I've been on combo abx for 5 mos now along with herbals (though not full dose) and my body feels like it's had enough of the abx. My digestive system is also a mess now despite probiotics.
Has anyone transitioned from abx to just herbals and if so, how did it go?
Did you wean off? Go cold turkey?
After how many mos of abx and was it a smooth transition or was there a flare-up of symptoms?
Thank you for any help!
Posted by Lyme248 (Member # 51011) on :
I took several different antibiotics over a period of three months. My stomach also got to the point where it just couldn't handle it anymore.
I think I just stopped everything at once. I started taking higher doses of herbs to compensate.
I did feel like I had a little more brain fog after stopping the antibiotics, but I mostly started to feel better, because my stomach wasn't messed up. I also noticed my joint pain got better after stopping.
I was on herbs before taking antibiotics, so I knew that herbs didn't bother me as much.
Posted by kskiska (Member # 43887) on :
So you had no worsening after you quit? Good to know. I will try to up the herbals quicker (was trying to wait until I got to the full dose before transitioning off abx).
Thank you for sharing.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- When considering herbal / nutritional / adjunct methods, because lyme is so very complex & unique, as are possible coinfections:
if at all possible - because each person & each case is different - it's best to consult with an ILADS-educated LL ND (lyme literate naturopathic doctor) (or similar) who has completed four years of post-graduate medical education in the field of herbal and nutritional medicine -
- and someone who is current with ILADS' research & presentations, past and present, and has completed the ILADS Physician Training Program (see: www.ilads.org )
so they really know all they can about the science of lyme . . . how lyme (& other TBD) act and what we can do about that in various ways. Proper ASSESSMENT of not just lyme but coinfectoins is vital. Someone trained by ILADS is best to assess.
Many LL NDs incorporate antibiotics (depending upon the licensing laws in their state). Some LLMDs and LL NDs have good working relationships.
When possible, it's great to have both a LLMD and LL ND and even better when they have a long-standing professional relationship.
For those considering complementary support methods / or other avenues entirely:
Herbal Safety considerations & reference books; etc.
BOOKS - Links to many articles and books by holistic-minded LL doctors of various degrees who all have this basic approach in common:
knowing which methods offer assertive & direct impact, which are only support and which are both. And when to use what, how to combine, & when to step back.
You can compare and contrast many approaches with links to articles, books, methods . . .
BODY WORK methods / links (and why anyone who works on your spine MUST be LL to the degree they at least know to never suddenly twist neck or spine. Never. Ever - not if there is inflammation in the spine with active infection. And that we should never be advised to do neck / head / shoulder stands.)
Links here to two major sources: Buhner, & Zhang. Be sure to get their books.