Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
f you are already familiar with the concept of a "Healing Crisis" then you may already
know what the Herxheimer Reaction is. The phenomenon was first described by dermatologist
Jarish Adolf Herxheimer (1860-1902) working in Vienna, Austria, and a few years later
by his brother Karl Herxheimer (1861-1942), also a dermatologist, working in Frankfurt
Germany.
Technically known as the Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction, the syndrome is most often
referred to as Herxheimers Reaction or the Herxheimer Effect, and is also called
"Herx" or "Herks" for short. It is also known as die-off syndrome, a detox reaction
or a healing crisis.
The Herxheimer brothers ( who were treating syphilitic lesions of the skin) noticed
that in response to treatment, many people developed not only fever, perspiration,
night sweats, nausea and vomiting, but their skin lesions became larger and more
inflamed before settling down and healing. Interestingly, they found that those who
had the most extreme reactions, healed best and fastest. The patient might be ill
for 2-3 days, but then their lesions resolved.
Although the experience may not feel particularly good, in fact you can feel quite
ill, the Herxheimer Reaction is a sign that healing is taking place.
Dorlands Medical Dictionary defines the Herxheimer reaction as a transient, short-term,
immunological reaction commonly seen following antibiotic treatment of early and
later stage syphilis and other diseases which is manifested by:
Fever.
Chills.
Headache.
Myalgias (muscle pain).
Exacerbations of cutaneous lesions (patch of the skin that does not resemble the
area surrounding it).
The reaction has been attributed to liberation of endotoxin - like substances or
antigens (a substance which causes an immune reaction) released when large amounts
of pathogens are being killed off and the body cannot eliminate the them quickly
enough.
Simply stated, it is a reaction that occurs when the body is detoxifying and the
released toxins either exacerbate the symptoms being treated or create their own
symptoms such as:
Headaches.
Body ache.
Chills.
Extreme fatigue.
Joint pain.
Sweating.
General malaise.
Sore throat.
Nausea.
Flu like symptoms.
Depending on the severity of the infection and resulting die-off, these symptoms
can last 1-2 weeks and sometimes longer and can vary in intensity.
Drinking 1.5 litres of filtered water every day to flush the organisms from the body
is helpful be careful when drinking a lot of water excessive consumption may be harmful.
Water
To assist the removal of dying organisms during an reaction it may be helpful to
have a natural whole lemon olive oil drink several times a day. To prepare; place
one whole unwaxed, unpeeled lemon in a blender add 1 cup of warm water and 1 tablespoon
of extra virgin olive oil. Blend until the liquid is smooth, strain the contents
and drink the liquid.
Elimination of pathogens (toxins from the body) should not to be undertaken without
professional support, misguided efforts may result in severe illness.
It is not uncommon to experience symptoms of ill-health and fatigue when eliminating
pathogens from the body.
Nicolson, et.al., Diagnosis and Integrative Treatment of Intracellular Bacterial
Infections in Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes, Gulf War Illness, Rheumatoid
Arthritis and Other Chronic Illnesses. Clinical Practice of Alternative Medicine
2000; 1(2) 42-102
