If I only have babs- as far as my doc can tell, is it alright for me to stay on herbs for this? Or must I eventually go on mepron?
thanks, JL
Posted by pryorka (Member # 13649) on :
In theory you can actually be completely cured of babesia if you kill all of it, and as far as people know it doesn't "hide" like lyme and mycoplasma does. So I would say do both herbs and mepron, make sure you kick it's @ss and never hear from it again.
I haven't heard of anyone getting rid of it from herbs for the record... but it might have happened.
Posted by jl123 (Member # 15594) on :
Thanks for the advice.
Does Babs act like Lyme in that it can get into the brain and cause brain fog or pituitary issues?
thanks, JL
Posted by Kiwikid (Member # 12974) on :
Is Mepron the treatment that most doctors use for Babesia? My doctor is prescribing Clyndamycin plus quinine and then Biaxin XL and plaquenil. I take the first two meds for 10 days and then the second two for ten, going back and forth. Now I don't know what to think? And of course, I am scared to start taking these meds. (I'm procrastinating out of fear)
Posted by Angelica (Member # 15601) on :
Most LLMDs use Mepron with an antibiotic or Malarone with an antibiotic. Some also add in Artemesia and or Enula.
I think it all depends on the person and how ill they are and how well their body does on antibiotics. I think some people have had success doing herbal treatments alone like Cowden's protocol.
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
Yep--babs definitely gets sequestered in the brain.
Posted by Cass A (Member # 11134) on :
I tried using herbs only for Babs. Didn't work for me. I've been on Mepron now for about 4 months, and for sure it was needed.
Best,
Cass A
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
Kiwikid, it sounds like we have the same LLMD. That protocol from what I've been reading is outadated and poorly tolerated by most. Malerone or Mepron/zith is widely used now.
That said, if we do have the same LLMD, he is pretty flexible. Ask him for alternatives such as the above or even alinia. He's very cooperative.
CherylSue
Posted by tickbattler (Member # 14873) on :
It is a little old (2001) but does mention that newer treatment at that time (Mepron/zith) works very well with fewer side effects than your protocol. I would ask to switch if it were me.
tickbattler
Posted by Brussels (Member # 13480) on :
I got rid of it twice mostly with herbs (2 infections from different ticks). The only abx I used lasted 3 days, it was Riamet.
I published my prototocol here in both cases, check for hardynaka (my old screenname).
Search for "babesia herbs" or "babesia herbal protocol" or something like that. Other words to search: "noni", "gervao".
It is difficult to erradicate. It definitively causes brain fog, in my opinion, much more than borrelia.
It also caused me sun sensitivity, extreme fatigue, and all other symptoms people describe.
It can be as difficult to erradicate with herbs as with drugs (and with both). Lowering down symptoms seems easy though, but many people relapse.
I believe babesia has a dormant form and people relapse because they don't treat this dormant form. Just my opinion.
Symptoms go to zero while on herbs or drugs quite easily, but once you stop treatment, you gotta wait about 2-3 months symptom free to be more or less sure the thing is really gone (my opinion).
I relapsed immediately after stopping herbs or Riamet or few weeks after stopping.
Until it definitively disappeared.
Good luck,
Selma
Posted by MariaA (Member # 9128) on :
Some of Brussels' posts are in the herbal links thread in my signature. I refer to to her in the thread by her name 'Selma'.
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
And you're sure you don't have lyme? If you have babs, you can pretty much be sure you have lyme as well. This was discussed in the Babesia book.
Posted by pryorka (Member # 13649) on :
One problem Brussels... we can't get Riamet in the U.S.. Unless there's a way we can order internationally but I haven't found one. Our pharmaceuticals don't want the competition though.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
-
Is it possible to treat Babs with only herbs?
According to at least one of the sources below, it can be - and has been for many. There is medical literature confirming that Artemisinin formulas or combinations of different forms of artemesia annua have been very successful for malaria (similar to babesia) - as part of a protocol.
No single product is advised whether pharmaceutical or complementary as mono-therapy failures for malaria hints that it also has failure for babesia (it being so similar to malaria).
It is important to note the particular forms and sources of artemesia/artemisinin. The are not all the same nor have the same strength. And, again, it is combined with other agents to increase the effectiveness and guard against resistance.
Lyme Disease and Modern Chinese Medicine - by Dr. QingCai Zhang, MD & Yale Zhang
you can access his web site through www.hepapro.com or try www.sinomedresearch.org and use "clinic" and then "clinic" for the passwords or call Hepapro.
Other sources to consider:
This book, by an ILADS member LLMD, hold great information about pharmaceutical and complementary treatments:
Progress in the research of artemisinin and its analogues as antimalarials: an update.
Sriram D, Rao VS, Chandrasekhara KV, Yogeeswari P.
Pharmacy Group, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani-333 031, Rajasthan, India.
Malaria is the number one infectious disease in the world today. Worldwide, over two million people die each year from malaria. This shocking reality is largely due to the emergence of drug resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum.
Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide isolated from Artemesia annua has been shown to be a fast acting, safe and effective drug against multidrug-resistant and sensitive strains of P. falciparum. . . .
==
Posted by Brussels (Member # 13480) on :
Pryorka,
I only used Riamet once in my first infection, but got a relapse about 2 weeks after it.
It made my babs symptoms vanish completely so fast. But it was not the answer as I relapsed like most you guys.
So I don't think Riamet is the solution for anyone (as it was not for me). I see it like an aspirine for babesia, it will end symptoms fast but it doesn't mean erradication.
Many other drugs and herbs do the same, artemisinin being one, Mepron, Malarone etc. Making us symptomless from babesia is not a problem, many can reach this stage. That's my impression after the years visiting this board.
The problem are relapses after stopping drugs or herbs. That is where I think more research is needed.
I swear my first infection disappeared with Noni tincture in low doses. But Noni didn't help my second infection. I feel something like cardamon (a kitchen spice) did the rest of the job no other plant was doing.
I still have a box of Riamet at home, I didn't use it in my last infection if my memory is good(and got cured of it anyway, at least so far, no return of symptoms).
I'm still fighting relapsing borrelia though. I mean, I'm symptomless now, but I still test for things like cats claw, teasel, eleuthero etc, many fight borrelia, so I suppose I still have it.
Don't desperate not having Riamet, I don't think this is THE solution for babs.
My opinion only.
Selma
Posted by Kiwikid (Member # 12974) on :
What is Mepron? Also, what is the top quality brand of Artemisian that is used for Babesia.
I am very confused about Artemisia, Artemisian, etc. Are there differences. Also wormwood?
It really sucks when you are so sick and you have to be a dang researcher.
Posted by Annxyz (Member # 9097) on :
As elusive as babs is , I do believe it is possible for some people to overcome with herbs / rife. I have read posts by members who have recovered using artimisia annua extract after reading a success story of a member who gained 90 % health with it . She had been on the big drugs with no success , and the extract worked.
I have also read of members who got well using colliodal silver , seven forest formula herbs and Buhner's protocol , and some who finally got off ABX with rife ( Ernie ) . Another member improved using a bicillin derivative and other things.
My conclusion ( hypothesis ) is that most of us have it . It is insidious , and while mepron is the drug often advocated here, many relapse over and over with it , so I can not call it a fix.
The most discouraging thing about this disease is that treating it is a crap shoot . I have been on ABX ( self treating in TX like so many others in this state ) for three years . I am still sick . While the service of a LLMD would be nice , I cringe when alternatives are derided because half the DAM- posts here are written by sick people who are stuffed to the gills with ABX and still relapsing !
I think curing lyme and babs is truly a hit or miss effort . I read often of mepron helping , but just as often I read of relapses with it , which causes me to think it is the "trend " in the llmd world . ( Sorry I sound cynical , but I have researched a lot of babs posts here , I promise ) .
I am indeed amazed when someone knocks it out , and do believe it has been done with herbs/ rife after reading MANY MANY posts .
Personally , I am going to continue ABX / ART / and GSE / oil of oregano / one more year then try to afford the rife Dbergy owns , GB4000 .
I have read the most posts about its effectiveness so far ( along with Doug coil ). If that does not help , I may just pull out my hair or cry . ( Oh yeah, that is what I have been doing a long time now that I think about it . )
Groovy2 has researched a lot and has known folks who improved with bactrim DS . It helped him and a friend.
Posted by brf (Member # 8748) on :
Annxyz,
You make mention of an art. annua extract. Do you have a brand/resource for a high quality one?
I have some cut & sifted bulk herb art. annua here that I was thinking of making an extract from but have heard that artemisinin is more effective. Any opinions?
Thanks
Posted by LymeCFIDSMCS (Member # 13573) on :
Has anyone tried elecampane tincture for babesia and found it effective? Elecampane is one of the main ingredients in Enula.
Posted by Annxyz (Member # 9097) on :
The art extract ( tincture ) liquid is from Herb Pharm . I think I purchased thru Horizon Herbs.
It is VERY strong . I started with five drops, now am up to about fifteen a day . This is the only art tincture I could find . I think that you have to take it at least 18 months to totally kill off babs . I am still feeling crummy and have been on it only a couple of months .
I would like to hear how you progress if you try it . ann
Posted by Angelica (Member # 15601) on :
Selma how much cardamon do you take and in what form? Does it work on anything besides babesia?
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
any more responses?
Posted by Brussels (Member # 13480) on :
White cardamon, crushed, inside my tea (never boil cardamon). I took, I think, no more than half a teaspoon a day, divided into about 3 times (it's been soo long, sorry, you gotta search my posts when babs was active around august-september 2007). I was posting still under hardynaka (screenname).
since then, I lost my password and changed to brussels.
never got a relapse after that crazy protocol I did, LOADS of herbs and combinations following muscle tests.
Babs for me, when it goes for about a month without returning, it means it's gone for good (at least, so far, that's what I learned from my two infections). I usually got a relapse the day I stopped herbs or around a week or two.
My guess is that mepron and most drugs / herbs don't treat the dormant form. For me, both noni tincture and cardamon worked for that.
I got so much a fan of cardamon as it helps with heating the body too and to clean candida toxins that I never abandoned it to this day.