Long ago, doctors Jarisch and Herxheimer discovered that when patients took antibiotics for syphilis and Lyme, a systemic inflammatory response would occur because dying pathogens’ ruptured cell walls would spew their endotoxic entrails into the patient’s bloodstream. This healing backlash is called a Jarish-Herxheimer reaction and is often shortened to ‘herx’.
My time spent detoxing proved beyond any doubt that ‘herx’ is solid science. In fact, for deep rooted problems, herxing is as bad as living with the disease itself. Herx does taper but the time it takes for the pendulum to swing into better health depends upon infections and how systemic they are. In my experience, herx lasts longer and is more intense than what a superficial online search will admit. And, like clockwork, herx returns every single time you detox to a deeper level.
Our first infections to detox were parasites and infections which took a couple years. This is in stark contrast to the common echo-chamber of killing critters over a moon phase. At first, everything got worse. A lot worse. The symptoms already ailing us intensified and new ones piled on. My former knee jerk reaction would have put on the brakes.
Internet searches will lead to articles that conservatively characterized herx symptoms as ‘mild’ or ‘flu-like’ or ‘resembling a cold’. These delicate descriptions make herxing sound like lounging on the couch nestled in a well-loved robe instead of the life stopping, hot mess of death-warmed-over-hell we experienced. I found one article that truly related to our experience from Dr. Jay Davidson. It’s rather lengthy but comforting.
We used Cell Core binders (the only one I can truly recommend is the Biotoxin Binder and is fabulous for mold. Edit 2023) to help absorb toxins and reduce the symptoms of herx. Some family members had more emotional/mental symptoms of herx which we controlled with binders, supplements, herbs, and homeopathics.
One of many advantages of herbs over synthetic drugs is that you can change doses without causing resistance thereby giving more control over herx symptoms by dropping dosage down to reduce aggravations, then titrating back up.
Most of the herbs we used can be found at Sage Woman Herbs and Woodland Essence. I tend to follow Stephen Buhner’s protocols for Lyme and co-infections, but I do like to use frequency via biofeedback as well.
I also use homeopathics for comfort and though I could list them, it is doubtful they would be the right ones for others. As a homeopath, I can tell you that each remedy is so individual specific, it really requires a professional homeopathic intake. You can contact me at New Leaf Holistic if you need help.
Using biofeedback to monitor while carefully noting patterns of symptoms and behaviors alongside thoughtful observation of improvements in relation to herbals, homeopathics and biofeedback, I have been able to design some very good protocols. Despite the ‘homeopathy only’ rock that many homeopaths will die on, my experience shows herbs and homeopathics do, in fact, work dynamically and necessarily together. It has nothing to do with homeopathy being wrong, it’s not. It’s spot on, and for in-tact immune systems, it’s my number one go to. For everything. For cure.
Unfortunately, today’s immune systems compromised by metals, resistant pathogens, biowarfare agents, chemicals, injured DNA/RNA, gmo foods, and bad water, are not going to be helped by classical homeopathy alone.
Other tools I use for comfort are essential oils, foot baths, liver packs, massage, reflexology, a clean, organic diet and filtered water. Liver packs are incredibly soothing. We needed them daily at first and then gradually reduced. Foot baths provided relief of both herx and PANDAS symptoms, even during flares, but understand that they are a detox tool, so they will cause additional detox for several days after the foot bath inadvertently causing even more herx. So, you want to start slow, once/week, 5 minutes, and work up.
If you are dealing with ASD, PANS, PANDAS, Lyme, and other auto-immune issues such as allergies and food allergies, leaky gut, thyroid, etc. don’t detox alone. I’ve tried and quit which means wasting money and worse, time. Count on infections coursing far deeper than you know making detox harder than you planned and lasting longer than you imagined. A well trained, knowledgeable professional can take you from zero to hero by providing fresh perspective and quality products to do an effective, efficient job while keeping you as comfortable as possible. Contact me at New Leaf Holistic if I can help you.
The Detox Depot 