Andrographis

[cathyhawksp@aol.com]

Hi,

In 2002, I tested negative for Lyme even though I had a bullseye rash. In 2003, my dog was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme and shortly after I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. I finally found a good doctor after many years of searching. She recently learned about the Fibromyalgia/ Lyme connection and tested all her patients. Almost all of us came back positive for Chronic Lyme. Being the great person that she is, she has been searching for alternatives to antibiotics and came up with one that I have not seen on this site. It's called Andrographis.

From what I've read, Andrographis was used in Egypt during the time of the Black plague and was the reason why that country was not hit very hard. Also from what I've read, it enhances your own immune system, breaks the blood brain barrier, and kills both bacteria and viruses. I have not found anything that says it can go into your cells or tissue.

I will be starting sometime next week and will keep all of you posted. In the meantime, if anyone here has had any experience with Andrographis, I'd be grateful to hear from you.
Cathy/ Minnesota

[Cheryl]

Hi, Cathy:

This sounds very interesting. I am sure I have heard of andrographis at some point, but can't recall from where. There are so many good things out there! Keep us posted. Found this on wicki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrographis_paniculata

Hear from you soon.

Cheryl

[Andrea]

Hi Ladies,
Stephen Buhner specifies Andrographis as part of his core Lyme treatment protocol. Whether you're pursuing the herbal route or not, I find Buhner's book "Healing Lyme: Natural Healing And Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis And Its Coinfections" to be very informative. It's a book I turn to again and again as I need info. It's pretty scientific so if you have brain fog, memory, concentration issues like me, it's a lot to handle from cover to cover, but used as a reference it's wonderful. ...Sorry, I don't have the stamina or brain power right now to scan the pages for info about blood brain barrier effectiveness of andrographis, but I hope this gives you direction and encouragement to pursue.

Good luck and hang in there!
Andrea

[Thane]

Hi Cathy, I'm taking Andrographis as part of an herbal mixture called Quintessence by BioPure. Quintessense is about as close as you can come to the Buhner protocol in one bottle. I've been seeing improvements, but i'm doing many things and can't say for sure if its the Andrographis thats helping. Would like to hear how it works for you!

Thane/ Minnesota

[Andrea]

Hi,

Back again... Buhner says that Andrographis is very effective at getting in tissue. Paraphrasing, it's beneficial to the entire body, both protecting from spirochete damage and killing the 'chetes wherever they've taken up residence in the body. He does not specifically mention penetration of cell walls. He says that it may be the best "primary herb to use in the treatment of Lyme disease." Contraindicated during pregnancy and if trying to conceive.

He recommends capsules, Raintree brand specifically, but tablets are also okay. Tincture is not. Work up to dosage of 1-4 400mg capsules/day very slowly - increase at a rate of 1capsule/day every 7 days. This is to allow GI tract to adjust; reduce dosage if nausea occurs.

There's a lot more valuable info in the book than the above and I would recommend acquiring this or another reference. An all-in-one core protocol formula sounds great. That said, make sure you self-test for anything you're considering. I would love to take andrographis, and it would address so many of my issues, but my body is not ready to accept it... yet.

Andrea

[Jane B.]

Stephen Buhners' book, "Healing Lyme" is excellent. However, it's dated (5 years old). Buhner has revised some of the protocols he wrote about in the book - most especially, andrographis. Here's a link to an article with the current info regarding Buhner's thoughts on andrographis, and his recommendations for an herbal Lyme and co protocol:

http://www.publichealthalert.org/pdf/2010_4.pdf

- Jane

[Andrea]

True and I should have said so. I value the book for much more than the actual protocols though.

If embarking on a Buhner protocol or part thereof, one should probably join at least one of the following where updates are posted, questions answered, and info shared.
http://planetthrive.com/focus-on/lyme-co-infections/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Lyme_Aid_Buhner/

[cathyhawksp@aol.com]

Thanks so much everyone, I'll follow up with all your suggestions and let you know how it's going. I started 2 days ago and so far I've noticed an increase in morning pain and feeling "crawly" on the inside. Everything else is normal; for my normal. About two months ago, I started using Artemisinin for the Babesia and that seemed to help the brain fog.
Blessings to all in your search for healing.
Cathy