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Herbs hurting gut?

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Posted 8/26/2021 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
New here, and wanted to see if anyone has experienced this.

I have been treating Lyme and Bart since January 2015. Have had positive test for Lyme through Igenix and Bart through Galaxy. Basically been on various abx protocols until February 2021. Would usually get to about 75% on abx and then relapse whenever I stopped the abx.

February of this year I decided I needed to give the abx a break and try some herbal protocols.

Currently taking glutathione, a good multi vitamin, GI detox, Allimed, Liposomal Oregano, Sida Acuta, IHA from WE, and recently added Cryto-Plus.

I have been on this regiment for about 2 months with improvement in Lyme/ Bart symptoms and improvement with my gut, but then today all my GI symptoms came back bad out of nowhere.

Loose stool, gas, gurgling, pain in my lower stomach.

I switched to a more natural approach, as I thought this would be best for the GI issues. Anyone else have herbs/ supplement cause bad GI issues? I really don’t want to stop the herbs as they seem to be working just like when I was on abx.
Posted 8/27/2021 12:14 AM (GMT 0)

Lyme6483 said...
New here, and wanted to see if anyone has experienced this.

I have been treating Lyme and Bart since January 2015. Have had positive test for Lyme through Igenix and Bart through Galaxy. Basically been on various abx protocols until February 2021. Would usually get to about 75% on abx and then relapse whenever I stopped the abx.

February of this year I decided I needed to give the abx a break and try some herbal protocols.

Currently taking glutathione, a good multi vitamin, GI detox, Allimed, Liposomal Oregano, Sida Acuta, IHA from WE, and recently added Cryto-Plus.

I have been on this regiment for about 2 months with improvement in Lyme/ Bart symptoms and improvement with my gut, but then today all my GI symptoms came back bad out of nowhere.

Loose stool, gas, gurgling, pain in my lower stomach.

I switched to a more natural approach, as I thought this would be best for the GI issues. Anyone else have herbs/ supplement cause bad GI issues? I really don’t want to stop the herbs as they seem to be working just like when I was on abx.

Could be herxing, things really do pop out during herxes that I even forgot about. Also are you taking probiotics ?
Posted 8/27/2021 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply. Doesn’t feel like a herx, but you never know. I took probiotics religiously during abx treatment, but haven’t taken any while on my current herbal protocol. I thought it wouldn’t be as important since I wasn’t taking abx anymore.

My current protocol already cost a lot per month so I wasn’t going to spend the money on the probiotic, if It wasn’t as important.

Maybe I’ll try goi g back on one for awhile and see if that makes a difference. What’s an extra $60 a month when you are already spending a ton lol
Posted 8/27/2021 2:06 AM (GMT 0)

Lyme6483 said...
I took probiotics religiously during abx treatment, but haven’t taken any while on my current herbal protocol. I thought it wouldn’t be as important since I wasn’t taking abx anymore.

Hi and Welcome!

Yeah. Herbs like oregano oil and cryptolepis can alter the microbiome. Grapefruit seed (GSE) is another one that will mess with gut flora.

Any other recent changes in your diet, treatment, lifestyle (moving/new job)?

Post Edited (WalkingbyFaith) : 8/26/2021 8:10:50 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/27/2021 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply. No other real changes. I originally switched to herbs as my stomach couldn’t handle anymore abx after years on many different combos.

I had all these symptoms before I started the current protocol, but they were improving on the herbs. But then today back to how it was a couple months ago.

I have seen conflicting things about oregano oil and some of the other herbs and how they can change the gut. Some things I have read say they do, others say they shouldn’t have any negative impact.

Also, I’m not sure if I’m dealing with Sibo/ that’s contributing to the symptoms, and I know probiotics aren’t always the best for people with sibo.
Posted 8/27/2021 10:30 AM (GMT 0)
some of those are a bit hard on the gut - oregano oil in particular is known to be - not so much for its impact on the microbiome - although i am sure they all do that to some degree - but ooo is quite a harsh compound and so can be hard to tolerate for anyone with a sensitive or inflamed gut

the others less so i think

i have a sensitive digestive system since having lyme/bart - but i can tolerate sida, cryptolepis, houttuynia etc fine as long as i step up gradually - most adverse symptoms for me are fatigue and sleep disturbance - with these rather than gut troubles

doubt its microbiome related directly

i think would cut out the OOO for now and see how you get on

if its still a problem - cut all of then and introduce back one at a time a few days apart till you zero in on whats driving the symptoms
Posted 8/27/2021 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
If you have been on the herbs since February, and your GI symptoms came back so suddenly, and other symptoms did not, then I would not assume it's a herx. Dysbiosis symptoms also don't tend to arise as a sudden surprise.

Any chance you might be reactive to high-FODMAP foods or high-histamine foods? I really messed my gut up the other day by eating a steamed half-cauliflower followed by over a pound of grapes - a FODMAP paradise! I think that diet is worth considering, based on the timeline. This time of year, with so many awesome high-FODMAP fruits in season, it can be easy to aggravate IBS-type symptoms. Have you been eating differently lately - more fruit, more ferments, etc.?

You are on some hard-hitting herbs. They might be hard on your gut lining, particularly the oregano. Maybe some supplements that protect your gut (aloe, slippery elm, B complex, glutamine, GAPS diet, AIP diet, etc.) or pulsing the herbs for a while?
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