To Paragone or not to Paragone

So why are you on such a strict diet? If there is good reason, then please forgive me for asking. If it's because of Lyme, then you aren't doing yourself any favors by not eating enough. I don't believe that everyone needs to have a really strict diet, it's more just eating really, really healthy.

I have issues with large amounts of carbs, so I'm really careful to limit my carbs -especially white flour, potatoes, rice -even brown rice - tomatoes, sugars and a few others. Otherwise I eat a ton of veggies, especially leafy green ones, very little fruit - the fructose bothers my innerds - - lean protein and a bit of fresh goat milk and goat milk products sometimes.

As far as the Paragone, why not use something more gentle on the system? I'm sure your local health food store would carry the more gentle things as well.

Well, it's really a personal decision, but I would suggest that you eat whatever way you need to. At your weight - as you said - you can't afford to loose any more!

There are quite a few here that have issues with gluten - I'm included although my issues are fairly minor. If you haven't had any issues with gluten, then I would suggest that you slowly add some back into your diet. I suggest you do this slowly though, because any sudden, drastic changes can bring on unwanted results. I would encourage you to include healthy, complex carbs though. Things like beans, leafy greens, even a few grains - just be sure these are 'whole grain'. Although potatoes are complex carbs, watch to see if you react to them. I've noticed that I have increased issues when I eat much from the nightshade family (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers basically).

We need the healthy fats in our diets for many reasons, not the least of which is because many of the supplements and drugs used to treat these infections need to be taken with healthy fats in order to be absorbed properly - not to mention our bodies need the healthy fats!

Sugars most definitely do feed the monsters - so that's a no no.

Chinese Medicine and Homeopathy both declare that raw goat's milk is the only healthy dairy for us to use - but of course, this is up to you also.

I do hope this helps some!

It should be at least as effective as the pills! Frequently powders or herbs will be slightly more effective as they are not in pill form, sitting around on some shelf until they sell. Check your local health food store for different herbs as well!

Something you can check into- if buying the powders works out for you - is to 'stuff' your own capsules. That's what I do. I buy just the powdered herbs, then I buy the gelatin capsules (they have vegetarian capsules that can be purchased as well) and fill them myself. Because I have so many different herbs/herbal mixes that I take, I invested a little bit of money into a capsule filler - here is one link to a good price on one like I use:
www.amazon.com/Cap-M-Quik-Capsule-Filler-Machine-Size/dp/B003THWR8Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354550791&sr=8-2&keywords=Size+0+cap-m-quik+capsule+filler

I use size "0" capsules, they hold 500 mgs of powdered herbs each, and are of a size that I can swallow them fairly easy even when I'm having a bit of problem swallowing pills that day.

You can buy a 'tamper' or you can do as I do and find a writing pen that is just the right size to fit down in there to pack the powder down a bit to be sure you get enough in each capsule.

Shop around though, there are sales on these things, and sometimes really good sales on the 'starter kits', which will include the capsule holder, empty capsules, and sometimes a tamper.

I wish you luck in your healing journey!! There are quite a few people that have had some good results using Buhner's herbs! Just in case you didn't know, he also has a website of his own where you can read about his protocols, others that are using his protocol and he even answers some questions too! buhnerhealinglyme.com/

I take most of my pills around the same time I eat - sometimes before, but usually after I eat. Some herbs may require that you take them on an empty stomach, but not many. I take all kinds of herbs at the same time. otherwise I'd be at it all day!! LOL!! And I'm still healing a way!

I do use an herb/drug interaction checker though. There are several, but here is the one that I use:
www.drugdigest.org/wps/portal/ddigest
and on occasion, I use this one:
www.doctoroz.com/videos/drug-interaction-checker