When Native American Doctor of Naturopathy and master herbalist, Kit Shepperd, first got symptoms of Lyme disease several years ago, instead of heading to the doctor for an antibiotic prescription, she used an herbal remedy, sarsaparilla.
Shepperd had a big bullseye’s rash on her back and symptoms including fatigue and extreme joint pain. A nurse told Shepperd she had Lyme disease and showed her photos of the rash that can sometimes, but not always, accompany Lyme.
Shepperd has an extensive library on herbal medicines, and started studying what remedies were suggested. Within a few days of taking sarsaparilla tincture, she felt better.
“Sarsaparilla killed the spirochetes that is Lyme’s,” Shepperd said. “After I started taking it, I had no more pain. Then I started taking teasel root tincture. Teasel will go into the deep tissues and move the spirochetes out. I took teasel for a week and then started back on sarsaparilla. I kept that up for three to four months going back and forth between sarsaparilla and teasel. When I would get pain again, I knew it was still in my system and would continue the herbal remedies. That is the way I used it on myself and I ended up with the symptoms being completely gone.”
According to Beneficialbotanicals.com, treating Lyme disease is the most common use of teasel. “Teasel Root is widely used in conjunction with antibiotics as well as other phytoceuticals to treat Lyme disease for its ability to pull the bacteria from muscle tissue (where antibiotics and the immune system cannot reach) into the blood stream so that the immune system can do its work.”
Shepperd said she didn’t use antibiotics, which can have side effects, because she was able to cure the illness without them. But she makes no bones about how serious Lyme disease can be.
“It really messes up the nervous system,” Shepperd said. “There were times that instead of pain, there would be tingling in my hands. I think I would still be seriously ill without taking these remedies because of not just the pain, but the weakness and fatigue. It’s real hard to deal with it.”
Shepperd lives in the country and spends a lot of time outdoors. She still gets tick bites, but is vigilant about removing them right away.
“If I feel I might have any problems, I take sarsaparilla again,” she said. “I make sarsaparilla tincture for my own use. Sarsaparilla is also healthy for other conditions like aches and pains in joints, blood impurities, hormone imbalances, glandular problems, skin diseases and psoriasis. There are no contraindications to taking it. Years ago, they made root beer out of it so people drank it all the time.”
Shepperd said she believes Lyme may be underreported in Arkansas because until recently the state denied it existed in the state, so many people were not being tested for it. And others may be unreported because, like Shepperd, they didn’t get testing and instead used natural remedies.
One is local massage therapist Rebekah Clark. About five years ago Clark had the bullseye rash after tick bite and immediately starting taking the sarsaparilla and teasel. Clark said she never developed further complications, and attributes that to herbal remedies.
Clark said she uses Cactus Juice to repel bugs while she is outdoors. And after coming in, she takes a shower and checks for ticks. “The sooner you wash off, the better.”
Shepperd repels ticks and other insects by making a spray with vinegar and pennyroyal, which she grows, saying that really cuts down on bug bites.