Have been on abx for the last 4 yrs with a 9-month gap in the middle. I am probably 80-85% better and can do most of the things I want to do. Have days here and there where things seem to flare up again.
My integrative med doc wants me to take Cat's Claw (Raintree brand) and lomatium drops. Meds tend to make me feel worse and I would not try 2 new things at the same time so I had thought to tackle the Cat's Claw first.
My question is this - considering that I feel pretty good now should I risk Cat's Claw making me feel worse again (I am leaving for California in a couple of weeks so maybe I should wait till I get back) or should I just continue as I am doing (Suprax).
At the same time, if the Cat's Claw is what I need to take to finally hit this on the head and get me to 100% better, maybe it's worth feeling worse for a short time.
I would only take one a day for a couple of weeks then increase very slowly. Doc wants me to eventually take 4 caps 3xday which seems a lot.
Any thoughts? Thanks
Posted by XxDarkEuphoriaxX (Member # 21420) on :
I take nature's way cats claw, standardized extract. I take (2) of their pills a day. It really seems to help my digestive system more than anything.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
I'd try some now. It's more to help stimulate your body's own defenses to the borrelia (notably production of the larger "killer" white blood cells).
If you react strongly (rare), you can always build up your daily "dosage" after you return.
I was doing 3 caps four times a day, at 1 point, w/o issue.
Posted by stork (Member # 24167) on :
Depends on how productive you have to be. I find that if you're actively taking ABX cat's claw will calm you and facilitate killing bacteria. Can cause some nasty herxes, and I think these might actually be less manageable if you weren't also on abx (just based on what I've experienced)
Cat's claw (not samento) also has a great calming effect if you have neurological involvement. I wouldn't be surprised if you got a little worse while starting it - but that is the story of this illness, you must get worse before you get better.
Good luck.
Posted by aileenhome (Member # 3960) on :
Thanks for the help. I have had a low white cell count for a couple of years so anything that stimulates that has to be good.
When you are feeling OK it's hard to decide to take something that might make you feel worse.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I would start with the Herb Pharm Cat's Claw tincture, one drop in 1/2 cup of warm (not hot) water -- and increase from there before going to the RainTree capsules.
I've always been able to take a full dose of the tincture (30 drops) from the beginning. I really use is for my nervous system more than anything else. I've not taken RainTree capsules, though. It's always best to start at a very lose dose for most supplements.
Herb Pharm tincture is the same good quality of regular Cat's Claw as are the RainTree capsules, but you can start very slow with the tincture and see how you do. I've never had any problems with the tincture whatsoever. I take it in noise emergencies to calm my adrenals and nervous system. It is very centering.
The capsules can be added at any time and you can still use the tincture if you need some immediate relief, say when you've been overstimulated by noise or motion, etc.
Herb Pharm has their own site, they are at most vendors such as www.vitacost.com and www.iherb.com and they are at most natural foods or nutrition stores.
Both Herb Pharm and RainTree are among the best companies regarding quality, eco-management and fair-trade treatment of growers, gatherers, etc. -
[ 08-04-2010, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :