posted
Just thought I would share this in case others might also find that reducing excess acidity might sometimes relieve Herx symptoms ( http://members.aol.com/SynergyHN/Herxreduc ). This arose from a discussion on the Marshall Protocol, but would seem like it might apply in other situations involving Herx-like reactions.
If anyone has a situation that might relate, perhaps they could share their experience.
Joyce Waterhouse
Preview of Issue 10 of CISRA's Synergy Health Newsletter: Excess Acidity and Bacterial Die off Symptoms
Some patients have reported increased acidity in response to bacterial die off reactions (Jarisch-Herxheimer Reactions or ``Herx'') using antibacterial protocols like the Marshall Protocol. Several patients have reported (http://marshallprotocol.com/forum11/5733.html) that when their symptoms reached their worst, their urinary pH was more acidic (e.g., less than 5.8) when they measured it with pH tape purchased from a health food store. They reported that small amounts of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate -- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) both normalized their urine pH to the 6.0 to 7.0 range and partially relieved some of the symptoms associated with bacterial die off.
Other options to reduce excessive acidity (or alkalinize) include Milk of Magnesia and certain other types of magnesium (like magnesium citrate). Milk of Magnesia can be a laxative, so if one wants to avoid that effect, other antacids can be used, like baking soda or Tums (calcium carbonate). Those on the Marshall Protocol should avoid alkalinizing substances that contain much potassium (e.g., certain ``green'' drinks or Alka Selzer Gold), since the Benicar used in the Marshall Protocol can increase potassium retention, which can occasionally lead to elevated levels. Calcium and magnesium should not be taken within 2 hours of taking certain antibiotics, like minocycline.
One should not use baking soda without a doctor's permission if one is on a sodium restrictive diet for a condition such as high blood pressure. One should also avoid alkalinizing too much, since some people seem to become more prone to urinary tract infections or overgrowth of Candida in the colon if they alkalinize too much by taking too much antacid.
One should still be cautious about keeping the rate of bacterial die off at a moderate level, but for at least some people, reduction of excess acidity may be a helpful tool to use now and then to reduce bacterial die off symptoms. Some of the symptoms reported to be reduced in some people include shortness of breath, lightheadedness, abnormal cardiac sensations, weakness, pain and emotional symptoms like anger or irritability (the above information provides preliminary observations only).
Alkalinizing substances have also sometimes been used to help relieve symptoms of allergy/sensitivity reactions.
-------------------- Joyce Posts: 82 | From Pasadena, CA, USA | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged |
mlkeen
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1260
posted
Joyce-
You are right, a balanced ph is needed to heal. Our body is designed to work best neither too acidic nor too base.
Diet and magnesium are wonderful ways to make the body more alkiline. Water with lemon is often recommended when herxing. It goes in acidic and causes our tummies to release bicarb to neutralize it and as a result our whole system benifits. It is more healthful to cause our bodies to release bicarb then to do the work for it with Tums.
Our typical American diet, loaded with grains and sugars, makes our systems more acidic. By drastically reducing carbohydrates and adding mag your body can make huge grounds to flush toxins both from bacteria die-off and other chemicals we breath and injest.
Alkilining is needed to combat the yeast that happens when abx is taken long term. Lots of you believe you have no yeast symptoms. You only think that is the case. I thought I had no yeast either. Was I ever wrong.
My post abx aches and fatigue that I was absolutely positive were lyme flares, seem now more related to diet.
I have been eating almost no carbs for several weeks and guess what, I have no joint pain. I got on the ladder yesterday and fixed the gutter. I feel great.
I have been pulsing diflucan for several months and typically by the day before my dose I'm feeling some pain or joint swelling. Well, not this week. I have my rings in, something that I rarely do.
Once again, my llmd was right. He said if I eat no carbs for two weeks I will notice a significant reduction in symtoms.
I'm eating lots of garden veggies- broccoli, zuchinni, peppers, onions and tomatoes. Any kind of meat or eggs. I'm adding fat to my diet so I don't lose weight. Olive oil is wonderful.
I can have a little lactose so I eat cheddar cheese, 0 carbs, and real heavy whipping cream( don't add sugar) with berries also allowed by my llmd. I've been adding a few drops of almond extract to the whipped cream. It is heavenly. Who needs carbs! My cholesterol is low so heavy cream is ok. My skin is no longer dry because of the added fat.
I've skipped a couple of events so I wouldn't be tempted with hot dogs, sweet corn and beer- I had berries and whipped cream instead!
I'm clearly over the craving carbs hump and just have to keep the calorie intake high enough without too much dairy.
I know lots of you struggle with the no/low carb diet. My llmd said that soon I can add one carb at a time and see how I react. It seems some foods are worse at triggering a flare than others. He said we have to discover those we absolutely can not eat and those we can eat from time to time and how uch our system will tolerate.
the only carb I eat is brown rice...do you think this is acceptable? I'm having alot of stomach issues and 2 cups of brown rice really seems to help.
The only other things to pass my lips are: goat yogurt w/berries, stevia, coconut milk, salmon, veggies, and eggs.
I'm taking a yeast cleanse that has caprylic acid, Pau D'Arco, grapefruit extract, licorice, and tea tree oil.
Do you think this would do the trick? Or would I need diflucan? Is there anywhere I can purchase diflucan over the internet without having to go through a pharmacy?
Sorry for all the questions. Its hard for me to tell what is lyme and what is yeast. I seem to feel worse on humid days. Posts: 594 | From NJ/NY | Registered: Jun 2006
| IP: Logged |
luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
Alkalinity has been the answer to my joint pain as well. Like MLKEEN, I now believe much of my pain which I attributed to Lyme was actually yeast and diet is the answer. My doctor has found white and black yeast in my bloodstream which means I am systemic. I tried Diflucan but could not tolerate more than 50mg per day due to extreme herxing. Dr tried IV dioxychlor and immediately stopped when my herxing increased.
Herxing is a sign your elimination systems are not working properly. He has been focused on fixing my elimination systems and we will begin metals chelation in another month. Not sure when we will go back to killing yeast but mercury feeds yeast and removing the metals as well as diet works to starve out the yeast.
Meanwhile my pain is gone and I am left only with some residual stiffness in my fingers that reminds me I have been through a war but does not stop me from enjoying my normal life.
I really believe that creating a balanced PH in your body is something everyone should focus on regardless of what your illness is and how you are resolving that illness. The balanced PH will create a hostile environment for bad stuff like lyme, yeast and cancer. This will speed along the medical treatments.
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
| IP: Logged |
mlkeen
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1260
posted
Elley
I haven't even had brown rice in weeks. I have had Irish oatmeal twice. My llmd flat out told me it had to be total or i wouldn't get the results desired.
I too felt pretty good just eating brown rice. I'll dealing with a gluten intolerance and stopping rice( it is also sticky) for a while should help my gut.
I would imagine using herbals could be effective if you are strict on the no carbs. I have been taking 3 drops of oil of oregano on the non-diflucan days. I'm hitting it as hard as i can. I'm also taking 4-5 small doses of mag and making tea daily of green tea, dandilion, red clover and mint from the garden.
luvs- I think a low dose of diflucan can be useful. It should be started at a reduced dose of 25% in any case and worked up over a couple of weeks.
My dog has struggled with arthritis too. After reading an article posted here a couple of week's ago at about wheat causing arthritis in dogs as well as humans, I stopped feeding my dog any wheat. He seems to be walking better. Maybe a little diflucan for him too!
posted
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I would also say that one doesn't want to become too alkaline either. Some people reported too much alkalinity actually promoted yeast in the gut and for some, bladder problems.
One needs to not go too far either way.
Also, I want to say that I don't think the acidity issue is key to healing, just that sometimes one may become too extreme in one direction or the other and moderating the pH may help with symptoms.
Also, one thing on the diet issue -- I find brown rice to be much more allergenic than white rice. You can figure out your food allergies most efficiently, I think, by using the pulse test -- see my articles on it at the SynergyHN web site above --Issues 5 and 8). By reducing exposure to allergies/sensitivities/intolerances, I find one can tolerate more carbohydrates without yeast becoming a problem, because you digest the food better.
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic