What's REALLY important in a herb protocol?

So I'm piecing the Buhner protocols together to really begin to heal. One of my mainstays since all this began is cat's claw (for EBV). I didn't know about the co's then. Anyway on this forum I frequently see a shout out to certain herbs in particular like Japanese Knotweed, Houttuynia, Sida Acuta. So here is my question. Has anyone started a protocol only to find out that one of the herbs doesn't agree with them....BUT they are still healing using the others that they can tolerate. I guess I'm wondering if there are truly STAND out herbs that are enabling the healing.

Also what is CSA in reference to just buying the individual herbs? I've seen where some people have said that they used sida acuta and cryptolepis but then changed over to CSA.

I think for each herbal taker you will find a different answer.

When I learned that lyme disease needs to be attacked like taking layers off an onion, this gave me a visual of how to proceed. And with that visual it made sense to me to gently peel back those layers with herb upon herb. Each herb helping the prior one to become more effective (synergy).

I only have experience with Buhner's protocol and the biggest reason I chose it was because of all the work he did in laying out the herbs in an order that he had tested as "working."

As for an herb that is in his CORE protocol that I had trouble with was Eleutherococcus. It was never in MY protocol. I also never required Ashwagandha so I never added it.

For treatment of Babs and Bart I had trouble with Sida Acuta so I did not do that one either.

Buhner says that his protocol is a guideline and nothing in it is set in stone. I think that is because he recognizes that each one of us will do well on different herbs. We are not all cookie cutter people.

For my healing I honestly think the most important part was taking the herbs at regular times. For me, I could actually feel that it was time to take my herbs. I would be fine and then I would get a twitch, or my head would start to hurt. I would look at the clock and sure enough, it was time to take my herbs.

I think similar to medicine wearing off, the herbs wore off and this was the most important part for me. Not to let those herbs get so low in me that the lyme was winning the battle. I kept the herbs at their level for continuance help.

I hope that made sense.