Started Rawls Vital Plan and Anxiety Going Through Roof

I started the Dr. Rawls herb plan (Vital Plan) two days ago. Had anxiety before that, but now depression, anxiety, tingling all have jumped up.

Instead of taking the full amounts, I have started slow but still having trouble. Before starting, I changed my diet for a month and do detox.

While I do not have the fatigue as much, have brain fog, at times, the anxiety overwhelms or I start crying - for no reason. Little and ring fingers a little more numb also, and my ears get hot and itchy for a while when I try to sleep. Insomnia also, at times. But the anxiety is unbearable.

While I know this is probably a herx reaction, I am trying to see if others have experienced similar symptoms when starting herbs and any suggestions on what to do is appreciated. Going through this, again, has sent me back 3 years, a place I never wanted to be again.

And can Chinese Skullcap Extract cause a herx? I thought it was to help.

Thanks.

I have activated charcoal. Just not sure how much and when. Also do lemon water, dry skin brushing. Just can't tell if it is a herx or problem growing. Thanks, goshawk.

I had horrible anxiety in the beginning.

Magnesium helps, essential oils help, bedtime tea with valerian root tincture OR anxiety soother (both by herb pharm) both help.

Anxiety is the worst. Hugs to you.

All your thoughts are good. Watched the detox video of Dr. Rawls and, it seems, he is about detoxing daily through different means. He touches on the need to detox in "acute" situations, which may be what we all experience.

The anxiety is, by far, the worst symptom I experience. I had forgotten about it until it came back and I looked into old journals. Still trying to figure out if it is from herx or the fact I am not treating aggressively by building into program, allowing more bacteria, etc... to multiply.

Will try some of the tings you all mentioned. Funny but evenings are better but mornings are the worst.

Just looked at Dr. Bill Rawls' presentation on lyme. Interesting that he is not a big fan of detox agents, even activated charcoal. He contends that if we are eating correctly and moving enough, the body will detox naturally.

ALSO, Dr. Rawls says he is not a fan of apple pectin as a detoxifier. I just ordered some apple pectin after reading a testimony from a lymie who said the pectin was life changing for him after trying myriad things.

Dr. Rawls said he is also not a big fan of going through detox of various organs, e.g., liver cleanse, kidney cleanse, etc. Again, he contends living healthfully should take care of it.

Perhaps he was not as toxic as I am.

Simon Templar,

You said, "For me, I found that my chronic research, thinking, and fretting about my conditions and all the things they *might* be and what *could* happen makes things much worse."
Fascinating.

I have wondered many times whether I feel worse now because I have more time to think about it??

BUT - prior to three years ago, I was eating "badly" - grains, sugar, alcohol, - YOU NAME IT! And, I think overall, I felt better than I do now!!! Maybe it was just the adrenaline and urgency of having to work?
I haven't quite figured it out.

But honestly, I would say that since I have begun living and eating healthfully in the last three years, I HAVE FELT WORSE!!

Simon Templar said...



In truth, that was a big reason I left this forum for nine months, quit reading blogs, deleted all my podcasts, and quit all my supplements.

Why?

Too much myopia.

So...during and after the nine months - how did you feel?

Simon, when I was the hurting badly with lyme symptoms the most, I went to my bookkeeping job and did a few hours of work. It was so much pressure to add up those numbers that I actually felt a lot better physically.

I totally forgot how badly I hurt.

Then I found out I could not take a hot shower. I felt like the witch on Oz that was melting. So my husband said, "let's go swimming in the lake." Oh my gosh was that the smartest thing I ever did. I got into that icy cold water, the temp was about 70 degrees in the water and about 75 outside. Every pain froze to death, I think. I swam for an hour or so and felt so good the entire time.

Now was this another "good" lyme distraction? Or was the bookkeeping and the cold water helping?

I did not go gang busters on my diet. I eat healthy, thank you very much. I am not a sugar person, but I love my wine. I love carbs, but in moderation like my wine. I just ate super healthy and balanced, but was not restrictive.

There were days I could not come on here because of the depression factor. It was depressing to see people sick for so long. Depressing to see people trying to stay hopeful for so long. And especially sad for me to hear of babies that were sick. I think that was the hardest.

So I totally get what you are saying. For me when something did not work or show me promise within what I thought was an appropriate time, I switched it up in some way. But, I did not agree with the more is better theory. Probably because I have lived long enough to see tiny minuscule things cause HUGE changes in many areas of living. I also never bought into the herx is a sign things are working, which was advocated when I first got here. Herx is being out of balance. Just my opinion!!! Don't crucify me.

Now, I am here to give hope and encouragement. If this old broad can heal, you can too. But don't live Lyme!!! Even when it was at my worst, I still did not let it be me. I am so much more than lyme.

You can't forget lyme. Heck, I'm in remission and it is always in my mind. Definitely PTSD for me and we are healing hubby now.

Simon, I am glad you are doing better. You mentioned surrender. I like the word manage better.

runningwild, sleep is where we heal a lot. Insomnia can make the next day intolerable and it become a viscous cycle.

You need to find what will help you get that needed sleep so you can handle the next day full of symptoms.

We all try so many things. I did children's liquid benadryl. I took the dose for an 11 yr old. I did not do it every night but there were a couple of days where I did it consecutively.

Find what works for you and good luck.