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Should you temporarily stop treatment when you Herx? and alcohol in tinctures

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Posted 12/24/2017 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! I just started treating long standing Lyme and Babesia (possibly others but tested positive to those two) in July and everything was pretty smooth - I did Herx when I started but I was only flu-ish for a week and it cleared up in a day after doing a high dosage of broccoli sprouts. It's been a steady uphill climb. about 10 days ago at the advice of my LLMD, I stopped my Lyme treatment (herbs and acupuncture) and started Babesia treatment - Buhner herbs. Most of my symptoms have always been Babesia. I herxed and stopped treatment 3 or 4 days ago to re-evaluate. I'm uncomfortable with the amount of alcohol in the tinctures and I can't afford for this Herx to get worse. I think stress and a B12 deficiency may be adding to it. My questions are: 1.) Will a Herx clear out if you stop treatment and are detoxing? 2.) Is it a bad idea to stop treatment to try to clear out a Herx? and 3.) How do you deal with the alcohol in the tinctures? I only take a combined 1 tsp of tincture right now with more that I need to add in and I feel buzzed after taking it and it just doesn't feel good internally.
Posted 12/24/2017 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
1). It should. If the herx is not severe, you don't have to stop completely. Just drop the dosage down to where you're comfortable and after the herx ends, slowly increase doses.
2). See above.
3). Are you mixing it in water or juice? If not, mix it in about 8 oz of liquid and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before drinking. You could also eat something before you take it if it makes you feel queasy. If you still feel alcohol effects, then switch to capsule or powder form for as many of the herbs as you can.

Buhner doesn't make it easy for those who want to avoid alcohol, but it can be done. I'm still at tiny doses on most of my tinctures, but I can't imagine taking full doses of all my tinctures. I'd be falling down drunk. I took a large dose of one the other day - like half a teaspoon and the taste of alcohol was overwhelming. I'm not a drinker.

You didn't mention dosages. If you're herxing you need to decrease your doses. Buhner's starting doses are very high in my opinion. Some people are fine with it, but others can only tolerate a drop or two of some herbs.
Posted 12/24/2017 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
1. As WBF mentioned, the herx should clear once lower dose or stop taking the tinctures for a few days.

What you can also do - is up your detox. Make that your focus until the herx subsides.

2. No it isn't a bad idea...you don't want to keep building on the herx.

3. I'm not convinced that putting the tinctures in liquid for 10-15 minutes will clear alcohol.
You might want to try hot (not boiling) water.

But, I have read mixed information on that - mostly that it doesn't work - unless you either boil it or bring it close to a boil and leave it sit for awhile (not a few minutes.)

Think about it - if it were that easy to remove alcohol from tinctures...then when we pour a strong alcoholic drink...if it sits for 10-15 minutes - it's lost it's potency?
Posted 12/24/2017 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Like many things in life a herx is a balance. Its actually good news when it shows up- it lets you know something is working. No reason to spend months on a protocol that isn't working. Balance that with having to get through your day. For example- I do ten pass ozone on thurs because the herx shows up two days later and I can give up a sat.
Best of luck
Posted 12/24/2017 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you! There is a very steep learning curve with this!
Posted 12/24/2017 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hawaii Pharm makes non-alcoholic tinctures.
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