Crossover of the anti-lyme, anti-bartonella herbs in other conditions, including viral infections

Commonly used herbal protocols in lyme and bartonella

Herbal medicine is a large component of how I approach a complex patient who may be dealing with symptoms related to or triggered by chronic infection. It is an important part of bartonella treatment as well as lyme.

I have written on some of the commonly used herbs to treat bartonella and lyme before, but would like to expand on how these herbs have multiple modes of action.

Polypharmacy Naturally

In contrast to drug therapy, herbal extracts have multiple active constituents, and each of these constituents can have multiple modes of action. When we combine multiple herbs together in a similar formula, this natural polypharmacy can work in our favor through synergistic action.

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This synergy emphasizes the idea that when individual components or elements work together in a coordinated and harmonious way, the collective result is more significant or effective than the simple sum of their individual contributions.

Common herbs that have multiple modes of action

Houtuynnia, Chinese skullcap, and Cat's Claw are common herbs that I use in patients with bacterial infections, especially those with history of exposure to bartonella.

Anti-inflammatory actions

Immune system support with Houttuynia was also demonstrated for the original SARS in an animal model. Spleen white blood cells were increased in a dose-dependent manner. Further, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was found to be increased. Both of these actions were in addition to the direct anti-viral activity of the plant on SARS-CoV.

Chinese skullcap was summarized quite nicely in one study as follows:

Given that in addition to the downregulation of cytokine production, the active constituents of S. baicalensis also have antiviral and antibacterial effects, they may be more promising candidate therapeutics for the prevention of infection-related cytokine storms than are drugs having only antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory activities.

Often, a problem encountered when treating those with lyme-like infections is the herxheimer response. This temporary increase in symptoms is typically related to an increase in cytokines that trigger inflammation as a result of increased exposure to bacterial products (toxins) as they die.

Having an antimicrobial herb that has properties of immune-modulation is useful in lessening these reactions, especially compared to the drug antibiotic which may not have as much anti-inflammatory action.

Neuroprotective

Houttuynia also has been demonstrated recently to have neuroprotective actions. One study looked at the reversal of memory impairment and amyloid accumulation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's. Glial activity, a type of immune activity that is associated with neuroinflammation, was reduced by houttuynia. Reducing neuroinflammation can be an important part of treating central sensitivity syndrome.

An extract of Chinese Skullcap has been shown to reduce neuroinflammation in animal models of Parkinson's disease. It has been shown to reduce bacterial toxin induced neuroinflammation from immune cells called glial cells in the CNS.

And in this review of chinese skullcap, there was a focus on how it affects neuroinflammation by working on the gut-brain-axis, as we have written on leaky gut similarly. They summarize:

The gut-brain axis is an active area of research. Several representative diseases, including central nervous system disorders (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression), metabolic disorders (obesity-related diseases), and intestinal disorders (inflammatory bowel disease and dysbiosis), are associated with the dysfunctional gut-brain axis. Baicalin, a bioactive flavonoid extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis, is reported to exert various pharmacological effects. This narrative review summarizes the molecular mechanisms and potential targets of baicalin in disorders of the gut-brain axis. Baicalin protects the central nervous system through anti-neuroinflammatory and anti-neuronal apoptotic effects, suppresses obesity through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and alleviates intestinal disorders through regulatory effects on intestinal microorganisms and short-chain fatty acid production. The bioactivities of baicalin are mediated through the gut-brain axis.

Antiviral Properties

One study looked at the whole extract of houtuynnia as well as 3 of its active compounds (synergy!) quercetin, quercitrin and rutin.

The whole extract of houtuynnia was the most effective at inhibiting viral infection. When quercetin alone was looked at (and this is a common nutrient that has become popular since the start of the pandemic), viral inhibition was found though it was weaker. Quercetrin was weaker yet, and rutin on its own did not have any anti-viral activity.

Of note:

When quercetin was combined with quercitrin, enhancement of anti-DENV-2 activity and reduced cytotoxicity were observed. However, the synergistic efficacy of the flavonoid combination was still less than that of the EA fraction.

note EA is the whole plant fraction extract by ethyl acetate.

An article on cat's claw, commonly used by many for its antibacterial activities in lyme, investigated the antiviral activity of this plant against herpes - PubMed (nih.gov)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24447975/)).

Again, synergy of the whole extract was found, with better antiviral activity compared to isolated constituents:

in vitro antiherpetic activity of hydroethanolic extract from barks, purified fractions of quinovic acid glycosides and oxindole alkaloids was evaluated by plaque reduction assay, including mechanistic studies (virucidal, attachment and penetration action).

The antiherpetic activity from the samples under investigation seemed to be associated with the presence of polyphenols or their synergistic effect with oxindole alkaloids or quinovic acid glycosides, once both purified fractions did not present activity when evaluated alone. Inhibition of viral attachment in the host cells was the main mechanism of antiviral activity. Although both purified fractions displayed the lowest antimutagenic activity in pre and simultaneous treatment, they provided a similar effect to that of cat's claw hydroethanolic extract in post-treatment. Given that purified fractions may result in a reduced antiherpetic activity, the use of cat's claw hydroethanolic extract from barks should be prioritized in order to obtain a synergistic effect.

And Chinese Skullcap is not be left out of the antiviral group](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8493948/)) as well.

This was shown to increase an antiviral and damage-reducing cytokine interferon. In mouse models of influenza, the herb improved survival rate, reduced lung damage, and modulated pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Clinical applicability

The herbal combinations are very useful in patients with complex chronic illnesses, related to infection or past infection. From the simple standpoint of a non-drug alternative to antibiotics targeted against lyme, or bartonella, there is a large body of experience that draws on many different herbal options.

Some of my favorites are include the three in this post.

Of note though, many of these complex patients have evidence of exposure to multiple different types of infections. There is often immune system dysregulation with a low CD57, or CD3 level, and evidence of reactivation of viral infection.

Testing can certainly help to confirm, but often the testing can be quite costly and not affordable. An advantage of these herbal preparations over (or in combination with) regular prescription medication is the multiple mechanisms of actions of the herbs.

They help to reduce neuroinflammation and thus herxheimer or die-off responses, and cover us by providing some degree of both anti-viral activity as well as the antibacterial activity.