1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Alternative treatments

Posted by siliai @siliai, Apr 4, 2019

I was wondering if anyone has done alternative treatments for Bronchiectasis. I am dealing with pseudomonas and have read Stephen Buhner’s herbal antibiotics book. Has anyone tried the protocols he recommends for treating lung infections?

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 11, 2023
In reply to @irenea8 "I just looked up the Breath Easy tea if it is the same one and the..." + (show)
@irenea8

I just looked up the Breath Easy tea if it is the same one and the first ingredient is licorice! Then eucalyptus. Can you consume eucalyptus internally? I agree one should make sure the source is pure and also understand that natural remedies can and do produce side effects. I know some people who got lead and heavy metal poisoning from herbal remedies from India.

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Yes, it is the same, but at one or two cups a day, the dose is quite small. I have use Traditional Medicinals teas for over 40 years without any adverse effects. I just have to carefully read each label to make sure there are no plants to which I am allergic.
And yes to the poisoning. My sister got pancreatitis and kidney failure from overuse of imported herbal supplements, and now has liver failure as well.
Maybe that is why I sometimes come post so strongly about about supplements.
Sue

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1 reply
Jo Ann K | @jkiemen | Oct 11, 2023
In reply to @nannette "Hi @siliai, @poppins, @kjellis, my name is Nan and I read Stephen Buhner's book and tried..." + (show)
@nannette

Hi @siliai, @poppins, @kjellis, my name is Nan and I read Stephen Buhner's book and tried his liquid tincture herbs about a year or so ago. He doesn't address MAC in particular but he did talk about mycobacterium a little so I tried the two herbs that were the closest I could find. Shari, @pfists also used these herbal antibiotics and she would probably be a little better at explaining. The two used were bidens and cryptolepis and I purchased them from a good website called Woodland Essence which is one of the websites that Stephen Buhner recommends. I mixed mine with juice and as I remember I did them two to three times a day. I don't have the book with me at the moment but maybe Shari could remember what pages he talks about these two. I think they're used for lots of different ailments. I am free of MAC now (just went to my pulmonologist and infectious disease doctor today actually) but I can't really say what worked and what didn't. I did the big three for one year from 2016-2017 and then after that I did the herbal antibiotics for a few months but that was it and for the past year and a half I have been doing the 7% saline solution. I'm a big believer in that saline solution. I'm also willing to try just about anything alternative. So that's been my experience. Hope that helps. Nan

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I tried those drops a long time back. I did not have improvement or clearing. Of course, not knowing what a therapeutic doses would be may make a difference

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BlueSplashGirl/ Carolyn | @bluesplashgirl | Oct 13, 2023

Stinging Nettle tea and tincture can be helpful for lungs. You can source it from your own yard (with gloves on) and steep the leaves. Best to google how-to beforehand.

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1 reply
sweethighland | @sweethighland | Oct 13, 2023
In reply to @bluesplashgirl "Stinging Nettle tea and tincture can be helpful for lungs. You can source it from your..." + (show)
@bluesplashgirl

Stinging Nettle tea and tincture can be helpful for lungs. You can source it from your own yard (with gloves on) and steep the leaves. Best to google how-to beforehand.

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Can we find these leaves in our backyard? I have never seen them. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 13, 2023
In reply to @sweethighland "Can we find these leaves in our backyard? I have never seen them. Very interesting. Thank..." + (show)
@sweethighland

Can we find these leaves in our backyard? I have never seen them. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

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Hi Carolyn -
Yes, stinging nettle is pretty much everywhere in North America. You may know it as "itch weed" depending on where you live.
I let a crop of it grow at the very back of my lot to harvest for dying fabrics.
Caution: read all about it first, and if you decide to harvest wear sturdy leather gloves. The tiny hairs on the stems and leaves can get into your skin and cause a reaction. (I harvest mine in long denim sleeves and gloves.)

Full disclosure - I have never made tea from it. If you decide to try it, make it according to directions you find online, and test a few drops on the inner skin of your forearm before taste-testing a small sample, to find out if you react adversely to it. Some people are allergic to it (uncommon) but you don't want a nasty surprise from something that is supposed to be helpful.
Sue
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1 reply
BlueSplashGirl/ Carolyn | @bluesplashgirl | Oct 14, 2023
In reply to @sueinmn "Hi Carolyn - Yes, stinging nettle is pretty much everywhere in North America. You may know..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Hi Carolyn -
Yes, stinging nettle is pretty much everywhere in North America. You may know it as "itch weed" depending on where you live.
I let a crop of it grow at the very back of my lot to harvest for dying fabrics.
Caution: read all about it first, and if you decide to harvest wear sturdy leather gloves. The tiny hairs on the stems and leaves can get into your skin and cause a reaction. (I harvest mine in long denim sleeves and gloves.)

Full disclosure - I have never made tea from it. If you decide to try it, make it according to directions you find online, and test a few drops on the inner skin of your forearm before taste-testing a small sample, to find out if you react adversely to it. Some people are allergic to it (uncommon) but you don't want a nasty surprise from something that is supposed to be helpful.
Sue

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Yes! Great advice, Sue. You can buy the tea in stores, as well and also the tincture to add to water.

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2 replies
BlueSplashGirl/ Carolyn | @bluesplashgirl | Oct 14, 2023
In reply to @bluesplashgirl "Yes! Great advice, Sue. You can buy the tea in stores, as well and also the..." + (show)
@bluesplashgirl

Yes! Great advice, Sue. You can buy the tea in stores, as well and also the tincture to add to water.

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PS-it is simply called nettle tea.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 14, 2023
In reply to @bluesplashgirl "Yes! Great advice, Sue. You can buy the tea in stores, as well and also the..." + (show)
@bluesplashgirl

Yes! Great advice, Sue. You can buy the tea in stores, as well and also the tincture to add to water.

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Hi Carolyn - I'm probably odd-man-out with teas and such - if I can gather it in my no-chemical yard, or the local no-chemical park, I prefer to make my own (my oven doubles as a dehydrator.)

Often in late summer, my 3 season porch can look a bit like an old curing shed, with plants and seeds drying everywhere.

Others, like goldenrod, which I use as a dye, are boiling away on a gas hotplate on the patio. Then the concentrate goes into the freezer.

Just one of my quirks, along with putting random weeds (herbs) and flower in my summer salads. But I have 60 years of experience and training recognizing plants and herbs so I feel confident I won't harm myself or anyone else.
Sue

REPLY
1 reply
BlueSplashGirl/ Carolyn | @bluesplashgirl | Oct 14, 2023
In reply to @sueinmn "Hi Carolyn - I'm probably odd-man-out with teas and such - if I can gather it..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Hi Carolyn - I'm probably odd-man-out with teas and such - if I can gather it in my no-chemical yard, or the local no-chemical park, I prefer to make my own (my oven doubles as a dehydrator.)

Often in late summer, my 3 season porch can look a bit like an old curing shed, with plants and seeds drying everywhere.

Others, like goldenrod, which I use as a dye, are boiling away on a gas hotplate on the patio. Then the concentrate goes into the freezer.

Just one of my quirks, along with putting random weeds (herbs) and flower in my summer salads. But I have 60 years of experience and training recognizing plants and herbs so I feel confident I won't harm myself or anyone else.
Sue

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That's wonderful news! The closer to the earth you can consume, the better for you. But, in case anyone doesn't have, doesn't want the bother, or doesn't trust the "natural" plant, then the purchase option is ok. I love that you know your herb and plant stuff!

REPLY
sallyb827 | @sallyb827 | Oct 15, 2023
In reply to @sueinmn "Yes, it is the same, but at one or two cups a day, the dose is..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Yes, it is the same, but at one or two cups a day, the dose is quite small. I have use Traditional Medicinals teas for over 40 years without any adverse effects. I just have to carefully read each label to make sure there are no plants to which I am allergic.
And yes to the poisoning. My sister got pancreatitis and kidney failure from overuse of imported herbal supplements, and now has liver failure as well.
Maybe that is why I sometimes come post so strongly about about supplements.
Sue

Jump to this post

Sue,
I understand your concern about using some herbal supplements especially, if they are not good quality. I would never buy a supplement made overseas. I would never attempt to diagnose myself with herbs.
I have been using a naturopath for over 30 years and she has a way of selecting herbs that always help me and they are of high quality. Many times these herbs have cured me of viruses and bacterial infections where MDs have failed.
Recently I had strep starting on August 13. The Docs had me go through 4 different antibiotics over 30 days and it did not cure the strep. My naturopath put me on several high quality herbs and within 5 days the symptoms were gone and I stayed on them for 10 days to ensure that I was well.
She uses a machine called Zyto which measures the frequency of the bug and can select the correct herb to counter act it. Many people do not believe in Zyto and you will probably find many negative comments online. For me it works and it also depends on the practitioner that uses it. Every practitioner has varying abilities. I am fortunate enough to have found a practioner that is excellent.

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