Natural Treatments For Lyme Coinfections

Natural Healing of Babesia

The advantages of natural compounds are fewer side effects in comparison to orthodox medical drugs, and the production of synergistic effects for a more positive treatment outcome.

K. KITAZATO, Y. WANG, AND N. KOBAYASHI,
“VIRAL INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND NATURAL
PRODUCTS WITH ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY”

Your body hears everything your mind says.

NAOMI JUDD

Each patient carries his own doctor inside him.

NORMAN COUSINS

To effectively treat babesial infections there are five points to keep in mind about the parasites:

They infect red blood cells.
They significantly inhibit nitric oxide production in the body (the body’s main defense against them).
They, during all but severe babesial infections, lower inflammation by preventing the inflammatory Th1 response the body would naturally use to counteract them.
They infect and distort the endothelial cells that line blood vessels, using them as a niche in which to hide, and they cluster red blood cells around those sites, which causes a number of blood vessel and organ problems from the subsequent coagulation and blockage of the vessels.
Studies on the treatment of Babesia infections have found that a 7- to 10-day treatment approach is, in half of all infections, insufficient; treatment must last 30 days or longer to successfully treat the infection, to prevent recurrence, and to prevent pharmaceutical resistance from developing.

That said, babesial infections are highly responsive to natural protocols. There are many plants that are directly effective against the parasites and to which the organisms do not develop resistance. As well, plants that protect red blood cells, the spleen, and other affected organs and enhance immune function by counteracting the parasite effects on immune response are common.

Treating Babesiosis with Natural Protocols

First, some basics . . . I know this is repetitive, but there seems to be a general confusion that commonly arises among both practitioners and the infected about the following points, hence the continual repetition (I get scores of e-mails about it every month).

The herbs and supplements in this book are not the only ones in the world that will help. Please use the protocols outlined herein only as a starting place, a guideline. Add anything that you feel will help you and delete anything that you feel is not useful. Protozoa, when they enter a human body, find a very unique ecosystem in that particular person. Thus the disease is always slightly different every time it occurs. This means that a pharmaceutical or herb that works for one person may not work or work as well for another. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment that works for all people in all times and places.

Also: there is no one thing that always has to happen first, that has to be treated first, or that you must always do or must never do in order to get well. There is no one herb that will always work for everyone; there is no one protocol that contains the solutions to all the infectious organisms that exist or all the forms of infection that the Lyme group can cause.

Again: there is no one-size-fits-all treatment that works for all people in all times and places.

Anyone who says there is, is either trying to sell you something or doesn’t really understand the Lyme group of infectious organisms (or has powerful self-image needs involved). There is not and never has been one single way to health such that in all times and in all places and with all people it will always work. Life, and disease, and the journey to wellness are much more complex and challenging than that.

All of us, practitioners and the infected alike, of necessity must learn to see what is right in front of us and adapt our interventions to what is actually occurring in the unique ecological system we are encountering. Our interaction with these disease complexes has to occur out of a living communication—with the organism, with the body, with the medicine. Each treatment intervention, as treatment progresses, will become unique to each person. It has to do so for healing to occur.

Thus the protocols in this book should solely be considered as a foundational place to begin. For most people they will help considerably; for some they will clear the infection completely. Nearly everyone (practitioners and the infected alike), however, will find that they will need to add this or subtract that. Please do so. Please trust your own feeling sense and pay attention to what your body is telling you. You are the best judge of whether something is working for you or not, whether you need to add something else or not, whether you are getting better . . . or not.

Now, about dosages: I will often suggest a dosage or a range of dosages for the herbs and supplements that can help. If you have a very healthy immune system, or a very mild case, you will probably need smaller doses; if your immune system is severely depleted or if you are very ill, you may need to use larger doses. If you are very sensitive to outside substances, as some people with Lyme and these coinfections are, then you might need to use very tiny doses, that is, from one to five drops of tincture at a time. (This is true for about 1 percent of the people with these infections.) I have seen six-foot-five, 280-pound men be unable to take more than five drops of a tincture and a tiny, 95-pound woman need a tablespoon at a time. Dosages need to be adjusted for each person’s individual ecology. Again . . . dosages need to be adjusted for each person’s individual ecology. And now, a few other points that commonly arise:

1. Yes, you can combine all the herbs together in the liquid of your choice. You do not have to take them separately.

2. Yes, these herbs can be taken along with antibiotics.

3. No, the protozoa do not develop resistance to the herbs.

4. Yes, you can take these herbs along with protocols suggested by other practitioners.

5. No, except for a very few herbs (such as the 1:1 form of eleutherococcus tincture), you do not need to pulse the herbs—that is, to take them in an on-again, off-again cycle, such as five days on, two days off. In fact, I have continually heard from people struggling with the Lyme group of infections that they were getting better, were told to pulse by their personal practitioner, and once they did, relapsed.

6. Yes, it is common for about half the people who use an herbal protocol, when they begin to get better, to be so excited about being themselves again that they do too much, overexert themselves, and relapse. This is extremely common (and very understandable; it’s tiring being sick for so long). So, please be very careful once your strength and joy begin to return. It may seem as if you can immediately begin exerting yourself as you used to do; however, your body has been under a long-term stress, and its reserves are low. It will take, if you have been ill for a long time, at least a year to rebuild.

Part of the function of serious chronic illnesses is to increase personal awareness (I know from personal experience). There is the life you had before Lyme, there is the life you have after. It is very rarely possible to go back to being unaware of the impacts of stress on your system, the kind of self-caretaking your body (and spirit) needs, or the dangers of overextending yourself and your energy. Ignorance may be bliss (however short that bliss may be) but awareness is empowering . . . and health enabling.

And, finally, please be conscious of how you respond to the medicines you are taking. If something disagrees with you, if you feel something is not right in how you are responding to a medicine, stop taking it. Remember: you will always know yourself better than any outside physician.

INITIAL INTERVENTION PROTOCOL

The initial intervention, using a natural protocol, suggested for mild to moderate babesial infection, relapsing or not, entails the following.

Antibabesial herbs. The use of antibabesial microbials that are broadly systemic (note, as a counter example, that the berberine plants are antibabesial, but they are poorly systemic and cannot clear the parasite from the body)
Organ support and protection. Protecting and enhancing the function of red blood cells, the spleen, the liver, and the endothelial tissues
Immune modulation. Modulating the immune response and cytokine cascade by decreasing IL-10 and TGF-β levels; inhibiting the generation of arginase; and increasing levels of IL-12, IFN-γ, L-arginine, and NO
Specific symptom treatment. These protozoa can create a rather broad range of symptoms. Reducing symptoms helps restore quality of life and feelings of joy, which in and of themselves produce potent beneficial effects during healing. These herbs and supplements are covered in the expanded treatment protocol (page 95).

Again, there are thousands of plants that can be, and are, used in the treatment of disease. The herbs below are only the ones I have found effective; this does not mean there are not others just as good.

Antibabesial Herbs

The primary antibabesial herbs and plant-derived compounds I prefer, and believe the most effective, are Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, Alchornea cordifolia, Sida acuta (or similar species), Bidens pilosa (or similar species), and the Artemisia species and their constituents artesunate, artemisinin, and artemisone. (Note: The whole herb can be used very effectively, if you wish. See Herbal Antibiotics, second edition, for preparation methods for the plant itself.) Some additionally useful antibabesial herbs and compounds are Brucea javanica, the homeopathics China 30C and Chelidonium 30C, and riboflavin (vitamin B2).

Other herbs and herbal compounds active against babesial parasites are Camellia sinensis (or its constituent epigallocatechin gallate, a.k.a. EGCG), Allium sativum (and its constituent allicin), Phyllanthus niruri (also a very good liver herb), lactoferrin (colostrum), Calophyllum tetrapterum, Curcuma xanthorrhiza, Curcuma zedoaria, Elaeocarpus parvifolius (bark), Elephantorrhiza elephantina, Excoecaria cochinchinensis, Garcinia benthami, Garcinia rigida, Lansium domesticum, Peronema canescens, Sandoricum emarginatum, Shorea balangeran, the terpene nerolidol (found in neroli, ginger, jasmine, lavender, tea tree, lemongrass, and Cannabis sativa), and the berberine-containing plants such as goldenseal. However, please note: Berberine plants are not systemic enough to use as a primary treatment for babesiosis, though they may in certain circumstances work well as supportive therapy. As well, I do not think garlic (Allium) is systemic and potent enough to work as a primary treatment for these protozoa.

CDK inhibitors are very helpful in treating babesial infections. They block red blood cell invasion and the subsequent intraerythrocytic development of the parasites, acting in their own way as antibabesial herbs. Some useful CDK inhibitors are artemisinin, licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.), Scutellaria barbata, ginger (Zingiber officinalis), Peganum harmala, Eurycoma longifolia, Magnolia officinalis, and Dunaliella salina.

Organ Support and Protection

The most important parts of the body to protect during babesial infection are the red blood cells, the spleen, the liver, and the endothelial lining of the blood vessels. Respectively, here are the four primary supportive herbs or compounds to utilize in treating babesia infection.

Sida acuta (or related species). This plant is specific for protecting red blood cells and for relieving anemia by increasing red blood cell numbers. It is also a strong, very systemic, broad-spectrum antibacterial for babesial parasites.
Salvia miltiorrhiza (a.k.a. danshen). Danshen is a Chinese herb specific for spleen and liver inflammation and malfunction.
In the past I have relied primarily on red root (Ceanothus spp.) for diseases that affect the spleen. I like red root because it is strongly protective of the spleen and to some extent the liver. It acts to reduce inflammation in both of those organs. It also stimulates the immune activity of the spleen, helping to clear the body of infection while optimizing the removal of microorganism and immune system debris during infections. However, red root is also a blood coagulant. Because intravascular coagulation is so common during babesial infections, I now prefer the use of Salvia miltiorrhiza. (If you do want to keep using red root, then please supplement its use in this disease with anticoagulants such as nattokinase, ginkgo, and aspirin.)
Milk thistle seed (Silybum marianum). The combined compounds known as silymarin that are extracted from milk thistle seed are strongly liver protective and regenerative. There are four main constituents of silymarin: silibinin, isosilibinin, silicristin, and silidianin. Silibinin strongly upregulates the expression of CDK inhibitors that act to suppress CDK2 and CDK4 kinase actions in the body. As such it will act, to some extent, as an antibabesial herb itself.
L-arginine. There are a number of herbs that protect and support endothelial function and integrity; however, most of them also inhibit inflammation in the body. That is, they move the endothelial cells’ response to infection toward a Th2 state and reduce the Th1 reaction. During mild to moderate babesial infection, this may ultimately support the parasites (note: may); hence I believe the initial and most important intervention to support the endothelial cells is the use of L-arginine supplementation. L-arginine is potently effective in improving endothelial function during any type of circulatory system disorder. It normalizes endothelial function, inhibits adhesion to endothelial cells (of all blood cell types), inhibits hyperplasia, reduces endothelial activation, stimulates the production of NO from endothelial cells, corrects induced NO deficiency in the body, and generally restores healthy vascular functioning. It is the primary approach to use to protect and restore endothelial function during babesiosis. (Salvia miltiorrhiza is also useful here as it upregulates endothelial NOS and NO production by the endothelial cells.)

Of note: Bidens pilosa, a systemic antibiotic for babesial parasites, has the added benefit of normalizing endothelial function during infections and activating CDK inhibitors. Panax ginseng also acts to normalize endothelial cells and their functioning; it also inhibits arginase. Both are highly useful.

But again, the best supplement for increasing NO production in endothelial cells (and the body) is L-arginine. It is crucial, as it is necessary for NO production (a combination of L-arginine and L-citrulline appears to work well also). Studies have found that simply supplementing the body with L-arginine will reduce or even eliminate babesial infection from the body.

There are a number of foods that will increase arginine levels in the body; they are very helpful to add to the diet during a babesial infection. Some of them, such as the red meats, also help stimulate the production of red blood cells. The best food source of arginine is red meat, most specifically beef. As an example, a sirloin steak contains 6 grams of L-arginine per one-fifth ounce of meat. So, an eight-ounce sirloin will give you 240 grams of L-arginine. Pork is not quite as good, but still high. And beef liver runs 1.2 grams per four-hundredths of an ounce, very high indeed. Other foods rich in L-arginine are (per 100 grams of the food indicated) spinach (3.3 grams), peanuts (3), almonds (2.5), sunflower seeds (2.4), walnuts (2.2), hazelnuts (2.2), Brazil nuts (2.1), cashews (2.1), pistachios (2), pecans (1.1), canned light tuna (1.7), chicken or turkey (1.2), salmon (1.2), shrimp (1.2), egg, including yolk (1.1), and whole wheat (650 mg) and tofu (same as whole wheat).

Immune Modulation

Again, the point here is to modulate immune function in a specific manner during mild to moderate infections. Specifically, to downregulate IL-10, TGF-β, and arginase and upregulate IL-12, IL-18, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and NO, essentially switching the immune response from Th2 to Th1. The primary herb for this is ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). It counteracts, with great specificity, the exact modulation of the immune system that the tick saliva and the protozoa initiate and maintain.

Herbs that inhibit TGF-β are Artemisia spp., Astragalus spp., Schisandra chinensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Scutellaria spp., Ginkgo biloba, Magnolia officinalis, and Paeonia lactiflora. A combination of Angelica sinensis and Astragalus membranaceus (one part angelica, five parts astraglus) is also highly effective.

Inhibition of arginase is crucial during a babesial infection. The herbs and supplements specific for arginase inhibition are Panax ginseng, Scutellaria baicalensis, Scutellaria barbata, Saururus chinensis, Cecropia pachystachya, and EGCG. Arginase inhibitors, by themselves, have been found to restore endothelial cell functioning.

Other herbs and supplements useful for immune modulation are licorice (downregulates IL-10, acting primarily as an immune modulator and tonic), standardized milk thistle (silymarin inhibits IL-10 over-expression and helps support endothelial health), Cannabis sativa (ibid), Scutellaria baicalensis (downregulates IL-10 and Treg), Panax ginseng and Panax japonicus (both upregulate Th1 dynamics), Labisia pumila (upregulates Th1 response), Carica papaya leaves (as a tea; stimulate IL-12, IFN-γ, and TNF-α), grape seed extract (induces IFN-γ upregulation), Lycium barbarum fruit (lychii berries), neem leaf, boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum, primarily from its caffeic acid derivatives), and plants containing scopoletin (an IL-10/Th2 downregulator) such as noni, manacá, passionflower (Passiflora spp.), stevia, Artemisia spp. (especially A. scoparia and A. capillaris), nettle leaf (Urtica dioica), and black haw (Viburnum prunifolium). Plants containing daucosterol are also effective in stimulating a Th1 response and downregulating a Th2dominant dynamic. Among them are Garcinia parviflora and Gardenia jasminoides.

A BASIC PROTOCOL FOR MILD TO MODERATE BABESIOSIS

Note: Regimen should be followed for 30 to 60 days. (It can be repeated if necessary.)

Cryptolepis sanguinolenta tincture, ½ teaspoon 3x daily.
Bidens pilosa tincture, ½ teaspoon 3x daily.
Artemisinin (or artesunate or artemisone), 100–200 mg 3x daily.
Sida acuta tincture, ¼ teaspoon 3x daily. Note: Some people are highly sensitive to this herb; it may, under certain circumstances, increase symptoms. If so, reduce the dose to just under the dosage that increases symptoms.
Salvia miltiorrhiza, ½ teaspoon 3x daily.
Milk thistle seed, standardized (to 80 percent silymarin) capsules, 600–1,200 mg 3x daily.
L-arginine, 2,000 mg 3x daily.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), ½ teaspoon 3x daily. Note: May cause drowsiness.
Riboflavin (B2), 30–40 mg 3x daily. (Suggested: Thorne Research Riboflavin 5' phosphate, 36.5 mg capsules.)
Tincture combination of Panax ginseng, licorice, Schisandra chinensis (equal parts of each), ½ teaspoon 3x daily.

This should take care of nearly all types of babesial infections—and reduce most symptoms, irrespective of species or genetic variant. Again: the protocol can be repeated if necessary.

Note: I am often asked what herbs and supplements are absolutely necessary—in other words, what can someone leave out if they really don’t want to take all that. Well . . . nothing, especially so if you have an intransigent or relapsing form of the disease. However, about half the people with babesiosis, over the years, have experienced clearance by only using cryptolepis. Still, there are many others who need an expanded protocol. Nevertheless, if you have an intransigent form and you really insist on a reduced protocol you should at minimum take numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8.

And a comment on Chinese skullcap root (Scutellaria baicalensis): This herb appears to act as a fairly strong immune modulator. It seems to have powerful immune adaptogenic actions. If the immune response is too high—irrespective of the direction (Th1 or Th2)—the herb alters the immune response appropriately. It may turn out to be a primary herb for this infection.

ADD TO THE BASIC PROTOCOL, BASED ON SYMPTOMS

If you have systemic babesiosis . . .

With severe anemia, use:

Sida acuta tincture, at an increased dosage of ½ teaspoon 3–6x daily until the condition resolves, plus . . .
N-acetylcysteine, 4,000 mg 2x daily until the condition resolves, and add . . .
Bidens tincture, ½ teaspoon 6x daily, and . . .
Angelica sinensis tincture, 1 teaspoon 3x daily.

With severe intravascular coagulation, use:

Ginkgo standardized tincture, ½ teaspoon 3x daily, plus . . .
Nattokinase, 200 mg 3x daily (same as 4,000 FU 3x daily), plus . . .
4 adult aspirins, 3x daily.

With drenching sweats, use:

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), strong infusion, 1 cup 3–6x daily.

With jaundice/liver inflammation, use:

Milk thistle seed, standardized (to 80 percent silymarin) capsules, at an increased dosage of 1,200 mg 3x daily, minimum.

With spleen inflammation, use:

Salvia miltiorrhiza tincture, at an increased dosage of 1 teaspoon 6x daily.

With fever, use:

Coral root (Corallorhiza maculata or equivalent) tincture, 30 drops each hour, or . . .
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), strong infusion, 1 cup each hour or two, or . . .
Peppermint tea, 1 cup each hour or two, as needed.

With nausea, use:

Peppermint tea, 1 cup each hour or two as needed.

With extreme nausea, use:

Peppermint essential oil, one drop only, on the tongue, followed by water, as needed.

With muscle and joint pain, use:

Pedicularis tincture, 1 teaspoon each hour as needed, or . . .
Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora) tincture, ¼–1 teaspoon up to 6x daily.

With severe pain, use:

Salvia miltiorrhiza tincture, 1 tablespoon (yes, that’s right) every 15 minutes, slowly decreasing the dosage as the pain subsides.
Theramine can also be of help.

With headache, use:

Herbs that relieve intravascular coagulation, plus . . .
Pedicularis tincture, 1 teaspoon each hour as needed, and/or . . .
Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora) tincture, ¼–1 teaspoon up to 6x daily, and/or . . .
Kudzu root (Pueraria lobata) tincture, ¼–½ teaspoon up to 6x daily.

With anxiety/hysteria, use:

Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens) tincture, 10 drops each hour for as long as necessary, and/or . . .
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) tincture, ¼–½ teaspoon up to 6x daily, and/or . . .
Coral root (Corallorhiza maculata) tincture, 30 drops (a full dropper) up to 6x daily.

With extreme fear, use:

Vervain (Verbena officinalis) tincture, 30 drops up to 6x daily.

With sleep disturbance, use:

Melatonin liquid, following the manufacturer’s directions, 1 hour before bed, and/or . . .
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), ½ teaspoon of the tincture 1 hour before bed, or 1 gram in powder or capsule form 1 hour before bed, and/or . . .
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) tincture, ¼ ounce (yes, that is right) in liquid just before bed (if the melatonin does not help).

With severe fatigue, use:

Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) tincture (a 1:5 ratio tincture, not the 2:1 Herb Pharm brand), ¼ teaspoon 3x daily, plus . . .
Rhodiola (Rhodiola spp.) tincture, ¼ teaspoon 3x daily, plus . . .
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) tincture, ¼ teaspoon 3x daily, plus . . .
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) tincture, ½ teaspoon 3x daily, and . . .
Fermented wheat germ extract, if you can afford it. All for 6 months.

Note: Severe fatigue is often caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, something that happens when babesia begin infecting endothelial cells. The primary herbs/supplements for treating mitochondrial dysfunction are motherwort, ginkgo, schisandra, rhodiola, luteolin, and fermented wheat germ extract.

With wasting (i.e., severe weight loss), use:

Fermented wheat germ extract, 9 grams daily (best choice), or (not as good) . . .
Shiitake mushrooms, powdered or as food, 6–16 grams per day. A pure extract of lentinan can also be used, at 1–3 grams per day.

For detoxification and help with Herxheimer reactions, use:

Zeolite powder, 2 heaping teaspoons 3x daily (do not accidentally inhale), and/or . . .
Activated charcoal, 2 capsules 2x daily.
Bentonite clay may also be of help. Soak 1 teaspoon in a full glass of water for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Take on an empty stomach, early in the morning or just before bed.

Some comments on epilepsy/seizures:

Coinfections can sometimes cause seizures of various sorts. The best approach to the treatment of epilepsy is a high-fat—that is, a ketogenic—diet. This has been successfully used in Britain for some time, especially in the treatment of childhood epileptic seizures. There is a lot of good research on it; it does work, basically by altering brain chemistry. Fasting can be used to treat epilepsy as well, but during a mycoplasma infection this can seriously lower nutrients in the body, increasing bacterial scavenging. A ketogenic diet is the best approach in this instance if the seizures are severe. The reduction of glucose in the brain and the increase of fats (ketones) stimulates the production of antioxidants, especially glutathione, and detoxifies the enzymes that are breaking down neuronal structures. Inflammation in the brain is sharply reduced, and excitatory neurotransmitters are reduced.

If, however, the seizures are minor and occasional, the best overall herb is Chinese skullcap. It will be most effective if combined with N-acetylcysteine. Bidens and sida can also be of some use.