Post by LymeEnigma on Jul 3, 2008 10:04:01 GMT -8
CarolD over at Lymeblog wanted a little info on the benefits and drawbacks of going on and off cat's claw, and I though it was a good excuse to give an update:
The biggest benefit I got from the cat's claw was increased cognitive clarity. I have been in a minor fog ever since I went off of it, and I find myself too mentally tired to take on a lot of what I'd like to be taking on right now. I enjoy writing, but as of late all that I get down, beyond online posting, just reads back as confused, incomplete, and uninspired, which is just frustrating because I've been at this point before and I know that the fog is responsible. I noticed that I have once again become more blunt and relatively apathetic in my online posting, which only adds to my booming popularity. You can call me "House," for the time being.... The cat's claw also decreased the severity and frequency of the fatigue, keeping me out of bed for a month or two straight without a "crash;" I have already crashed a few times, now, since going off the herb.
In the long run, it seemed to increase my large joint problems, however, as well as the nausea. Off the cat's claw, I'm getting the return of finger and toe swelling/joint pain, whereas on the cat's claw I seemed to get more knee blow-outs. My eyes are starting to give me a lot of problems again, too.
Going off the cat's claw, initially, was difficult. I don't know if my body had just become dependent on it or if the bacteria load was trying to increase suddenly because the "coast was clear," but I did notice after about two weeks (other than feeling foggy) that I was feeling better than I had in months. Right now I'm fighting the dull remnants of last night's migraine headache.
My hypothesis? I think that all of the months of cat's claw kept the bugs in remission (that the antibiotics started), and all of the other healthy stuff I was doing helped to build my immune system back up. When I went off the cat's claw the bugs came back out of hiding, only to be bombarded by my rehabilitated immune system. I think this ensuing battle significantly reduced my overall germ load, and what I'm experiencing right now is a combination of whatever lingering bacteria are still fighting it out, as well as a continued autoimmune reaction to various outer surface proteins put off by the bacteria ... I believe in molecular mimicry, but I also believe that the pathogens involved, or at least remnants of their nasty proteins, need to be actively present for the autoimmune response to perpetuate.
I'm just waiting things out, now, to see of what kind of outcome my body is capable. If the Bb win out, then obviously I'm right back at square one. If my body wins out, the Bb will go back into hiding and I'll only have to deal with the autoimmune effects of their ever-hibernating presence. I'm willing to see it through in the name of science. We'll see....
The biggest benefit I got from the cat's claw was increased cognitive clarity. I have been in a minor fog ever since I went off of it, and I find myself too mentally tired to take on a lot of what I'd like to be taking on right now. I enjoy writing, but as of late all that I get down, beyond online posting, just reads back as confused, incomplete, and uninspired, which is just frustrating because I've been at this point before and I know that the fog is responsible. I noticed that I have once again become more blunt and relatively apathetic in my online posting, which only adds to my booming popularity. You can call me "House," for the time being.... The cat's claw also decreased the severity and frequency of the fatigue, keeping me out of bed for a month or two straight without a "crash;" I have already crashed a few times, now, since going off the herb.
In the long run, it seemed to increase my large joint problems, however, as well as the nausea. Off the cat's claw, I'm getting the return of finger and toe swelling/joint pain, whereas on the cat's claw I seemed to get more knee blow-outs. My eyes are starting to give me a lot of problems again, too.
Going off the cat's claw, initially, was difficult. I don't know if my body had just become dependent on it or if the bacteria load was trying to increase suddenly because the "coast was clear," but I did notice after about two weeks (other than feeling foggy) that I was feeling better than I had in months. Right now I'm fighting the dull remnants of last night's migraine headache.
My hypothesis? I think that all of the months of cat's claw kept the bugs in remission (that the antibiotics started), and all of the other healthy stuff I was doing helped to build my immune system back up. When I went off the cat's claw the bugs came back out of hiding, only to be bombarded by my rehabilitated immune system. I think this ensuing battle significantly reduced my overall germ load, and what I'm experiencing right now is a combination of whatever lingering bacteria are still fighting it out, as well as a continued autoimmune reaction to various outer surface proteins put off by the bacteria ... I believe in molecular mimicry, but I also believe that the pathogens involved, or at least remnants of their nasty proteins, need to be actively present for the autoimmune response to perpetuate.
I'm just waiting things out, now, to see of what kind of outcome my body is capable. If the Bb win out, then obviously I'm right back at square one. If my body wins out, the Bb will go back into hiding and I'll only have to deal with the autoimmune effects of their ever-hibernating presence. I'm willing to see it through in the name of science. We'll see....
