Herx Hysteria: What the Herx is Happening?
"Why is my heart racing now? My muscles feel so achey. I am fatigued again, my head hurts, I'm nauseous, and I just feel...blah." As these thoughts float through your head, you begin posting on social media and someone suggests that you may be Herxing. But what does that even mean? Does your doctor understand Herxheimer reactions? Let's dig a little deeper.
Herxheimer reactions are the body's response to the release of endotoxins from microbes as they die, typically from treatment. This reaction was first noticed by two dermatologists, Jarisch and Herxheimer when treating syphilis. Patients had exacerbated symptoms that the doctors attributed to toxins from the die-off of the syphilitic bacteria. Herxheimer reactions, or Herxing, is now often associated with lyme disease treatment.
What if the key word is not Herxheimer, but reaction? I hope to clarify three types of reactions in this article to help guide you in your recovery from chronic illness. The first is the traditional Herxheimer reaction from microbial die off. Next is a start-up reaction and lastly, detoxification from other sources.
Herxheimer Reactions
As described above, Herxing is when the body is overwhelmed with the endotoxins of microbial die-off. This is often in response to a treatment based on killing the microbes. David Jernigan, DC has spent much time detailing the issues with this philosophy of microbial treatment, "elimination of these [endo]toxins must be given just as high a priority as the actual infection. (Jernigan 122)." This topic is covered extensively in Beating Lyme Disease. Individual symptoms vary based on which infections are present and the treatment utilized. Often this is an exacerbation of already present symptoms.
(Google Images)
Start-up Reactions
Have you ever turned the ignition on a car that has sat in a garage for an extended period of time? What typically happens? It sputters, it spits out dark exhaust and crud, then finally runs as hoped. You can compare this to a start-up reaction. When your cells begin optimizing processes that were previously dormant, there will be an increased demand for nutrient and an increased load of free radicals from those cells (this does not feel good). These cells can be stimulated by laser, exercise, herbs, a new diet, or nutraceuticals. With many patients, this feeling comes on suddenly and is reported as feeling like "being hit by a truck." Often this is a need for more co-enzymes (possibly B-vitamins or ferritin) or electrolytes.
Detoxification
This type of reaction is similar to a Herxheimer reaction except the cause and offending toxin is different. You are still detoxifying but at his point it may be heavy metals, environmental toxins, or other toxic substances. This may occur during a purposeful detox when the clearance pathways are overwhelmed.
(Google Images)
So Which One Is Making Me Feel Like Garbage?
It can be difficult to determine which reaction is affecting you just by symptoms. In general, Herxheimer reactions are often an exacerbation of infectious symptoms and detoxification. Start-up reactions often resemble deficiency indications that correspond to the nutrient that is in need. Typical detoxification symptoms can mimic the flu or a hangover. Bio-Resonance Scanning helps me, as a clinician, to determine what is the best route to approach a reaction. Regardless of which reactions are giving you issues, we can start with a broad recommendation.
Before You Begin a Treatment
As you begin any treatment protocol, ensure that you have all the building blocks in place, such as: fluid intake, diet, vitamins, minerals, a healing team, and detoxification support. This step is crucial, as you can rebuild an engine but the car still won't run without fuel.
Common Issues with Reactions
In my clinical experience, there are five common factors with any reaction. These are:
1. Excess Toxin Load
2. Low Blood Sugar
3. Dehydration
4. Electrolyte Imbalance/Nutrient Deficiency
5. Inflammation
How to React to a Reaction
As a physician, it is important that I empower patients in their healing and transformation. Here are a few ways you can positively react to a reaction:
1. Stay hydrated. This can be through drinking water, taking a bath, or in an emergency, getting IV fluids.
2. Balance your electrolytes or nutrient deficiencies. Broad spectrum minerals, B-complex, or electrolyte powders are of great values when dealing with a reaction.
3. Eat something. Sometimes a patient will start to feel bad, skip a meal or two, and then end up in a full blown reaction. This could have been slowed or eliminated with a snack.
4. Use a toxin binder to help "soak up" those excess toxins that have been released. Antioxidants are vital in these area as well.
5. Make sure your detoxification pathways are open. Are you sweating, breathing, pooping, and urinating? When my kids don't feel good, one of the first questions I ask is, "How's your poop?"
6. Keep your brain turned-on. This is a broad term I use for neurological coherence. Our patients go home with a personal functional neurological program that can be used during a stressful period. Anyone can start with a simple cross crawl exercise though.
7. Reduce inflammation via natural means.
Closing
I sincerely hope this article has helped clarify the different types of reactions that you may experience and possibly shed some light on how people have dealt with them. This is an important aspect of the healing process and undervalued in healthcare. If it was helpful, please share it with friends and family.
In health,
Martin C. Hart, DC, NASM-CES
Chiropractic Physician
Jernigan, David. Beating Lyme Disease.
This article is for information purposes only, it is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.
Herxheimer reactions are the body's response to the release of endotoxins from microbes as they die, typically from treatment. This reaction was first noticed by two dermatologists, Jarisch and Herxheimer when treating syphilis. Patients had exacerbated symptoms that the doctors attributed to toxins from the die-off of the syphilitic bacteria. Herxheimer reactions, or Herxing, is now often associated with lyme disease treatment.
What if the key word is not Herxheimer, but reaction? I hope to clarify three types of reactions in this article to help guide you in your recovery from chronic illness. The first is the traditional Herxheimer reaction from microbial die off. Next is a start-up reaction and lastly, detoxification from other sources.
Herxheimer Reactions
As described above, Herxing is when the body is overwhelmed with the endotoxins of microbial die-off. This is often in response to a treatment based on killing the microbes. David Jernigan, DC has spent much time detailing the issues with this philosophy of microbial treatment, "elimination of these [endo]toxins must be given just as high a priority as the actual infection. (Jernigan 122)." This topic is covered extensively in Beating Lyme Disease. Individual symptoms vary based on which infections are present and the treatment utilized. Often this is an exacerbation of already present symptoms.
(Google Images)Start-up Reactions
Have you ever turned the ignition on a car that has sat in a garage for an extended period of time? What typically happens? It sputters, it spits out dark exhaust and crud, then finally runs as hoped. You can compare this to a start-up reaction. When your cells begin optimizing processes that were previously dormant, there will be an increased demand for nutrient and an increased load of free radicals from those cells (this does not feel good). These cells can be stimulated by laser, exercise, herbs, a new diet, or nutraceuticals. With many patients, this feeling comes on suddenly and is reported as feeling like "being hit by a truck." Often this is a need for more co-enzymes (possibly B-vitamins or ferritin) or electrolytes.
Detoxification
This type of reaction is similar to a Herxheimer reaction except the cause and offending toxin is different. You are still detoxifying but at his point it may be heavy metals, environmental toxins, or other toxic substances. This may occur during a purposeful detox when the clearance pathways are overwhelmed.
(Google Images)It can be difficult to determine which reaction is affecting you just by symptoms. In general, Herxheimer reactions are often an exacerbation of infectious symptoms and detoxification. Start-up reactions often resemble deficiency indications that correspond to the nutrient that is in need. Typical detoxification symptoms can mimic the flu or a hangover. Bio-Resonance Scanning helps me, as a clinician, to determine what is the best route to approach a reaction. Regardless of which reactions are giving you issues, we can start with a broad recommendation.
Before You Begin a Treatment
As you begin any treatment protocol, ensure that you have all the building blocks in place, such as: fluid intake, diet, vitamins, minerals, a healing team, and detoxification support. This step is crucial, as you can rebuild an engine but the car still won't run without fuel.
Common Issues with Reactions
In my clinical experience, there are five common factors with any reaction. These are:
1. Excess Toxin Load
2. Low Blood Sugar
3. Dehydration
4. Electrolyte Imbalance/Nutrient Deficiency
5. Inflammation
How to React to a Reaction
As a physician, it is important that I empower patients in their healing and transformation. Here are a few ways you can positively react to a reaction:
1. Stay hydrated. This can be through drinking water, taking a bath, or in an emergency, getting IV fluids.
2. Balance your electrolytes or nutrient deficiencies. Broad spectrum minerals, B-complex, or electrolyte powders are of great values when dealing with a reaction.
3. Eat something. Sometimes a patient will start to feel bad, skip a meal or two, and then end up in a full blown reaction. This could have been slowed or eliminated with a snack.
4. Use a toxin binder to help "soak up" those excess toxins that have been released. Antioxidants are vital in these area as well.
5. Make sure your detoxification pathways are open. Are you sweating, breathing, pooping, and urinating? When my kids don't feel good, one of the first questions I ask is, "How's your poop?"
6. Keep your brain turned-on. This is a broad term I use for neurological coherence. Our patients go home with a personal functional neurological program that can be used during a stressful period. Anyone can start with a simple cross crawl exercise though.
7. Reduce inflammation via natural means.
Closing
I sincerely hope this article has helped clarify the different types of reactions that you may experience and possibly shed some light on how people have dealt with them. This is an important aspect of the healing process and undervalued in healthcare. If it was helpful, please share it with friends and family.
In health,
Martin C. Hart, DC, NASM-CES
Chiropractic Physician
Jernigan, David. Beating Lyme Disease.
Kadam P, Gregory NA, Zelger B, Carlson JA. Delayed onset of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction in doxycycline-treated disease: a case report and review of its histopathology and implications for pathogenesis.
Am J Dermatopathol. 2015 Jun;37(6):e68-74This article is for information purposes only, it is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.
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