Cowden Condensed Protocol

Has anybody completed at least six months of the new Cowden condensed protocol? I'm taking it now and would love to hear from others who are/were on it.

Its the protocol by Dr Lee Cowden - you can look it up on Nutramedix website. He claims to be getting 70% to 90% success rates. It involves rotating herbals samento, cumanda, quina, mora and banderol, and taking serrapeptase to break down cyst form, and taking detox herbs parsley and burbur to handle herx reactions. Also have to take magnesium malate to move bowels and toxins out twice day, and zeolite to remove heavy metals. You have to drink at least 12 cups of water a day.

The Cowden protocol has changed and evolved over the years. The new condensed protocol uses more potent forms of the herbs that have been "infused". It also uses the serrapeptase and some different herbs, enula, mora etc.  You don't have to take the herbs eight times a day anymore. Now its a more reasonable four times a day.

after treating lyme, babs, bart for 2 1/2 years I am on a modified cowden along with antibiotics for 2 months now. Samento, cumanda, parsley serrapeptase, suppliments probiotics etc.....................I will keep you posted on results.

I am not sure I have improved as a result of cowden. I think I am improving though.

Hey -- I'm still new and learning, but isn't a major herx actually a good thing? I mean, from what I've read, you feel really terrible for awhile. But isn't the reason for that (herxing) because you are killing the danged spirochete bacteria? ie; isn't experiencing the herx reaction indication that whatever you are taking is working?

Its importent to take the Cowden protocol according to the schedule they give you from Nutramedix. You really need to take the detox herbs to help with herx reactions. Taking extra burbur really helps. The protocol won't work unless you are drinking at least 12 cups of water a day. I found drinking more water helps with herx as well. You need the extra magnesium to have regular bowel movements to get the toxins out - at least two bowel movements a day. I take CALM by Natural Vitality every night to supplement because I needed extra magnesium. I'll be interested in hearing from someone who has been on the Cowden condensed protocol for at least six months to see how it went. I know it takes at very least two months on Cowden protocol to see results for anyone with long term lyme.

So, if I have the "old nutramedix herbs, I can't switch to the condensed protocol? Hate to throw away 3 months worth.

I'm still using the old Nutramedix herbs along with the new condensed protocol. They give you one infused bottle of each of the antimicrobials (ie: Samento) and when you are nearly finished with the bottle, you pour a regular bottle of Samento into the infused bottle and succuss it ( hit it against your hand) 50 times to mix it well with the remnants of the infused Samento. I'm familiar with homeopathic meds so this seems very similiar. I've been able to make use of my old Nutramedix herbs along the way. I was only on the old ones for about a month when I was told about the condensed version.

Beths, I don't think you are screwed - the old protocol works- it worked for me for years- they are just experimenting with a simpler protocol and having good results with it. I would use what you have now or after you finish the modified- I plan to stay on Cowden herbs indefinitely and their shelf life is good. Are you working with a good practitioner?

Nutramedix will provide 6 months free Cowden protocol to one patient per doctor if the doctor applies for it

Hi Everyone, I'm new to this forum, but unfortunately a Lyme 'veteran'.  I joined because I wanted to reply to this thread, & to Beths in particular. I was diagnosed about 4 years ago, but probably contracted Borrelia about 10 years ago.  You know the type of story-I gradually slowed down, but then very fortunately eventually, through my Nutritionist, found a CFS specialist who turned out to be a LLMD .  I've done 18 months of different abx combined with Samento for about ...3-4 years.  Plus many nutritional supps, good diet, lots of water, thyroid hormones (T3 & ERFA (which is like Armour)) etc. etc....  [I've tried a number of other treatments, some wth very negative side-effects, but I'm not mentioning them here as I know that they have been great for other patients.  It's a very individual thing, isn't it?]  I'm much better now than I was, but still not 'there' yet.  My LLMD (UK) talked to me about the Cowden Condensed Protocol this week, & since then I've been doing some research: - A lot of good stuff has already been said in this thread, so I'll just include any additional info'. - The full details of the Condensed Protocol can be found here: http://www.bionatus.com/nutramedix/pdfs/Condcowdenschd.pdf - It is fine & recommended to go as slowly with increasing dosage as your body needs.  It also needs to be adjusted for body weight. - The new 'infused' Banderol, Samento, Mora, Enula, Cumanda & Quina can be used with their 'old' original equivalents - that's because with the new Protocol you get one bottle of the new infused versions of each, which you then top up with the 'normal (uninfused) versions.  [So perhaps Beths, you could get Month 1 of the new Condensed Protocol & then use your 'old' NutraMedix herbs with these?  N.B. You only get 2 'infused' bottles in Month 1-Samento & Banderol.] - I'm considering getting Month 1 of the Condensed Protocol to get the infused Samento & Banderol, since these are the two herbs my LLMD has most success with.  - This success may be partly explained by a very interesting study published just this month (July 2010) on combined Samento & Banderol: http://www.newhaven.edu/news-events/82773.pdf This indicates that Samento & Banderol work best together, & kill Spirochetes and ‘Round Bodies’ and ‘Biofilm-like Colonies’ of Borrelia Burgdorferi.   I.e. All forms .   And interestingly, Doxy’ only kills Spirochetes, whilst increasing ‘Round Bodies’.   My conclusion (& it is mine ) is that, presumably, the Doxy’ prompts the Spirochetes to go into defensive mode & hang around in the ‘Round Body’ form until the Doxy’ stops.  This probably explains why people relapse after finishing abx as the Round forms convert back to Spirochetes & go back to their old mischief in greater numbers than before.   -I’m therefore definitely going to get some Banderol (may, or may, not be infused), & add it in very gradually with my Samento.   -My LLMD & I are going to discuss whether it's worth me doing the full Condensed Protocol after we get the results back from my most recent tests (Inter-Cellular Calcium, B12 & Thyroid function).   -I also find that Oxygen helps with energy & detox, e.g. Aerobic Oxygen     So that's my bit of input - hope that helps people.   I've also got a couple of related questions, which I'll ask here & then do a separate post:   Pinella is one of the newer NutraMedix Cowden herbs (it's used in the first few days of the Condensed Protocol along with Burbur & Parsley to detox) - does anyone have any experience of using it?   Does anyone have experience of using Teasel (not a Cowden herb, but maybe should be)?!     I also find that a smile helps - see the De-Stressing thread.   ozoneGirl

I have used teasel root extract. I honestly don't know if it works or not because I still have symptoms. I used two bottles of it - each lasting about 4 months, and had taken a break of about 4 months in between. When I started it the first time I thought it produced a herx reaction because I had more pain, but the second bottle I didn't have a reaction like that. I'm glad I tried it and it was cheap, but if it helped I have no idea.