Real Food Rebel

Natural Solutions For Better Health

  • HOME
  • About Me
    • Disclaimer
  • My Story
  • Blog Categories
    • Lyme Disease, Parasites & Co-infections
    • Gut Health
    • Nutritional Deficiencies
    • Detoxification
    • Mental Illness
    • Travel
  • Work With Brenda
  • Testimonials

Two Herbs for Babesia Success

January 16, 2016 Brenda Cosentino

shutterstock_96879211

Most of us with Lyme Disease will end up with several other co-infections. I myself had several parasites, Bartonella, EBV,  Babesiosis and Candidiasis. Babesia are malaria-like microscopic protozoans that parasitize and reproduce in the red blood cells. Babesia microti is transmitted in nature by the Ixodes scapularis ticks (also called black-legged ticks or deer ticks). Babesia microti—which usually infects white-footed mice and other small mammals—is the main species of Lyme co-infection found among Lyme sufferers in the United States and Canada. (1)

Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, the well-known Lyme Disease physician stated that he and his colleagues have found that all chronic illness is the result of chronic infections:

“Other than the co-infections, there is what I call the ‘opportunistic infections.’ The combined effect of the initial infection is an immune suppressive effect, and then the patient becomes vulnerable to all sorts of other things. The most common things people contract early on in the course of the illness are different forms of parasites, such as protozoa; Babesia itself being one of them.”(2)

Most Common Babesia Symptoms

  1. Fever
  2. Chills
  3. Sweating
  4. Weakness
  5. Headaches
  6. Anaemia
  7. Jaundice
  8. Nausea
  9. Fatigue
  10. Air Hunger – the feeling of not getting enough oxygen

I had every single one of the above symptoms plus low blood pressure, liver pain and enlargement, along with pain and infection of the kidneys. Until recently, I had been suffering from anaemia for 30 years.  I was constantly fatigued, with frequent severe headaches, migraines and weakness, often accompanied by chills alternating with sweats.  I also developed a chronic cough at least once per year that would last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Nothing would stop the coughing, and I am told that this is also a babesia symptom.  Medical doctors all blamed the anaemia on my menses.  Through my own search for answers, I learned that babesia can produce hemolytic anaemia (from the destruction of red blood cells).  If you go to this post you will see how yellow I looked (due to the effects of Babesia and other co-infections on my liver) when I was sick.

Babesia was the last infection that I had to conquer on my journey to wellness. I began treating myself with a herbal bowel-liver cleanse, followed by intensive parasite cleansing, and then Stephen Buhner’s Herbal Protocol for Lyme Disease. You can read about the order of cleansing that I did in this post. Once I arrived at the 6th month of my protocol, I began with Stephen Buhner’s recommended babesia herbs.

BABESIA HERBS

Sida Acuta– 1/4 tspn (40 drops)  3  x per day

Cryptolepis– 1/4 tspn (40 drops)  3 x per day

I began with one dose of each per day. After a couple of days, I increased to twice per day. After 7 days, I was taking both herbs at the above daily dosage. I took these for 5 weeks straight. Since I cannot have alcohol I simply put the drops in warm water and let it sit for an hour to let the alcohol evaporate.   I never had any issues doing it this way.

I decided to stop, as I was developing a yeast problem and my stools had become very small and infrequent. I felt that my gut flora had been adversely affected. After researching, I discovered that the cryptolepis can upset the ecological balance in the gut. I stopped the treatment, and babesia symptoms have not returned. I am now in complete remission from Lyme Disease and all co-infections since November 2014.

Staying Healthy with NutritionI did it all without any antibiotics or drugs. I must add that I have been on the Wahl’s Paleo Diet since August 2012. This diet has helped to restore many of the nutrient deficiencies that I had while sick. The body has incredible self-healing abilities if it is given the proper nutrients and care.

 

If you are interested in booking a consult, please go to this page for nutritional therapy and hair analysis.

Blessings and Best of Health!

Brenda

References
1.http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/babesiosis/gen_info/faqs.html
2. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/05/dr-dietrich-klinghardt-on-lyme-disease.aspx
3. http://buhnerhealinglyme.com/the-protocols/#BABS

If you like this article, please feel free to share it!

Spread the love

Featured Post, Lyme Disease & Co-infections anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic infections, lyme disease, parasites, Stephen Buhner, Success Story

Comments

  1. Faith says

    January 17, 2016 at 8:02 pm

    Thank you very much for your encouragement and for sharing what you did to overcome Lyme, EBV, Babesia and Bartonella. Did you have Candida? I do and I’m a bit confused about what foods to stay away from to ensure the Candida actually dies off and stays gone.

    • Brenda Cosentino says

      January 18, 2016 at 7:55 am

      Faith – Yes I had a very bad Candida overgrowth. This was a consequence of not having enough essential gut microbes. The overgrowth was taken care of once I started on the Wahls Paleo Diet. The Candida just came into balance and I never had to take anything for it. Lots of bone broth and fermented foods helped to heal my gut and maintain healthy gut flora.

      • Faith says

        January 18, 2016 at 5:59 pm

        That’s really impressive and good to know… I thought I’d have to be on expensive herbs for a loong time to get rid of my Candida. Thank you very much for answering my question! Off to make fermented cabbage 🙂

        • Brenda Cosentino says

          January 18, 2016 at 6:17 pm

          Sauerkraut and beet kvass are amazing fermented foods for great gut health!

          All the best!

  2. snowgirl says

    January 18, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    Hi Brenda … I’m starting the wahls protocol as well. I was curious if you are doing the highest level WP plus? Which “level” do you do? Thanks so much!

    • Brenda Cosentino says

      January 18, 2016 at 5:53 pm

      Hi Snowgirl – I am on The second level which is Wahls Paleo. I tried the Paleo Plus but did not do well with all of the extra fat. I usually only eat twice per day. I find I feel the best when I eat this way.

  3. gr says

    February 4, 2016 at 11:23 am

    Hi Brenda,

    I am looking at using cryptolepis, sida acuta, and alchornea tinctures myself, what tincture ratio strength did you use?

    You mentioned that you struggled with the tinctures effecting gut flora and causing yeast issues, I’ve heard this from others to.
    If someone needed to use the tinctures, What’s the shortest/longest time frame window you’d recommend taking them for so there effective, but don’t decimate your gut flora in your experience?

    Klebsiellia is an issue i have as well, Did you ever struggle with klebsiellia yourself or have any knowledge of treating it?

    Thank you for the great site

    • Brenda Cosentino says

      February 9, 2016 at 9:48 am

      Hi GR – I used a combo of cryptolepis and sida acuta. I got them from Woodland Essence. You can check with them about tincture strength. I used these for 5 weeks straight. I really don’t know what the shortest/longest time frames are effective. I was told at the time that people were treating for several months for babesia. I just couldn’t handle how I felt after the 5 weeks. I could tell how the absence of good flora affected me.

      I wasn’t diagnosed with klebsiellia but I see Buhner has a protocol for this. I trust his protocols. Maybe something to try.

      http://buhnerhealinglyme.com/co-infections/klebsiella-pneumoniae-with-lyme/

      Blessings!

  4. beedoo says

    February 6, 2016 at 10:55 am

    Hello 🙂
    I would like to know if you have an advice about where (online) I could buy the herbal protocols (for parasite and the Buhner Lyme p. too).
    I’m French 🙂
    I have a Lyme since 20 years and because of my leaky gut the doctor won’t give (and I agreed with him) me any antibiotics. So I am very happy that I stumble on your website. Until recently I managed to live with the Lyme, with a very strict AIP paleo diet and yoga and such but I guess it was not enough. Thank you for your help and my best wishes for you.

    • Brenda Cosentino says

      February 8, 2016 at 8:10 am

      Hi Beedoo- Best to google your area and see if you can find any local herbalists. They often carry or have access to all kinds of herbs. If you have been sick for a long time it would be good to supplement your diet with lots of whole food supplementation. Long term illness drains mineral stores and then illness can set in.

      Hope you are restored to vibrant health very soon!

    • Brenda Cosentino says

      February 9, 2016 at 9:37 am

      Hi Beedoo – Google your area and herbs that you want. Also check with local herbalists as many have access to herbs that are not available online. Just keep searching. I healed my gut and now I am in remission. You are fortunate to have a doctor that understands this.

      Best of Health!

  5. beedoo says

    February 8, 2016 at 10:33 am

    Thank you very much for your answer 🙂 and the sharing of your great journey !
    *:゚*。⋆ฺ(*´◡`)

    • Brenda Cosentino says

      February 9, 2016 at 8:49 am

      You are very welcome!

  6. snowgirl says

    February 9, 2016 at 11:11 am

    Hi Brenda!

    I wondered if you could expand on what you did to work on your thyroid? I read that you incorporated kelp tablets … could you recommend a brand? (I’m also following the Wahls Protocol and have her book. I struggle with the seaweed part!!)

    Was your fatigue level at a point where it was basically CFS and you were unable to operate for more than a few hours? I’m currently working on adrenals with glandulars and thyroid with a glandular from Standard Process. Can’t get a handle on the energy depletion and when I add anti-microbials I feel like I am being pressed into my bed each morning. Like my body is lead.

    THANK YOU for your help SO much!!

    PS … made your beet kvass twice now and it is awesome.

    • Brenda Cosentino says

      February 9, 2016 at 8:59 pm

      Snowgirl – I answered the kelp question. Yes I was housebound many, many times and bedbound as well. Severe CFS. I often did not have the strength to sit upright in a chair. Eliminate the infections, lots of detox, increase mineral levels and work on lifestyle. The die-off from lyme and parasites was brutal. Increase detox strategies. Incorporate a daily green smoothie for breakfast.

      The kvass is great stuff!

      Just keep going and keep your eye on remission! It will come if you give your body everything it needs!

About The Author

Hi! I’m Brenda Cosentino, Nutritional Therapy Consultant (NTC), chronic illness warrior, digital nomad and mother of three gorgeous children. read more.

Register / Sign In

Login to this site requires ssl communication.
Click here to reload the page over ssl.

  • Don't have an account?
  • Lost your password?

  • Have an account?

  • Back to login
Loading

Site Search

Featured Posts

The Long Road Back! How I overcame 20 years of Chronic Illness Naturally!

By 2007, my health had reached an all-time low. I was given a chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia diagnosis. I was on heavy psychiatric medications for bipolar disorder, major anxiety, chronic migraines and post-traumatic stress disorder. Most days I relied on painkillers for my increasing levels of pain.  By this time I had been sick for over fourteen […]

18 Months of Lyme Disease Recovery/Remission

I still have days where I can’t believe I am Lyme Disease free. I just returned from a one week backpacking trip to Palenque and San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. I climbed every single one of the ruins pictured above. It was a full 9 hour day of ruins, rivers, jungle treks, swimming […]

8 Years of Complete Lyme, CFS and Fibromyalgia Remission

I am happy to report another year of complete remission from all things Lyme and Co-infections since November, 2014. I keep getting older (60) but seem to improve more and more with each passing year. This is a miracle considering I was chronically ill for 20 years and physically disabled for over 10 years. You […]

6 Years of Complete Lyme, CFS and Fibromyalgia Remission

What a miracle to have had 6 years of great health after being chronically ill for over 20 years. It is possible to heal yourself by changing your diet, fixing your microbiome, detoxifying and making lifestyle changes. You can read about everything that I have done in this article to completely recover my health. A […]

Super Healthy Green Smoothie

This was the game-changer for me while fighting Lyme and Co-Infections, CFS/Fibro and 20 years of chronic illness. My hair tissue analysis revealed several minerals that were very low despite eating a conventional Paleo diet for the first few years. This is the most nutrient-dense breakfast that I have found so far. It is packed […]

Lyme Disease and Parasites Love Sugar

Sugar was my drug of choice long after I quit drinking alcohol. Well….that and caffeine, but we’ll leave that for another time. My favorite dessert has always been a chocolate brownie with lots of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and strawberries. I mean, who can top that?  Back in the day, I wouldn’t pass up […]

Nutrient Deficiencies and Chronic Infections

Nutritional deficiencies and chronic infections go hand-in-hand. Each perpetuates the other in a never-ending vicious cycle. After many years, I discovered that both need to be addressed simultaneously in order for the recovery of health. The image below is my first hair test, from December 8th, 2011.  Prior to this test I had been sick […]

Parasites- A Serious Co-infection of Lyme Disease

Let’s face it.  No one wants to consider the fact that they might have worms. It is not only repulsive, but we live in a society that tells us this cannot be a problem here in North America. With today’s sanitation and standard of living, we are never taught about routine parasite cleansing. Years ago, […]

Success with Buhner’s Protocol for Lyme Disease

In May 2014 I picked out my coffin and was planning my funeral. I had been sick for almost 20 years and was also battling a serious kidney infection on top of the Lyme disease and co-infections. I was given a chronic fatigue/fibro diagnosis many years prior to this. After I was finally diagnosed with […]

The Life of a Lyme Sufferer

I lost the ability to work in 2004 and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This was one of the lowest and darkest times of my life.  I lost my career, country dream home and most of my hope. Worst of all I lost countless precious years with my children. I was having so many health […]

Beet Kvass – Liver Cleanser and Blood Tonic

Every culture around the world has their own fermented foods that they regularly consumed for good health.  My ancestors from Ukraine understood the many restorative properties of beet kvass. This Lacto-fermented, probiotic-rich tonic is made from beets. This is one of my probiotic staples that I don’t like to be without. This is one of […]

Success with Wahls Paleo Diet for Lyme Disease

The Wahls Paleo Diet is the diet that turned me around in less than a year. This eating plan has kept me in complete remission from Lyme Disease and co-infections since November 2014. I  also treated the Lyme Disease with Stephen Buhner’s Herbal Protocol and had completed an extensive parasite cleanse. My parasite recipe can […]

Latest Posts

  • 8 Years of Complete Lyme, CFS and Fibromyalgia Remission
  • 6 Years of Complete Lyme, CFS and Fibromyalgia Remission
  • Super Healthy Green Smoothie

Food is Powerful Medicine

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

John 8:32

Find it here…

© 2022 · Real Food Rebel.      Website Development by GallantMEDIA