I’ve tried almost every herb from Buhner’s protocol, and every time I hit the same wall: sudden stomach/gut irritation that feels like my stomach lining gets inflamed.
What I noticed is this: when I start a new herb, I usually tolerate it fine at first and can work up close to a full dose.
For example:
- I started Cryptolepis → tolerated it well
- Then I added Samento → also tolerated it
- Then I added Houttuynia → and everything went downhill
That’s when I started getting:
- burning sensations in my stomach
- gut irritation
- poor digestion / feeling like I’m not absorbing nutrients
- irritation on my tongue (small white dots)
- metallic taste when I breathe air over my tongue
- tongue sensitivity / burning feeling
I assumed Houttuynia was the trigger, so I stopped it and tried to continue only with Cryptolepis + Samento.
But instead of improving, the reaction got even worse.
The next day I tried lowering the dose, but I still had the same issue, so I had to stop everything because my gut was clearly not functioning well and I felt like I wasn’t absorbing nutrients anymore.
Now 3 weeks have passed.
2 days ago I restarted with just Cryptolepis, very slowly just 2 drops in the morning and 2 drops evening, but I already feel like the same reaction is starting again.
At this point I honestly don’t know what to do.
I feel stuck because I want so badly to get over Lyme and move on with my life, but every time I try treatment, my gut seems to crash.
Has anyone dealt with this?
Was it mast cell / histamine related?
Gut dysbiosis?
Gastritis?
Herx vs direct irritation?
I really need help.