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My experience using the Cowden protocol

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Posted 1/10/2014 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
Very good to know all this. Thanks for the updates. I still don't think I can afford it. Were there any of the Cowden products which you thought were superfluous? Which of the products worked the best for you, or is it possible to know?

Margaret
Posted 1/10/2014 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Teragram
I don't think I can pick out any specific item I could say helped as I take a number of them 4 times a day. The first 3 days are brain cleanse & detox & by day 3 my dropped foot (ms symptom) was gone & I no longer drag that leg & foot when I am walking. I do feel the protocol is a package that covers all the co-infections & bugs but I could be wrong.
I forgot to put all the improvements in my previous post. I had 2 discs/knuckles sticking out at the base of my spine & I noticed a few days ago they have vanished. I also feel my flesh is more supple, I don't feel like my skin is holding me together anymore.
I hope you are keeping well.
Regards
Mary
Posted 1/11/2014 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
I was thinking of you last week!! Thank you so much for the update, Maggie Anne! And such wonderful healing going on!! Congratulations!! turn

I'm glad that all of your company finally got off and you now have the time to concentrate on you again!

Yes, in some parts of the U. S. the weathers been brutal this winter. Ours has been particularly wet and cold with lots of ice, snow and rain so far - each time it rains now we are under the threat of flooding!! LOL!
Posted 2/9/2014 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everybody
Traveler, thanks for your kind words, it's nice to know you were thinking about me. I divided this up a little as you said you have problems reading. I hope this makes it easier for you.

To-night I completed day 140 = 5 months of the protocol.

I feel a lot better in myself but as before I really cannot pinpoint where the changes have happened. All the good changes have continued to date.

My feet are back to normal for weeks now but I did have to train myself to walk properly again. My hands cleared up completely for about 2 weeks but they broke out again & are just about healing. As I cannot get into the bath/tub so I am doing a 30 minute foot soak to detox every night & I presume it's doing me some good although I don't feel it but I would be afraid to stop it just yet.

I do drop in to read but I never seem to have much time to reply. My husband has to drop a fair bit of weight so I have been doing a lot more natural food cooking which means a lot more preparation!! We are not paleo but certainly a very different diet compared to what I was offering him for the last number of years for my convenience. I make paleo bread & sugar free chocolate for my addiction.

I have read some questions about this protocol & I think it's a complete package. I never had a herx & at this stage I doubt if I will. I don't answer them because I was gluten & dairy free for the last 10 years & that might mean different results for others doing any programme.

Keep warm & safe. Continued healing to one & all.

Regards
Mary
Posted 2/9/2014 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
How good did you stick to your diet while taking the herbs? We went to dallas to see Dr cowden, and I'm very happy with his approach, but my daughter is 8 yo and the diet seems very hard for her.
Posted 2/9/2014 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi
I had to look up the Cowden diet to see if I was missing something before I replied.
I had tests done & I was given a list of foods divided into 3 categories :: good, beneficial & avoid. I typed it into a tidier page & laminated 3 copies & I stayed with that diet. My husband armed with the list had to do all the shopping so he really did all the ground work for me which really helped. That was 10 years ago & I have never strayed from it as I felt benefits after 48 hours & my family noticed changes 3 days later. If I am going out I always bring a bag of my food although 10 years on it is much easier to find nice meals when out. It is very hard for a little person but there are lots of recipes online, another thing I couldn't find 10 years ago. Processed foods are not an issue once you get a batch of recipes that suit your lifestyle, work etc. I bought a wheelchair thinking I would soon need it but I have never sat in it & I don't intend to!
I am not sure if your question is the diet itself or the timing issues with the treatment. If it's the timing that is something I struggled with, 30 minutes before a meal is one thing but 2 hours after eating is cruel for me as I grazed on 70% dark chocolate all day. Now I have my treat after I eat & that leaves me the 2+ hours needed. If you need further information just ask & if I can answer it I will.
Keep warm
Mary
Posted 3/13/2014 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone
I have completed 6 months now & here is my latest update although I don't know if too many are interested.

All of the improvements I have listed in my previous posts I still have. My hands are still breaking out & this is something that has been an issue since last June but I will continue the treatment. The foot pain has stayed silent for a few months now which is great.

I posted here that I was diagnosed with dermatitis following radiotherapy but other fungal issues became a problem, athletes foot, nail fungus, the dermatitis & whatever is giving me the hand problems so I did some research. I have started taking apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons in a pint of water to be sipped over the course of the day. I take some first thing in the morning & the last mouthful at bedtime.

I felt I was at a crossroads as regards how I was feeling but not good enough to stop all the bottles. I have introduced lumbrokinase for the last week. Too early to comment yet I think!

I have severe back of hip muscle problems for two days now but it is improving of it's own accord even though it is moving through the muscle, is it a breakdown of biofilm, I don't know. That would have been my problem leg side for years.

Overall I feel so much better but just not good enough to stop treatment yet. I have read comments on the forum about the cost. I ordered months 1-4 on a monthly basis, each month I ordered 3 cheaper products from the list for months 5 & 6 & that gave me 10% discount & a free bottle which I selected as one of the expensive bottles. By the time it came to order month 5 or 6 I had most of the products already. For me I would have to fly to somewhere to see a LLMD so I would have flight costs, LLMD's fee, accomodation plus whatever the treatment would be so it seemed a good option for me to follow this protocol according to the schedule on the website. This is just my opinion as I couldn't find a doctor here who would discuss it never mind treat me.

I am doing a detox foot bath for 30 minutes with 2 mugs of epsom salts every night. 2 mugs could be 6-8 US cups for a guide, we use ounces for our cooking & I had to find cup measuring tools as a lot of the recipes I use are from US sites.

I am going to continue for another 2 months at least. As I said in my intro I am the wrong side of 60 so if I have Lyme for most of my life what will be "NORMAL" for me?? I always say I feel 22 inside but could I feel that young again LOL

Keep well
Mary
Posted 3/13/2014 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mary,
Thanks for posting your update. It is so nice to hear some positive results! I have been doing a modified Cowden for 9 weeks and have seen a lot of improvement. The depression, fatigue and insomnia were better within a week. (These symptoms had been worse on antibiotics which I tried for a couple weeks before Cowden.) Is the diet posted online or is it possible to email me the good, beneficial and avoid lists. Which supplement do you take 2 hours after meals? Is that the probiotic? Thanks again for the good news!
Posted 3/13/2014 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi dmw52
Great that you are feeling benefits although your symptoms are different to mine.
The diet is specifically for me not a group diet. I would suggest you eliminate wheat, dairy & sugar from your diet. Both wheat & sugar are in so many processed foods it really takes label reading very carefully. My husband did all that for me as at that time I couldn't stand long enough to do it.
I am not taking any supplements, are you getting confused with the timing of taking the treatment, 30 mins before food & 2 hours after food. In other words don't eat anything for 2.5 hours before a meal. Then 30 mins before your meal take whatever dose the schedule calls for. I always grazed on chocolate which was my biggest problem.
I don't like yogurt & I figured I wouldn't like water kefir either so apple cider vinegar increases the good bacteris in the gut which I hope will help.
If that doesn't answer your questions come back again.
Keep well
Mary
Posted 3/13/2014 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mary,
Thanks for your response. I have been avoiding gluten, dairy, sugar, fruits and most grains (some quinoa and rice). Do you eat all grains, except wheat? Do you eat fruit? Thanks for clarifying the timing of taking the herbs. I haven't been eating between meals, so I'm taking the herbs 30 before meals but a probiotic 2 hours after a meal. My symptoms are different from yours. I also have joint pain, tight muscles, stomach pains, eye pressure/irritation, chest pressure, constipation, and heart palpations. However, it was the insomnia, fatigue, and depression that improved within a week after starting Samento and Banderol. (The eye irritation, chest pressure, heart palpitations and fatigue were worse after each increase in drops, but are not nearly as intense now.) Amazing that your foot drop was gone within three days. Incredible! Good for you for researching and taking your health into your own hands! Best wishes for continued healing!
Posted 3/14/2014 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Mary, lovely to hear of your successes! You are so modest and I can hear your brogue in your writing!

Glad you mentioned the vinegar water to help athletes foot, as I am struggling with it so much and am going to try it! Thank you!
Posted 3/14/2014 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
dmw52
Thanks for your good wishes. Yes! our symptoms are very different but I do not have a Lyme diagnosis, just MS if that's any better?

ksgirl
You have to have Irish blood in you when you say brogue. I hadn't realised I was shouting LOL. Where are you from, I'm originally Mayo now living in Waterford.
The vinegar I mentioned in apple cider vinegar which is different from ordinary vinegar although the plain stuff would do until you got the ACV. That's to sort the gut but maybe you need a powder to clear it now. The internal takes about 8 weeks to notice any changes as it has to build up in the system.

Keep well ladies.
Slán leat ks
Posted 5/29/2014 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
Mary, how is the Cowden Program going? I am thinking of using it and would love an update. It seems very positive.
Posted 5/30/2014 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
I did not know about the not eating 2 hours before taking it. Did know about the 30 minutes after. So the last 35 days have been a waste bc I eat like ever hour or so. Oyyy
Posted 6/2/2014 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lymelymie & Calcutie
Sorry for delay in answering your questions.

I wrote a post titled broken bones but maybe you didn't realise it was me that was in agony.

At the begining of March I started complaining about back pain, it was like a stab & it could be anywhere between my waist & tailbone & across between both hips. It gradually got worse so I went to a physiotherapist who dismissed me when I got a very severe spams as she worked on me. Then I went to a chiropractor who does dry needling & she wanted an mri.

At this stage I was much worse & I stopped taking everything in case I needed surgery. The first time I went to casualty I had some tests & I was sent home after 7 hours saying it was my ms.

5 days later I went back to casualty & after more tests & a 14 hour wait I was admitted. I was told I had 2 broken bones in my back. I was fitted with a brace to wear 24/7 for 3 months & I spent a week in hospital. I am now at the stage where I am reducing painkillers & I find I am not sleeping as much. I should say I am sleeping in a chair for more then 2 months.

I was feeling very good but not right just before my back problems & I contacted Nutramedix & after a number of telephone conversations it was felt I may have a systemic fungal infection. That explained many things to me when I educated myself.

I plan on continuing the protocol as soon as I am fit to care for myself as I felt great when I was taking it. I am doing a systemic fungal infection cleanse now but I may have to repeat it at a later stage. The medication is causing constipation & the remedy for constipation is very sugar loaded & is not recommended with the cleanse.

I hope that answers your questions.

Calcutie
The instructions for taking the protocol are on the nutramedix website. I don't think your 35 days have been wasted, maybe not just as effective. Keep going but try to graze after your meals.

Sorry this is so long winded but my life has never been simple, my best friend always says I should write a book about my life???

Keep well

Mary
Posted 6/3/2014 7:51 AM (GMT 0)
Mary,

Thank you, I'm now very conscious of the timing with the food and taking the meds. Appreciate the info. I think I missed it or just didn't process it when I read the website. In the schedule booklet I got with the protocol, it didn't say anything about the 2 hours.
Posted 6/3/2014 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
Everywhere I read when something needs to be taken on an empty stomach is to take it half hour before eating or at least 2 hours After a meal.
Posted 6/3/2014 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
^ yes I understand that now.
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