My mother has been suffering with the effects of Lyme disease for several months now. She followed a course of antibiotics, per her Dr's. orders but still is feeling quite weak and has terrible muscle aches. Her doctor is calling this "latent lyme".
I suggested that she try some of the herbal alternatives such as Andrographis, Chaparral and Pau D'Arco. She is willing to try this but is on several medications that I wanted to ask about first.
Diclofenac
Levothyroxine Sodium
Prilosec
Aspirin
Triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide
This is the list that she gave me. Can she add any of those herbs while taking these other items?
Yes. But the prilosec is going to interfere with their effectiveness of the herbs by decreasing stomach acid. But she is in a catch 22 situation. The diclofenac and aspirin are both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs interfere with the prostaglandins that are required by the stomach to form its protective lining. This leaves the stomach prone to ulceration by the stomach acid. So the doctors want to shut down the stomach acid t prevent ulceration.
Remember to take the herbs at least 20 minutes before meals.
Or do you have any other suggestions for helping her?
If she does not have any ulcers I recommend adding a little yucca root to help increase the absorption of the other herbs and for further inflammation control.
Magnesium, malic acid and carnitine can also help by increasing muscular ATP levels.