Herx Reaction

A Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction
that may occur when microbes are die.
It is often called a  is a die-off reaction or a herx reaction.


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:

  • Infection: acute and chronic; bacteria, viruses, yeasts, fungi, parasites.

  • Toxins: GMO foods, pesticides, chemical (chemicals, fragrances), medications (weigh risks and benefits), electromagnetic radiation (cell phones, 5G, smart meters), vaccinations, etc.
  • Stress:  Life is stressful enough so make sure not to create unnecessary stress.
  • Poor Diet:  We are either feeding sickness or we are feeding health with every bite.  Choose wisely.

  • Genetics:  Just because we inherited certain genes does not mean that we will manifest them.  Environmental factors and behaviors called epigenetics influence gene expression.
  • Emotional (including Trauma)
  • Spiritual

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.


Stone steps creating a path with yellow flowers.

You can be just as successful
as many other clients
who have restored their health!



Let food

be thy medicine, 

and medicine 

be thy food.  

~Hippocrates

DANDELION

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Your word

is a lamp

to my feet

and a light

to my path.

~Psalm 119:105

ECHINACEA

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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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