Stephen Buhner – Borelióza – zhrnutie knihy (20 minút)

Book summary

(Healing Lyme, 2nd edition )

20 minutes of reading

Introduction

The second edition of Healing Lyme by Stephen Buhner offers a groundbreaking, natural approach to treating Lyme disease and its co-infections. It’s especially valuable for those who haven’t had success with conventional antibiotics or who, for various reasons, can’t pursue them.

After more than six years of studying this topic, we can confidently say this is one of the most comprehensive and well-researched books on herbal treatments for Lyme disease.

What makes this approach so unique? It takes an entirely different strategy. Lyme disease and its common co-infections - like Bartonella, Babesia, Chlamydia, and Mycoplasma - are remarkably sophisticated microorganisms. They often work together, making them harder to eliminate, and in advanced stages, they can become resistant to standard antibiotic treatments.

Instead of directly attacking these pathogens, Buhner’s method focuses on shifting the body’s internal environment - creating conditions where these microbes can no longer thrive or cause harm. Over time, symptoms fade, and health is naturally restored.

This summary highlights key insights from the second edition of Healing Lyme, particularly its section on Lyme disease. However, the same principles apply to co-infections like Babesiosis, Bartonellosis, Chlamydia, and Mycoplasma.

It’s also worth noting that Lyme-like symptoms can sometimes stem from other underlying causes, not just Borrelia infections.

If this is your first introduction to the topic, we recommend starting with Buhner's protocol for the treatment of Lyme disease in a nutshell - a quick, 4-minute read!

Who are we dealing with?

Borrelia is a highly sophisticated and difficult-to-diagnose “second-generation” bacteria that is highly resistant to common synthetic antibiotics, which were developed to target first-generation bacteria.

There are thousands of Borrelia genomes, each with different behaviors and causing various symptoms. Every geographical region has its typical genotypes, and new Borrelia subtypes and associated symptoms emerge each year.

Borrelia is a parasite - it doesn’t produce its own nutrients but instead relies entirely on its host. Its main source is collagen, which it extracts from soft tissues, particularly the brain, eyes, heart, and joints. This is why symptoms often manifest in these areas. Strengthening collagen structures is therefore a key part of treatment.

This bacteria has an extraordinary ability to change its form. When exposed to unfavorable conditions (such as synthetic antibiotics), it can transform from its spirochete form into "round bodies" or granulose forms within a minute and survive in a cystic state for up to 10 months. It also forms biofilms, adding another layer of protection.

Current tests for Lyme disease are unreliable and often result in false negatives. The only reliable visual indicator of infection is erythema migrans - a characteristic skin rash, but it only appears in certain Borrelia genotypes and in about 30% of infected individuals. For this reason, primary diagnosis should primarily rely on an individual’s symptoms, with laboratory tests serving only as supplementary clues.

It’s estimated that around 1 million new cases of Lyme disease occur worldwide each year. Its spread is fueled by global warming, increasing populations, and rising human mobility.

Borrelia is not only transmitted by ticks - approximately 300 other vectors have been documented, including mosquitoes, fleas, and other biting insects.

In addition to Borrelia, co-infections are often present in infected individuals, particularly:

Mycoplasma (45–70% of cases)
Ehrlichia (10–35% of cases)
Bartonella (25–40% of cases)
Babesia (8–20% of cases)
Chlamydia (10% of cases)

The occurrence of co-infections is more the rule than the exception. These pathogens work synergistically - multiple infections from the “Lyme group” of microorganisms increase the overall burden on the body. For example, a patient may suffer not only from arthritis or neuroborreliosis caused by Borrelia (due to collagen degradation) but also from an infection of red blood cells leading to anemia and decreased oxygen availability in the blood (Babesia) or abnormal growth of endothelial cells (Bartonella).

Due to the low effectiveness of treatment, monotherapy with a single type of antibiotic is no longer used for these infections. Unlike “older” bacterial infections, Borrelia and its co-infections are harder to treat and often lead to a wide range of chronic illnesses. They present a significant risk factor for severe cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, reproductive, and oncological diseases.

Borrelia most commonly triggers symptoms of a neurological, arthritic, and dermatological nature. The most widespread include:

Headache - 94%
Muscle pain (myalgia) - 92%
Chills - 88%
Nausea - 76%
Joint pain (arthralgia) - 73%
Vomiting - 71%
Abdominal pain - 44%
Confusion - 38%
Dry cough - 27%
Eye pain - 26%
Diarrhea - 25%
Dizziness - 25%
Sensitivity to light (photophobia) - 25%
Neck pain - 24%
Rash - 18%
Painful urination (dysuria) - 13%
Jaundice - 10%
Enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) - 10%
Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) - 6%

Synthetic antibiotics in the treatment of Lyme disease

Synthetic antibiotics play an important role in the treatment of Lyme disease. For many patients, they have almost miraculously helped reverse severe health conditions, such as being bedridden or reliant on a wheelchair. Studies suggest their effectiveness ranges from 70 to 95%.

However, antibiotics have a significant drawback - there is a relatively high risk of relapse. The infection can return in up to 35% of patients after discontinuing antibiotics, regardless of the length of the treatment. The longer the infection goes untreated, the lower the chance that antibiotic therapy will be successful. The best chance for a complete recovery is when treatment begins within a month of infection.

Antibiotics work by suppressing bacterial growth, and some also help reduce inflammation by eliminating cytokines triggered by the presence of bacteria.

Studies show that an incorrectly chosen antibiotic, improper dosage, or insufficient treatment duration can stimulate antigenic changes and promote the formation of persistent forms of Borrelia. Moreover, if antibiotic treatment is started more than 7 days after infection, its success rate is significantly lower compared to immediate initiation of therapy.

How does Borrelia behave in the body and what does it cause?

Borrelia are exceptionally sophisticated microorganisms. Upon infection, they modulate the host's immune response by influencing the cytokine cascade and the dynamics of TH1 and TH2 cells. This process allows them to adjust the immune response to their advantage, reducing the chances of being eliminated.

One of their main survival mechanisms is the stimulation of inflammation, which helps break down tissues and provides them with the nutrients necessary for reproduction. Borrelia have a remarkable ability to degrade collagen structures, which are abundant in organs such as the brain, heart, eyes, and joints. This destruction is the primary cause of the symptoms of Lyme disease. For this reason, protecting and supporting collagen structure formation is one of the most important pillars of successful treatment.

Herbalist Stephen Buhner describes in detail the destructive mechanisms of Borrelia in the body in his book, while also offering strategies to effectively stop their harmful effects.

Strategy to reverse it with natural treatment

Buhner's protocol was created based on years of observing the dynamics of the disease, studying hundreds of scientific publications, and historical herbals on the treatment of related illnesses. Over more than a decade, it has been constantly refined through feedback from thousands of patients and consultations with specialized doctors.

Its goal is to understand how Borrelia operates within the body and then intentionally weaken it, reversing its harmful effects. Buhner’s protocol for treating Lyme disease consists of the following pillars:

• Protection of endothelial structures – Borrelia spread throughout the body, gradually damaging endothelial structures, which form the barrier between the blood and tissues. Protecting these structures prevents the bacteria from penetrating deeper into the body and gaining access to the nutrients they need to survive and reproduce. This step is key to stopping their spread and reducing their impact on the body.

• Cytokine remodulation – Borrelia and other microorganisms trigger the production of inflammatory cytokines, which promote inflammation and damage tissues. The protocol includes blocking these inflammatory cytokines, preventing them from entering cells, and limiting their ability to acquire the necessary nutrients for further growth and reproduction. This cytokine remodulation reduces the inflammatory response that harms the body.

• Immune modulation – Borrelia has the ability to modulate the host’s immune response, protecting itself from elimination. Restoring proper immune function is crucial to enabling the body to effectively recognize and destroy the microorganisms. The goal of this pillar is to prevent Borrelia from controlling and altering the immune system in its favor, thus strengthening the body’s ability to respond to infection.

• Infection suppression – Targeted elimination of Borrelia and its associated microorganisms is essential for stopping disease progression. This includes antimicrobial treatment, which can be either herbal or synthetic. This pillar ensures the microorganisms are cleared from the body, allowing the healing process to begin and symptoms to subside.

• Protection of collagen structures – Borrelia has a strong affinity for destroying collagen structures, which are a key nutrient source for these microorganisms. These structures are abundant in areas like the brain, heart, eyes, and joints. Protecting collagen structures is fundamental to preventing their destruction and Borrelia’s reproduction. Supporting collagen production is crucial to preventing further tissue damage.

• Protection and restoration of damaged physiological structures – Borrelia and other microorganisms cause long-term damage to vital organs in the body. Repairing and restoring these damaged structures is essential for returning normal function to the body. The use of herbs and natural remedies that promote regeneration of these structures is part of Buhner's protocol and helps restore the function of organs and tissues affected by the infection.

• Reduction of specific symptoms – Reducing symptoms is an important step in starting treatment. In cases of advanced infection, it is necessary to alleviate dominant symptoms like joint pain, muscle pain, neuroborreliosis, and others. Buhner’s protocol specifically recommends herbs to alleviate these symptoms. One of the first recommended supplements is Tryptophan, which helps reduce inflammation and stress caused by the infection.

When you combine this "physically-focused" protocol with care for your mental health, you create a comprehensive, elegant, and sophisticated strategy for successfully managing Lyme disease.

What are the most important herbs in Buhner's protocol?

Every herb in nature contains a wide range of active compounds and effects, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antiseptic, hemostatic, immunomodulatory, anticancer, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and toning properties.

Buhner's protocol for treating Lyme disease was designed so that each herb serves multiple functions simultaneously. Its active ingredients are carefully chosen to cover as broad a spectrum as possible in the healing strategy, which includes seven key points of treatment. The following description focuses mainly on the effects of these herbs within the treatment of Lyme disease and its coinfections.

For simplicity, the dosages below are given for tinctures (1:3 concentration) in milliliters and for dried herbs (RAW) in tablet counts. This conversion is approximate, and dosages may vary based on individual needs.

Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese Knotweed)

Protector of endothelial structures
Cytokine remodulator - anti-inflammatory
Antibacterial
Antispirochetal
Antifungal
Immunomodulatory
Nervous system relaxant
Antioxidant
Cardioprotective

After more than a decade of practical use in Buhner’s practice, this herb has proven to be the most effective at eliminating the damage caused by Borrelia, particularly in the nervous system, with its neuroprotective and regenerative effects.

In Buhner's protocol, this herb is primarily used in relation to Borrelia, Bartonella, and Rickettsia.