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Post by Admin/ Traveler on Sept 21, 2017 21:24:39 GMT
Well, as most of you likely know, I've been using the cistus incanus. Although it's touted for it's biofilm busting abilities, I've been using it at low doses instead and have found some really great benefits!
I recently had to take a 2 day break from it and kefir, due to intestinal gas/bloating/dysfunction. I wasn't sure which one was causing the issues, so I stopped both knowing that I would quickly discover which one it was by doing this. I ate some yogurt with cultures in it last night, and that was NOT what my body wanted! LOL! The intestinal gas/cramping/motility issues were increased when I ate the yogurt. So, no yogurt or kefir today - only the cistus and things are much improved again!! YAY!! Anyone that lives with these issues understands how much they can impact a person's well being and mental state (to say I was cranky those few days is a bit of an understatement!! LOL!)
So, if you are dealing with intestinal issues that include motility issues, gas, bloating, and you know that it's not likely from candida/fugal infections, then I encourage you to try the cistus tea at low dose, and only one serving a day. You may need to adjust the dose for yourself, either up or down, depending on just how your body responds to this. And, of course, not everyone will benefit from this, as with all things in Lyme.
The full dose for biofilm busting is 1 tsp, 3 times a day. Use each tsp of tea leaves 3 times, as each brewing releases different constituents within the herb/leaves. What I found is I don't tolerate the higher doses, or the 3rd brewing of the cistus, so I only use each tsp of the leaves once a day, using each tsp of leaves 2 times only, then put them aside for use later (if I ever get that far!). So far so good too!!
I had 3 sections in my intestines that would cramp up really hard - you could actually feel them if you touched the right areas of my abdomen - they were hard as rock underneath the skin. This is not the stomach muscles, but these areas were down inside the abdominal cavity. One was up high, just under the actual stomach, one is just above my belly button, and one is down low near the pubic bone. The top one is now GONE!!! The middle one is only sporadic, and the bottom one is still hanging on.
This is essentially the only treatment I'm doing right now, other than a ton of supportive therapies - cistus is also antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal - so watch out if you have high loads of these infections, as it can really pack a punch!
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Post by deejavu on Sept 23, 2017 11:17:24 GMT
That's really interesting Traveler! I am always learning, yeah! :-)
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Post by Admin/ Traveler on Sept 23, 2017 15:46:37 GMT
Thanks, Deejavu!
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Post by Admin/ Traveler on Dec 28, 2017 17:11:44 GMT
Just a little update on this part of my treatments - I've now managed to work up to using that 3rd brewing of the cistus incanus!!! Wooo hoooooo!!!! So far, I'm still only using one dose a day though, but I have noticed that my innerds now "want" me to use it! They actually have better motility when I use it!!! I've had a few "oops" moments during the last 6 weeks because of the holidays and traveling where I haven't had my daily dose - and sure enough, when I continue it when I get back home, my innerds straighten out and behave better!!!! Sorry for all the excitement, but this has been a life-long pursuit of mine - to get my intestines working better. For those that don't know (for those that do, sorry to re-hash this!), I've had such significant motility issues, absorption issues and other things (leaky gut, etc.) that have heavily impacted my health, even before I knew I had these infections. But there wasn't one single doctor out there that I saw during the years before my diagnosis that just couldn't help, or didn't want to. Most of them patted me on the head or shoulder, saying something as inane as "So, you have a little constipation issue?" - yeah, that was just after I told them that my bowels only moved every 14 - 22 days!!!! My TCM doc that I saw for 2 years started me on some herbs that have helped tremendously to lessen the intestinal cramping that would get so severe that even walking made it soooo much worse! Periodically, I was literally bed bound due to intestinal cramping back then. But, I still needed more help, so I've been on this quest to see what will help....and then I came across the cistus incanus and started using it. Wow, I had no idea that I had that many issues that have been either cleared up or helped by using this!
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Post by girlie on Dec 30, 2017 1:09:55 GMT
Just a little update on this part of my treatments - I've now managed to work up to using that 3rd brewing of the cistus incanus!!! Wooo hoooooo!!!! So far, I'm still only using one dose a day though, but I have noticed that my innerds now "want" me to use it! They actually have better motility when I use it!!! I've had a few "oops" moments during the last 6 weeks because of the holidays and traveling where I haven't had my daily dose - and sure enough, when I continue it when I get back home, my innerds straighten out and behave better!!!! Sorry for all the excitement, but this has been a life-long pursuit of mine - to get my intestines working better. For those that don't know (for those that do, sorry to re-hash this!), I've had such significant motility issues, absorption issues and other things (leaky gut, etc.) that have heavily impacted my health, even before I knew I had these infections. But there wasn't one single doctor out there that I saw during the years before my diagnosis that just couldn't help, or didn't want to. Most of them patted me on the head or shoulder, saying something as inane as "So, you have a little constipation issue?" - yeah, that was just after I told them that my bowels only moved every 14 - 22 days!!!! My TCM doc that I saw for 2 years started me on some herbs that have helped tremendously to lessen the intestinal cramping that would get so severe that even walking made it soooo much worse! Periodically, I was literally bed bound due to intestinal cramping back then. But, I still needed more help, so I've been on this quest to see what will help....and then I came across the cistus incanus and started using it. Wow, I had no idea that I had that many issues that have been either cleared up or helped by using this! Yay, Traveler! That's great news... some of us take these 'things' for granted....until we have a problem. I don't usually have issues in that 'area', but last week - I didn't 'go' for about 3 days...and then I got a bit worried... I do know what the cause was though - I was dehydrated...my lips were cracking, my skin was dry...and I guess my innards were also lacking the required water to keep things moving. But, i have to say - on Day 3, it was really a pain in the ...you know what. I can't imagine having that on a regular (well - non regular) basis. Now just make sure that you don't run out of your cistus incanus!!!!
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Post by Admin/ Traveler on Dec 30, 2017 17:24:25 GMT
Yep, it's amazing what we take for granted with our bodies - until there is a dysfunction there! My innerds I've had all kinds of issues with most of my life, so that one I'm used to battle (but dang, does it get tiring!!!), and, any time I have constipation, I'm under 'threat' that they could burst now (not a pleasant thought!)- but I never thought much about things like my adrenals (until they crashed hard), or my spleen (until it was so swollen it was causing non-stop pain).
I'm very happy that things have straightened themselves out for you in that area though!! I really do understand! LOL!
Yep, keeping that cistus tea stocked up!!! LOL! Along with all my other herbals I use to help keep them functioning and happy!
Thanks, Girlie!
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Post by michele on Jan 3, 2018 15:17:04 GMT
I'm afraid to add anything to my routine of drugs right now. I've been in remission for well over two years now.
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Post by Admin/ Traveler on Jan 3, 2018 17:00:36 GMT
I'm afraid to add anything to my routine of drugs right now. I've been in remission for well over two years now. You're battling a different disease, right, Michele? UC, if I actually remember right??? (LOL!) I don't blame you for not wanting to mess with success!!! 2 years of remission is something to brag about, not mess with!!! Congratulations on the 2 year remission!!!!
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Post by michele on Jan 8, 2018 15:12:14 GMT
Traveler: I have colitis. Been doing very well for a few years now!!
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Post by Admin/ Traveler on Jan 8, 2018 17:07:42 GMT
While I'm so sorry you have to deal with colitis, I am happy you know what it is, and that you have treatments that are working. I have not been so lucky. Not only do doctors not know what's going on (LOL - I have some pretty good suspicions!!) with me, but they also don't know what to do - but first they would have to recognize that the issues I have are actually serious - which they don't. As if a burst intestine is nothing to worry over. Ha. I'd like to see them live with what I live with.
I have also had a little bit more progress with this lately!!! I've recently started to introduce a second cup of cistus - not daily yet, my innerds would never forgive me!! But right now I'm adding in a second cup about every 3 or 4 days - and it's helping more yet again!! Woo hooo!! I doubt I would have been able to tolerate cistus before this, but in a way I wish I had known about this years ago!!
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Post by Molnajoa on Sept 12, 2018 12:24:00 GMT
I am drinking 3 or more cups daily as iced tea. Having lots of gas, bloating n throbbing abdominally. Have Lyme n two coinfections. From reading youe post i feel that i may be drinking too much too soon. The question that brought me to your page was if cistus could give you abdominal issues like i have. Having to take simethicone for some relief. Also take Oliverex & CBD oil per my LLMD.She also wants me on Ld-colostrum from Sovereign Labs. Abx n PICC lines almost killed me. Also has me on iFlora probiotics.
So, do you feel this bloating n hard abdomen can be from too much tea at one time? I drank it before bed last night and am in distress this AM.
Hoping to get to remission after over 40 years of Lyme. π
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Post by Admin/ Traveler on Sept 19, 2018 18:03:48 GMT
I am drinking 3 or more cups daily as iced tea. Having lots of gas, bloating n throbbing abdominally. Have Lyme n two coinfections. From reading youe post i feel that i may be drinking too much too soon. The question that brought me to your page was if cistus could give you abdominal issues like i have. Having to take simethicone for some relief. Also take Oliverex & CBD oil per my LLMD.She also wants me on Ld-colostrum from Sovereign Labs. Abx n PICC lines almost killed me. Also has me on iFlora probiotics. So, do you feel this bloating n hard abdomen can be from too much tea at one time? I drank it before bed last night and am in distress this AM. Hoping to get to remission after over 40 years of Lyme. π I'm so sorry, Molnajoa! I just realized I hadn't responded to this! Please forgive me, as my life has been turned upside down for the last 2 and a half months. So, yes, it's very likely that you are 'ramping up' your doses too quickly - at least I discovered with many forms of treatments that ramping up too quickly can really backfire on me. I would encourage you to lower your dose for a week and see how you feel. If, at that point, you are doing well, then stick with that dose until you 'feel' you can handle a higher dose. I usually know to increase my dose because my symptoms were creeping back in a bit. Until I noticed that though, if I tried to raise my dose, I would end up with too high of a dose. I too had to use simethicone to help me get through - until I figured out that I needed to wait longer to raise my dose. The other thing you should take a look at is the Oliverex - it's olive leaf extract and can also have serious effects on a compromised GI tract. It's one of the things I decided to not use after reading up on it. I have enough GI issues as it is and didn't want to create more issues. I may try to use it at a later date, once my GI is in better condition. I do hope this was helpful!! And, thank you for being so patient!!
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Post by Admin/ Traveler on Oct 7, 2018 15:49:34 GMT
Just a quick note to update everyone. I have not been able to take this for the last 4.5 months now - ever since I got really sick. I do intend to restart it, just not until everything calms back down and I can have the opportunity to evaluate my health again.
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