Grapefruit seed extract helping with sinus infection (?) (not quite sure what it is!) UPDATE: had to add andrographis & colloidal silver

[Mary]

For several weeks I've had a very slight congestion, not even enough to blow my nose. But I've also been quite tired with this, but the congestion has been so slight, I kept dismissing it. Until I started having night sweats several days ago, always an indication that my immune system is trying to do something!

So about 2 days ago (today is day 3) I started taking grapefruit seed extract, 10 drops in water or juice (stirred, as it tends to drop to the bottom otherwise) four times a day and today woke up feeling better than I have in awhile. I'm still a little congested, but my energy is better. One other symptom I'd had was I felt edgy and out of sorts and had trouble concentrating, and my brain felt clearer this morning.

I'm just a bit upset with myself for ignoring how I felt for so long! and for telling myself I couldn't feel that tired, from that slight congestion . . .

I have no idea what i've been dealing with but I believe the GSE is making a big difference - just wanted to pass this on -

 

[Strawberry]

I can’t live without GSE! Keeps my chronic sore throat at bay. I found my minimum dose is 15 drops to keep it away. It doesn’t help my ME, but it’s nice not feeling sick.

Actually, I should take another dose as I’m getting sick from my doctors appointment this morning…

 

[Mary]

@Strawberry - how often do you take the 15 drops - how many times a day? And do you take it everyday or just when you feel sick?

 

[hapl808]

I've gone through phases of taking it - helps with whatever.

I have that low grade infection feeling all the time. Whenever I used to start antibiotics, I feel better for a week, then it fades. Same with allicin, various lyme protocols, etc. Some I've taken in high dosages that start messing up my stomach before they really make a difference.

Most of that is from before I was more severe, though. And I used to cycle GSE, allicin, coptis, andrographis, artemisinin, doxy, zithro, and so forth.

 

[Violeta]

Thanks for bringing up GSE, Mary. I have some, had been taking it regularly, but dropped it because of trying other things. I started taking it because of trying to focus on candida. I forget any specifics about what it helped/didnt' help. But I'm going to get back on it today.

Nutribiotics makes a nose spray, too.

 

[Mary]

@Violeta - have you ever tried virgin coconut oil for candida? I used it years ago and it was very effective. It initially caused a very strong herx reaction - wiped me out - I had to lower my dose. I forget how much I was taking, one or two tablespoons a day, but after about 10 or 11 days all my candida symptoms had disappeared. The caprylic acid in coconut oil is effective against candida.

 

[Violeta]

@Violeta - have you ever tried virgin coconut oil for candida? I used it years ago and it was very effective. It initially caused a very strong herx reaction - wiped me out - I had to lower my dose. I forget how much I was taking, one or two tablespoons a day, but after about 10 or 11 days all my candida symptoms had disappeared. The caprylic acid in coconut oil is effective against candida.

No, but I have taken monolaurin and MCT oil. Maybe not consistently enough to see any progress. I just got both of them out and will add that.

What got me back on the candida trail is I found a bottle of Candida Liver Care in the back of my cabinet two days ago, took one capsule before bed, and slept much better than usual.

That's great that the GSE actually helped your energy level. That is most difficult thing for me to figure out and correct.

Can you eat any grains?

 

[Mary]

That's great that the GSE actually helped your energy level. That is most difficult thing for me to figure out and correct.

I believe it's helped my energy because it's dispatching the bug, whatever it is, that I've been fighting. If I hadn't been sick, I don't think it would improve my energy. But I'm beginning to think I've been sick for quite awhile and have just been dismissing it because my symptoms, apart from fatigue, were so mild.

I generally avoid grains because of carbs - trying to maintain my weight. I've avoided wheat for many years, just eating a slice of bread every 2 or 3 weeks. I was told I'm allergic to wheat, plus what passes for "wheat" nowadays has very little relation to what it used to be. I love rice but hardly ever eat it. I have been using rice cakes though, which have a little salt added.

Energy boosters for me are B1 (which increased my need for phosphorous), methylfolate (increased need for potassium), BCAAs, d-ribose at one time - I stopped it a few years ago, too pricey and not a lot of benefit though initially it was very nice.

Also these eleuthero root tablets: https://www.modernherbshop.com/For_Adrenal_and_Endocrine_System_Health_p/eleutheroroottablets.htm

Muscle testing has helped me a lot in sorting out what is beneficial, what isn't, whether I'm herxing or detoxing or if something is just not good for me, etc

And methylene blue and Cellfood both helped my energy, but then started causing insomnia (!) so had to stop them. I think they rev up my thyroid . . .

 

[Violeta]

Between the grapefruit seed extract, Candida Liver Cleanse, so far just one dose of monolaurin, and not having any kefir today (worried about dairy), I didn't have my usual 4, 5, 6, or even 7 o'clock crash. Spent a good amount of time in the kitchen cooking different stuff for various people/creatures. Yesterday was able to run up the stairs.

I have gone on and off gluten, on and off even non gluten grains, am not sure where I'll end up, but I'm underweight and still having problems with food. Almost everything seems to cause one problem or another. Rice cakes are a good idea.

I will look up the eleuthero tablets, thank you.

I'm glad you are feeling better.

 

[Strawberry]

@Strawberry - how often do you take the 15 drops - how many times a day? And do you take it everyday or just when you feel sick?

I started with 30 drops a day in divided doses (the maximum dose for my brand), but after 6 months my sore throat was gone. I quit for trial, and immediately got sick again. Went back on it and my sore throat was gone in a week. So. Since then, I’ve been lowering my dose bit by bit over a year or two, and didn’t get sore throat until I got to 12 drops a day. So I seem to be stable at 15 drops a day, I take in one morning dose.

I’ll never be without.

 

[Mary]

@Violeta - 20+ years ago I had several digestive issues - my gallbladder was subpar, I wasn't digesting food properly, and my liver was overloaded with toxins apparently from a job I'd had when age 19 where I had heavy exposure to acetone. My chiropractor who did muscle testing was able to help me with all of this. I can guarantee that if I had relied on western doctors for help, I'd probably have been put on different drugs and never really helped. Or would have been told I was depressed, etc. As it was, I was given some supplements which improved my gallbladder and did a liver detox, which was unpleasant but one of the best things I've ever done. And learned I needed to take betaine HCL. The upshot is my digestive system is really quite good now. And I'm careful about what I eat in that I avoid most processed foods, have avoided sugar and white flour for many years, etc.

So I was wondering if muscle testing might be able to help you with your issues and help pin down what is going on -

 

[Violeta]

Thanks, Mary, I have been to two chiropractors that used muscle testing, but it didn't help much.

I don't think they went at it from the right direction. The liver detox is so key and I think the supplements from the first chiro made my problems worse. He gave me so many Standard Process supplements, I started having awful headaches and lost 10 pounds off of my thin body.

The second one was okay, but 45 minutes away, and then my insurance stopped covering it. I think it can be very helpful, though. There's one sort of in driving distance but the price you have to pay to see her is out of my ballpark.

 

[Violeta]

Do you guys take the grapefruit seed extract on an empty stomach?

I think it's helping. And the herbal formula that I have for candida is supposed to cleanse the liver. I find that interesting. Candida in the liver? I never thought of that.

 

[Mary]

Do you guys take the grapefruit seed extract on an empty stomach?

I think it's helping. And the herbal formula that I have for candida is supposed to cleanse the liver. I find that interesting. Candida in the liver? I never thought of that.

I take it with breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then I take an additional dose right before bed on an empty stomach. It doesn't bother my stomach. However, I got my sister taking it for a lingering sinus infection but it may have upset her stomach - I'm not sure if she was taking it with food or not. Interestingly, she was having acid reflux a few months ago and I told her to take betaine HCL with her meals - and the acid reflux immediately stopped, just like that. I know if she'd gone to an MD he or she would have given her a PPI (I don't trust gastro docs!)

About cleansing the liver - milk thistle and dandelion are both very good for the liver. I've been taking the milk thistle for probably 20 years, ever since I did the liver detox. Way back then one glass of wine would leave me feeling sick for an entire day, and 2 glasses would make me sick for 2 or 3 days. After the detox I was able to again drink wine like a normal person, for which I was very glad!

Lemon juice is also good for the liver.

What's in your herbal formula? Interesting it's helping you. It makes sense you could have candida in your liver, though it's also possible that the candida herbs also just support the liver.

In any event, I'm glad these things are helping you!

 

[Violeta]

Thanks, Mary, taking it with meals will make it easier to be consistent.

I have two chinese herbs for the liver, gentian + bupleurum, which you take in the AM, and coptis, which you take before bed. I also have berberine, which has been helpful. Choline helps a lot, too.

That's good that you have been able to help your sister. We sure learn a lot of helpful stuff along the way.

The herbs in the Candida Liver Cleanse are condurango bark, yellow dock root, goldenseal, goldenrod, eyebright, red clover and cloves. It sounds like an herbal antibiotic.

 

[Feeble Tiger]

It makes me feel as bad as metronidazole, and I have chronic lyme. And he didn't kill anyone, all the improvements from him are temporary.
I don't understand why all these questionable supplements are needed if there are normal antibiotics.