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Starting Lyme disease treatment is a step in the right direction — but sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better. This can result in what some patients refer to as a Herx reaction.
Understanding this reaction is key. It might help to keep you on track and add an element of control to your healing.
What Is the Herxheimer Reaction?
This reaction, also known as a “Herx,” occurs when Lyme bacteria are being killed off too quickly by treatment. They decay, leaking toxins into your body. If your detox pathways — your liver, kidneys and lymph system — can’t keep up, inflammation and symptoms can flare.
This is not an indication treatment isn’t working. In fact, the opposite is often true: It suggests the therapy is doing what it’s meant to.
Common Herx Symptoms
You might experience:
- Fever or chills
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Fatigue and brain fog
- Digestive upset or nausea
- Headaches or dizziness
These side effects tend to develop shortly after starting treatment and depend on your health and how heavy the infection is.
Why It Can Hit Hard
Some realize stronger effects because of:
- Excessive amount of Lyme bacteria in the system
- Weak or sluggish detox systems
- Chronic inflammation
- Otherwise, you are probably dehydrated, have slept poorly, or are deficient in nutrients.
When your body is unable to detoxify these faster than they are created, the experience is compounded. For this reason, preparedness and support are extremely important.
How to Manage It Effectively
Even though you are experiencing Herxing, this does not necessarily suggest that the treatment should be discontinued. That would be helping your body cope.
Try these supportive steps:
- Hydrate: Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day to flush out toxins.
- Utilize binders: Binders, such as activated charcoal, can bind toxins within the gut.
- Keep on moving: Gentle movements, like light stretching or walking, help the lymph system keep flowing.
- Get plenty of rest: Your body requires energy in order to mend. Prioritize sleep and downtime.
- If needed, slow down: Lowering doses of antimicrobials (under medical supervision) can reduce the intensity.
To gain a better understanding of how the Herxheimer reaction Lyme process works and help you avoid setbacks, be sure to read expert guides that show you how to remain strong throughout treatment.
Your Healing Partner
The process of recovering from Lyme disease is not necessarily a linear progression. To put it into perspective, you do not have to go through it by yourself.
Restorative Health Solutions has a complete system – accurate testing, gentle detox, and personalized health plan. Their aim is to help you regain strength and continue to be healthy, beyond recovery from infection.
Final Thoughts
A Herxheimer reaction can be rough — but also is like the Holy Grail of signs of progress. With the right tools and support, you can pass through it wisely and keep progressing toward full recovery.
Lyme recovery is a slow process, but with time, you can begin to reclaim your health. And when the going gets tough, support from teams such as Restorative Health Solutions is invaluable.
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