LYME SCI: What’s the story about stevia?
There has been a great deal of information circulating the internet about the use of stevia as a “cure” for Lyme disease. I’d like to try and clear up a few things.
Many news articles have referred to laboratory research published by Dr. Eva Sapi of New Haven University, on the effectiveness of whole leaf stevia against Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete that causes Lyme disease.
While there is much to celebrate about Dr. Sapi’s ongoing research, it is important to note that it was performed in-vitro—meaning it was done in a petri dish in a laboratory. While laboratory research is critical to the advancement of science, you can’t know how patients will respond without human studies.
The good news is that Dr. Richard Horowitz, author of “How Can I Get Better? An Action Plan for Treating Resistant Lyme & Chronic Disease,” is currently conducting clinical studies using combinations of antibiotics with and without stevia for his patients with chronic Lyme disease.
Dr. Horowitz says, “No one is claiming stevia is a cure for Lyme disease. The research that I am doing in my office on stevia as a biofilm buster also involves using it with tetracyclines, rifampin, Dapsone and other medications/herbal protocols to hit different forms of borrelia. I am having success with that protocol.”
At the 2016 ILADS conference, Dr. Ying Zhang, of Johns Hopkins University, presented his research on the science behind using combination antibiotics in the treatment of Lyme disease. You can read more about his findings here.
I recently talked to an ILADS doctor with over a decade of experience treating Lyme and tick-borne diseases. He says there are many herbs that are known to help antibiotics perform better during the treatment of Lyme by increasing bioavailability and/or absorption in the gut.
His concern was that patients would read the headlines and start taking stevia without first consulting a physician. Lyme is often accompanied by other infections which can complicate treatment. One should always seek treatment from a doctor experienced in tick-borne diseases.
Stevia, as well as other biofilm-busting medications or herbs, may have a role in treating Lyme disease when used in conjunction with other antimicrobial agents. As with all in-vitro studies, the next step is to follow-up with clinical studies. I look forward to hearing about Dr. Horowitz’s results with stevia in the future.
To learn more about treating Lyme disease please visit our website: Lyme Disease Treatment
LymeSci is written by Lonnie Marcum, a Licensed Physical Therapist and mother of a daughter with Lyme. Follow her on Twitter: @LonnieRhea Email her at: lmarcum@lymedisease.org .
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should it be dried and then placed in organic alcohol – then distilled…(like Simpson oil) or dried, blended and raw in capsule form? Thanks, Kim
My question isn’t about Stevia, but been following this and its very interesting. I had Lyme a number of years ago, recovered and now I have many infections in my root canals, infections going into the bones, and a tooth reabsorbed with huge infection underneath into the bone. I remember back in the late 90’s when I was first diagnosed it was recommended to remove all my root canals, it seemed radical at the time and now wondering with the anaerobic conditions maybe Lyme has been harboring contained there, these sorts of questions, thanks kindly
I am interested in the reply you get. I developed dry mouth syndrome (tested negative for Shrogens disease) and now I have dental issues including loose teeth.
Michelle – It’s never too late to have those root canals (teeth) removed. It sounds harsh but pulling teeth has been better for me than opting for potential years of more challenges in teeth, gums & jaws with root canals. I just knew better. I’m looking at bridges and implants for excised teeth. Still dealing with Lyme ad inf…. Not sure how this goes over with this group – but I know hyperbaric oxygen is very helpful for deep infections with teeth & jaws and many with Lyme have had amazing success with HBOT. I, myself, have not been able to afford it and using it for a “Lyme DX” with Medicare/Medicaid was removed by the AMA years ago. Out-of-pocket is what so many of us with late stage Lyme are dealing with. I wish you well!
Michelle beth Leifer – I’m a newbie at posting.
If you’ve not already done so, pls. read ‘Root Canal Cover Up’ by George E. Meinig, avail. at Amazon. I read the 1994 edition w/photo’s, etc… & believe it will shed some light for you. I was shocked!
FYI: If you decide to have your Root Canals removed, contact Dr. Hal Huggins (not appreciated by the medical community) to possibly find a practitioner in your area.
Have heard of people having Root Canals removed (by different methods) and ending up in a ‘worse’ situation, than prior to the removal. (ugh)
Michelle, I have not (personally) had work done by Hal Huggins BUT do know of people who have & also folks who would NOT consider anyone else! Guess what I’m trying to say …. this is ‘my opinion’ from listening to patients over the last 15+yrs.
Good luck in your decision process & all the best in your pursuit of health.
Michelle, I’ve had all amalgam fillings removed as well as 4 root canals. 3 of them by a dental surgeon through my holistic dentist…best decision ever. The 1st root canal extraction was done at a different dental surgeon & is still giving me problems (even after 4 ozone treatments). My next step is debridement of the area by a dental surgeon who follows Dr Huggins protocol.
Hope that debridement goes well! Will it be with instruments only or a combo of that & something else? Claudia, keep us posted.
In June I was diagnosed with Rocky Mtn. Spotted Fever. This is different than Lymes diease even though you treat it the same . Is there a group like yours that addresses Rocky Mtn. Spotted Fever ?
Joe from Ga.
Our name has “LYme disease” in it, but we are concerned about all tick-borne infections. Here is a recent blog of ours about RMSF: https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-sci-rickettsia/
Joe, the RMSF is one of many tick borne diseases. I’ve been struggling with RMSF off/on along with 3 different strains of Borrelia. Chronic Lyme cannot always be eradicated but often symptoms can be eased. I’ve found good nutrition and exercise greatly improves treatments whether it’s with antibiotics or a holistic/supplements approach. This support group is also helpful as every case of Lyme is somewhat different.
I’m all for research and finding anything that helps. However, I have been using stevia for a long time in my iced tea and am a big tea drinker. Not cured, can’t tell that it makes any difference at all. Of course, maybe the results of the research will say that it takes a lot or some other factor. We are all so desperate to get better, and it has been so long for some of us, plus antibiotics are expensive and doctors hard to find……this makes us want to try everything that comes down the pike, and some that are less benign than stevia.
Right that, Mark!
It’s important to understand biofilm, which one doctor described to me as like a walled city where bacteria can hide from antibiotics and multiply. “Biofilm busters” can make a difference by busting down those “walls” and allowing antibiotics to reach the Lyme bacteria.
I’m hopeful Stevia will help with Lyme. Both my husband and our dog were diagnosed with it and both went on the 8 week medication – which seems to have worked. here’s hoping stevia is a solution for future.
One topic that came up in this trail was Hyperbaric treatment for deep infections. I think it’s an alternative therapy that isn’t used often enough. One idea for Americans who find the treatment too expensive is to seek out the treatment in Canada where the exchange rate will help with costs. There’s a private one in Prince Edward County, Ontario that offers reasonable overnight accommodation while receiving HBOT. More info at countyhbot@gmail.com