Are Herbs Ototoxic? Considering Taking Andrographis and Resveratrol, Among Others, for Lyme Disease

Hi!

I am going to take herbs for Lyme disease. Andrographis and Resveratrol are some of them. Does anyone have experience with any ototoxicity from herbs? Or are they considered a safe option, compared to antibiotics?

 

Hi @Hannes Alm -- I've used Japanese Knotweed for Lyme Disease. It's where most supplement companies get their resveratrol, as it contains large amounts of it. I harvest the Japanese Knotweed roots myself (grows wild in most of U.S.), and make some very strong teas with it (has a deep burgendy color to it, which is the resveratrol content). I've not noticed that it affects my tinnitus in anyway, though I have wondered a time or two whether it actually improved it.

I really don't know about Andrographis, but I've also harvested my own Teasel Root for Lyme. Again, I don't have any recollection that it increased my tinnitus (and I'm generally very sensitive to things that do). I did notice however, a temporary increase in joint sensitivity, as the teasel root has remarkable abilities to move debris out of the joints (which is where Lyme bacteria tend to accumulate--away from other more oxygen rich areas of the body). It also tends to give me a subtle increase in energy, which is in short supply for me and for most other people with Lyme it would seem.

You can always do a search on whatever herb you're consdidering, and add tinnitus right after it. Though I assume some herbs can be ototoxic, I would suspect that few of them are. Another herb that I harvest and use for myself is St. John's Wort. It works really well for calming the brain and neurological system, and has a very high content of OPCs, very powerful antioxidants that can help detoxifiy the brain, which I would think can only be good for Lyme. Harvesting season is coming up soon (month of July), and I plan to make big batches this year.

I think your orientation towards herbs is the right way to go. I've read to many horror stories of people using antibiotics for Lyme, only to have it get temporarily get better, followed by it getting more permanently worse. And antibiotics are quite often ototoxic, so I think you're wise to keep a distance from them. -- All the Best!

P.S. I purchased my own mHBOT Chamber, as I think it's one of the best therapies for Lyme Disease. It can infuse high amounts of oxygen into areas of the body that normally don't get all the much, which is why Lyme bacteria like to hang out there. It's also one of the best therapies for any kind of brain injury (which Lyme Disease usually inflicts). My past history of concussion was the third reason it made a lot of sense for me to make the mHBOT investment. I've not regretted once my decision to do so (about six months ago).

P.P.S. -- I just noticed the cause of your tinnitus is unknown. Just to mention, Lyme could very likely be the cause, because of its damaging effects on the brain and neurological system, including the major cranial nerves. I wouldn't be surprised if many on this forum who don't know the cause of their tinnitus have it because of an unknown Lyme infection, or some other kind of other TBI (Tick-Borne Infection).

 

I've used andrographis with no effect on my tinnitus.

The only herb that does seem to aggravate my tinnitus is artemisia.

 

Unrelated to tinnitus, but I wanted to ask if the teasel root has the ability to force the spirochetes out of tissues into circulation; increasing testing reliability?

 

Heck of a good question @DebInAustralia. I've read about teasel root forcing Lyme bacteria out of joints, but never about whether it would force it out of tissues. I'll have to tune in next time I do a round of teasel root to see whether the joint sensitivity I experience when taking it is matched in any way by sensitivity in some of the tissues of my body.

My understanding is that Lyme bacteria migrate toward areas that have less amounts of oxygen, like joints, cartilage, brain, nerves, even bones and teeth. And only "venture out" into the circulation when it detects a weakness in the body, and feels it can expand its reach in the body. It's apparently very patient, and will stay localized for years at a time. Then when a person comes under stress, or some other reason the immune system becomes compromised, BOOM, out it goes to take advantage of it, and start new "colonies" in other parts of the body.

My understanding is the reason HBOT can be so effective in treating Lyme Disease is that it infuses high concentrations of oxygen into parts of the body where oxygen levels are normally lower and where Lyme bacteria love to hang out. -- If you like, I could send you a story or links to a remarkable story by a woman who was deathly ill with Lyme for 10 years, and recovered completely using mHBOT therapy (after trying millions of other things first).

Some researchers who study Lyme and other TBIs (Tickborne Infections) believe there are many infections that have yet to be identified by modern science--some have estimated as many as 300. So even though a Lyme test may come back negative, it doesn't mean a person doesn't have any number of other serious infections going on.

My own take is the best way to approach this dilemma is to get access to an mHBOT chamber, and do regular (daily) sessions for at least several months. I've been doing this since last fall, and the benefits seem to be cumulative, and I believe will eventually lead to improvements in my tinnitus. -- BTW, the woman who I bought my chamber from said that probably 1/3 of the calls they get are from people inquiring about using it for Lyme.