posted
After having Lyme for several years I developed hypothyroidism. It took 1&1/2 years of tweeking my dose to get my levels balanced. After having a baby my body has not been able to tollarate antibotic treatments. I had heard of Cat's Claw & a good frined has had success with it. Hopeful, I tried it too. Not long after being on it I experienced insonmia, anxiety, hair loss. Not being able to function well, I had to stop. Later in routine bloodwork it was discovered my thyroid levels were too high! This explained the symptoms I was having. I found it quite strange that my levels were too high, I didn't understand and have never experienced this before. Never the less, my levels got straightened out & the symptoms went away. Things got to a point where I felt comfortable to go back on the cat's claw. After being on it for 2 weeks now the insonmia, anxiety & hair loss are back. At first I thought it was just the thyroid being too high. Now, the symptoms repeating themselves both times after going on cat's claw, I am wondering if it is the cat's claw. At no other time have my thyroid levels ever been too high. Usually with Lyme I suffer from fatigue now I am at the other spectrum. I'm not sure what to think. I'd really wanted to give the cat's claw the 6-8 month run it calls for but I have a baby to care for. If it is the cat's claw causing this tortureous insonmia, I will not be able to continue. Has anyone out there had any experience with cat's claw or are familair with it being used as a Lyme treatment?
Posts: 8 | From Paradise, CA, USA | Registered: Jan 2005
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-------------------- Charter member of the ~ Delux Toasting Club ~ Our Moto: "Take No Prisoners" Posts: 95 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2005
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
I am diagnosed with both Lyme and Rheum. Arthritis so I jump back and forth between here and www.roadback.org.
Tonight on rb, a discussion came up about bad herxing on Cipro and then Cat's Claw. I myself had a bad herx on Cat's Claw. I am copying one of the posts on rb:
quoted e-mail] ".....I did want to pass on something that happened to me. I reacted to cipro > (fluoroquinolone antibiotic) last spring with severe shoulder tendon pain.
> You warned me about the dangers of this family of antibiotics. Well, I had > the same reaction when I tried the cat's claw herb (Samento and Prima Una de Gato) that is being used for Lyme disease. It was SEVERE tendon pain again.
> I researched it and found that quinovic acid glycosides are the basis for cat's claw AND the synthetic quinolones!! SO, no more of that herb for me!!
> Tendon damage and rupture are not things I want to mess with. Just thought I should let you know about this. Get well."
[End of pasted e-mail]
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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JimBoB
Unregistered
posted
I take WHOLE Cat's Claw everyday. I have been taking it since November 25, 2005.
BUT notice, I said WHOLE Cat's Claw. It is important to take the whole herb, rather than manmade concoctions. You get MANY other benefits from the whole herb that you do not get from an extraction.
Read Stephen Buhner's book: "Healing Lyme", naturally. IT is an excellent book that many of us on this list have read. AND many of us are using one or more of his protocols for treating Lyme and it's coninfections.
I have no herxes from Cat's Claw. I tried it by itself for a day to see how my body would react to it and only got a little gas.
I take it with many, many herbs. I take about 80 pills a day. I will taper off in a couple of months.
I quit taking herbs last week for a few days and started getting some of my Lyme symptoms back. I quit taking antibiotics back on Feb. 21st, and felt better for it.
I have posts out there stating what I am taking. Check them out. You should feel better IF you go on a similar protocol.
AND do NOT forget to take PROBIOTICS. THAT is as important or probably MORE important than the Cat's Claw itself. I take Milk THistle, Sarsaparilla, and especially RED ROOT tincture, Now with all the other herbs. I took Acidophilus when I was on ABX, too.
klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
I have been on Samento for almost three years. Insomnia while on Samento is proof of Neuroborreliosis, since it is the only illness that causes insomnia while on Samento. Insomnia is a typical herx reaction to die-off in the brain. It just means you should back off the dosage a bit so you can sleep. and do not herx so hard you cause more damage. I was told to lower my dose to just below the level that causes these symptoms. Klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
where did this info come from, please...thanks.
"Neuroborreliosis, since it is the only illness that causes insomnia while on Samento."
"Insomnia is a typical herx reaction to die-off in the brain. It just means you should back off the dosage a bit so you can sleep. "
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
That info came out of the mouth of the Nutramedix Customer service rep., about two years ago, when I called him to ask a question about my insomnia on Samento. Nutramedix is one maker of Samento. Klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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JimBoB
Unregistered
posted
Pregnant Lyme Girl:
You might try the Red Root tincture to clean out your Lymph system. Also a good natural herb for cleaning your blood is Sarsaparilla, (Smilax). IF these don't do it for you, try also some Milk THistle.
I see NO place where Cat's Claw is a sleep interrupter. You need to stop it IF you are going to have surgery or IF you are TRYING to get pregnant, but other than that it seems okay. Melatonin taken just before bedtime can help you sleep.
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