A herx reaction is no fun, but it is generally inevitable when addressing chronic infections. Fortunately, we can minimize herx reactions and support you through herx reactions.
But in order to do so, you must first understand more about herxing. Please refer to this diagram when reading the following information.
As a traditional naturopath, Dr. Bazylewicz believes
that it is best to determine and then to address the underlying cause of illness
rather then just suppressing symptoms.
Symptom management helps to alleviate suffering, but it does not fix the
underlying problems.
Causes of illness
include, but are not limited, to the following:
When your immune system
recognizes a virus, your immune system will produce cytokines which are
chemical messengers that tell your immune system to attack the virus, and so it
does. These cytokines also cause your associated
viral symptoms, such as fever, aches, runny nose, etc. The virus does not cause these symptoms; it
is your own immune system causing the cytokines which in turn cause the
symptoms. Your immune system kills off
most of the virus and then puts the rest in remission. The body detoxes the
cytokines out, and our symptoms disappear.
So, we think that the virus is gone, but it is really in remission. Every infection that we have had in the past
is still with us to some degree, but in remission.
When you acquire the Lyme bacteria, the same thing starts to happen. But Lyme is tricky; it can move outside
cells, inside cells, into microscopic cysts, and into biofilms which are
like slime castles that hide microbes from the immune system. Lyme can also put markers on itself with
almost infinite variations which each look different to the immune system
(antigenic variation). So, Lyme hides
from your immune system by changing location and by changing appearance.
Lyme may have also brought buddies with it called co-infections. And Lyme can also suppress your immune system so that previous microbes can reactivate. Your immune cells attack these microbes creating more cytokines. However, these infections may never fully resolve resulting in chronic infections that continue to create more and more symptoms and more and more inflammation. Eventually, your body is in the midst of a cytokine storm and inflammatory cascade.
When you start to manage these microbes, you will most likely experience a herx reaction which is an abbreviation for a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction and which is named after the two people who discovered this process. In summary, it is an inflammatory response which produces additional cytokines due to the interaction of the immune system with microorganisms and their toxins that occurs during the process of microbial balance. Quite simply, they are usually referred to as die-off reactions.
Herxing may include fatigue, pain, fever, brain fog, headache, rashes, depression, anxiety, and more. You can have one symptom or many symptoms. You may have experienced that symptom in the past or it may be new to you. Herxing may last a few minutes, a few days, or a few weeks, and occasionally even longer. When not managed well, herxes can also be very serious and possibly even life-threatening. Each person is unique in their response to herxing. Most ILADS practitioners - including Dr. Bazylewicz - believe that the risks of chronic infections far outweigh the risks of possible herxing especially when managed well.
Nevertheless, a herx reaction should be minimized by slowly weaning up natural products for microbial balance one at a time in order to produce less cytokines and by using adequate amounts of detoxification products in order to reduce the cytokines responsible for the herxing. You do not have to - nor should you - suffer through significant herxing. Herxes can be managed well to minimize discomfort.
Management of herx reactions is highly individualized. Dr. Bazylewicz will support you through the process, and she will guide you every step of the way.
Let food
be thy medicine,
and medicine
be thy food.
~Hippocrates
DANDELION
Your word
is a lamp
to my feet
and a light
to my path.
~Psalm 119:105
ECHINACEA
The secret of health
for both mind and body
is not to mourn for the past,
worry about the future,
or anticipate troubles,
but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.
~Buddha (paraphrased)
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