navigating the herx

To me, although I'm not medically trained, the hunger, light-headedness, fainting, shakiness etc. sounds like a blood sugar issue which may have been caused by one of the herbs. Have you tried to eat something before you take it and small meals during the day to see if it helps? I have the same issue in the afternoons very routinely which I feel is either a blood sugar problem or low blood pressure.

I think it's a personal decision whether or not to "push through" a herx. I think in order to decide, you need to be sure you aren't having any type of dangerous reaction to the herbs or allergic response. Once your doctor has determined that it's definitely a herx, there are two lines of thought in the LLMD community. Some think that herxing is a part of treatment and it's okay to push through as long as it isn't creating life threatening symptoms. Others think that herxing is not necessary to healing and can be harmful.

In a way I prefer herxing to not having any reaction to treatment. It helps me to determine that something is being killed off. I so far have always pushed through because my symptoms away from herxing are pretty severe anyway. The exception has been when one of my organs like heart or liver has become involved. Then I've had to back down. I didn't get a choice.

I don't think you have to worry about the infection multiplying since it is a slow-growing organism and it will likely take a LONG time to get down to levels that are not creating symptoms. My concern with lowering medications has always been that I'm going to create resistance. I don't believe that herbs have that risk as much (although I have heard that babesia becomes resistant to artemisinin very quickly).

Please do your research on herxing. You will see that if a person is herxing, it takes away from the healing process. The stronger the herx, the less healing that can take place. You will also see that a herx is defined as an increase in symptoms or new symptoms occurring when speaking of Lyme disease.

So really the only question is how bad do you want to feel before saying enough is enough? Each time a person has a herx, it's interfering with that person's healing. The stronger the herx, the more it's interfering with the healing that could go on.

My doc tells me that if I herx -even mildly - for more than 3 or 4 days, I'm to stop using anything that I have just started (or if I've just increased the dose, lower the dose) and give my body a few days to catch back up with those toxins we just released, by either increasing the dose or by starting (or switching) meds.

I agree! Without the support on this forum over the last 5 years, I know I wouldn't have made it this far! Opinions from those that have "gone before us" helps without a doubt!

I couldn't agree more with you, Marigold! I felt the same way. I can tell you that although we are all different, I have followed the more gentle approach now for the last 2 1/2 years and have had a lot of healing take place. I went from being house bound and bed bound most of the time, not being able to follow instructions (written and oral), my adrenals crashing, my thyroid just barely functioning, and the pain and the muscle issues that many on here have to deal with. Although I'm not healed, I have made amazing progress in the short time I've used the more gentle approach...and I've done it with herbs.

Hubby and I believed that I was doing so much better after just 1 yr of seeing my doc (first 6 months was only to get my body back to mostly functioning) and only 6 months of treatment, that we bought two dairy goats! I had completely lost all hopes of ever having my dairy goats once again, so this was a real treat! We milk by hand twice a day for about 10 months out of the year. I also take care of my disabled husband, help care for his Father who has Alzheimers' and take care of the household (grocery shopping and other errands).

So I believe my doc when she says to take it slow, as I've seen my healing go so well. I push through the very mild herxes when my symptoms increase is only a nuisance, but anything stronger, I back down on whatever I just started/increased.

Like now - I'm having to deal with an extremely volatile and emotional family matter, so stress is pretty high for me right now. After talking with my doc about it, we decided that the best course of action for me is to reduce the amount of Lyme herbs that I take daily. No need to have the added stress on my liver and other organs when I'm stressed out and have no control over it. I'm of course detoxing as much as I can as well.

Now, each of us has to make our own decision on what protocol to use, which doctor to see for treatment, and so many other things relating to this disease - but I want you to know that you don't have to push through any herx that would be considered moderate or more severe....unless you want to.

I'm really sorry that you have had to go through all of that, Marigold. It's a really good thing to learn that you are allowed to be sick though! I too had to learn that it was okay and how to take care of myself when I was.

As I've said, how much herxing you 'tough it through' is a very personal one, but I do know that in my case, it's never helped me any.

From what I can figure I was in one big long herx the entire time I was on abx - 12 months. I was left being so much more ill than when I went on them, well, it got pretty scary for me! It was right after I recovered enough to not be bed ridden that I started trying to figure out what had just happened to me and how to recover from it. That's when I learned what herxing is, what happens during a herx, and how to avoid or ease a herx - LOL! I had had enough of that and wanted to know how to not go through that again!!

Thank you so much for your kind words. It's rough some days, but I'm doing my best to keep that space of healing intact around me. I know that this too, is only temporary.

I've herxed both while increasing a dosage and when starting a new herb/herbal mixture, and I've read of accounts from other members here who have experienced the same thing. And to be honest, Houttuynia is what I've herxed the hardest with!! So your more serious reaction to that isn't surprising to me.

Although remember, if you don't herx, it doesn't mean that the herbs aren't working. (buhnerhealinglyme.com/basics/do-you-have-to-herx/ - I love Buhner's response!! LOL!)

Your body may be able to keep up with the detoxing easier on it is all. From what I've read, a person would have to stay on an herb for a few months (2 - 4) to see if there is any improvement in symptoms, not just seeing if they herx from it.

Don't forget to increase what you do for detoxing while you are dealing with the increased or new symptoms!

That all over achiness can get pretty intense - I sure hope you feel better quickly!!