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Looking for advice....natural or antibiotics

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 12/13/2013 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor gave me three weeks worth of Doxycycline today and I have four weeks of minocycline from anther doctor . I am working with a naturopath from Calgary who treats using some of the supplements in Cowden's protocol. I will not start Samento/Banderol for six weeks and I am doing some detox things first. I wonder if I should start with Doxycycline before she has me taking the natural herbs. Does anyone have any experience with antibiotics verses herbs? I have read that Doxycycline causes the bacteria to change to a cyst form. I would really like some advice from people who have gone through this. Thanks.
Posted 12/13/2013 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Ultimately, it's a personal choice whether to use abx or herbals.

I do know that a Lyme researcher - Eva Sapi - did a study and found that Banderol and Samento are just as effective as Doxycycline.
www.townsendletter.com/July2010/sapi0710.html


Why is your Naturopath having you wait to start the natural treatments? That might answer your question.

Do be sure to use lots (at least 30,000 units) of probiotics every day while using any of these treatments to help avoid issues with Candida and other things.
Posted 12/13/2013 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply Traveler. The naturopath has started me on a few detox things before the Banderol and Samento. I have started Chorella, Citricidal, TADS (Adrenal support) and I am waiting for a few other things that haven't arrived yet....biosil and di long. I would rather be starting something and that is why I am wondering about doing the antibiotics. However, I know that 7 weeks of antibiotics is not enough. I couldn't get your posted link to work. I am leaning toward going the natural route. I have been depressed lately and just realized that it could be die off from the Chorella.
Posted 12/13/2013 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
I fixed the link, sorry and thank you for letting me know about it!

Well, I'll tell you - I did nothing but detox & get my systems all working better the first 6 months (yep! months!) before starting my actual treatments, and I think it made a massive difference!

I really do understand the desire to get things started, but we can also overwhelm the body if it's not ready for the amount of toxins that will be released when the bacteria are suddenly dying off in large numbers. Why not take this time to get your body ready for this?
Posted 12/13/2013 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I am fairly new to here but am looking at seeing a naturopath in Calgary as well. I live in Edmonton and there isn't anyone up here who really specializes in Lyme. I have had a consult with a the naturopath down there but want to chat with someone who has started treatment.

Could you message me and let me know who you are seeing and how you think it is going.

thanks
Posted 12/14/2013 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Puregreen,

I can't message you because your email isn't listed on your profile. I have only had one consultation with the naturopath and am just starting. I live in NS but would love to touch base with you.
Posted 12/14/2013 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Please do not post your private email address on this forum!!! It is an open forum and anyone with a computer can read these posts.

In order to receive emails privately, you will need to go into your profile, go to edit profile. Scroll down just a bit until you see "show my email" and choose that option. You will need to enter your email address and then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the "submit" button to save your information.

I would however greatly encourage you to sign up for a @healingwell.net email address. That way your personal email address isn't being given out to people you don't know. This is an extra security measure.
Posted 12/14/2013 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Antibiotics, especially iv abx, have helped a lot of people.

Having said that, I became very seriously ill from c. diff., contracted from long-term use of abx. I almost died.

If you go the abx. route, I would suggest heavy, heavy probiotic supplementation. I use probiotics with 100 billion strains. Prebiotics are really important too. I would also suggest periods during which you don't take any antibiotics.

I think herbs can be very effective. You know an antibiotic is killing bacteria if it gives you a herxheimer; the herb Cat's Claw gave the worst herx I've ever had.

For some folks, nothing works, whether abx or herbs.

Almost everything has side effects, but Lyme is worse than most side effects.

Margaret
Posted 12/14/2013 6:41 AM (GMT 0)
Id personally start with BOTH.

The best part of this approach is that most herbs work synergistically with the ABXs you are going to take anyway. ABXs (at least for me) are fantastic at suppressing the disease, but are not curing me. The herbs are better for surpessing inflammation and helping your body build back its immunity.

The trick is knowing when and why to stop and start the ABX. For this, you will need to work closely with your LLMD so make sure you trust them. Ultimately its your doctor's protocol that will decide what you use.
Posted 12/14/2013 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
I took antibiotics for three months, Minocycline and rifampin. Now I have switched things up and I am starting Byron White A-L complex and A-bart for a month and have discontinued my antibiotics. This is what my LLND is doing for me because I wanted to take a break from the Minocycline and the Rifampin. I feel good now.
Posted 12/14/2013 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Teragram, actually if nothing is working for someone's infections, then there is something holding back the healing, like detoxing issues, other infections, viruses, mold toxicity, heavy metal poisoning or other things.

Once these things are check on and corrected, then it's just a matter of supporting the body/organs and finding what the body can work with.
Posted 12/14/2013 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
I'm allergic to pharmaceutical antibiotics so, I went the alternative therapy route and am working with a naturopath. After trying numerous herbal supplements, we finally stumbled onto essential oils. Thieves oil from Young Living gave me the worst herx I've ever had... last three months, then I cycled between feeling a bit better and feeling a bit worse for several months. In October, I began having some serious problems with my tachycardia. So, we decided to take a six week break from all anti-microbial supplements, to give my body a break. My next LLND appt is the 19th so, we'll see where we go from here.

Ultimately, you have to base your decision on your own personal situation and what you find works best for your physiology and current state of health.
Posted 12/14/2013 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Traveler, I think you're right. That certainly fits with Horowitz's view, or way of looking at things.

Margaret
Posted 12/14/2013 9:38 PM (GMT 0)

teragram said...
Traveler, I think you're right. That certainly fits with Horowitz's view, or way of looking at things.

Margaret

Talk about surprised when I realized that too!! smhair
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