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Posted 9/11/2016 8:36 AM (GMT -5)
Abx for 42 days. Tomorrow will be beginning of third week off abx. Tried Burber and Banderol couldn't tolerate. Began Eleuthero last Wednesday. Works very well for me. I got up to three drops and had sleep trouble so today dropped back to two drops.

Main question: I am to begin ashwaganda tomorrow.

Yesterday Stephania root and teasel finally arrived. Red Root and scullcap on its way.

I want to begin with Stephania root (unless you experts think otherwise).

1. When do I begin Stephania if I'm beginning ashwaganda tomorrow, Monday?

2. Any side effects with Stephania root I should be aware of?

Thanks.
Posted 9/11/2016 8:39 AM (GMT -5)
Yeah! Your herbs arrived!

Yes, wait to start the Stephania until Monday or later, depending on how you do with the Ashwagandha.

From my understanding, you would watch for the same things with Stephania as you would with Japanese Knotweed. Herxing and allergic reactions. Just remember to start low and slow! And detox, detox, detox! :-)
Posted 9/11/2016 8:43 AM (GMT -5)
Traveller,

Thanks. What would a herx/allergic reaction look like with Stephania root? I muscle tested it and it was neither positive nor negative. I did it six times and my body stayed straight. Thoughts?

I'm beginning ashwaganda tomorrow so don't want to start SR the same day. Three days later good?

Happy Sunday.

Thanks.
Posted 9/11/2016 8:51 AM (GMT -5)
Yep, usually 3 days is enough, although if your body doesn't seem to be "settled" with it, give it another couple of days before starting the Stephania.

Allergic reactions usually come with itching and sometimes hives, closing of the throat (swelling), and so on. The only side effects that Buhner lists is constipation - so do be sure that you watch for that. Otherwise he states that "No other side effects have been reported.

But it's a drug/herb synergist - it can increase the effectiveness of any herb or drug you may already be taking, so it could create a need to lower other meds/herbs - but I wouldn't think that would be an issue until you are up to a moderate dose - but still, do watch for it.
Posted 9/11/2016 9:45 AM (GMT -5)
You are trying to decide between starting Ash and Step on Monday, is that correct? Or are you going to start Ash on Monday? If you start Ash on Monday then you should at least wait 3 days before you start Stephania. If you start Step on Monday then you should wait at least 3 days before you start Ash.

Never start 2 herbs on the same day. How will you know which one caused a problem??? Give an herb enough time (at least 3 days) before you add another.

I never did this, by the way. I wanted to see what my maximum tolerable dose was for each individual herb. So I did one herb at a time and felt it all the way to my maximum of that herb. When I felt that was all I needed, then I moved on and started another herb. The synergy effect still was attained.
Posted 9/11/2016 9:55 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks Trav and Peteza,

I am going to start ashwaganda tomorrow since eleuthero is helping me so much, and ashwaganda is sort of its 'friend' I'm hoping I tolerate it well and that they both aid with energy. I also have an interview this week so will wait a few days before beginning Stephania Root.

I think my tolerance is low. I backed down to two drops of the eleuthero as three made me unable to fall asleep. Even before lyme I would do children dosages on most meds. Hope that will be enough for me.

Thanks.
Posted 9/11/2016 10:02 AM (GMT -5)
Huddie, I am like you with the children's dose. I used liquid children's benadryl to help me sleep at night. I was afraid of Ashwagndaha. I thought it was probably best saved for someone that could take adult doses. My well husband takes it to help him sleep better at night.

I could not tolerate 1 drop of eleutherococcus. It was like taking an amphetamine to me.

Just remember as you titrate up in dosing that you are not like anyone else and you need to find your own maximum dosage. Maybe 2 drops is your max. There is nothing wrong with that! Buhner's doses are suggestions and he says that over and over.
Posted 9/11/2016 10:08 AM (GMT -5)
Peteza,

THANK YOU! Immensely helpful. I was also worried about elu. I'm a high energy person so anything that gives energy I steer clear of. I think it's working for me now because I have so much fatigue. Honestly it is the worst part of this for me. I didn't know ashwaganda is so very powerful. I may try a drop because I read that while it helps with fatigue it is also a relaxant -thought process being that it will level out the ele. I better reread both today.

Stephania Root I am trying because JK is too strong for me and I muscle tested negatively for it.

Which herbs did work for you? Thanks.
Posted 9/11/2016 10:17 AM (GMT -5)
Trav,

Just muscle tested Stephania root, eue and ash and practically fell backwards on all three. Can it be that my body doesn't like any herbs?

Elu mt'd well the other day - could that one be because I already took it this morning?

SR and ash practically knocked me back. Maybe too late in day?

So confusing!

Thanks.
Posted 9/11/2016 10:31 AM (GMT -5)
Huddie how are you muscle testing? If you are holding the whole bottle that is not a good way to test especially if you are only taking one drop. Get it?
Posted 9/11/2016 11:19 AM (GMT -5)
I would just like to add to beware of the time of day you take Eleuthero and Ash. They work differently for everyone, however for me I cannot take Eleut. after 4 or 5 pm if I want to sleep that night. (Buhner even recommends not taking it later than 4. Ash. can relax you too much during the day so if it does, take it once a day an hour before bed until you are used to it. Now that I am used to the Ash I take it 2-3 X a day.

I am hopeful for you that these herbs will help!
Posted 9/11/2016 11:24 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks Peteza and Denikeef,

I am only taking Elu in the morning. I took extra drop in afternoon Friday/Saturday and both nights had lots of trouble sleeping. I am going to try ash. mid morning because most things that help people sleep, keep me awake. I'm odd that way. Tried Ambien and Nyquil once (not together) and both gave me insomnia. I don't do sleep aids.
Posted 9/11/2016 2:34 PM (GMT -5)
Just to show the contrast of how these thing affect everyone - eleuthero doesn't have any effects on me either way. I MT it just fine.

Ashwagandha was one that I started at night, as that's what is suggested, and didn't sleep a single hour that night, so I skipped the next day and then started taking it upon rising, like I do with my adrenal and thyroid meds, and it's been one of the herbs I've been the most responsive to. I MT'd it first thing in the am that day and was good, so I started it. I now take it upon rising and then again no later than 2 pm and am doing very well with it - as in I can't imagine living without it!
Posted 9/11/2016 2:36 PM (GMT -5)
And yet another contrast is me ;)

Neither Eleuthero nor Ashwagandha affected me either way.
Posted 9/11/2016 2:54 PM (GMT -5)
This is getting to be a really good thread showing the differences in our needs!!
Posted 9/11/2016 3:03 PM (GMT -5)
I know I love it! Trav, thanks to you I will try the ash in the AM. I am beyond grateful for ALL of your wisdom, and generosity of sharing it, but especially grateful for keeping insomnia at bay. Thanks.
Posted 9/11/2016 3:17 PM (GMT -5)
If you find it makes you sleepy, then you know to try it at night! The beauty of having so many that have used it before you!! You can glean enough information to help you determine when to take it for you!! :-)
Posted 9/11/2016 3:29 PM (GMT -5)
Whenever I've been muscle tested it is sometimes with the whole bottle or whatever is in the vial.
Posted 9/11/2016 3:44 PM (GMT -5)
Me too - entire bottle or vial. Peteza's idea of doing the dosage needed makes perfect sense. My body was probably thinking "NO! I don't want an tire bottle of Seraphina Root."
Posted 9/11/2016 3:57 PM (GMT -5)
It's not that your body is taking into consideration "how much", it's the actual chemical makeup in contrast to your body. The only thing that I know is that muscle testing has been about "90%" accurate for me. So there is that "10%"- lol.
Posted 9/11/2016 4:22 PM (GMT -5)
Krimpet,

That is so fitting with your September quote! So you just roll the dice and go for it? LOL! I'm doing that with the Stephania root. Body said no, but I'll mt again tomorrow and see.
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