posted 11 years ago
Adrien, Lyme Disease treatment centers on four actions:
1. killing the Lyme spirochete
2. boosting immune system function
3. supporting collagen and connective tissue health
4. treating symptoms (e.g., inflammation, Lyme carditis, bacterial die-off reactions)
Japanese knotweed does numbers 1, 2, and some of 4. Other herbs that are active against the spirochete in the northeast include plants rich in berberine (goldenseal, barberry, goldthread, yellowroot). Without treating the underlying infection, all other actions are just managing symptoms. Herbs that assist the liver are also important (for dealing with dead bacterial bodies and toxins), such as dandelion and burdock.
There is abundant scientific study supporting the use Japanese knotweed in infections such as Lyme Disease. As one would guess, there is very little research being done in the United States, most of it comes from Asia.
Arthur Haines, Delta Institute of Natural History
www.arthurhaines.com