BLt - How do I get this stinky stuff into him?

[mama2alex]

I haven't posted for a while and haven't been reading regularly. I guess I just needed a mental health break. Anyway, my ds10 started backsliding a few weeks ago after a good run of improvement over the fall. He started having bad mood swings again and was very unpleasant to be around much of the time. Also, his anxiety increased a little. The LLMD upped his Rifampin and added BLt, an herbal antimicrobial. We are increasing the BLt very slowly, drop by drop so he doesn't react to it and develop a rash. The problem is they want us to work up to one dropperful twice a day and it smells and tastes HIDEOUS. At 4 drops my son is already pushing back. He can smell it a mile away and HATES it. I don't know how I will get a whole dropperful into him. I'm wondering if anyone else has given this (or something else particulary foul tasting) to their child and how they got it into them. He can't eat sugar, so putting it in something sweet isn't really an option.

 

The good news is that ds is improving again on the new protocol. He is much less moody and anxious than a couple of weeks ago and is going to school every day (a big deal for us!).

[philamom]

I can't comment on the product, but we use pineapple juice at times. I don't know if would work with something that hideous though. Also someone else mentioned rootbeer is good for hiding taste. Of course, both have sugar.

 

Great news about the improvement!!

[MichaelTampa]

Concord grape juice is great for that, I have used it for myself (not kids), but probably too sweet for you. What else tastes strong? Peanut butter? By the way, I have taken the BLt, and didn't find it that bad really, compared to some other things I've taken. I know the alcohol in there is strong. What I did was heat some water to where it would be almost boiling, and then pour a small amount of water in an empty cup/mug, and then add the drops to the water. The alcohol goes away, I wonder if that might help the taste some. I actually did it because I was taking so much, and other things too, that I was just getting way too much alcohol, which is a no-no for lyme.

[mama2alex]

Michael,

 

I just checked and the alcohol content is 40 - 45%!! I hadn't noticed that, so thank you for pointing that out. That's the last thing I want my anxious 10 year old getting used to. Also, that may be a big part of the bad taste.

 

So the hot water doesn't change the chemical make-up or effectiveness of the herbal part? How long do you leave the drops in the hot water before the alcohol evaporates? I will try this and see if it helps.

 

Thanks!

 

Concord grape juice is great for that, I have used it for myself (not kids), but probably too sweet for you. What else tastes strong? Peanut butter? By the way, I have taken the BLt, and didn't find it that bad really, compared to some other things I've taken. I know the alcohol in there is strong. What I did was heat some water to where it would be almost boiling, and then pour a small amount of water in an empty cup/mug, and then add the drops to the water. The alcohol goes away, I wonder if that might help the taste some. I actually did it because I was taking so much, and other things too, that I was just getting way too much alcohol, which is a no-no for lyme.

[mama2alex]

I will see if I can get unsweetened pineapple juice, as we can give him fruit, but try to stay away from refined sugars. He loves pineapples, so this may do the trick! Thanks!!

 

 

I can't comment on the product, but we use pineapple juice at times. I don't know if would work with something that hideous though. Also someone else mentioned rootbeer is good for hiding taste. Of course, both have sugar.

 

Great news about the improvement!!

[susie]

I used to hide all sorts of nasty stuff in lemonade sweetened with stevia. Also, if you put it in a shot glass and have him plug his nose and chug it that may help. I give my daughter xylitol sweetened lollipops for rewards sometimes, so that might work for you. Good luck.

[MichaelTampa]

Michael,

 

I just checked and the alcohol content is 40 - 45%!! I hadn't noticed that, so thank you for pointing that out. That's the last thing I want my anxious 10 year old getting used to. Also, that may be a big part of the bad taste.

 

So the hot water doesn't change the chemical make-up or effectiveness of the herbal part? How long do you leave the drops in the hot water before the alcohol evaporates? I will try this and see if it helps.

 

Thanks!

 

Concord grape juice is great for that, I have used it for myself (not kids), but probably too sweet for you. What else tastes strong? Peanut butter? By the way, I have taken the BLt, and didn't find it that bad really, compared to some other things I've taken. I know the alcohol in there is strong. What I did was heat some water to where it would be almost boiling, and then pour a small amount of water in an empty cup/mug, and then add the drops to the water. The alcohol goes away, I wonder if that might help the taste some. I actually did it because I was taking so much, and other things too, that I was just getting way too much alcohol, which is a no-no for lyme.

 

 

Since doing that, I have heard that hot water really can damage herbals, particularly those made from leaves, less so for those with just roots. So, there may be some damage there. Still, I found it a useful product. In theory, you could just put it in room temperature water and it would evaporate, it will just take longer. Think about the rubbing alcohol that reeks of alcohol as soon as you take the cover off. That smell is the alcohol evaporating. So, it depends on how patient you want to be. At some point, I would get it close to a boil, pour it in the cup, then let it cool off a few minutes before adding the herbal drops, so that would protect the product some. It's all a matter of how patient you want to be, and how "perfect" you want the remedy to be. I don't know exactly how long any of it takes at different temperatures.

[mama2alex]

Ok, thanks for the update. The pineapple juice worked well, although now he's asking me for it all the time. This morning I did the hot water thing and that helped even more. I think our DAN doc once suggested leaving some drops out in a small dish overnight to let the alcohol evaporate as much as possible. I think I'll try this next, just to make sure I don't damage the herbs.

 

We are making progress. Thanks to all who responded!

 

Michael,

 

I just checked and the alcohol content is 40 - 45%!! I hadn't noticed that, so thank you for pointing that out. That's the last thing I want my anxious 10 year old getting used to. Also, that may be a big part of the bad taste.

 

So the hot water doesn't change the chemical make-up or effectiveness of the herbal part? How long do you leave the drops in the hot water before the alcohol evaporates? I will try this and see if it helps.

 

Thanks!

 

Concord grape juice is great for that, I have used it for myself (not kids), but probably too sweet for you. What else tastes strong? Peanut butter? By the way, I have taken the BLt, and didn't find it that bad really, compared to some other things I've taken. I know the alcohol in there is strong. What I did was heat some water to where it would be almost boiling, and then pour a small amount of water in an empty cup/mug, and then add the drops to the water. The alcohol goes away, I wonder if that might help the taste some. I actually did it because I was taking so much, and other things too, that I was just getting way too much alcohol, which is a no-no for lyme.

 

 

Since doing that, I have heard that hot water really can damage herbals, particularly those made from leaves, less so for those with just roots. So, there may be some damage there. Still, I found it a useful product. In theory, you could just put it in room temperature water and it would evaporate, it will just take longer. Think about the rubbing alcohol that reeks of alcohol as soon as you take the cover off. That smell is the alcohol evaporating. So, it depends on how patient you want to be. At some point, I would get it close to a boil, pour it in the cup, then let it cool off a few minutes before adding the herbal drops, so that would protect the product some. It's all a matter of how patient you want to be, and how "perfect" you want the remedy to be. I don't know exactly how long any of it takes at different temperatures.

[smartyjones]

This morning I did the hot water thing and that helped even more. I think our DAN doc once suggested leaving some drops out in a small dish overnight to let the alcohol evaporate as much as possible. I think I'll try this next, just to make sure I don't damage the herbs.

 

 

this is not something i do so i may not have it right. i heard the nurse in our drs office telling this to a patient. we take homeopathy sprays or drops which also have a bit of alcohol. i believe their recommendation if that is a problem is to put the medicine in a small cup and float that cup over the boiling water -- or possibly leave out in hot water. therefore, it would help it to evaporate the alcohol but the medicine is not actually in the boiling water.

 

i may not have it fully correct -- if you're interested, it might be something to further research.

Edited January 28, 2011 by smartyjones

[Luna2]

Hi All - My PANDAS daughter has restrictive eating issues BIG time and will take meds in only liquid form that tastes good. For tinctures made with alcohol, I add a small amount of boiling water, let it cool (to cook off the alcohol) and then add either frozen juice concentrate or full strength Italian soda mix. Then I add a little additional water and sweetener if needed. I have also used the juice concentrates from the health food store (usually come in grape and maybe apple). Our favorite flavors for covering bad taste are lemon, raspberry and grape. I also make this up in a shot glass so that the amount does not become overwhelming. Good luck