What is Herxheimer?

The Herxheimer reaction (also known as Jarisch-Herxheimer or Herx) occurs when large quantities of toxins are released into the body as bacteria (typically Spirochetal bacteria) die, due to antibiotic treatment or rapid detoxification.

Typically the death of these bacteria and the associated release of endotoxins occurs faster than the body can remove the toxins via the natural detoxification process performed by the kidneys and liver. It is manifested by fever, chills, headache, myalgia (muscle pain), and exacerbation of skin lesions. Duration in syphilis is normally only a few hours but can be much longer, up to months or years, for other diseases, especially Lyme Disease. The intensity of the reaction reflects the intensity of inflammation present.

The Herxheimer reaction has shown an increase in inflammatory cytokines during the period of exacerbation, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8.

The reaction is also seen in other diseases, such as borreliosis (Lyme disease and tick-borne relapsing fever), bartonellosis, brucellosis, typhoid fever, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, and trichinellosis, Q fever, and cat scratch disease.

Die-off reactions are very common especially with treatment of Candidiasis. I have found with some research and some experimentation, that these dreaded symptoms can be lessened so that one can cope and live normal while treating these illnesses.

Activated charcoal has the ability to adsorb (cling to) these endotoxins and carry them through the digestive system with little or no noticeable symptoms. This truly is amazing and could be a much needed breakthrough for those of you reluctant to cleanse because the healing symptoms are just too severe to manage a semi-normal existence throughout. Activated charcoal can be obtained in bulk and mixed in juice or water and drank or in capsules for easier (and a bit less messy) ingestion. Either way, if you take this stuff about an hour or two after an anti-candida treatment, it will enable the charcoal to cling to these toxins that are released on the death of the yeast organisms and carry them safely through the digestive system. It might not be a bad idea to add a bit of extra fiber and ample water to help the charcoal pass expeditiously.

A great product which helps to clear the digestive tract of several toxins including Candida and it's associated death toxins is Bulk Herb Store's Detox +. You can read more about this on our product page and in these two blog entries.


Next we have one of my all time favorites, cod liver oil. Cod liver oil has extra naturally occurring vitamin D which can help with depression, a common side effect of cleansing yeast and other nasties. It also contains large amounts of omega 3 fatty acids which are necessary at helping the immune system to lessen inflammation (cytokines) which can cause body aches and general pains which can result from a Herxheimer reaction.

The moral of the story...Don't be afraid to do something your body needs...heal. If you've got some systemic infection, such as Candidiasis, Lymes or Sepsis, don't be afraid to hit it hard and help your body cope by using some good old fashioned sense and nature's best remedies.

Question(s):

• I'm thinking of ordering some Herba-Smoothie Mix. Are these O.K. for my children to use in their smoothies or should I consider mixing my own especially for them?

• I love a mixture of the Rise and Shine with the Double E when starting to catch a cold, but mostly like to drink it cold as it is so hot here. Is it ok to give babies (1 year olds) the teas?

• Hi! I made a tincture of catnip/lavender and chamomile for my 5 month old baby. She was keeping me up at night and very gassy. I went to the doctor this morning and she told me not to give catnip to my baby, because she remembers hearing somewhere that it was somewhat toxic and not safe. It seemed to be working well, but I don't want to give her anything that would hurt her in the long run. Have you heard anything about it? Can I keep giving that stuff to her? She's been teething and I only use real medicine as my last resource!!

• Hi my 5 year old son has ringworm. I ordered the indian gooseberry powder or amla powder for myself. Would it be safe to put a small amount on his ringworm a couple times a week? is he to young?

Answer:

We at the Bulk Herb Store are not licensed medical practitioners and for liability purposes cannot diagnose or dispense medical advice.

I give many things to my children that some other parents may not and withhold other things that other parents may deem harmless or fine.

I research the herbs and what the "experts" say and take note of any effects that the herbs may have had on myself and/or my husband and then I make a judgment call as to whether they are appropriate for my children. The Bulk Herb Store carries many books on the subject, including my favorite herbal research tool, The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph.D. and great books designed just for treating children like The ABC Herbal and The How To Herb Book.

I feel that it's my responsibility as a parent to make this decision for my children and no "expert" or doctor can (or should have to) make it for me.

If you need a recommendation beyond this, I would highly recommend you check with your pediatrician or midwife before giving your children anything you're not already familiar with.

Question(s):

• 4 years ago, I had a late miscarriage (18weeks along). We have been trying to conceive ever since. I am 41 now and my husband is 49. I know that we are getting older and maybe this is God's plan for us not to have any more children, but we would like to have a couple more. Is there any herbs that I-we could use for conception? Every check-up I've been told there's no reason I should not be able to get pregnant. But nothing happens each month. Cycles are normal.
• Hi there! I have a question about herbs for fertility. I have not been able to get pregnant now for over 2 years even after some fertility procedures. The doctors cannot find anything wrong with either me or my husband.
• I had recently been diagnosed with fibroids. I was leery of all the options I was given. I do not want a hysterectomy or birth control (I'm 32)...I just want to know if there are any herbs (or anything else for that matter) that you could just suggest for me, to either stop the growth, shrink or take away my fibroids. I don't know what else to do.
• I want to try and keep this short, but I wonder what, if any, information you have regarding menopause. I am in this phase of life and not sure what course to take. I have been taking something called Bio-Identical hormones (troche) which contain estrogen as well as testosterone. It seems to work somewhat yet I still bleed after awhile despite playing around with amounts of the items in the product and I still struggle with emotions, irritability, feeling overwhelmed easily, tiredness, breast tenderness, seeming lack of ability to concentrate, bad memory among other issues. Can you offer any help or are there materials you can direct me to that you know of.
• I am having a terrible time regulating my menstrual cycle. I am 43, and am probably in the beginning stages of menopause, but I have had my period for 2 1/2...are there herbs I can take to get me back on schedule?
• Hi, My 20 year old daughter suffers from very severe cramping for half a day, the day after her period starts. I have searched & searched for a remedy - put together an herbal concoction tea that helped the first couple of times she took it but it doesn't give her any relief. She curls up in the fetal position for hours, in pain. She is very healthy, not a vegetarian ~ we're looking for some form of relief for her if anyone has any suggestions or knows someone with this problem.

Answer:

As you can see above, I often get letters in the mailbox that ask for an herb to treat PCOS or an herb to treat miscarriage, PMS or some other reproductive hormone related condition. Although each condition has it's own symptoms, they are all most often caused from the same thing - hormone imbalance and in more cases than not, it's an overabundance of estrogen and/or lack of progesterone that causes it. The symptoms vary from person to person because the levels, diets and environments differ as well.

There are a some herbs which lend themselves to hormone balancing. Alfalfa, fennel, fenugreek, lavender, licorice root, red clover, flax seed, red raspberry leaf, chasteberry, false unicorn root, maca root, muira puma, puncture vine, squawvine, anise, pumpkin, ashwagandha, horse chestnut, evening primrose and wild yam are just a handful of the plants that contain estrogenic compounds or hormone precursors. In some cases, taking just a supplement of said herb in capsule, tea or tincture form, can gain some relief from symptoms; however, in most cases it's only a mask.

Symptoms are not illness, they are a message from the body which signals illness. The illness is generally something broken or imbalanced in the body that need be repaired in order to make the symptoms go away. My research has proven over and over that in the hormone related conditions, estrogen dominance is most often the label that would describe the actual problem. Many doctors and naturopaths will prescribe progesterone therapy which can help, but can also just be another mask. If the estrogens in the body are too high, raising progesterone can help alleviate pain and distress but it doesn't remove the excess estrogens that shouldn't have been there in the first place.

So, how do we get rid of the extra estrogens?

1. Unfermented soy (found in just about every boxed or frozen dinner at your local grocer's) is a huge contributor of false estrogens in the average American diet. Don't eat out. Don't buy frozen or prepared dinners. Learn to cook with whole, real unprocessed ingredients. A burger and fries will do you some good if you learn to make them yourself!

2. Probably tied for first are the hormones found in grocery meats, dairy and eggs. If they are not injected, keep in mind these animals are also supplemented with soy. Try to buy pasture fed organic meats, dairy (raw if possible) and eggs.

3. It has recently been discovered that foods heated (and possibly stored) in plastic dishes release certain toxins into the foods that also mimic estrogen in the body. Try to replace all the plastics with safer materials (glass, stainless steel, cast iron, stone).

4. SLS, or Sodium Laurel Sulfate, has also been documented to deceive the body's estrogen receptors. This lovely compound is a detergent used to make commercial soaps 'sudsy'. It and some of it's counterparts (cocamydal betain, ALS, ammonium laurel sulfate, etc.) can be found in some bar soaps, almost all shampoos and liquid soaps (body, dish, laundry), shaving creams and even in some acne/face cleansers. If it makes bubbles, it stands to reason that it contains this harmful substance. Look for healthy fat/ lye (potassium or sodium hydroxide) based soaps without the extra added detergents.

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS)
Your Shampoo Might Be Your Problem: Going "No Poo"
Why and How to Skip the Soap...
Homemade Laundry Soap (Detergent Free)
Homemade Toothpaste & Other Dental Products
Toothpaste & Dental Care
Homemade Dishwasher Soap
Homemade Dish Washing Soap
Soap Making: Recipes, Tips & Tricks
Soap Nuts
Can your soap pass a drug test?

5. Hormone based birth control has a huge impact on the hormonal imbalances of the world. My best recommendation is to never take any of this stuff. IUDs and non-hormonal inserts can be just as dangerous, but their specific causative mechanisms are not well documented. If birth control is important to you, use a barrier method or check into natural family planning.

6. Studies are beginning to emerge on the harmful effects of disposable sanitary products. These have been found to contain organochlorines which are another xeno(false) estrogen which can interfere with the natural hormone balance. From personal observation, I have found a direct correlation between the use of these products and irritation and bleeding at the end of each cycle. After an ultrasound, I also found that I had ovarian cysts which the doctor blamed for the symptoms I was having. After some more research, I decided to make my own sanitary pads from natural materials. After 3 cycles all symptoms abated and have never returned after 2 years. Since, I have used disposable products for one cycle after the switch and after only a few days of using these products again, the symptoms returned. After switching back, all went back to normal with no new occurrences.

The thought of reusable pads, I admit, doesn't sound all that appealing, but the process isn't all that bad once you become accustomed and the results are most rewarding. For more information on how to make the switch, refer to these forum discussions.

Making the Switch to Cloth Sanitary Pads: Which ones should I get?
Sanitary Products: Cloth vs Disposable
What type of fabric is best to use for cloth pads?
Cloth Sanitary Pads: Care, Travel & Laundering Tips & Tricks
Making Your Own Sanitary Pads
Are feminine products safe???
Divacup
Menstrual Cup Comparisons (Instead, Diva, Keeper, Etc.)

7. Another huge (and very common) contributor to hormone imbalance is Candidiasis. These microorganisms do not produce estrogen, but rather consume progesterone. So in many cases progesterone supplement may not only be fruitless, but it may also exacerbate the problem. You supplement the progesterone. The Candida albicans convert and consume the progesterone before the body can utilize it properly. The Candida albicans grow and reproduce and continue to steal more and more progesterone from the body and/or supplements. (I have received many notes telling me how the doctors have had to raise their progesterone dosages after several weeks or months of consistent treatment.)

The point here is that until you rid the body of the Candida, the hormones will continue to flux and most likely deteriorate further.

I Think I Have Candida and/or Leaky Gut: What Now?
Candida / Yeast: Symptoms & Cures

NOTE: Not directly related, but often causative is heavy metal and/or pharmaceutical toxicity. These are not generally the main cause, but they are definitely causative and aggravate candida which aggravates the hormone imbalance.

Removing as many sources of hormone disruption and toxicity as possible and cleansing the body of any previous toxin exposure becomes an important first step. Read this blog for a more extended list of other toxin sources.

Lou Gehrig's Disease and help for other incurables

Also read this blog entry for the cleanse that I would personally recommend to remove any and all toxins including Candida albicans.

Dermographism ...What on Earth is That?


8. Vitamin deficiency can be causative of immune failure and other body dysfunctions including hormone and reproductive/sexual function. This deficiency is sometimes caused by lack of the appropriate foods and/or supplements but I find in my research that more often it is caused by a lack of the appropriate fats in the diet. Omega 3 fatty acids are critical when it comes to the absorption and proper utilization of the vitamins we ingest. Most of these critical nutrients are not water soluble and can only be dissolved in oil/fat. Without the proper rations of these omega fatty acids, these vitamins and minerals are either wasted or deposited in the tissues (calcium on the joints - causing arthritis).

The average doctor and/or patient will keep trying to raise their supplementation only to be disappointed because they are just pouring them straight through. My all-time favorite omega 3 supplement is Cod Liver Oil, but there are many other sources that are great: flax, borage, eggs, dairy and meats from pasture fed, organically raised animals, etc. Not getting enough of this important nutrient can lead to so many problems with the central nervous, respiratory, immune, endocrine, reproductive, and digestive systems and the connective tissues and bones.

Hydrogenated (trans) fats can also interfere with the use of the omega 3 fats. Trans fats fool the body into thinking it's getting the omega fats it's looking for and then blocks the absorption of the omegas that might be present. If you're having problems with vitamin deficiency, elimination of these 'false' fats from the diet is important. Don't trust the label that says 'trans fat free'. Check the ingredients list on the back of the container for the word 'hydrogenated'. FDA rules allow the label 'zero' for anything under .5 grams per serving (servings are NOT standardized).

The Skinny on Fats by Mary Enig, Ph.D. & Sally Fallon
Hydrogenated Fats
Trans Fats & Hydrogenation
Cod Liver Oil: The Number One Superfood
Inflammation & Diet
Good Fats, Bad Fats: Healthy Oils for Cooking

NOTE: If you've had your gallbladder removed (or intend to), you may not be able to absorb these fats as well as a healthy individual. Although without the gallbaldder, the liver WILL continue to produce bile, the compound necessary for fat digestion, it will not be released and/or concentrated properly. This will most likely interfere with normal fatty acid digestion and you may need to take extra steps to help your body to overcome this handicap. My husband has found that taking a super enzyme supplement along with a supplement combo designed and sold for prostate health really go a long ways to help his digestion of fatty acids. It curbs his previously insatiable appetite and utilizes (rather than wastes) more of the foods and supplements he ingests. He suffered many hormone related symptoms after the removal of his gallbladder which were vastly improved by taking these supplements in addition to the other steps I've mentioned above which I've done for the entire family.

For more information on this, read this forum discussion.

Post Cholecystectomy: Supplements & Diet for Missing Gallbladder

There is no magic pill for what ails and there's no magic herb that will provide what the pills lack. To sum it all up, you need to remove the cause of the problem or the treatments will fail again and again. Remove the source and give your body a chance to heal itself.

STOP doing the things, that have hurt you and start doing the things, that will heal you!
~Dr. Schulze

Candida albicans is a mircoorganism, most commonly referred to as yeast which lives in and on the human body normally in small numbers. When these organisms become the dominant organism in or on a certain area of the body, Candidiasis, or yeast infection, may occur. When this condition occurs, it generally causes itching, burning and often painful urination and/or sex. It becomes prudent to kill off these organisms and more importantly replace them with microflora that is beneficial to the environment in the vagina. Lactobacilli, bacteria which produce lactic acid are the microorganisms which populate a healthy vaginal canal and keep Candida albicans and other harmful microorganisms at bay.

In cases where vaginal infections become common or repeated, it may become imperative to do an internal cleanse such as the Detox + to kill of the overabundance of Candida, clear the body of heavy metals and other toxins which exacerbate the growth of these unwanted organisms and a large supplementation of oral probiotics and/or fermented foods in order to restore the natural balance of the entire body.

But in the meantime, you have all of these horrible symptoms, often unbearable that need to be attended to first. Many of the standard treatments available may or may not help and some include other problems all by themselves. At any rate, they all can be very expensive and when the outcome is uncertain, often expensive is not the direction you'd want to go.

The most effective, by far, remedy that I know of is garlic. Taking raw garlic internally can help, but to really get to the heart of the problem, using a clove of garlic intravaginally is an effective treatment. If symptoms are caught early enough, a vaginal yeast infection can be warded off in as little as one treatment. If symptoms are further along, it may take 3-7 days to rid the vagina entirely of the condition, but this isn't much different than your standard treatments, but it IS definitely less expensive.

To use garlic in this manner: Choose a medium size clove (bigger than a suppository). Clip the ends and peel. With a knife, make several (6-8) small incisions on either side of the clove, being very careful not to cut all the way through. Insert the clove into the vagina and using your finger, push the clove up towards the cervix and move it above the pelvic shelf to help keep it in place. Leave this in for about 2-3 hours (or overnight) and replace with a new clove at regular intervals until symptoms abate. If the burning and itching on the external labia is extreme, treat with virgin coconut oil (or an anti-fungal cream) in addition to the garlic.

To remove the garlic, simply reach into the vaginal canal with your finger and fish it out into the toilet or the trash. If you're having trouble retrieving the clove, try again from a squatting position. The squat will push the cervix closer to the vaginal opening which will push the garlic clove much closer to the opening. If this is a difficult treatment, then you might consider threading a piece of cotton cord or dental floss through the clove prior to insertion; however, if done incorrectly, this could cause the garlic clove to split in half and you may have to manually retrieve the pieces.

NOTE: Raw garlic can burn exposed skin. I have never had any burns from using this method, but if you notice problems, remove the garlic immediately and try another method, or consider exposing less of the clove to your skin if you try again.

If the vaginal infection is caught very early, you may be able to ward it off with the insertion of a probiotic capsule or two. Acidophilus is very effective at wiping out Candida overgrowth, but if the infection has progressed too far, this may not be as effective as the garlic. I would suggest that you might follow up the garlic treatment with acidophilus in any case to help restore the natural flora. If you choose this method, most gelatin capsules will dissolve and naturally flow from the vagina without any problems. If you choose an enteric coated capsule, it will take much longer to dissolve and you may find remnants of the capsule 2-3 days after insertion.

Douching with probiotics mixed in water and/or yogurt could be a viable option to capsule insertion, but it is messier and the capsules allow the probiotics to stay in place without being washed from the vagina via the liquids.

Another option would be a douche with organic apple cider vinegar (with the mother). Prepare the douche with 1-2 tablespoons of the vinegar (shake before pouring from original container to ensure that some of the mother is included) and the remainder (1-1 1/2 cups), distilled or filtered water (chlorinated water will kill the microorganisms in the douche and defeat the purpose.) If the infection does not clear within 1-2 treatments, I would go back to the garlic and only douche again to help restore the natural acidity and flora of the vaginal canal.

NOTE: After some recent shoping, I have discovered that it's nearly impossible to find a healthy premade douche and it's just as difficult to find an empty douche bottle. If you buy a douche in order to get the bottle (that's what I did), I recommend that you pour out the douche that came with it. Every brand I found on the shelf contains benzoic acid (still can't figure out why) and there's documentation that proves that a reaction between benzoic acid and certain other acids (citric/lactic) like those found in natural apple cider vinegar can cause a chemical reaction which produces the carcinogenic compound benzene gas.

As a general precaution, avoid sugar and other refined carbs while fighting the infection to help keep reproduction of the bad organisms to a minimum. Progesterone supplementation can also aggravate the condition. Refrain from sexual contact even if painful symptoms are not present as the infection can be passed from partner to partner and back again.

I've never had an infection that I couldn't beat with 2-7 days of the above treatments in some combination or another. If you find that you cannot kill the infection after 7 days, it may be prudent to see your physician and have a vaginal exam to rule out bacterial vaginosis and/or sexually transmitted disease. These both can cause symptoms similar to Candidiasis but may not be curable by these methods.

Other known (but untried) remedies to consider douching with pau d'arco or black walnut infusion (tea). Other anti-fungal herbal infusions may offer some relief as well.

If problems persist and there seem to be no infections present (via exam or otherwise), you might consider that your sanitary products are causing problems. Consider switching to cloth pads. Ovarian and/or fibroid cysts can also cause symptoms very similar to Candidiasis. An ultrasound might be necessary to rule out this condition.

Question:

My sister's 14 month old baby is in the ER, and they just confirmed he has pneumonia. I would like to suggest to my sister what she should do, but I'm still a beginner with herbs and natural medicine. I would like for her to stay away from those antibiotics, but what kind of alternative can I give her? Please help me, so I can help her.


Answer:

Pneumonia is nothing to mess with and without a strong will and some education in herbal medicine, antibiotics may be her best solution. I wouldn't give them to my children, but they are MY children and that is MY decision and I have a few years experience with herbs and natural healing. I know what to look for, when to give in and when to try something different. Pneumonia is life threatening and I wouldn't arbitrarily pass out herbal cures to someone who wouldn't know how to use them especially where a small child is involved.

If your sister is more medically minded, then it might be prudent to allow her to take baby to the doctor and get him well and then find ways to get large amounts of probiotics in him to recolonize his gut to prevent further illness in the future.

Antibiotics aren't good, I agree, but my family has had a few before I got 'herbal minded' and I don't see any long term problems since I took great measures to reverse any damage I had done with traditional medical treatments.

Having said that, the two things that come to mind are garlic and mullein, but again in a small baby, without some experience these might be difficult to give adequate dosage to do what is needed.

For yours and her future education, here are some links that may help.

Should I resort to antibiotics?
During and After Antibiotics: Staying Healthy
Antibiotics with an Infant: Delayed Effects and Counteracting Them
Reversing Damage Done by Antibiotics: When & How
How Do Natural Antibiotics/Antifungals Work?
Recovering Immune System after prolonged antibiotic use
Garlic - Research, Information, Questions
Garlic as a systemic anti fungal anti bacterial agent?
My favorite way to take garlic is.....
GOOT - Garlic Oil Ointment [treatment]
Garlic Poultice: Recipes, Tips & Tricks
Garlic Enemas: Recipes, Tips & Tricks
Garlic "dosages" for kids
Garlic Ice Cream ***
Garlic Tea for kids
Garlic Oil Safe for Internal Use ?

We also sell a book called 'Herbal Antibiotics' which might help.

Question:

Will the colon cleanse be ok for my husband who has metal plates in his arm and leg?


Answer:

I didn't really know the answer to this question. I had a time, finding someone who did.

Since bentonite clay would be the ingredient in our Detox+ that would pose the potential problem, I contacted the author of Living Clay and asked her opinion and this is what she had to say.

It is perfectly alright. It is in a different form the heavy metals in the body plus clay is not absorbed into the body so never touches the parts. I used it on my ankle all the time where I have a screw to repair a broken bone. The metals used in the body for repairs are non decomposing metals anyway. It is the ones that break down and decompose we have to worry about.

Enjoy your clay experience.

I could find no evidence to support that the rest of the ingredients would or wouldn't be harmful, although, I would suspect that it would be fine.

If the readers have some evidence to support or disprove, please leave your comments and let us know.

April 2007 - I began having severe neck and shoulder pain. Throughout the next 8 weeks I took high doses of narcotic pain killers (darvocet & vicodin) while the doctors tried to figure out what was wrong with me. At the end of May it was determined I had a neck injury and needed physical therapy. After two visits with the physical therapist, I was able to stop taking the medications. However, after a life full of antibiotics, painkillers and cold and flu treatments, this three months of medications pushed my body over the top. About three days after I stopped the medications, I began to break out in debilitating hives on a regular basis.


The attacks were severe enough that I had to go to the doctor and the emergency room to be medicated further to alleviate the symptoms just to allow me to function--barely. At one point, every lymph node in my head and neck swelled up hard while the rest of me was covered in horrible whelps (more photos at the end of the article). I had to go the emergency room to get pumped full of something that made me feel like I'd drank about 47 pots of coffee in about 5 minutes—I think it was epinephrine.

After several rounds of prednisone and other steroids given by my regular doctor with no promising results, I was sent to an allergist. This allergist told me that I had something called dermographism—the worst case he’d seen in 45 years of practicing medicine.

Dermographism, by definition, is the ability to write on one's skin (dermo--meaning--skin and graph--meaning--write). The cause is supposedly unknown, but it's a reaction by the histamine cells in the skin (dermal layer) that is triggered by blunt trauma (scratching and abrasion). In the simplest of terms, this condition appears to be an allergy to scratching.

So, now it had a name. This means I could find a cure, right? Wrong! The doctor said that my only recourse was to take antihistamines until the condition healed on it's own or until I died--whichever came first. What a great thing to look forward to.

Over the next two and half years I took the dreaded antihistamines. Meanwhile, I developed Candidasis along with several other problems that are often associated with long term use of pharmaceuticals (insomnia, fatigue, moodiness, hormonal problems, lack of energy, chemical sensitivity, etc.). I had searched around and I found several who shared my symptoms and all said there was no cure—only treatment for symptoms.

After much prayer and way too much time, a friend told me about a cleanse she was doing that was helping her severe digestive and allergenic issues. I did some research on the formulas she was using and decided to give them a try.

I did a 10-day intestinal cleanse and much to my surprise, after 2.5 long years, I was able to quit taking the antihistamines. Over the next couple of months the symptoms were nearly gone but I decided to another ten days on this cleanse. I followed up with strong probiotics to recolonize my poor (but clean) gut. I felt better than I had in months.

A friend also did the cleanse with me the first time and was cured of his life long eczema. He is 34 years old and has never been "itch free". He was also very happy with this cleanse.

After this second cleanse, I was feeling great but still not quite there. I still got hives occasionally and usually as a reaction to some food or another, but the cause was never pinpointed.

I called the boss at Bulk Herb Store and told him about this cleanse. He and the Mrs. were also working on some cleansing, so they came up with a formula that closely matched the one I had used twice previously and called it Detox +.

I still had some straggling symptoms and we needed a good test for this new formula so I did ten days on this one as well. That was it! Apparently, the third time really IS the charm. I’ve been symptom free for months. The really nice thing about it, is the price! Detox + cost 1/2 the price of the original formula I used in my first two cleanses.

Now, the only time I get hives is when I go to the chiropractor and she explained this is probably due to toxins built up that are being released from the muscle as they relax from the adjustment. So after the adjustment she recommended I do a single day of detox. After the last adjustment, I came home and took one dose of Detox + (I had some left over) and a fruit/vegetable smoothie and the next day I felt pretty good. No hives.

After several years of illness, it feels so great to feel great!

After a bit more research on the individual ingredients, I found that this is probably the best thing anyone could do to get started on the road to recovery from just about any illness. The clay and the charcoal in Detox + will cling to and remove so many different metals, pharmaceuticals and environmental toxins from the body. For more information on environmental toxins, see this blog entry.

CAUTION: It should be noted that following the first cleanse, I quit taking my prescription medications and as a result suffered some severe withdrawal. I did this without the supervision of a physician, but would not necessarily recommend that anyone else do this. It was a difficult time for me because the withdrawal from this particular medication caused me to itch, so it was very difficult for me to determine the difference between the original symptoms of my illness and the symptoms of withdrawal.

To help make this determination, I began to take magnesium-rich herbal teas on the recommendation of a friend (see this blog entry for more info). I believe the magnesium helped to calm and heal the nerve endings allowing the withdrawal to pass and to allow my body to heal from the trauma and the cleanse. If you take any types of medications, please consult with your physician before you quit taking them and be aware that this formula will interfere with medications if you take them together. It is recommended that all supplements and medications be taken at least three hours prior to ingestion of the Detox + formula.

Shoshanna has done the Detox+ and has her recommended procedures listed on the Bulk Herb Store product page for doing so. I did mine a little different because I was doing a direct product comparison. So for any that are interested, here are the steps I took.

I used a strong laxative herbal supplement called Intestinal Formula 1 by Dr. Schulze in place of a fiber supplement. I took one of these a day after supper for three days to make sure my bowels were moving. I took approximately a heaping teaspoon of the Detox + every three hours a total of five times each day for ten days. I drank 16 oz of water with each dose (this is very important). Each day, if the bowels were not moving 2-3 times easily, then I took one more of the laxative capsules each day until they were moving again. By the peak of the cleanse, I was taking 10 of these laxative capsules. I continued to take 1-2 laxative capsules per day after I stopped the Detox + to make sure I got everything moved out. I made no changes to my eating habits, except to say that, I ate less because my belly felt full more often with all the bulk and the water.

Between the three cleanses, I tried capsules and powder mixed in juice. Both were equally effective and the juice concoction didn’t taste awful; however, sugar promotes candida, so for the Detox + (round three), I decided to capsulize it myself to help keep so that I could take it with water and avoid the sugar in the juice. You could mix the powder in water, but it was less tasty and I wasn’t willing to drink it this way. If you decide to use capsules, you’ll need 500 of the larger capsules. You’ll take 10 for each dose, 5 times a day for 10 days. It really just depends on what you’re more comfortable with.

If you try using this formula at home, we’d love to hear your success stories. Please send us a note or feel free to comment on this blog to let others know how you fared.

(click to enlarge)

Cha-cha-cha-chia!

That familiar little jingle reminds most of us of those cute little novelties gifts—the little clay animals with sprouts for hair. We call them Chia Pets™. But, did you know that you can eat this lovely little gem—the chia seed?

Chia comes from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, in the family Lamiaceae (the mint family) native to southern Mexico. It’s most notably associated with the Aztecs in ancient history and was considered so valuable by these people that is was often given as a tribute to the rulers.

Chia is trying to make a comeback after centuries of neglect. It was a major crop in central Mexico between 1500 and 900 B.C., but after the Spanish conquest, it was banned because of its close association with Aztec religion. Until recently, chia was produced by only a few small growers, but commercial production has resumed in Latin America, and you can now buy the seeds online and in health food stores.

As a food source, chia is no novelty. Chia seeds are a great source of protein, boron, amylase and antioxidants. They are also one of the richest sources of linoleic acid (LA), an important omega 3 fatty acid that the body cannot produce on it’s own.

Chia can be used in recipes as a sprout or one could grind the seeds (just like flax) and sprinkle a bit of it's nutty flavor on salads, sandwiches or other dishes. In addition to it’s wonderful nutrient content, it’s also a great source of fiber and it’s a great natural appetite suppressant—in the form of bulk in the tummy. The seed will absorb 9 times it’s weight in water in less than 10 minutes and is very simple to prepare.

If you’re not quite, convinced, try leaving spoonful of chia in a glass of water and leaving it for approximately 30 minutes or so. When you return the mixture be an almost solid gelatin. This gel-forming reaction is due to the soluble fiber in the chia. Researchers conclude that this same phenomenon happens in the stomach causing a full tummy and--it’s thought--a physical barrier between carbohydrates and the digestive enzymes that break them down, thus slowing the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar.

Seeds mixed in water, lemon/lime juice and sugar is a mixture known in Mexico and Central America as "chia fresca." Chia seeds may be ground into pinole, a meal that can be used for porridge or baked goods.

Here are some great recipes using chia seeds you can try for yourself. Be sure and let us know how you like them.


Chia Gel

Make chia gel (8-9 parts water to 1 part chia seeds) by soaking chia seeds in water for at least 12 hours. It's best to make small batches. Use clean quart-sized jars filled with three cups water. Stir the water while adding one-third cup chia seeds. Avoid clumping by stirring several times within 10 minutes until chia seeds are well blended and do not separate from the water. Store gel in refrigerator for 12 hours. Chia gel can be added to many foods and drinks. Try using half chia gel and half juice (of any kind). Can also be added to salad dressings, dips, spreads, soups, etc.

The gel should store well in the fridge for up to two weeks. Try adding it to jams, jellies, hot or cold cereals, yogurts, mustard, ketchup, tarter sauce, BBQ sauce or your baking as an egg and/or fat substitute.


Chia Lemonade

1 T. chia seeds
1 c. natural apple juice
2 teas. Lemon juice
Ice

Combine chia seeds and apple juice and let soak 30 minutes until it thickens like jelly. Add lemon and ice for a refreshing slushy drink.


Banana Bread with Chia Seeds

½ c. sugar
5 T. Butter, softened
2 large eggs
1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
2 T. chia seeds
6 oz. vanilla yogurt
¾ c. ripe mashed bananas (about 1-1/2 bananas)
¼ tsp. vanilla extract
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and ground cloves. Stir in chia seeds. Add flour mixture and yogurt alternately to sugar mixture, beating well and beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in bananas and vanilla. Pour batter into an 8x4 inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan and enjoy.


Papaya Salad Dressing

1 Papaya (skinned, seeded, sliced)
½ c. orange juice
1 T. Soaked chia seeds
1 tsp. Lime juice
1 tsp. Chile powder spice
Sea salt to taste

Blend 45-60 seconds or to desired smoothness. Drizzle over favorite salad.


Chia French Toast

Bread
Eggs
Chia seeds

Prepare chia gel.

Beat eggs and mix in 1 or 2 teaspoons of chia gel (per slice of toast) into egg mixture. Prepare French toast as normal.


Apricot Truffles

1 c. almonds, soaked for 12-48 hours and blanched
1 c. dried apricots
½ c. honey dates
1 T. Lemon zest
1 tsp.
½ T. chia seeds

Process the almonds, apricots and dates in a food processor. Add lemon zest, vanilla and chia seeds. Form dough into small balls and chill before serving.


Other ideas you might try:

Sprinkle in with Grape Nuts and/or Trail Mix (about 1 tsp).
Blend in with salad dressing.
Mix into yogurt.
Add to stews and slow-cooker recipes.
Sprinkle into salads, oatmeal, couscous, eggs, muffins, quesadillas, sandwiches or soups.

Question:

I am wondering what you guys know about kefir and if you drink it yourself.


Answer:

I love, love, love kefir. It's so versatile and it's so good for you!


excerpt from Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, Ph.D.

Kefir is a cultured and microbial-rich food that helps restore the inner ecology. It contains strains of beneficial yeast and beneficial bacteria (in a symbiotic relationship) that give kefir antibiotic properties. A natural antibiotic--and it's made from milk! The finished product is not unlike that of a drink-style yogurt, but kefir has a more tar, refreshing taste and contains completely different microorganisms...kefir does not feed yeast, and it usually doesn't even bother people who are lactose intolerant. That's because the friendly bacteria and the beneficial yeast growing in the kefir consume most of the lactose and provide very efficient enzymes (lactase) for consuming whatever lactose is till left after the culturing process...kefir is mucous-forming, but...the slightly mucus-forming quality is exactly what makes kefir work for us. The mucus has a "clean" quality to it that coats the lining of the digestive tract, creating a sort of nest where beneficial bacteria can settle and colonize...

Kefir is made from gelatinous white or yellow particles called "grains." The grains contain the bacteria/yeast mixture clumped together with casein (milk proteins) and polysaccharides (complex sugars). They look like pieces or coral or small clumps of cauliflower and rage from the size of a grain of wheat to that of a hazelnut. Some grains have been known to grow in large flat sheets that can be big enough to cover your hand. No other milk culture forms grains...making kefir truly unique. Once the grains ferment the milk by incorporating their friendly organisms into the final product, you remove these grains with a strainer before drinking the kefir. The grains are then added to a new batch of milk, and the process continues indefinitely. Donna Gates The Body Ecology Diet.

Kefir
Make 2 cups

2 cups fresh whole milk, nonhomogenized and preferably raw
1/2 cup good quality cream (optional)
1 tablespoon kefir grains or
1 package kefir powder...

Kefir is thicker than piima milk or buttermilk and has a wonderful tart flavor.

If using kefir grains, place them in a fine strainer and rinse with filtered water. Place milk and optional cream in a clean wide-mouth, quart-size mason jar. If milk is cold, place jar in a a pan of simmering water until milk reaches room temperature. Add kefir grains or powder to milk, stir well and cover loosely with a cloth. Place in a warm place (65 to 76 degrees) for 12 hours to 2 days.

If using the powder, kefir is ready when it thickens, usually within 24 hours.

If using grains, stir vigorously occasionally to redistribute the grains. Every time you stir, taste the kefir. When it achieves a tartness to your liking, the kefir is ready. The kefir may also become thick and effervescent, depending on the temperature, incubation time and the amount of curds you use. Pour the kefir through a strainer into another jar to remove the grains. Store in refrigerator. Use the grains to make another batch of kefir, or prepare them for storage by rinsing them well with water and placing in a small jar with about 1/2 cup filtered water. They may be stored in the refrigerator several weeks or in the freezer for several months. If they are left too long in storage, they will lose their culturing power.

Kefir can be used in place of buttermilk and yogurt in many recipes (buttermilk biscuits! yum!) It's a great beverage. We like to add sweet, fruit and/or vanilla when we consume it as a beverage. Also when you get to a point where you have too many grains, you can add some of the grains to your smoothies for an extra probiotic punch. No waste and you have population control.

I also think that kefir would be a great base for the new herba smoothie blends. If you've tried this, please share your results with us.


Here's a couple of links with tons of info from ladies who make kefir all the time.

http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,5403.0.html



Here's 2 links that includes people who are willing to share their grains.

http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,5403.0.html (this link requires membership for trading)
http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php

Red seems to be the new 'blond' these days. It's become very popular, I've noticed, over the last few years or so. My own husband seems to appreciate the beauty in the redheaded population and I'm just getting to a point where I'm just happy if my gray hairs don't show. However, after many years of playing with hair color in a bottle, I've suffered from itchy, dry and unhealthy scalp and to be honest, red out of bottle, looks just like that--red out of a BOTTLE.

A friend recently colored her hair red and it suits her, but not her hair. The hair looks brittle, dry and broken and the color is muted and fades within weeks. I've also had the same experience with my hair in the past as well after using reds and auburns from the store rack. My hair colored with henna, on the other hand, looks healthy, shiny, healthy and bright.

Henna is a great herb! It not only colors the hair, but it adds nutrients and shine to the hair and scalp. I've noticed less split ends since I've started using it and the color doesn't fade. The only issue becomes the roots which grow out, but if you like to color your hair, this will always be something you have to deal with. The other nice thing about doing your roots, is you can do the whole head without worry of over treating the previously colored hair, because the henna does not bleach or dry the hair the way the bottle dyes will do.

Now, there is one drawback...it's messy...but I think that can be fun too if you let it.

If you have long hair, you'll probably need about 1 cup of henna powder, less if you have short hair. Put this in a stainless steel or glass bowl as the mix will stain just about anything it touches. Add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar and then add enough boiling water to make a thin paste (think pancake batter). Allow this to sit for 20 minutes or so (or longer) to allow the vinegar to actually pull the color from the herb. Mix again and then you're ready to apply.

While you're waiting for your henna to 'cook', prepare any working surfaces by covering them with towels, rags or drop cloths. I have been known to do this over the bathroom sink but after many a mess, I've just started kneeling over the tub. It's much easier and less mess after. The henna doesn't stain my porcelain tub.

Get some plastic gloves to keep from staining your hands. If you do it gloveless, the color will stain your skin and nails, but it will wash after several days.

Next, you need to prepare your skin. Henna will stain your face as well. You need to get a thick oil for this. I've used, eden salve, hair conditioner, olive oil, castor oil, vaseline, mineral oil and just about any other oil you can think up and they all work. Carefully oil your face all along the scalp line. Oil up the ears and neck as well. This is going to prevent staining. You might get some, but it will be minimal enough, it will generally fade after 1 or 2 washings.

You'll need some extra towels and rags for drips and cleanup and you'll need saran wrap or plastic shopping bags and towels to wrap around your head. And wear old clothes, because they will get stained as well. I keep a set of clothes just for this and use them over and over.

Put on your gloves and lean over the tub or the sink and begin to part your hair with your fingers. Grab a handful of 'mud' and work it into the hair beginning at the scalp and down the hair a few inches. Do the whole head this way in small sections until you have your scalp hair thoroughly saturated. Make sure to work more 'mud' along the hair line all the way around your head. For now, don't worry about the drips.

Once you've got the scalp and hairline done, start taking what's left in the bowl in small handfuls and begin working it through the bottom of the hair starting from where you left off at the scalp until you have all the hair saturated. This is not like washing your hair. You shouldn't rub, scrub, twist or stir the hair in any way, or you'll have a tangled mess when you're done. You want to push the mud into the hair in much the same fashion as if you were trying to wring water from your hair.

Add any remaining henna into the hair, just for good measure. If you find you're finished and you have areas left uncovered, you can try to work some down from the top or you can mix up some more if need be. This isn't real convenient, but if you're quick about it, you shouldn't have any problems with timing or color differences.

Wrap the length of your hair around your head like a crown and mush it down. It should stay pretty well. After all, it's now full of mud. Now, you should have your bags (I've used WalMart bags before.) or your saran wrap handy. Wrap the plastic around the hair and scalp to contain the warmth and wetness. You do NOT want this to dry up in your hair. It will dry your scalp a bit AND you won't get the same color effect from a dry herb. Now wrap the towel around the plastic to help preserve the warmth. The effect is actually better and faster if you can keep warmed towels on your head, but I'm too lazy to mess with this, so I usually don't bother with it.

For maximum color effect and the least amount of drying to the scalp, I leave it on for three hours. The experts say you can leave it on for as little as 45 minutes and I've left it on for as many as 5 hours because the city had a leak and turned our water off. The shorter time span gave too little color change to suit me and the five hours made my head itch furiously for days after I washed it out. Use your own best judgment.

Next, time for the shower. Remove the towel and plastic and jump in. Now the easiest way to get this stuff out is to use over-the-counter cheap (Suave) hair conditioner. Pour gobs of it into your hair and work it through with your fingers or a large toothed comb and then rinse. This will mess up the inside of your shower, but don't worry, when you're done, it will clean up easily enough. You don't have to use the conditioner but it does make the task much easier. I've also rinsed it with nothing but water. Once the bulk of the herbs are out of my hair, I proceed to wash as normal. I've used shampoo and soap and find that neither will change the color treatment, but I only use soap these days because of the detergents in the shampoo. I've found that the vinegar rinse I use on my hair also doesn't cause any problems.

Do not be surprised if you lose a few loose hairs. I always do on the day I dye, but the hair loss doesn't seem to be an ongoing problem, just a cleaning of the closet, so to speak. It usually only lasts a day or two and I'm thinking it's more from the movement of the hair rather than any chemical damage. I lost alot more hair on a regular basis when I used shampoo and bottle dyes on a regular basis.

Also, don't be surprised if you feel a bit of grit left in your scalp after your hair dries. I always have this. It's usually less if I used the conditioner to wash, but it's always there and I think it's actually a good thing, because you actually get a bit more coloring action until the next time you wash. After the next couple of combings and one or two washings, the grit is usually gone.

If you're not sure or confident enough to just dive right in, you can color test your henna first. You can get a wad of your hair from your hairbrush and dye it first using the steps above. See what color it turns before you decide.

Henna will NOT dye everyone's hair the same color. It depends on the color of the hair you already have. Henna does not bleach the underlying color. It blends with your natural color. This is why it looks so much more natural than bottled dyes. Since, the average person has many colors in their hair, you will still have this when you're done. The henna will mix differently with every different color you already have to give natural looking streaks and highlights.

You can dye bleached and/or colored hair as well, but the results, again, will vary. If you're a blond, the result from Red Henna, will give a warm orange/red color. If you're darker headed, you'll get a darker red. Brunettes, will get a black red or dark auburn effect.

If you try this at home, be sure and leave a comment and let us know how you liked it. I've been using this on my hair for some years and I'll probably be a redhead 'til I dye. *wink*

Here's a pretty good video I found that will give you a visual of everything you've just read. The only difference I can see is that she makes her mix a bit dryer. I've done this before, and I really believe the wetter consistency works better especially if you want drastic color change. She also lets her mix sit over night, which I've never done before, but I might have to try it next time and see if there is a difference.

We've had enough illness in the house, that everyone is getting tired of the same ol' mullein tea mix, so yesterday, I decided to whoop up another recipe.






This one is relatively simple

1/4 cup Very Berry Tea (not currently available)
1/4 cup mullein
2-4 T stevia leaf
1/4 cup oatstraw
1 gallon of water

Boil about 4 cups of the gallon of water. Add the herbs and allow to boil for 1 minute (the directions on the Very Berry Tea suggest cooking on low for 10 minutes just up to, but not boiling to pull more of the goodies out. Steep for 15 minutes or more. Strain WELL. Add back in the rest of the water and serve cold (Hot would probably work as well, but it made a nice glass of iced tea.)

If you're coughing, the last thing you want in your tea is mullein hairs. They will get stuck in the back the throat and cause irritation, hacking, choking, etc.

I recommend you strain your herbs more than once. What I did was reach my hand into the herb pot and grabbed handfuls of herbs and wrung them out much like a dishcloth and disposed of the herbs as I was finished with each handful. Then I ran what was left through a metal strainer to get the rest of the "chunks". Then I ran it through a double thickness of flour-sack dishtowel (a t-shirt would work well) to filter the finer fragments (hairs).

My last recipe was a dandy, but the sinus and bronchial inflammation was severe enough this go around, that I decided to add some more herbs to give the tea a better bang for the buck. The elderberries in the Very Berry Tea Mix have strong immune building properties. The elderberries and red raspberry leaf also contain anti-inflammatory properties and the bilberry is a vasoconstrictor, which helped to shrink the blood vessels in the nose and bronchial airways to allow a better flow of air and loosen congestion.

This recipe is pretty tasty too. One of my kids who usually doesn't like tea, took to this one, so I guess it's a hit and it's a great recipe for the creeping "yuck".

Now, unfortunately, the Very Berry Tea mix is no longer available, but Shoshanna has been kind enough to give me permission to share the recipe with you, so that you can make your own.


Also, we do now carry the Very Berry Tincture mix and it is very similar to the Very Berry Tea mix listed above. Although, I've not yet tried it, I'm sure you could use this mixture as a substitute for the other. The only concern would be straining the powders. This will be a bit more tedious than straining leaves, but I find that a quick strain through the metal strainer to get the bulk of the herbs out and then a run through a flour sack (my cloth of choice) works very well. If you're using mullein, this isn't an extra step, you should be doing it anyway.

More on my favorite herb. As I mentioned in previous entries, garlic is amazingly effective at fighting all types of symptoms and illnesses. Garlic infused oil is another method that can be used in lieu of ingestion and is quite effective at soothing an infected eardrum, swollen glands, or alleviating sinus inflammation.

You'll need some more fresh, raw cloves of garlic (peeled), olive oil, a small "finger" bowl or small coffee cup (aprox 4-8 oz capacity is best), a larger water-tight container and some hot water (hot tap water is generally sufficient).

1. Fill the larger container with the hot water to a level below the top of the finger bowl. (You don't want the water to overflow into the finger bowl.)
2. Crush 2-3 cloves of garlic.
3. Place the crushed pieces of garlic into the finger bowl and spread them evenly across.
4. Pour enough oil to just cover the garlic.
5. Carefully, place the finger bowl inside the container full of water.
6. Allow this to sit for 10 minutes. (Any longer, and the garlic may lose it's potency and any less and you just won't get the maximum effect.)
7. Strain the oil and apply.
8. Rub the extra on the rest of the body or use it to season a salad. (Although, it won't hurt to store and use it later, the oil is just generally not as potent after 20 minutes or so.)

--For ear pain, use a dropper to put this warm infusion directly into the ear and insert a half a cotton ball just inside the ear canal to help keep the oil inside the ear up close to the problem. The garlic will start working on the problem and the warm oil will sooth and protect the eardrum from the cold and the wind.

--For sinus congestion, apply the oil directly to the sinus cavities. This can sting a bit, especially if your face is irritated from excessive nose blowing. If the skin begins to redden or blister, wash the oil off immediately, else let it sit for at least 20 minutes and take a nice steamy shower and inhale deeply. This can go a long way to help alleviate congestion and rid you of the nasty little buggies that caused the problem in the first place.

--For any other pain or ailment, attempt to apply the oil as close to the area as possible. Expect a bit of a sting no matter where you put it, but any redness or blistering is a sign that the skin is burning and the oil should be washed away immediately with warm water and soap. If irritation is not a problem, leave oil to soak on the skin for at least 20 minutes before wiping away.

Try adding other herbs like mullein, plantain or goldenrod can be infused with the garlic for a more potent and/or different effect.

see also: Garlic: Nature's Best Medicine (part 1) and How to Make & Use a Garlic Poultice (part 2)

Question:

I had a question about the detoxing/colon cleanse that I purchased from you. I am currently on diethylpropion er, acarbose and alli for weight loss. I was wondering if I could just go ahead and do the cleanse program or will it be harmful in some way? That meds that I am on is for weight loss and I will be on it for 2 more months. I have been on them for 1 month already. I wish I would have seen your program first, I am thinking it will help in my problem with my weight, which seems to be stuck/glued onto me!


Answer:

I'm not familiar with these medications you mentioned and cannot give you a direct answer to your question; however, I can tell you that:

1) The charcoal and the bentonite clay in the detox + can absorb and steal supplements and pharmaceuticals right along with the toxins you're trying to pull. If taking medications while on this type of cleanse, it is generally wisest to make sure and take them at least three hours prior to your detox mixtures.

2) This type of cleanse can also steal your minerals and vitamins--which over a short period of time, may make little difference, so long as you're eating good healthy, balanced meals; however, if you're already suppressing your appetite, thereby, decreasing your nutrition intake in order to lose weight, you risk malnutrition and a lowered immune response for healing.

I personally, would NOT recommend taking these things together. I would make sure I stopped dieting before I started cleansing.

If you need further clarification, I would recommend that you check with the physician that prescribed you the medications or the pharmacist from which you purchased it.

As I mentioned in a previous article, garlic is a potent antidote for many a thing that ails the body. One of the quickest ways to get the "goodies" right to the source of the problem is a poultice, a really quick and easy way to utilize this wonderful herb when ingestion is not an option (nausea, vomiting, reluctance to taste).

You'll need some fresh raw garlic cloves from your local grocer or health food store, a paper towel, coffee filter or a thin piece of cloth about the same size, a time piece able to count the seconds, and a cup of hot (not boiling) water--about 130 degrees is generally sufficient.

1. Take a couple cloves of garlic and peel away the papery skin.
2. Take the garlic and place on a flat surface and bruise/crush the cloves until the skin is broken in several spots to allow the goodies from the inside to come out.
3. Wrap the broken cloves into the paper towel, coffee filter, or cloth.
4. Take the poultice and dip it into the cup of hot water and drain the excess water.
5. Place the now heated poultice directly on the skin anywhere on the body that is most comfortable for no more than 90 seconds. (Sometimes the closer to the symptomatic body part is the most effective, but any spot should do.)

NOTE: In cases where nausea is a problem, the feet are often a preferred spot because they are the furthest from the nose. Any more than 90 seconds on any one spot on the body could cause skin irritations and/or burns.

6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 several times, each time being careful to move to a new location on the skin and remove after no more than 90 seconds.

You're done! This is one of the easiest things to do and yet it's so powerful. I've seen fevers reduced and tummy upsets disappear within minutes with no other added treatments. It also works well in conjunction with most other treatments without worry of harmful interactions.

Watch Shoshanna make a garlic poultice in this preview of "Making Herbs Simple".



If you watched the video, you'll notice that Shoshanna's method was a bit different than what I posted above, but the premise and the effects are generally the same. If you're just not sure which one will work better, try both methods and see which one you like best!

see also: Garlic: Nature's Best Medicine (part 1) and How to Make & Use Garlic Oil Infusions (part 3)