When taking herbs, it is very important to distinguish a Herxheimer reaction from an allergy.
o A Herxheimer reaction is caused by toxins produced by the breakdown of pathogens during antimicrobial treatment. Compared to an allergic reaction, it usually occurs a little later - within 24-72 hours of ingestion and then lasts for approximately one week. The typical manifestation is a worsening of existing symptoms and flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, headache, body aches, muscle and joint pain, fever and chills, rigors, hyperventilation, brain fog, skin irritation, reappearance of rashes, mood changes and increased irritability. This is a common and expected occurrence with no need to discontinue use. In this case, it is sufficient to reduce doses slightly and support detoxification processes.
o An allergic reaction is an immune response to the presence of allergens. Compared to a Herxheimer reaction, it usually occurs earlier - minutes to hours after the start of use. Typical symptoms are the appearance of mostly new symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, swollen airways, difficulty breathing, tingling in the mouth, itchy throat, etc... This is a rare but unwanted phenomenon where discontinuation is necessary.
For the above reasons, it is therefore important to first test the tolerability and usefulness of specific products. Always start with small doses and gradually add up to the limit of tolerance.