to work or to not work properly.  

I consider myself to be done with antibiotic treatment at this time, but do find some herbal treatments helpful in keeping me feeling well.  But in my case it was the antibiotics that actually treated the Lyme.

[mojogal]

One Chinese herb sold by a well known LLMD works for my Bartonella. I use in conjunction with abx.

[cave76]

I do too! But you'll hear all the usual -----

1. Big Pharma doesn't want it known what herbs can do for you. Maybe----- but mostly it wants valid research done for them. So do I.

2. There's 'no money' for herb research. (Well, that's partially true. But the herbal sellers are doing quite well as we speak---- at least as far as making money.)

The biggest problem, as I see it, without true research/studies being done, are the unscrupulous sellers who will promise you that their herbs will cure you of almost anything!

The FDA tries to keep up with the scam artists but they keep popping up somewhere else.

Here is one site that has looked into some herbals and supplements:

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/herbsataglance.htm

One in Germany is also said to be good:

http://www.herbal-software.com/german_commission_e_monographs.htm

"German Commission E Monographs validate Herbs
The Monographs, primarily published by the German Commission E between 1983 and 1993, are an authoritative description of the uses and side-effects of over 300 herbs and herbal combinations (phytomedicines). The Monographs are based on strict scientific investigation and, to ensure objectivity, the work of the Commission E was entirely financed by the German government. The Monographs are now recognized globally and are used by herbalists, pharmacies, and medical doctors alike. The complete Monographs can be found in the "Bundesanzeiger" (federal registry of Germany)."

[omhome]

i wish the fight could stop between med-world and herb-world so research could discover what works. We need to hit it hard and fast---and we need the help of med-world.....herb-world is already on board.  
Hard and fast! With everything we have got!
don

[cave76]

Oh, and I forgot to add----- I'm just the messenger relating what Buhner said.
I won't deny that many here have used JUST herbs and feel that they helped them.