posted
i started taking a very good brand of astragalus extract three days ago. i started with one dropperfull (15-30 drops) a day, and then two the next. today, i am having some more heart palp-type symptoms after not having them for a few days, or only having them lightly. i am also having soreness. can astragalus trigger herxes?
-------------------- do your best to educate the rest because 9 out of 10 doctors don't know jack about tick borne illnesses Posts: 437 | From shawangunk mountains, ny | Registered: May 2008
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I've just been dx, and am still not on ABX, however, immediately before the onset of my nerve pain 1.5 years ago(lyme/bart related), I did take astragalus for several weeks to combat the then-upcoming cold and flu season. Perhaps the astragalus triggered an immune response? BTW, before the neuropathy, I did suffer other now-obviously lyme/bart sx's for several years.
Take Care, MBB3
Posts: 247 | From The Country | Registered: Oct 2007
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
I have taken it and do not like the way I feel on it, so I stopped. Herx? Maybe. It is recommended in Buhner's protocol and excellent against viral issues.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Astragalus can be an immune booster and stimulant. That is not always desired if the immune system is working overtime or cannot work properly.
I don't get caught up so much whether something is a herx effect - if my heart speeds up or unease is a result, I cut back - to even one drop - or stop, change course. People react differently.
I can't take astragalus, never could. And my ND explained that it's too stimulating for my overtaxed body and that it would have been better used earlier in my case.
However, there are many wonderful herbal formulas that work well for me. The key is that astragalus is usually never prescribed alone, but in a formula - or combination - so that it is balanced with several other herbs.
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This is about astragalus in general, not about use in a lyme patients:
. . . . It has a gentle warming nature, a mild, sweet taste, and can be used in doses of 30 grams or more without adverse effects. Laboratory animal studies show virtually no toxicity . . . (7).
- full article at link.
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Buhner states (in Healing Lyme): " . . . With late-stage lyme infection, astragalus is contraindicated as it will stimulate already overstimulated Th1 responses. This may have the impact of worsening disease symptoms. . . . Astragalus is not indicated in late stage lyme borreliosis. However, is is hightly indicated, and very specific, for use in pre-, early, and early disseminated Lyme infections."
Tillotson states (In The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook): "Use cautiously in patients with hypertension or heat signs. . . . it can create nervousness and headache and even raise blood pressure . . . ."
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[ 02. June 2008, 05:19 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Buhner recommends Astragalus only for early-lyme (first few weeks) or for prevention, in his book Healing Lyme.
He says that it stimulates the wrong part of the immune system for treating Lyme that is chronic.
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
thanks for all your inputs i think i am going to stop taking it because since i have, my racey/palpy heart symptoms have increased. and i definitely have chronic lyme, not early lyme.
-------------------- do your best to educate the rest because 9 out of 10 doctors don't know jack about tick borne illnesses Posts: 437 | From shawangunk mountains, ny | Registered: May 2008
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