STEMTech AFA Extract, The Herxheimer Reaction, Detoxification, and Decompensation.

Someone asked a question regarding the possibility that STEMTech AFA Extract triggers the Herxheimer Reaction.  This is a good opportunity to talk about the detoxification and decompensation, two process that can be dis- comfort but are definitely sign of healthy development.

HERXHEIMER REACTION

First, the Herxheimer Reaction:
The Herxheimer Reaction was first described by Dr. Karl Herheimer, as he was treating patients suffering from tuberculosis.  As they developed new ways of treating tuberculosis with success, Dr. Herxheimer observed that before people felt better, they went through a brief period of feeling worse.  Dr. Herxheimer established that this was linked to the fact that there was a die off bacteria in the body, and as the bacteria were dying, they formed endotoxins that were toxic to the body.  As the body went through this healing process, individual were temporarily feeling worse.  So the Herxheimer Reaction is essentially the consequences of bacteria dying in the body.

I do not believe that people experiencing discomfort after taking STEMTech AFA Extract is linked to the Herxheimer Reaction.  I am not saying that it could not happen, but I believe that the majority of experience of discomfort is probably linked to the phenomenon of detoxification and decompensation.  AFA, the cyanophyta from which STEMTech AFA Extract is made, is known to trigger detoxification.  AFA contains polysaccharides that were shown to absorb up to three times their weight in heavy metals.

DETOXIFICATION

Essentially, Detoxification is the process by which toxins trapped in the body are release and eliminated.  These toxins have various origins: our food - coloring agents, preservatives, pesticides, - the air we breathe - paint fume, carpet textile, industrial exhaust, the water we drink - plastic from water bottle, publicly treated water, medical drugs consumed in the past, to name a few.  A number of these compounds cannot be metabolized by the body, and the body stores them into fat deposits, away from the main body metabolism.  Products like STEMTech AFA Extract, due to their content of polysaccharides, chlorophyll and other compounds, trigger the body into releasing these compounds.  This is a healthy process, eliminating these compounds is an important step in regaining optimal health.  But in this process, the body can be effected by the circulation of these compounds and one can experience discomfort.  When this happens one should simply reduce the consumption of STEMTech AFA Extract to as low as it takes to stop the discomfort, and then slowly increase back to 3 capsules 1-2 times daily.  One should stay 1 to 3 capsules a day as long as it takes and increase gradually when there is a health crisis, subsequently maintain at a comfortable intake or reduced to 3 capsules when health is well again; this is a healthy process that the body must go through, we simply want to make as comfortable as possible.