I was on Ceftin/Zith, but that caused ear ringing so after a discussion with my llmd I went off the Ceftin/Zith, with the understanding that we would have an indepth conversation about what meds I'm comfortable trying and which I'm not at my next visit (sched. for next week.)
Well, I was still having some interstitial cystitis issues and had read of gotu kola helping some people. I tried a low dose of a tincture of it for a few days, gradually increasing the dose daily but keeping it well below the recommended dose. I have to say it did seem to help with the IC--it's really improved--but after a few days I started having what seem to be bart symptoms.
I had honestly hoped that I didn't have bart. I started having aches and "tendon-y pains" in the arches of my feet and in my lower legs. I also started to get weird swallowing issues. I stopped taking the gotu kola and these symptoms seem to be resolving, but now I'm just wondering if it was bart coming out because I'm not on anything, or if it was a herx from the gotu kola or if the gotu kola triggered something that had been quiet.
Arrrrgh!
Any thoughts? I was really hoping to escape the whole bart issue. Looks like probably not.
Posted by jamescase20 (Member # 14124) on :
I am not sure, tell llmd of course, dont forget too that zith lasts 68 hour half life, actually if you take it 5 days, kinda lasts about 2 weeks. But, herbs are def powerful...who knows...keep a journal~! share it!
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Some other possibilities are that the gotu kola worked on either Lyme or Babesia.
Traditionally this herb has been used for leprosy and also malaria.
Here is a previous post I made regarding this herb and Lyme.
Following that post I continued experimenting with gotu kola tincture. When hubby was treating Babesia a combo of 1 dropper (30 drops) of each gotu kola and prickly ash could sometimes stop his tremors. I assumed it either improved blood flow to the brain or directly killed Babesia.
Here is where I got the idea. Just now reread the article and realized the herbalist used gingko instead of gotu kola. However, both herbs have similar effects on blood flow.
On the other hand, have recently concluded that many of hubby's neuro symptoms are more likely caused by Bart than Babs or Lyme. All I know is that the combo used to do something, but doesn't seem to be very beneficial now that headaches are gone.
This is not medical advice, just reporting on hubby's experiences.