Stephen Harrod Buhner approached Lyme disease as a complex, stealth-pathogen ecology rather than a single infection. His protocols are organized around two ideas: directly antimicrobial herbs that cross the blood-brain barrier, and cytokine-modulating herbs that interrupt the damage Borrelia provokes in collagen, joints, and neural tissue.
“The borrelia are not the disease. The cytokine cascade they provoke is.”
The Core Protocol
The core protocol is usually built up over two to three weeks to minimise herxheimer reactions. Doses are illustrative — work with a clinician for your situation.
| Herb | Typical dose | Role | PubMed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) | 1 tsp tincture 3–6×/day, titrated up | Cytokine modulator, crosses BBB, broad antispirochetal | PMID 16205932 |
| Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa, TOA-free) | 1–3 g powder 2×/day | Immunomodulation, antispirochetal in vitro | PMID 21961013 |
| Andrographis paniculata | 400 mg standardized 3–4×/day | Cardio-protective, CNS penetration, antispirochetal | PMID 31610053 |
| Astragalus (early stage only) | 1000 mg/day | Th1 immune support; avoid in chronic stages | PMID 25060277 |
| Stephania root | 1/4–1/2 tsp tincture 3×/day | Reduces neuroinflammation, blocks NMDA cascade | PMID 29853020 |
Coinfection Extensions
Buhner published dedicated volumes for the major Lyme coinfections. The herbs below are added onto the core protocol, not in place of it.
- BabesiaCryptolepis sanguinolenta · Sida acuta · Alchornea cordifolia · Artemisia annua
- BartonellaHouttuynia cordata · Sida acuta · Japanese knotweed · EGCG / green tea
- Ehrlichia / AnaplasmaCordyceps · Sida acuta · Cryptolepis · Houttuynia
- MycoplasmaCordyceps · Houttuynia · Isatis · Olive leaf
- RickettsiaCryptolepis · Sida acuta · Houttuynia
Notes on use
Buhner emphasised tincture quality, slow titration, and reassessment every 30–60 days. Most patients run the protocol for a minimum of eight months; those with neurological involvement often longer.