I talked about this several months ago…back when I was still nursing V and was thinking about how my gut has gotten worse lately. Well, the time has come to stop talking and take action. I don’t have a GI MD anymore, but that’s fine because I’m pretty sure I know more about this than anyone I could find locally.
After reading this paper through several times, and then researching the crap out of rifaximin and alternative (herbal) therapies, I decided to steer clear of the antibiotics and go with the herbal therapy.
Of the 37 patients who received herbal therapy, 17 (46%) had a negative follow-up LBT compared to 23/67 (34%) of rifaximin users (P=.24).
(LBT = lactose breath test)
I’ll take the 47% group, thankyouverymuch. Some details below…
Oil of oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a well-documented botanical that directly kills or strongly inhibits the growth of intestinal microbes.56,57 Oil of oregano has other beneficial properties such as inducing apoptosis in human colon cancer caco2 cells.58 Berberine extracts and thymus vulgaris are also well known for their broad antibacterial activities.56,59–61 Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) has substantial antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that may be important to the pathogenesis of SIBO and has been used to successfully induce remission of Crohn’s Disease.37,62 There are other herbals used in our study that have noteworthy properties. Lemon balm offers anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects that may benefit patients with IBS, while coptis root has growth-inhibitory effects on human bacteria.63–65 Red thyme essential oil inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli O157: H7 and Staphylococcus aureus.66 Indian Barbarry root extract (Berberis aristata) contains berberine and has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiarrheal proper-ties.67Equisetum arvense L. was shown to possesses a broad spectrum of a very strong antimicrobial activity against a variety of enteric microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus (S aureus), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enteritidis and the fungi Aspergillus nigerand Candida albicans.68Thymus vulgaris has potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions.69–72Olea europaea inhibits the growth of a number of staphylococcal species including S aureus.73
Knowing all that, here’s what the study gave people for the treatment. I did SO MUCH research before choosing the exact cocktail (which was hard because everyone’s bodies are different and respond differently to different things), but decided to do FC Cidal + Dysbiocide (one of the combos used in the trials) AND oil of oregano AND Berberine Complex. I got it all off amazon (those are all the links for the exact ones I bought). It wasn’t cheap but it wasn’t too bad either. If it works it will be well worth it.
I bought enough for 30 days, but I may lengthen it depending on how I’m feeling. I want to really kill everything off, but the reviews made the “die off” process sound pretty awful. So we will see.
As far as diet goes, I’m planning to be as low carb as I can tolerate during those 30 days. And yet, I need to make sure I’m keeping my gut healthy with probiotics…probably in the form of kombucha and probiotic capsules. Collagen seems to be having a positive effect too, so I’m going to keep that up. And beyond that, I’ll let you know. I am not planning on going grain free because I don’t know that that’s helpful for my body. That said, I’ve been dabbling with grain free/low carb meals and I definitely feel good after those meals. But that may be because a grain free diet happens to overlap with a more strict fodmaps diet – like I used to be! I want to end up with a more free eating lifestyle though, so I don’t want to let the elimination phase end up being my end point. That’s too restrictive and I can see myself slipping in that direction if it feels good to my gut. So I’m writing it out here to remind myself that the end goal is to get my GI tract healthy and properly populated with the right flora to digest everything and anything without symptoms.
For 30 days I’m going to try to keep my sugar load down (some kind of cross between a low fodmaps, candida, SCD dietary approach). I have a bunch of recipes bookmarked to help me succeed, especially dessert ideas, which will definitely be the hardest part of this.
Do you want me to share the recipes and meals as I go along? It may keep me accountable, but if it gets too boring and/or repetitive I’ll spare you. 😉
Yes please share the recipes and meals.I think it would be helpful.
Its not boring at all, I’m interested to see the results/meals as you go along!
You’re current meals give inspiration so I’m sure any new direction on the food front will do the same!
I’m sure you’re already on info overload with SIBO stuff but sarahkayhoffman.com has some other info too.
Yes, please share! I don’t have gut issues, but do have other issues that I think this may help. So would love to know what you eat for 30 days and stay sane in the process!
Yes, please share!
I’m always interested in lower carb recipes/meal ideas! I agree that the benefits of kombucha (and its associated carbs) outweigh those of going super low carb. I gotta get my GT’s every now and then!
Essential oils for the win!!
I know you have researched this to death, but just do me a solid and make sure you know the quality of the essential oil you are getting. There are huge differences in brands and it is unregulated, kinda like makeup. Could be anything in there (100% pure could mean 1 drop of pure oil and the rest lab created, which does not contain the same healing power) and since eos are both super potent and can enter your cells you want to know where they are grown, what was used on them (no pesticides. ewww), etc… Forgive my soapboxing, it’s just near and dear to my heart. Good luck on your continued healing!!
Please keep us updated! I find this very interesting.
Good luck!
I would like to see the day to day eats,including all meals. I have been trying to succeed with a candida or low fodmap diet, but my gut always looses as I only last a few days. I to, love sweets at night and that is the hardest part for me.
I love to see the banana/zucchini bread you make and want to see receipes for that too.
Anything you post will be helpful, especially snacks.
Thank you
Yes, please!
Please do!! I’d love to hear about it!
Elise, I’ve been following your blog for a few years now, probably before P! I’m currently just post-cleanse week in a candida diet and I’d love to read about your daily meals, recipes and experiences as I progress. I have given up any sugar (even fruit!) except in the form of coconut flakes/ water, so I will empathize with you! I always so enjoy your creative take on food; it has been inspiring for me over the years! :]
please do, I’m excited for you and wish you success. I did the rifaximin but didn’t find the relief I wanted (maybe expired since I got the RX when I found out I was pregnant so waited until nursing was done, or the generic form wasn’t as good?)I would love to hear your story, its time for me to do something, I don’t feel better at all.