Can Plant-Based Substances Combat Lyme Disease? Research into efficacy of phytochemicals and micronutrients against Borrelia

By Dawn Lawson, RN

I n a recently published article in Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease, authors Anna Goc and Matthias Rath took an in-depth look at research into the efficacy of plant-based substances and vitamins against several Borrelia species that cause Lyme disease in humans. They found that many natural substances show promise against Lyme disease in a test-tube environment. But it is unknown whether they will be effective in an actual human body.

Here is a quick breakdown of what they found:

1. Dipsacus sylvestris (also known as wild teasel or Fuller’s teasel)
Extracts of wild teasel have been studied against Borrelia afzelii. A fat-based extract of the plant was found to have a 95% kill rate after four days. Sadly, it did not show any efficacy against biofilm or round form Borrelia.

2. Grapefruit Seed Extract
There were some very interesting finds in the study of GSE on Borrelia afzelii. In very specific concentrations, it showed remarkable ability to stop spirochetes from being mobile in just one hour by breaking off the tails of the spirochetes rendering them immobile, or by causing them to become irregularly shaped. It also showed a 90% ability to rupture the round form. On another positive note, it is shown to be effective against pathogenic bacteria, while harmless against….. Join or login below to continue reading.

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