 |
| Source: Miller, 1999 |
Step #7 Heal hormones and immunity
Take adrenal support, liver support, antioxidants etc
(I use biocurcumin and berberine to combine with anti-microbials/anti-parasitics). This is particularly imperative for those with reactive hypoglycemia and BG crashes when they go longer than 3-4 hours between meals.
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| Proposed Causes of Dysbiosis of the Microbiota Round, Mazmanian 2009 Source: PDF |
This is the final step in our 7-Step SIBO series! Thank you for joining Tim Steele (aka tatertot) and I on this fantastic discussion and opening conversations about our wonderous and fascinating GUT AND OUR MICROCRITTERS!
Has everyone seen Tim's GUTS OF STEELE and assayed via 16S PCR amplification at the American Gut Project???
- Resistant Starch: American Gut Project Real Results And Comparison (Very Big News) -- Free the Animal Post
By now, I hope you have an appreciation for the impact and difference one single organ as simple as the gut can affect our overall health, longevity, digestion and day-to-day brain function. More importantly, we dream that you feel more confident in identifying, addressing and fixing some of these intestinal issues.
I believe it is truly challenging to deal with all the modern factors that are the proposed causes of dysbiosis of the microbiota (see above)
-- low-grade gut infections (microbial overgrowths, parasites, etc)
-- unbalanced health and immune systems (lack of commensals -- Bifido, SFB, and soil based organisms)
-- our unique genetic vulnerabilities (e.g. HLA DQ2.5 for celiac; HLA B27 for alkylosing spondylitis)
-- lifestyle (lack of dirt exposures, stress, diet, sedentary atrophy, lack of sleep, livestock/dairy grade antibiotics, disjointed relationship with soil and farming)
-- early colonization of pathobionts (birth in hospitals, lack of breastfeeding, compromised maternal biota sources, toxic formula)
-- medical and dental practices (mercury amalgams, vaccines, antibiotics, hyperhygiene)
 |
| NO WONDER WE GET GI-F*KCRD SO QUICKLY SO EASILY Estimated Surface Area of the Small Intestines |
Main Problem with the Small Intestines: GINORMOUS SURFACE AREA
Our small intestines are like head size -- very variable in size! As we grow, our small intestines grow as we age just like our height or head size. Much is perhaps determined by nutrition by mom and factors after birth. Our small intestines vary from 5 to 10 meters (average 6-7 m) -- 3-6 times our height. Indeed by surface area, our small intestines trump even our skin for being the largest organ.
In comparison, the large intestines is only a fraction of the length of the small intestines at ~1.5 m.
Unfortunately I believe this predisposes us mammals to inherent problems as we frequently encounter digestive disruptors such as all the ones listed above. These factors in our post-modern industrial neolithic age bombard us from pre-birth, birth and upwards.
I'm grateful that we have simple strategies and technology to address all of the gut disruptors -- fermented foods, whole grains/tubers/legumes, RS, potato starch prebiotics, soil based probiotics, diet, yoga, functional medicine lab testing GDX 2200 stool, ONE organic acids, Am Gut, uBIOME, etc.
 |
| Small Intestines: 5-10 meters (~15- 30 feet) Large Intestine: 1.5 meter (~5 feet) Source: NYU EDU SIBO |
Stressors, Coz We R Not Zebras
Mental stress directly impacts our gut function. The vagal nerve (see below) innervates our organs including the gut from head to tail. This nerve controls calm, cool, rest, repose and digestion. Look how the connections go between our brain to our gut, neat? 80% of our serotonin, the happy transmitter, are generated here. Melatonin, our sleep hormone, is then produced from serotonin. What is the first sign of stress? Insomnia, no wonder.
Who doesn't have stress? Widespread cortisol dysregulation is documented in teenagers (Dr. Briffa).
 |
| Vagal Nerve Innervations: Head to Tail (Butt) Source: Medscape |
Gut Brain Adrenal Axis
What are the variety of stressors the human body experience?
Gut
--Sources of stress: gluten, pathogenic organisms, viruses, yeasts, dysbiosis, not enough gastric acid, lack of commensals, refined not-whole-foods, GMO food
Adrenal Glands
--Sources of stress: mental, physical, traumatic, intrauterine
Brain
--Sources of stress: perceived, mental, fear, lack of trust, heightened super senses (hear, smell, touch, feel, taste, sense), future fears, past fears
Effects of Stress Breaks the Gut
Stress (cortisol) breaks open our gut, makes the TJs (tight junctions) leaky, and abruptly even changes our gut flora to more pathogenic populations while reducing the numbers of the good flora like Bifido. Read more about the gut-breaking effects on the Gut-Brain-Axis HERE.
Let's take surgery as an example (top diagram). Being cut open by a surgical knife, bleeding, opening arteries and veins are one of the most stressful procedures a person may endure. With any minor or major stressor, the adrenal glands must put out cortisol and adrenaline. With major trauma (surgery) or mental stressor, buckets of cortisol are secreted to maintain homeostasis, blood glucose, heart rate, blood pressure, hormones, etc.
In different gut disorders and SIBO, slightly variable nervous system effects are observed. Some conditions are more 'turned up' by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS/adrenaline/cortisol) than others. Some conditions are more deficient or defective in the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS/calm/oxytocin) than others.
How do you balance?
Adrenal Botanicals and Yoga
In both clinical practice and in studies, certain rhizomes, tubers, and herbs are shown to buffer and balance the function of the adrenal glands. Recently Robb Wolf and Chris Kresser talked about adrenal function. Prior animal pharm ADRENAL posts. The funniest physician on adrenal and hormone health is DR. SARA GOTTFRIED! Love love love this grrrrrl.
My favorite brand of adrenal support is by Gaia Adrenal Health but many exist. What works for you? How do you know when your adrenals are f*kcered? How do you fix it? Does your physician ignore it?
Yoga -- for me yoga is the best tool for putting the SNS to rest and to bring the PSNS back to up to snuff. I don't know why it works! There are studies but none explain the deep, contemplative, and restorative properties that I get when I'm regularly doing yoga. If you are in adrenal dysregulation, I'd highly suggest considering avoiding ALL Bikram and other extreme activities. The high heat and extreme form (90 minutes of high intensity sweating) is actually super detrimental for marginally functioning adrenals.
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| Bionic Adrenals By Yoga Source: HERE |
Stress
Other ways to tell if you're 'stressed' is FINGERPRINTS (hat tip: D'adamo). Our height of our fingerprint ridges may reflect our gut health microvilli height. We are aware that sometimes skin damage reflects gut damage and bacterial/fungal translocation and their respective toxins (acne, rosacea, psoriasis (and here), eczema, etc). More damage, flatter villi, flatter fingerprints, different whorl and loop patterns.
In celiac, with severe SIBO, see the white lines and flatness of the ridges? On a gluten-free diet, these improve.
 |
| Figure 2 (white lines on gluten/celiac) versus Figure 3 (diminished white lines on gluten-free diet) Source: David TJ et al, 1970 |
References
Small intestinal length: a factor essential for gut adaptation.
Weaver LT, Austin S, Cole TJ.
Gut. 1991 Nov;32(11):1321-3.
The relationship between intestinal microbiota and the central nervous system in normal gastrointestinal function and disease. PDF free.
Collins SM, Bercik P.
Gastroenterology. 2009 May;136(6):2003-14.
Therapeutic considerations of L-glutamine: a review of the literature.
Miller AL.
Altern Med Rev. 1999 Aug;4(4):239-48.
Magnesium sulfate protects against the bioenergetic consequences of chronic glutamate receptor stimulation.
Clerc P, Young CA, Bordt EA, Grigore AM, Fiskum G, Polster BM.
PLoS One. 2013 Nov 13;8(11):e79982.
Psychological stress and corticotropin-releasing hormone increase intestinal permeability in humans by a mast cell-dependent mechanism.
Vanuytsel T, van Wanrooy S, Vanheel H, Vanormelingen C, Verschueren S, Houben E, Salim Rasoel S, Tóth J, Holvoet L, Farré R, Van Oudenhove L, Boeckxstaens G, Verbeke K, Tack J.
Gut. 2013 Oct 23.
A cross sectional study of dermatoglyphics and dental caries in Bengalee children.
Sengupta AB, Bazmi BA, Sarkar S, Kar S, Ghosh C, Mubtasum H.
J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2013 Oct-Dec;31(4):245-8.
Dermatoglyphics in patients with dental caries: a study on 1250 individuals.
Abhilash PR, Divyashree R, Patil SG, Gupta M, Chandrasekar T, Karthikeyan R.
J Contemp Dent Pract. 2012 May 1;13(3):266-74.
The relation of bruxism and dermatoglyphics.
Polat MH, Azak A, Evlioglu G, Malkondu OK, Atasu M.
J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2000 Spring;24(3):191-4.
101 comments:
Best of series! Thanks so much for letting me help you with these, I learn so much more when I have to write about it. I know who wants to help with the next series...K.B.
I hope it's a 24 part series on the electron transport chain.
UR TOO HILARIOUS. Thank you for all of your amazing RS insights and sharing your thoughts on our gut bugs. I hope everyone learn may continue to learn about gut health and endeavor toward GUTS OF STEELE.
Lol
Hey ur so BRILLIANT. I may be in Thailand for soon... Wonder what Keith will be doing??
Nice article again!
Do you think that RS+psyllium+ green is a good option for people who have candida or fungi overgrowth ?
Hello Dr. BG and Tim,
I have been reading this series of articles with a lot of interest as I am suffering from serious chronic issues which I had no clue could be related to my gut.
I have been constantly battling low metabolism, thyroid that keeps getting lower and most importantly constant breakouts on my face. I have to be on antibiotics all the time to prevent from breaking out. I have educated myself enough to start taking probiotics along with my antibiotics in recent times.
I have digestive issues and acid reflux that has recurred again. I have had it several years ago and I thought I got rid of it but it appears to have come back.
Trust me when I say I have done everything advised to me by my doctors but my only option seems to be taking the antibiotics forever which I am sure is permanently ruining my gut flora. And I am trying gluten-free but it only made minimal impact so far.
As I have read this series I have no doubt that my gut biome is messed up. But I don’t think any of the specialist doctors I am seeing will help me any longer. I am so desperate and depressed as I do not want to be on antibiotics for the rest of my life.
Tim, you said you were sure you had SIBO prior to going on this RS experiment. What were your symptoms? Did you have acid reflux? What about fatigue?
Would getting the GI Effects test be a good start for me? Please please help me…I am so desperate. I am willing to be a guinea pig for an n=1 experiment.
Once again, I truly appreciate all that you are doing here.
Kathy
I'm so busy trying to reinvent my recycling career in the field of health and sanitation, promoting dry compost toilet technology (seriously). And soon embarking on a new Thai project consolidating the wet nurse industry, the Wet Nurse Force (WNF), bringing new meaning to the phase "honey, I'm going down to the titty bar, can I get you anything?" (not seriously)
Here's my favorite Thai study detailing the ketogenic diet shifting amino acids. http://www.si.mahidol.ac.th/eng/publication1/2004/Vol87_No4_432.pdf
How do you suppose that happens? It's about flora shift via diet. Ketones can KMBA; they lower over time on the ketogenic diet, yet the diet remains protective. It's about sugar/carb reduction halting microbial overgrowth. Aren't peptide hormones like insulin just chains of amino acids (51 in the case of insulin)? What if your flora imbalance means you can't make insulin? Isn't this called type 1 diabetes now blamed on pancreatic damage? Meanwhile, we know bacteria stimulate insulin release from small intestinal epithelial cells.
B G, ever try and/or research boron? Maybe boron deficiency is a much bigger deal than we know. Lots to learn about boron and hormone regulation. How does it do it? Firstly, it directly kicks ass including being a fierce antifungal/anticancer (is cancer a fungus?). It also somehow activates vitamin D which leads to intracellular calcium absorption to stimulate macrophage activity and balance flora. Boron is also used to slow nuclear reactions, now being used at Fukushima and was dropped by helicopter at Chernobyl. In the body, we have radioacitve RNA and radioactive amino acids.
Tim, you might wanna supplement boron, chlorella and clays for radiation detox as Fukushima has recently arrived in Alaska along with unusual mortality events in seals, walruses and polar bears, not cool:
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20131106/low-levels-fukushima-radiation-expected-alaska-coast-soon
http://enenews.com/us-govt-headline-alaska-island-appears-to-show-impacts-from-fukushima-significant-cesium-isotope-signature-detected-video
too sad: http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/fur-loss-oozing-sores-observed-arctic-alaska-polar-bears
Unless you think resistant starch can suck-up radiation . . . might wanna have an extra helping of yams. Didja know the main mode of death in a nuclear holocaust is sepsis via translocation of gut microbes, aka leaky gut?
I wonder people with website like hyperlipid, the Eades, dr. Richard Bernstein and a lot of very low carb ketogenic...
They seems in robust of health even long term on the diet... maybe on that diet you don't need gut bact like on mod carb or change gut flora to different mixture...
it would be very educational if all the big authorities on different diets and ways they believe best for health , join in the bacteria maps... so we can see how diversity diets and even bact mixture of the gut are...
I only think nothing seems create for no reasons, human did not invent whole grain, all natural high carb food so there must be a role for carb as well as other macro and micro..
I feel totally lost and confuse because all my favorite health blogs I read are so contradict each other and all have good science support them...
I do think everybody trys to figure out the true perfect health diet and so extreme in what is successful for them and their believes and some are so commercial try to gain profit too much to the point to make you lose faith in them...
Of course, we all have to make a living but you can see some websites, bloggers and doctors obvious are snake sale products...
Reactive hypoglycemia? Isn't that commonly misdiagnosed as schizophrenia? Meanwhile, the president of the manic-depression society still eats huge plates of pasta without making the connection that he's hospitalized soon after.
I like to think of it as an alcohol hangover where your gut is a brewery. That's right, you're a walking compost heap prone to spontaneous combustion via acetone and other products of microbes, apparently especially fungi. "Mushroom alcohols" were recently associated with Parkinson's while Michael J. Fox may finally ended his drinking career. Basically, hypoglycemia may be caused by alcohol/aldehydes of fungal origin which amplify insulin secretion. This along with toxins also make a recipe for gut origin of seizure while doctors continue to treat epilepsy from the neck up with a cocktail of drugs. Liquid molybdenum is good therapy, fueling enzymes required to process alcohol. After this post, I'm feeling the effects of antifreeze poisoning where the antidote is alcohol, so I'm heading to the local tavern, no joke.
http://endo.endojournals.org/content/149/1/232.long
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/93141.php
http://biology.about.com/od/physiology/a/alcoholhangover_2.htm
http://parkinsonresearchfoundation.org/blog/2013/11/22/mushroom-alcohol-neurodegeneration-and-parkinsons-disease/
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/09/17/223345977/auto-brewery-syndrome-apparently-you-can-make-beer-in-your-gut
Keith - You are just a ray of sunshine today! Thanks for the oozing polar bear pus thoughts...just kidding. Luckily I live 500 miles from any coast, but I feel for people living on and relying on the ocean.
Kathy - My SIBO symptoms were heartburn and super-painful stomach aches on occasion. I used to go through a bottle of Tums in a few months. Haven't used one in like 9 months now.
http://www.caltech.edu/content/probiotic-therapy-alleviates-autism-behaviors-mice
Article from today on autism/gut bugs if anyone's interested.
Keith and Tim.
In hair mineral analysis, Molybdenum can be used to help dump out copper which stores in the liver and brain.. Cu/fe ratio is what we look at to determine bacterial or viral infections. Copper/ zinc is hormone balance. Dr Paul Eck and Dr David Watts discovered that balancing zinc/ copper ratio helped balance gut bacteria
Pip
Yes, Pip, molybdenum's relationship to copper is beautifully illustrated by the moose death story in Sweden:
http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/12/science/acid-rain-leading-to-moose-deaths.html
Tim, thanks for the cool article.
Keith,
I'm having more mental epiphanies ;) give me a moment...
Pip,
That is fabulous!
See I see more on Molybdenum than boron but I know that both are equally potent and vital. Boran alone can raise Testosterone -- an integrative medicine physician Jonathan Wright MD at the Tahoma Clinic uses Boron all the time to raise Testosterone.
Molybdenum on the other hand is also involved particularly where sulfur intolerance occurs. There is the odd individual that does not tolerate glutathione, garlic, onions and other sulfur containing foods and supplements, experiencing adverse effects which is related to some weird CBS or SUOX enzyme pathway changes. Molybdenum has been shown to ameliorate some of this until burden of mercury and other disruptors are lowered.
Jean,
Empiric treatment of worms and parasites for our pets is standard vet care, no? What about humans?
Did you read this yet?
http://mdheal.org/parasites.htm
Bionic fiber does work but one must WEED OUT the nasties first often if the overgrowths are ruining the integrity of the single, one-cell lining of our small intestines which has a surface area of 100m squared, as large as a tennis court. It is like our skin. If you had a skin wound that constantly was bombarded daily with undigested and malabsorbed food and throw on some microbial, parasitic and fungal toxins, would it heal??
Thanks always for your thoughts Jean!
Kathy,
You must stop antibiotics if you desire to have a healthy gut. Don't be desperate. Choose education, not medication ;)
Anon,
I understand your confusion. We are all unique and different and products of evolution. You know what???
EVOLUTION WINS ALL THE TIME. There will never be complete agreement on the 'perfect diet' because we human hominids can actually live on consuming or scavenging anything.
http://drbganimalpharm.blogspot.jp/2011/10/homo-purgare.html
Kathy,
You asked...'Tim, you said you were sure you had SIBO prior to going on this RS experiment. What were your symptoms? Did you have acid reflux? What about fatigue?'
Have you seen his DNA 16S PCR amplification results from the American Gut Project? Tim's biome is spectacular. We don't know the parasite/protozoa profile but the bacterial one is quite mind blowing which reflects his health as well -- mental, physical, psych, metaphysical -- from my indirect observations.
What is a tremendous inspiration to me is that Tim came from nuclear annihilation of gut commensals and good flora after military living (high SAD diet, mental stress, vaccination schedules of pharmaceutical-grade mercury), a gazillion rounds of anti-anthrax Cipro and other gut disruptors.
If Tim's gut can recover, why can't anybody's??!
Other things that Tim has done that stacks the cards in favor of his beneficial critters
--he consumes dirt from minimally washed vegetables and eggs from his home grown farm
--he doesn't use pesticides on his garden and dirt
--he hunts ducks and raises organic free range chickens which are rich sources of the SBO (that I love) Bacillus licheniformis
Please quiz him more ;)
What other secrets has Tim not yielded as to why his biome shines and recovered his body from the ravages of the below SAD conditions at the tender age of 40-something:
--Type 2 Diabetes
--Obesity
--Hypothyroidism
--Metabolic Syndrome
--Heartburn GERD/esophagitis (and massive risk of fatal adenocarcinoma in age < 50)
--Adrenal dysregulation
--?Gulf War Syndrome
--?Fatty liver/NASH
g
Tim's GUTS OF STEELE....~!
http://freetheanimal.com/2013/11/resistant-american-comparison.html
Keith~!
(gripping computer table with both hands)
The waves multiple mental epiphanies are almost done SIGH
You are really quite the modern Renaissance man. The secret is re-invention to avoid boredom. Myself, I've only reinvented a few times, and you... (gasp). I might have to visit Thailand. LOL But you know as they as say, once you visit you may never leave. This has happened to several people from Shanghai I heard!
"...we know bacteria stimulate insulin release from small intestinal epithelial cells."
NO ;) I didn't know this!!
OK BORON -- ok that's a BIG DEAL ;) for more than just low T syndromes.
Fukushima will stay with all of us on this planet, no? For as long as the decay of cesium whose half-life is 30 years?
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2013/07/09/fukushima-watch-cesium-levels-also-spiking/
KEITH BELL......
I'll have to digest the aromatic AAs a bit. That is fasinating as is everything you post. I wasn't aware seizures touched upon so many things. I thought the condition was mostly an electrical conduit defect. But we are all and energetic electrical, no?
U CRACK ME UP. You said, "Basically, hypoglycemia may be caused by alcohol/aldehydes of fungal origin which amplify insulin secretion. This along with toxins also make a recipe for gut origin of seizure while doctors continue to treat epilepsy from the neck up with a cocktail of drugs. Liquid molybdenum is good therapy, fueling enzymes required to process alcohol. After this post, I'm feeling the effects of antifreeze poisoning where the antidote is alcohol, so I'm heading to the local tavern, no joke." I've read most of the resources on auto-brewery but missed those (per usual) that you listed. Is it not unfathomable how conventional medicine has deviated from its orthomolecular roots?
Autobrewery and yeasts were studied over 50-80 years ago in academic and medical institutions. Autistic children currently now often have blood alcohols exceeding the DUI range 0.08% from fungally sourced alcohol and aldehydes, as you mentioned. Aaah, I see how molydenum fits now. It's still all the gut and its ultimate breakdown and overgrowths.
Keith --
BTW -- the auto-brewery effects has been admitted in the court of law with little merit thought it definitely is a clinical presentation and is legit.
Unfortunately right now we don't test the other neurotoxic microbial by-products, organic acids or aldehydes that dampen CNS function and cuase that continued 'food coma' feeling.
Med Sci Law. 2000 Jul;40(3):206-15.
Endogenous ethanol 'auto-brewery syndrome' as a drunk-driving defence challenge.
Logan BK, Jones AW.
Washington State Toxicology Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle 98134-2027, USA.
The concentration of ethanol in blood, breath or urine constitutes important evidence for prosecuting drunk drivers. For various reasons, the reliability of the results of forensic alcohol analysis are often challenged by the defence. One such argument for acquittal concerns the notion that alcohol could be produced naturally in the body, hence the term 'auto-brewery' syndrome. Although yeasts such as Candida albicans readily produce ethanol in-vitro, whether this happens to any measurable extent in healthy ambulatory subjects is an open question. Over the years, many determinations of endogenous ethanol have been made, and in a few rare instances (Japanese subjects with very serious yeast infections) an abnormally high ethanol concentration (> 80 mg/dl) has been reported. In these atypical individuals, endogenous ethanol appeared to have been produced after they had eaten carbohydrate-rich foods. A particular genetic polymorphism resulting in reduced activity of enzymes involved in hepatic metabolism of ethanol and a negligible first-pass metabolism might explain ethnic differences in rates of endogenous ethanol production and clearance. Other reports of finding abnormally high concentrations of ethanol in body fluids from ostensibly healthy subjects suffer from deficiencies in study design and lack suitable control experiments or used non-specific analytical methods. With reliable gas chromatographic methods of analysis, the concentrations of endogenous ethanol in peripheral venous blood of healthy individuals, as well as those suffering from various metabolic disorders (diabetes, hepatitis, cirrhosis) ranged from 0-0.08 mg/dl. These concentrations are far too low to have any forensic or medical significance. The notion that a motorist's state of intoxication was caused by endogenously produced ethanol lacks merit.
PMID: 10976182 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH ANTIBIOTICS.
Did you know that antibiotics have even been used on fruit and vegetable crops (trees, blossoms, fruit, plant tissues)? Including organic apple and pear orchards?
http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/pdfs/P2632.pdf
"Antibiotics have been used to control plant diseases for over 50 years (McManus et al.,
2002). The quantity of antibiotics used for crop protection is small relative to livestock
production and potential human exposure from antibiotics used on plants is miniscule
relative to therapeutic use by patients. Nonetheless, questions persist about the fate of
these materials when applied in agricultural environments, the potential for human
exposure to antibiotics, and the risk of selecting for antibiotic resistance in human
pathogens. The discussion below highlights the research done on antibiotic residues on
treated plant tissues."
I should clarify about bacteria stimulating insulin secretion from intestinal epithelial cells. It's been done with engineered bacteria, so I'm guessing wild bacteria also do it:
http://aem.asm.org/content/74/23/7437.full
Here's another angle where microbial stimulation of GLP via fatty acids may play a role in stimulating secretion of insulin (which stimulates cell proliferation/gut repair): http://www.pnas.org/content/100/9/5034.long
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22190648
One of the important reasons bacteria may stimulate insulin secretion from epithelial cells is cell proliferation. In the gut, insulin regulates permeability and tight junctions. Perhaps the relationship of zinc to insulin is one reason zinc is used to tighten gut junctions (zinc-carnosine is sold for this purpose). Maybe it also explains why dessert is sweet, to decrease permeability after a meal.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21986618
Relatedly, people drink coffee after meals to tighten the blood-brain barrier (BBB), protecting the brain from products of gut digestion . . . caffeine molecules fit into adenosine receptors which regulate BBB permeability.
Similarly, people smoke cigarettes after eating because niacin is oxidized nicotine, so they smoke their vitamin B3 to balance flora . . . feel free to laugh now.
So, if we meet in Thaliand, Dr. B G, we can
1) have a drink to balance the effects of ethylene (antifreeze) production by fungi and avoid oxalate crystal deposits in our kidneys and eyes, etc.
2) have a cup of coffee to protect our brains
3) smoke cigarettes for vitamin B3 to activate our immune systems
4) have dessert to tighten our gut junction
Seems Tim's experience may benefit autistic children where probiotics aren't effective or merely provide transient benefits because they're not colonizing. Tim's work with RS lights a path toward colonization and lasting benefit. Hats off to this gut engineering feat. There should be some before and after studies using this strategy.
So am I invited to dinner with you guys in Thailand, then? We can all do an oxytocin experiment after dessert, and then another nicotine one after that.
Tim~
How did you ever know that I love THREESOMES?
K~
I love what you propose...will "feel free to laugh now..."
Shall take you up on all 4~!! Did you know all 4 involve microbial fermention if dessert is tiramisu with mascarpone (fermented cream)? A theme that certainly reflects our mutual love for the microbiota of our guts and soil.
I've never had kidney stones -- I think I have the soil organism Oxalobacter formigenes and other in the oxalate-degrading consortium. Perhaps if we have such a fantastic oxytocin-releasing time, I'll let you lick a body part to confer some O. formigenes and protect your gut-eye-kidney axes.
OMG! Stupid auto-correct!
I meant Oxycontin.
Grace, your children are very fortunate having you to nurture them. They must have very high self-esteem, laugh a lot and probably very popular with friends who they teach how to artfully swear. As to microbial predisposition, it appears they have some advantages, as well.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/29/science/human-microbiome-may-be-seeded-before-birth.html?_r=0
Throw genes out the window; microbes turn their own and host genes on and off like light switches.
Tim~
I am so pleased you'd join our int'l meeting of the microbial minds and hopefully not find it hard to restrain yourself while I gush and drip on about amazing guts and microbes ;)
Keith~
My children are just clones of me -- they're slowly hitting their stride and are blooming super late. They read their bibles for good background and laugh when I tickle and cuddle them! However they have little humor when I hand them their fermented CLO or SBOs.
We live in house again with a yard and it's neato for me to see them very excited about the compost pile we've started LOL. The soil is hard but turning the soil and getting my hands digging in gives a certain satisfaction probably the same as hunting your own meat, perhaps? I'm quite dubious of Shanghai acid-rain and the soil, but I figure some SBOs are better than no SBOs for skin, fingernail, gut, lung, and ?eyeball flora. Oxalobacter formigenes and its little friends would certainly be in the soil because it's found in mammalian herbivores (like the whitethroated woodrat). You're such a genius and I'm certain you figured I'd grant you a taste of my hand as where it's been is no mystery. Tim's hands on the hand have also hunted ducks and butchers then directly, as well picks up free range eggs all day. LOL Perhaps we will fight over who will bite his hands first?
http://aem.asm.org/content/68/8/3841.full
http://www.sicb.org/meetings/2014/schedule/abstractdetails.php?id=1175
That's a fantastic NYT article. Nothing is sterile! Everything is teaming with LIFE. ;) I wonder if pregnancy is like lactation where the mother is constantly providing enteric commensals via the myenteric-lymph circulation-route-to-mammary-glands. Maybe evo makes sense to put the uterus near the gut, and not the head?? LOL I had a host of health problems compared to now (Hashimoto's, obesity, eating gluten) and probably didn't SEED my children too well. But we've amended a lot. One was only breastfed 6 mos then she started weaning herself (probably secondary to my losing 25 lbs to get back to work -- my fault -- too much exercise and release of fat-soluble toxins likely changing the taste of the milk). The second child stayed at the 'titty bar' for ooooohh almost three years. She is many ways far far healthier gut wise, immune wise and brain wise -- no chronic ear infections, asthma, rarely sick and few subsequent antibiotics.
KEITH~
"Is cancer a fungus?" I dunno.
Maybe it is even more simple and involves the lack of gut commensals and ancient synbionts?
We're missing a lot of networked friendlies/buddies/playmates in our guts... When I came to Shanghai, I had a major displacement. Recently I found my 'tribe' so to speak, anchored deep and found veins of water, nutrients and like minded spirits, and the renewed passion that drives me. Now all is good, flowing and flourishing! Perhaps the gut ecosystem is no different when it comes to successful root transplants and nurturing?
Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2011 Jun;30(2):211-23.
Microbial deprivation, inflammation and cancer.
von Hertzen LC, Joensuu H, Haahtela T.
Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital
Dysregulated immune function is involved in the pathogenesis of many common human diseases. Living in urban, microbe-poor environment may have a profound influence on the immune function and eventually also on carcinogenesis. Unfortunately, few studies have thus far addressed the role of exposure to the environmental microbiota on the risk of cancer. Which mechanisms are broken in individuals prone to develop chronic inflammation in response to exposure that does not cause harm in others? Recent work in immunology has revealed that Th17 cells, a third subset of Th cells, and inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-23, are closely linked with tumour-associated inflammation. Albeit the precise role of Th17 cells in cancer is still unclear and a matter of debate, accumulating evidence shows that Th17 cells are enriched in a wide range of human tumours, and that these tumour-derived Th17 cells may promote angiogenesis, tumour growth and inflammation. Regulatory T cells, in turn, appear to have counter-regulatory effects on Th17 cells and can inhibit their function. Thus, the regulatory network, induced and strengthened by continuous exposure to environmental microbiota, may play an important role in tumour immunobiology in preventing the establishment of chronic inflammation in its early phases. In addition, the discovery of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) system has brought micro-organisms to new light; continuous signalling via these TLRs and other receptors that sense microbial components is necessary for epithelial cell integrity, tissue repair, and recovery from injury. In this communication, we summarise the epidemiological data of living in environments with diverse microbial exposures and the risk of cancer, and discuss the related immunological mechanisms, focusing on the links between environmental microbiota, the Th17/IL-23 axis and cancer-associated inflammation.
Is she saying something? I couldn't hear over all the gushing. Tim, nobody's gonna bite your hands, no worries. By the way, do you know if peanuts are a good form of resistant starch?
Peanuts not very good source, you'd need to eat a ton. Like 5% RS by weight.
Thanks, Tim, sorry to hear it.
g, that Utah meeting is pretty amazing, will you be attending?
http://www.sicb.org/meetings/2014/schedule/abstractdetails.php?id=1175
Utah leads the nation in autism by quite a lot. Staggering figures and no one knows why. I think it may be connected with a polluted water supply such as from pig farming. I'll spare you all the details, but let's just say it's an absurd amount of pollution. Of course, they also have a lot of mining.
Tim, how about if you also eat a lot of the peanut shells? Are the shells RS?
No. Completely something else. Crude fiber and cellulose, i'd bet.
K~
Mmmhh...Wasn't planning on Utah. But will return to AHS 2014 since it's in my backyard. How about you? Have you been to the Bay Area? The topic has not arrived in my thoughts yet... but it will be MICROBIAL. lol You should do a talk which is health focused of microbial-origins. I'd love to hear you!
Consider submitting here as well -- our journal, did you see? I'm submitting into the inaugural issue (soon, someday LOL)
http://jevohealth.com/journal/vol1/iss1/2/
The Utah stats are very curious! I wonder how many blond, blue-eyed Mormons have DQ2/8? Did you know that a leading Mormon controls CocaCola? Perhaps the soda ingestion relates to the autism rate, layered with mining? HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) is a significant source of mercury due to the chlor-alkali process used in producing fructose from corn grain. BPA in all the aluminum can lining.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865556759/Make-it-a-small-NYs-ban-on-large-sodas-likely-wont-take-in-Utah.html?pg=all
Hi Grace
Here's one for you , whilst listening to my audio class from Dr Eck this morning. He said that Mercury increases the oxidation rate. Ie It increases the sodium and potassium and decreases cal and mag.. Eventually the body get's tired and the adrenals slow right down, pushing up cal and mag and depleting sodium and potassium.. The cal and mag are not available though as they become stored in the soft tissue where they are not meant to be.. In other words Mercury Toxicity causes Adrenal burnout
Pip~
I believe it~!!! Mercury sucks!
What a vicous cycle and that makes sense, we can only survive so long on low Mag/Ca.
Additionally for certain mercury dampens many enzymatic pathways including the hyperactive adrenal and thyroid ones. I often think Broda Barnes got so much mileage out of glandular thyroid due to mercury toxicities.
THANK YOU MINERAL GODDESS~!
I missed something... please forgive my ignorance. What is the connection between dybiosis and reactive hypoglycemia (I have both functional and reactive, if I remember the terms right)? Is it due to malabsorption--i.e., eat but the body doens't get any of the food, or something else?
I thought I had another question, but my brain is not functioning today either. : ) someday.
It's about products of microbes, i.e., yeast alcohols, spiking insulin leading to very low blood sugar. This can happen during digestion after a meal (postprandial) or perhaps anytime flora is imbalanced.
Here's an illustration for how this happens when drinking alcohol, but the point is some people don't need to drink to be drunk:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/93141.php
Dr BG, I'm late to the RS party but I've been reading here and at FTA to get up to speed. I do have SIBO and did the lactulose breath test in October. I did 10 days on neomycin and flagyl along with diet modifications. I actually felt worse after the abx than before. I didn't know what to do after that and have been researching herbals. In finding the RS info, I wonder if you think it's possible to do the RS with probiotics and paleo-type diet OR is it necessary to do a starch free-VLC elim diet with herbals first? I have tried a little PS, doesn't seem to cause any problems and I'm sleeping much better. Just worried about still having overgrowth in the SI. I'd appreciate any thoughts, suggestions. Thanks!
Keith,
Thank you for your brilliance
Gillian,
"point is some people don't need to drink to be drunk" At one point during being ill, it was very difficult to have good memory or even to function at work. Fungal overgrowth on the GDX stool FX panel is ALWAYS abnormal and high for every sample (except Brent Pottenger's). It is truly rare for me to see truly healthy and normal samples. This was probably not the case 50 years ago before the changes to our soil, eradication of traditional farming practices, sustainable agriculture, livestock and poultry farms.
Do you have brainfog from fungal/microbial overgrowths?
Jan,
Thanks for your question and I'm glad you put it here on Step#7 addressing adrenal health. If you look at the first diagram, you can see that gastric and surgical stress increase cortisol and adrenaline secretion from the adrenal glands, no?
The problem I have with VLC diets besides being absent of fermentable fiber and RS is that VLC dramatically spikes the cortisol and adrenaline secretion to illness-defying levels. Who can sustain these high levels? One must have super kevlar coated adrenal glands to do so.
Several people report high fasting BGs (blood glucoses) after doing VLC and when the BGs are getting high 110 or 120s upon fasting, this is no longer just physiological adaptation to ketosis but compromised adrenal function as the cortisol is super spiked high. Short time -- no prob but for any limited time I think the strain on the glands are not worth it. So many people have compromised adrenal function and this impairs full gut healing.
So... no.
Not even VLC therapeutically unless one has sexxxy-stellar-banging adrenals AND normal body temps 98.6F 24/7 AND normal Heartmath EM WAVE2 scores (adrenaline/stress monitor via heart rate).
http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2012/05/what-to-do-when-youre-overtrained/
These "HOW TO CURE SIBO" posts have been immensely informative and have definitely made me take a second and hard look at resistant starch!
I came across your blog a little over a week ago and have been voraciously reading gut health related posts along with all the comments, which basically means every post following "Hot Pink Kraut in The New Kitchen http://drbganimalpharm.blogspot.ca/2013/09/hot-pink-kraut-in-new-kitchen.html" September 5th, 2013! I finally finished reading the entire SIBO series along with all the comments and only have a few of the other posts to finish up.
I started experimenting with RS in green plantains, since I was not able to find potato starch at my local grocery store (they seemed to stock nearly every other Bob's Red Mill product). I bought several pounds of green plantains and decided to make chips, which I then blended to make flour. First, I sliced them in half lengthwise, and peeled them. I cut them into long slices by fist dividing these into 3 or 4 sections (since it's a little difficult to make slices out of something that curves!) so that I could cut them into long slices. I dried the slices for approximately 15 hours at 109°F. I threw away maybe 20% of the chips because these had some black spots that may have been fungus. It's better to be safe, than sorry! Sadly, this took a significant amount of time and I doubt I will do this again.
So far, it's been three days and I haven't noticed any increase in gas or intestinal discomfort, maybe just a little distention. I'll briefly describe my initial observations, but these may be confounded with the fact that I *just* ran out of homemade sauerkraut (I currently got some turnips fermenting, thought). First, let me give a little background information. I tend to be more on the constipated side, but occasionally do get diarrhea. I started taking digestive enzymes, betaine HCL, zinc l-carnosine, l-glutamine, and n-acetylcysteine again (I used to take the enzymes up until a few months ago, because I ran out. I still had the betaine HCL, but despite delving into lots of bone broth and eliminating most fibrous vegetables, my symptoms increased substantially without the enzymes.) and as a result I started well formed stools roughly every 24 hours. I have never taken zinc before (apart from eating oysters, which didn't seem to do much) and I think it has really, really, helped the MMC get started again.
I believe my body tries to eliminate toxins through my hands for some reason. Two years ago, during the winter months, by fingers, palms and lips would erupt with numerous cracks that were very painful and would often bleed. No amount of hand lotion seemed to alleviate the symptoms. Even though the cracked skin subsided (for the most part) during the summer, I could always tell if there was inflammation and a toxic burden by looking at the lines on my palms and fingers. The lines would be bright read and the skin, tight. I went paleo September of 2012 and the cracking of my skin that happened that winter was much less than the year before (progress!!). This year I made further strides in reducing symptoms by eliminating fibrous veggies such as broccoli and cauliflower, which would give me foul smelling gas (I'm glad I finally was able to track this down). Currently, my carbs consist of well cooked carrots or winter squash. I eat spinach (been experimenting with either raw or cooked), and cucumbers (raw, peeled, but not deseeded) , which I blend in my Vitamix along with either some tallow, coconut oil, red palm oil, or some combination thereof.
Continued on next post...
...Continued from previous post.
I started by introducing about 1.5 tbsp divided between my two or three daily meals. I don't currently have any fibre (e.g. psylium husk) to supplement with, or any greens powder; however, I've been taking the RS along with some winter squash. I ended up having some night sweats the last two nights (I haven't had night sweats for several months), developed a cold, and the skin at tip of my finger split open for the first time in 8 months. Remember, I ran out of my fermented foods, so this is somewhat of a confounding factor (although, I may have found a secret probiotic weapon forgotten about in my cupboard, but more on that below :P). I also didn't have a bowel movement for 36 hours, whereas 24 hours in normal for me.
THE SECRET WEAPON!?! Natto starter spores. Bacillus subtilis, formerly Bacillus natto. Before going paleo, I was nearly a vegetarian. I experimented with sprouting and fermenting grains and beans. I made tempeh, natto, and raw sprouted hummus. Unfortunately, I gave myself some nasty bugs a couple of times when my experiments didn't go so well. One time I had the most foul smelling sulfur breath, accompanied by terribly foul gas and diarrhea (actually, that might have been bad chicken that time).
To make the natto, I bought some natto starter spores (links below). I am now experimenting with taking this as a supplement. The problem is I have no idea how much I am getting. I am taking the same amount that is required to make a large batch with the RS.
This is the official website, but it is unfortunately all in Japanese, which I am unable to read! http://www.nattomoto.net/
These guys have a link to an English translation of the instructions http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/nattomoto/natto.htm
I bought mine from here http://naturalimport.com/natto_spores
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this as an inexpensive source of Bacillus subtilis for all of us. From my symptoms I am thinking that it's more likely that I have SIFO than SIBO. Do you concur? Also, if pathogens steal magnesium for their own use and it is an integral component of biofilm, but we are left deficient, is it okay to supplement with? Or should magnesium (malate and glycinate) not be supplemented with and exclusively obtained via Epsom salt baths? I'm entertaining the thought of mercury toxicity, but I've never had mercury amalgams and I am unsure how I was vaccinated as a child. (I did get the Twinrix vaccine maybe 10 years ago). The fact that I developed cellulitis during a transatlantic flight on my way back to Canada from Greece and was subsequently treated with intravenous antibiotics (although, I don't know what kind) seven years ago for a couple of weeks, probably didn't help either! The thing I'm really scared of is the possibility of endogenously produced BT toxin from the GMO soy I've eaten :S. I had the metametrix 2105 done just over a year ago, which didn't show much, except that I had lots of Bifidobacter. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1XQJoRn8D3VNmtQRDJnLTdLR00/edit?usp=sharing
My general practitioner ran 4 conventional O&P's, which haven't turned up anything.
Despite some negative initial reactions, I am going to stick with the RS along with the natto starter for several weeks, unless things really go south.
@Dr. B.G.
Thanks! I get what you're saying about VLC and in my case, my adrenals are nothin' to write home about! I'm not loading them with anymore work. Already got Hashis, leaky gut, SIBO w/slow MMC.
So, if I'm understanding this, it would be alright to do a 3-4week herbal protocol and include RS/PS in my daily elim diet, that is mainly LC Paleo. I am fodmaps sensitive so I'm not eating those foods at all, too much gastro reaction. I do fine with the RS prepared, white rice and PS. It does leave me feeling full and not hungry for long stretches, but that is not uncommon or a bad reaction, right? No gas or bloating.
I am planning to start it all in January and re-test at the end. It has been difficult to discern whether to include or exclude RS during the SIBO treatment phase. It certainly would be beneficial in recovery/maintenance. Thank you. Jan
Dr. G---yes, I have brain fog. It is getting better. I know my brain is not functioning, nor concentrating as well, and it's scary.... and incredible muscle weakness.... a lot of other scary things.... but Justin, I know what you mean about hands--mine crack and split and bleed all over. Tatertot mentioned the ridges on fingers, but mine are so cracked and dry its hard to see if I have any.
Like Justin, I've been scrambling to read all the RS-related material here and elsewhere, even though I got a much earlier start. (I've been taking Bob's PS for about six months and found it agreeable.) What's really proving helpful for me is eating natto more frequently (love it!) and including gokujang (thanks for the tip, Dr. Grace) with every meal.
I would love to learn more about the natto spores (best way to use besides making natto, how much to take, etc.), if anyone has info. Thanks for the link to a source, Justin.
Also, it would be great if Grace could elaborate on the protocol for using detox agents (charcoal, botanicals et al.) in combination with pre- and probiotics and RS. How to keep them from interfering with one another? As I understand it, the bug killers shouldn't be consumed at the same time as the bug generators, but what's the proper timing? How long should one take the "killers"?
Belated thanks to Grace, Tim and everyone else at the forefront of this fascinating adventure into the nether regions.
Pamela
Been learning/wondering a bit about how SBOs may trigger biofilm breakdown via production of D-amino acids such as D-leucine. Do SBOs make D-amino acids or merely trigger its release by competitors to bust biofilm?
D-leucine is also studied for use in protection against seizures. Leucine is known to increase in the ketogenic diet where I maintain mechanism for success is flora shift, not ketone production.
Inhibition of bacterial growth by d-leucine: http://www.jbc.org/content/155/2/465.full.pdf
“Many bacteria make these d-amino acids,”
http://www.nature.com/scibx/journal/v3/n19/full/scibx.2010.576.html
http://www.hhmi.org/news/right-handed-amino-acids-help-bacteria-adapt
Interesting evolutionary perspective where "screwy" light killed D-amino acids, so we now have far more L-amino acids:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7895-space-radiation-may-select-amino-acids-for-life.html#.UqiD3WRDv_S
http://astrobiology.berkeley.edu/PDFs_articles/Bada_EPSL_2006.pdf
Who's making your D-amino acids? Not you.
I think Natto spores are definitely worthwhile, same as some yeasts like brewers yeast. Seems I read a study a while ago that spores and even dead bacteria exert some sort of signalling in the gut as they are bio-identical to hormones we produce, I'll look for it and post it.
Kieth - Dude. You are on a great run, keep digging! I love getting in those rabbit holes and the one on bio-films looks so intriguing.
Keep digging and posting what you find here. Thanks!
Justin,
You are full of delights and stories~!! Thank you so much for your comment. Shortly I have to jet and will resume this reply.
I love your protocol -- such high gut IQ! Outsourcing the digestive functions until everything gets back on track is prudent
--betain HCl
--digestive enzymes
--zinc carnosine
--etc
I'm in love with your idea of using natto starters as a probiotic. HOW CLEVER OF UUUUUU~!!! UR A GENIUS. I see no reason why not as long as the source is pathogen free and toxic metal free. I'll have to look for that here in China or ask some Japanese friends.
Do you really suspect the Zinc helped the MMC? Zinc carnosine is curative for microerosive mucositis and ulcers... I'm using it for my daughter's H. pylori overgrowth.
Keith Bell as you've probably read has discussed mechanisms how the pathogenic microbes hijack our endogenous zinc or mag... so YES probably we are fueling the nasties to some extent. Topical magnesium and zinc would bypass -- perhaps this is the secret to bathing in mineral waters in Europe and Japan and longevity?
Cellulitis can be scary. Don't worry -- everything including your gut can be rebuilt like your a f*kcing Colonel Steve Austin. I think you are doing a schwingtastic bionic job!~! And your brain is on track. UR DAMN BRILLIANT MY DEAR.
Gillian
My brain fog radically improved with clay and charcoal. Have you tried any coconut oil or shea butter?
Keith
So speaking of coconut oil, the lauric acid and other medium chain fatty acids are selectively antifungal and antimicrobial against pathogens. Did you know that butyrate is selectively antimicrobial on pathogenic strains as well??
Ricke SC: Perspectives on the use of organic acids and short chain fatty acids as antimicrobiols.
Poultry Sci 2003, 82:632-639.
Fernández-Rubio C, Ordónez C, Abad-González J, Garcia-Gallego A, Pilar Honrubia M, Jose Mallo J, Balana-Fouce R: Butyric acid based feed additives help protect broiler chickens from Salmonella enteritidis infection.
Poultry Sci 2008, 88:943-948.
It's not just amino acids or small peptides. Your posting on D-leucine is absolutely fantastical. I know niggling on astrobio but I found it mind blowing that it said "Magnetic alignment -- The radiation is called circularly polarised light because its electric field travels through space like a turning screw, and comes in right- and left-handed forms." (New Scientist link)
WILD AND AMAZING that radiation can selectively damage and kill D-chiral forms. Like saying microwaves are bad for our food (PHD/Paul disagrees, but I would say the evidence says otherwise).
God. U KILL ME. "Who's making your D-amino acids? Not you." That should be a chapter in a book...
SO TRUE. Our gut critters do everything -- they poop pee sweat cry and also fix nitrogen. No wonder vegetarians can subsist and not wither and immediately die off the face of the planet...They're living off the AAs in their poop.
Taurine? I wonder what your thoughts are on taurine.
I don't understand bile acids and our gut microbiota, but just that bile acids can meld and break our gut enteroprofiles. How the secondary bile acids are formed is reliant upon the microbiota. This then affects all cholesterol derivatives, hormones and inflammatory hormonal by-products (many are carcinogens and xenoestrogens). Taurine is a precursor to bile acids, a conditionally essential amino acid with incredible GABA-like, anti-migraine, and anti-epileptic properties.
http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/6/1/78.pdf
Hey Jan,
Thanks for your reply. Personally through my best SIBO recoveries I was eating RS-rich tubers and whole grains. PS as a prebiotic definitely makes it super easy and faster IMHO until full and complete recovery and maintenance.
In SIBO/SIFO, the pathogens are in wrong place. In fact even so called good bacteria can often be in the wrong place and overgrowing. Some even switch to 'pathobiont' status meaning they're like double agents or defected spies. And like parasites, they degrade the intestinal one-layer lining of the small intestines and wreak havoc on the integrity, digestive process and MMC.
RS if it can be tolerated like the starches you appear to be tolerating may have a role by
--protecting probiotics to travel to the final destination, the large colon
--serve as a reservoir for the pathobionts to escape to and lead to lower pathogenicity
--boosting butyrate production and butyrate has selective antimicrobial activity against pathogens.
Sorry for the tangent, Dr, but thought you'd want to know that ApoE4 is a 'toxic protein' and 'causes' Alzheimer's.
http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/12/110726/gladstone%E2%80%99s-robert-mahley-receives-wellcome-trust-funds-combat-alzheimer%E2%80%99s
Holy crap, anyone got any Nembutal? I'm doomed.
@Dr.B.G.
I'm happy to hear that I can continue the RS/PS prebiotic approach along with probiotics. I started taking zinc carnosine and actually feel better on it in less than a week!
Thank you so much for answering with very helpful guidance and insight. :-)
I've never used taurine supplement, but did try it with my seizure-prone dog. Also tried giving her raw chicken hearts rich in taurine.
Maybe the most important aspect of taurine is that it's one of the few sulfur amino acids, so maybe that means OptiMSM helps make it work. It's also known protective against neurological and liver damage from ethanol, product of fungi.
Lastly, it rhymes with many words, making it useful when writing poetry.
Keith. My mums dog started having seizures. Any chance of sharing what worked
Pip
Chip Spitter
Youre too funny. Thx for the comment. I've gotten training from Gladstone Institutes long time ago when I was pro-Pharma stooopid/brain dead. Yes. I must've been on Nembutal which they apparently want to put in the water along with statins, HIV drugs and new fancy spancy anti-apoE4 biotech pharmaceutical.
Keith~!
LOL!! Poetry with taurine -- like intervene, kidney bean, evergreen?? Yes the sulfur of taurine is super special. Nice.
Jan,
So many good products out there to soothe and heal the ol' 20 to 32 feet long small intestines. Mastic gum, boswellia gum and their resin glycans (special sugars similar to the ones produced by our gut mucous layers and breast milk) are also excellent. These are better or equivalent to triple H pylori/antibiotic therapy and sulfasalazine in trials for ulcers and UC/colitis, respectively.
These glycosylated gum resins have antibiofilm, anti-fungal and anti-microbial benefits.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22414110
http://progress.umb.edu.pl/sites/progress.umb.edu.pl/files/phs_0001/ProgHealthSci1.18.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19146534
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3309643/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11488449
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9049593
Safflower tops has super botanical mucosal lining powers. Any herbal that is mucilage-y like aloe and marshmallow are spectacular. Ginger, rosemary, quercetin and other antioxidant herbals have ginormous tight junction benefits.
I like these combo easy to take products in addition to bentonite and charcoal.
http://www.iherb.com/Dr-Venessa-s-Digestion-Balance-60-Veggie-Tabs/10866
http://www.iherb.com/Enzymatic-Therapy-Acid-Ease-Digestion-Formula-180-Veggie-Caps/4952
Dr. BG--how did you take the clay and charcoal? I have heard of both external and internal use.
I eat like 4 Tbs of coconut oil everyday; never tried shea butter--are you talking about eating it???
Was the glycosylated gums that you mentioned to Jan for SIBO in general?
Pamela~!
Thank you for your questions and kind comments. Sorry I missed it at first.
You asked "How long should one take the "killers"?"
Wait 2 hours before or after to separate the two. Good questions. In actuality I've taken clay and charcoal with some of the probiotics, but truly I don't know if this interfered with them. They are spores so I kinda doubt it. Spores are the dormant lifeform (like parasites LOL) of the soil based organisms and mycobacterial saprophytes. They are generally (not always) impervious and immune to acid, heat and cold extremes.
Justin~!
hey I wonder if in the ancient olden days, brewer's yeast used for leavening was Saccharomyces boulardii (and B subtilis)?? Now outrageous $$$$$ pricing for USP supplement grade. Commercial yeast is S cerevisae now which is different and perhaps no potency against pathobiont Candida albicans, yet S boulardii has awesome selective inhibitor action against many pathogenic fungi strains -- C. albicans, C. krusei and C. pseudotropicalis strains.
Ann Microbiol (Paris). 1982 Nov-Dec;133(3):491-501.
[Comparative effect of a single or continuous administration of "Saccharomyces boulardii" on the establishment of various strains of "candida" in the digestive tract of gnotobiotic mice].
[Article in French]
Ducluzeau R, Bensaada M.
Saccharomyces boulardii became established in the digestive tract of monoxenic mice; the number of viable cells ranged around 10(7.5) per gram faeces. This yeast was drastically eliminated from the digestive tract of gnotoxenic mice harbouring a complex flora of human origin. In monoxenic mice harbouring S. boulardii, Candida albicans became established at a level equivalent to that observed in monoxenic mice harbouring C. albicans alone. If gnotoxenic mice received a concentrated suspension of viable S. boulardii cells so as to steadily maintain a population level close to 10(9) viable cells, C. albicans then became established at a level 10 to 50 times lower than that reached by the yeast strain alone. The antagonistic effect exerted in vivo by S. boulardii was preventive and curative. It was active against C. albicans, C. krusei and C. pseudotropicalis strains, but ineffective against C. tropicalis. This antagonistic effect disappeared when S. boulardii cells were killed by heating.
Gillian
I meant internal and oral use of clay ;)
For the nail and cuticle cracking, I believe coconut oil may be considered for moisture retention and antimicrobial benefits.
Yes -- mastic and boswellia for SIBO/SIFO.
Justin,
I've wondered how do we feed all the good fungi from natto, whole buckwheat porridge, fermented veggies and earth/soil contaminated veggies and dairy (SFB, saprophytes, SBOs, etc)....
Thoughts?
Are they the tertiary feeders in our gut ecosystems, scavenging and eating the rotten bits and parts left by bacterial primary/secondary fermenters and co-feeders?
What I found is very curious.
Yeast cell walls and plant cell wall polysaccharides make the best 'food' for B boulardii. Studies in petri dishes show B boulardii even protects and modulates enteric infections like Salmonella typhi and E coli.
Rice Bran Fermented with Saccharomyces boulardii Generates Novel Metabolite Profiles with Bioactivity
Elizabeth P. Ryan, et al
J Agric Food Chem. 2011 March 9; 59(5): 1862–1870.
β-Galactomannan and Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii Modulate the Immune Response against Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium in Porcine Intestinal Epithelial and Dendritic Cells
Roger Badia, et al.
Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2012 March; 19(3): 368–376.
Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. Boulardii and β-galactomannan oligosaccharide on porcine intestinal epithelial and dendritic cells challenged in vitro with Escherichia coli F4 (K88)
Roger Badia, et al
Vet Res. 2012; 43(1): 4.
Gut Microbes. 2013 Jan-Feb;4(1):72-5. Badia R, et al
Oligosaccharide structure determines prebiotic role of β-galactomannan against Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium in vitro.
Prebiotics and probiotics are considered natural alternatives to dietary antibiotics in animal production. Plant extracts and yeast cell walls are mannose-rich products that can be used as substrate for adhesion of Gram-negative bacteria. We assessed whether the structure of these saccharides is relevant to develop their role as prebiotics and therefore, their suitability to be used as alternatives to antibiotics to prevent intestinal infections in pigs. The prebiotic functionality of β-galactomannan (βGM), mannanoligosaccharide from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Mannan SC) and monosaccharide D-Mannose were studied in porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPI-2I) challenged with Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium. Results showed that in vitro challenge with Salmonella induces the secretion of proinflammatory cytokine IL6 and chemokine CXCL8 compared with control without infection. Both βGM and Mannan SC, attenuate Salmonella-induced secretion of IL6 and CXCL8. Interestingly, cells treated with D-mannose showed similar levels of proinflammatory IL6 and CXCL8 compared with the control of infection. These data suggest that prebiotic role of βGM is related to its oligosaccharide structure.
@DrBG
I appreciate the info and links...I was told by Dr. Siebecker's clinic, when I got my SIBO results NOT to have any gums, marshmallow root, aloe, nothing mucilage-y! I have been staying away from Repairvite, and other things I have used, that contain those ingredients. I am low stomach acid with no hpylori, so I take HCL pepsin and enzymes with meals.
Would Repairvite be okay to use? Do the gums/mucilage help close gaps/permeability? Do they at all interfere with the MMC? I have slow cleansing waves. Thanks.
Thanks for answering, Dr. BG. Although I had read that two hours should separate intake of detoxifiers from intake of nutrients and supplements, I was never confident about the sources of the advice. Two hours struck me as a bit short. Hearing it from you makes me feel more comfortable. I still have some concerns, though, because I've read that charcoal can be constipating and I've got a sluggish system.
My question about how long to take the detox agents related to the duration of the course of treatment. Of course it will vary from person to person. But I have no idea (a) if we're talking weeks or months or what and (b) whether a break is appropriate from time to time.
Further question: Is it better to take a single detoxifier for a period of time or a mix of them? I have charcoal and oil of oregano on hand but don't know whether to pick one and go with it, use the two at once, or use both and add others.
Given my slow system, I was surprised when I encountered 5 days of mild diarrhea early this year. The source: branched chain amino acids (leucine heavy). I had just started taking them - in a modest amount, about 2g per day. A bit of investigation uncovered the fact that others had had a similar experience. So Keith is probably on to something with his speculation about the leucine-gut connection. (What isn't connected with the gut?!)
I haven't had time for sufficient research into how to take natto spores and in what quantity. But I did learn that there are many online sources for the spores (for both home and commercial use), although the various products appear to come in different (undisclosed) concentrations.
With thanks to all,
Pamela
Pip, what an excruciating problem. My heart goes out to your Mum's dog AND your Mum. Does her dog have gastrointestinal symptoms? Throwing-up, alternating constipation/diarrhea, itching? Eating grass or poop? Gut origin of seizure is barely on the map. The same is true in human epilepsy. I took my dog to eight (8) vets including a neurologist and not one knew anything about gut origin of seizure, instead treating the problem from the neck up with a cocktail of drugs, often exacerbating intestinal irritation.
I never had a chance to completely cure my dog's seizure disorder as she passed by accident, but I was making progress and she was doing very well between what became horrific seizure clusters. This is a progressive problem getting worse over time. My dog's gut problem eventually manifested in photosensitive seizure. Constipation was a major predictor of seizure activity. She was quite the manifestation of Gut-Brain-Eye-Skin Axis and I need to complete an informal paper/case study with hope to stir interest in scientific research and light a path for millions of epileptics where current treatment fails.
Here's what did work to halt seizure clusters after one seizure, akin to halting a freight train: immediate fasting for 24 hours along with therapeutic 1-2 tablespoon doses 3-4x/day of Great Lakes Beef Gelatin mixed with some Lewis Labs Nutritional Yeast so she'd eat it. The gelatin coats the gut like a soothing bandage and traps free fatty acids and maybe toxins such as clostridial toxins known to cause seizure. Things like French green clay and pectin are also good, but doesn't have the mechanical advantages of gelatin. This is why soup is good food™. But gelatin is only therapy, not a cure for the microbial imbalance causing the gut damage.
A month of ionic colloidal silver gave my dog 4 months seizure-free and I wish I would have continued it, but feared it was killing commensal flora. Bee propolis seemed like it was effective. A month of Rifaximin seemed to really help and then caused urinary incontinence which was healed in 3 weeks by large doses of probiotics including Natren. So her gut may have been improving, but she was still photosensitive. Her endoscopy images looked like clostridium overgrowth, pseudomembranous colitis (vets were of no help diagnosing cause and could only prescribe a steroid, budesonide which I should have used). I know of one dog healed of clostridium perfringens (probably from eating feral cat poop as did my dog many times) on 3 weeks metronidazole and then budesonide and some liver support like milk thistle. If I had the chance now, I would put my dog on niacinamide and OptiMSM. I'd also send out a stool sample to Idexx as they have a similar PCR testing as Metametrix, but for canines/felines to diagnose cause of imbalance. Do vets know about this? No, they do not.
http://www.idexx.com/pubwebresources/pdf/en_us/smallanimal/reference-laboratories/diagnostic-updates/realpcr-canine-feline-diarrhea-panels.pdf
Just as with humans and all the supplements for gut health, they allpy to dogs. Carnitine was helpful, but not enough to balance the spore-forming clostridium overgrowth I suspected.
I've done a lot of learning aloud here as so many children and adults suffer seizure of gut origin:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/sunshine-seizures-3021/index19.html
A poster I made about gut-brain connection from environmental perspective:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151102028290602&l=2f13bcf3a5
Also, Pip, I strongly suspect vaccination combined with another med as cause of my dog's seizure disorder which began just 6 weeks after vaccination at age 4. She may have had a latent infection at time of vaccination from swimming and fetching for many days and hours at a local, sewage contaminated lake which also happens to be city drinking water supply.
Routine vaccination including human newborn vaccination is probably criminal activity. There are no studies about collateral damage to flora balance by vaccination. Period. You bet I'm pissed. Merry Christmas.
Keith thanks. Yep black itchy scabs and pancreatitis. I finally got mum to change dogfood after a lot of harrasment from nibble to raw food. I thinks its permafrost. Then 4months later the seizures started. So human probios are ok? Thanks for all the info.. I may try and do a hair analysis on him too plus the loop test
Premade not permafrost
The black itchy scabs could be fungi. Check out: nzymes.com
They have products and a protocol which may apply to your Mum's dog and, hopefully, it's enough to reverse the seizure disorder.
Thanks keith
Hey Grace. I have a few questions I was hoping you could answer.
1. How might you change things in this protocol if someone has candida or a systematic fungal overgrowth?
2. When you say take a round or two of anti-fungals/anti-parasitics, could you further expand please. How long is a round? How many anti-fungals/anti-parasitics does one take per round? Do I need to be taking multiple ones and rotating them? Or can I just take one per round? When should I take these (away from RS + SBO's?, at the same time?, etc).
Sorry for the questions. I am just really unsure how to do this exactly and want to do everything I can to make sure I can recover and want to follow this to the letter. Thank you so much!
Keith,
Thank you so much again for your thoughts. Do you know what triggered and lead to the PMC and clostridium overgrowths? Was there a surgical procedure? Antibiotics? Or just the vaccination?
PMC is usually iatrogenic and antiobiotic induced.
Jan,
How interesting. Why no "gums, marshmallow root, aloe, nothing mucilage-y" Did the office or physician explain why to you? May you ask? It sounds odd. These are colloidal like bone broth sorta. They temporarily give protection to the surface of a broken gut since the gut produces impaired mucus layers.
I like Keith's neat explanation of the role of bone broths in GAPS "The gelatin coats the gut like a soothing bandage and traps free fatty acids and maybe toxins such as clostridial toxins known to cause seizure."
Pam,
Constipation related IBS denotes a heavy methanogenic subpopulation in some studies (not all). It's still sibo/sifo.
Personally I (and my sister) found that oregano oil alone is worthless. Heavy yeast infestations are not gonna be budged so I'd consider not wasting your time. Combo synergy of various products i believe lend more power to control. Really a multipronged strategy with the 7-steps and mercury/metal/toxin detoxification are really required for cases of refractory candida/geotrichum IMHO. We are just so toxic and these beasts over-run our bodies, hijacking nutrients, oxygen and ecological niches in every organ system.
Yes -- charcoal can be constipation. I generally take on rotation and see how it goes. Please let me know how things shift GI-wise. Would love to hear your progress and other questions! Thanks for the natto spore tips -- I'll post if I find more too.
Pip,
LUV U!! And your question for Keith ;)
Thanks for your reply, Grace.
I've been eating fermented veggies for years simply because I like them, but it's only been for the past year or so that I've made a point to include generous amounts with my two meals a day. Similarly, I've upped my consumption of natto from occasional to several times a week. I added PS when I first caught wind (lol!) of it early this year and have since tossed mung bean starch into the mix (total of about 2T/day). Then, following your recommendations, I tried AOR 3 Probiotic (the first probiotic that agreed with me) and started including gokujang with most meals (big winner). With each step there's been improvement. Regularity is, well, almost regular. Gut pressure, from stuck gas I assume, now occurs only occasionally instead of being persistent. Along the way I discovered that ashwagandha, which made me feel wired when I first tried it, now seems to contribute to a steady energy state. Overall, mood and attitude are much more mellow and sleep is better. Still waiting for hands, feet and nose to warm up, but I've seen a few comments from the RS crowd that suggest it can take months for some of the benefits to appear.
Picking up on Tim's theory, at FTA I think it was, that RS can rectify SIBO/SIFO, I'm inclined to keep on as I have been doing, adding some plantain flour, trying to adapt to Prescript-Assist (it blew me up like a balloon when I first took it - perhaps I need to break the capsules open and start with very small amounts), maybe having a go with natto spores, and see how far it gets me before resorting to detoxifiers. If possible, I'd rather push out the bad bugs.
Pamela
Pamela~!
That's awesome. Love your journey so far.
Have you considered trying a round or two of botanical antimicrobials/parasitics? These bust candida and yeast overgrowths even better than the Gochujang or weakly dosed SBOs...without toxicity or harm to our gut commensals (unless there are pathobiont-switched methanogenic strains).
They are not constipating as well.
Please keep me updated!
Pam -- also what do you do besides Ashwagandha??? Luv that stuff but I found that the synergy of lower doses of adrenal tonics works even better, modulating more and without adverse effects.
Have you considered Gaia's super blend? I add some eleuthero, a famous and bionic Russian ginseng -- I must be part Siberian in another lifetime. LOL!!
http://www.iherb.com/Gaia-Herbs-Adrenal-Health-120-Veggie-Liquid-Phyto-Caps/18657
Again thanks, Grace. I really appreciate what you're doing to educate all of us.
Can you stand more questions? You suggested "a round or two of botanical antimicrobials/parasitics." I've been somewhat leery of them, fearing collateral damage, so to speak. Are there any that you would recommend? Also what exactly is a round? How long should it last? I assume that after Round 1 there should be a break before Round 2. What's a good length of time for the break?
As far as adrenal support goes, I've only taken ashwagandha. I've seen you mention the Gaia product before and will likely order some soon, but I may hold off on experimenting with it for a while because my schedule for the coming month or two is erratic and I'll be traveling. Just sticking with my current regimen will be sufficient challenge. It probably makes more sense to introduce new things when life is calmer and there's a better chance of sorting out causes and effects.
Pamela
Dr. BG, which botanical antimicrobials/parasitics do you mean?
Hi there - thanks for a great blog/series!
Do you have any experience of seborrheic dermatitis? As I understand it, and I remember a study confirming this, there is a link between SD and gut flora.
Would be very interested hearing you thoughts.
Many thanks,
Viktor
Some physician explain the first cause of SIBO is hypochlorydia.
Do you have some success with HCL tablets for SIBO ?
Also do you some result with Argentyn 23 (colloïdal silver) for SIBO, FIBO ?
Thank
@dr BG
I was told that marshmallow root, etc have residues and cause slow SI motility. Pretty sure that's what was said at the time. I was surprised as I thought it was healing/soothing. Since doing my own research and investigation, I feel the info I got there was connected to Dr. Pimentel's beliefs on SIBO diet protocol. He says no RS, no gums, low residue diet. He doesn't have a great long-term success rate.
Trying to find out if soaked, cooked and cooled real oatmeal has RS. Any thoughts?
Jan - Can I jump in? I think what you are saying about no RS, no gums, low residue diet, is good when you are eating in a way that discourages a healthy gut, like LC or SAD.
When you go the other way and start to build a healthy gut flora, those things are irreplaceable.
Gosh Jan~
Soaked, cooked, cooled oatmeal (especially steele cut LOL or organic rolled) probably have quite a bit RS but I don't have any numbers for you.
You said "He doesn't have a great long-term success rate." Yes, it appears so as expected. He uses a ton of Xifaxam which has a huge relapse rate (44% in one study, anecdotally I think it's like 80-90% just like H pylori double antibiotic 'eradication' regimens). Xifaxam also promotes yeasts overgrowths post-antibiotic treatment, just like other antibiotics. Again, the H2 SIBO breath testing is going to completely miss this massive segment of the gut ecosystem that has gone awry...
I concur with Tim for many reasons. Siebecker is an awesome ND and kudos for her for having wonderful intentions for helping people to heal the gut and raising awareness for this super common even epidemic condition...
So I have many complaints RE: Siebecker or Pimental or heartburn Norm et al
Do you mind the rant?
1. They diagnose SIBO/SIFO incorrectly.
https://ndnr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Sandburg-Lewis_Jan_2013_chart.pdf
They fail to use advanced progressive technology like GDX GI function stool and organic acid (ONE or Triad or NutriEvals) testing to find out exactly what is going on in the small and intestinal bowels. They rely ONLY MAINLY on H2 breath testing which is falsely negative in 50-80% of cases I believe. “The hydrogen breath test depends on the presence of hydrogen producing bacteria. However, a considerable proportion of non‐hydrogen producing bacteria, which can yield false negative results, has been observed in some but not all studies…”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1856094/
2. So Dx is ~sometimes wrong, Tx (therapeutics) is ~sometimes wrong. They use diet for 18months. Have you seen the diet? We now have gut microbiome studies showing whenever there is deprivation of fiber, resistant starch and even S.A.D. carbohydrates (Atkins), a dramatic reduction in ALL BENEFICIAL GUT FLORA OCCURS. wtf. These typical SIBO/GERD diets are KILLING AND MAKING EXTINCT AND ENDANGERED EVERY BENEFICIAL SPECIES... thereby allowing pathogenic yeasts to thrive or lie semi-dormant until they can feed on simple sugars/carbs again. Commensals and SBO strains and 'good fungi' combat the pathogens and yeast overgrowths successfully. They co-evolved with us. They like that.
We don't like antibiotics, so why do Siebecker, Pimental, Norm et al like to wreck the gut ecosystem in analagous manners with a fiber-less, RS-less diet?
3. Lack of sustainability. Some people can comply and do the 'diet'.
http://www.siboinfo.com/diet.html
But how sustainable is it?
How many people kill their adrenals eating ketotic/VLC?
How many people end up growing yeasts on this because the commensals and SBO strains are starved to death to anorexic oblivion?
How many people end up with an autoimmune disorders as their cortisol first spikes to maintain BG then tanks and CRASHES TO THE FUCKING GROUND? Cortisol is our natural protector against inflammation, no? Once our adrenals become dysregulated, then all protection against autoimmune diseases is unreliable. It is almost as bad as the S.A.D.
There are quicker ways to heal SIFO/SIBO.... I hope you are realizing the benefits of seeding, weeding and feeding our micro zoo critters! I do have to say that Siebecker REALLY does get the integrative point of view on botanical antimicrobials, antiparasitics and antifungals. The weeding part is perhaps the most challenging in SIFO/SIBO.
https://ndnr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Sandburg-Lewis_Jan_2013_chart.pdf
Pamela
Several excellent botanical formulations are at iherb, my favorite international farmacy: Para-Shield, Thorne Berberine-500, Curcumin +Biopiperine, Tricyline, Paradex, Scram, Vermi-Purge, Paracid Forte, etc.
http://drbganimalpharm.blogspot.jp/2013/09/my-n1-pre-and-post-microbiome-digestion.html
Viktor,
SD is definitely gut dysbiosis... there are some pathogenic bacteria but what the biome studies miss are the potent nasty fungi. SD also can be a imbalance between n6/n3 pufas. Have you eliminated n6 seed oils from the diet? Do you get some omega-3 and GLA in the diet or supplements? These heal gut permeability as well.
These researchers got it right on!
The human scalp harbors a vast community of microbial mutualists, the composition of which is difficult to elucidate as many of the microorganisms are not culturable using current culture techniques. Dandruff, a common scalp disorder, is known as a causative factor of a mild seborrheic dermatitis as well as pityriasis versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis. Lipophilic yeast Malassezia is widely accepted to play a role in dandruff, but relatively few comprehensive studies have been reported. In order to investigate fungal biota and genetic resources of dandruff, we amplified the 26S rRNA gene from samples of healthy scalps and dandruff-afflicted scalps. The sequences were analyzed by a high throughput method using a GS-FLX 454 pyrosequencer. Of the 74,811 total sequence reads, Basidiomycota (Filobasidium spp.) was the most common phylum associated with dandruff. In contrast, Ascomycota (Acremonium spp.) was common in the healthy scalps. Our results elucidate the distribution of fungal communities associated with dandruff and provide new avenues for the potential prevention and treatment of dandruff.
Park et al
'Characterization of the Fungal Microbiota (Mycobiome) in Healthy and Dandruff-Afflicted Human Scalps'
Jean,
Achlorhydria has several causes but I think the most prominent is SIFO/SIBO... So until the small intestines heal, I think if the lack of gastric acid secretion is an issue, prudent supplementation until the GI is fixed. Food intolerances are the second most important factor. Wheat and dairy are the biggest. I think this is why paleo can be helpful and curative for many GERD and low acid sufferers. But as we know paleo doesn't always cure SIBO and can exacerbate it by starving gut flora commensals or by not supplying enough dirt/soil based organisms to seed the gut adequately. A zookeeper cannot feed empty cages forever...
Argentyn is cool stuff. Personally I worry about the safety of ingestion silver so I rarely use it now. I'd rather super pound probiotics and high dose vitamin D and ways to boost innate immunity.
DR BG
Many thanks for your reply. I am eating pretty strict paleo/PHD (+ some dairy) diet for the last 4 years - the SD had improved but is still a problem despite almost never eating seed oils. I also supplemented with Omega 3 for periods without any improvement.
The scalp SD was reduced y 95% after I stopped using a very thick hair wax.
Studies show that supplementing with Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus paracasei should reduce symptoms - but hasnt helped me. Tried BioKult and Presript Assist in the past and started last 10 days with Primal Defense + PS. I experienced headaches twice during the first five days but all good now.
I also react to foods with bloating etc. but its not consisent - one day I can eat "rice pudding" (rice+milk) with out any issues and one day I will get bloated. Sweet potatoes was fine until I started eating them every day - seems dose dependent.
I tried various antifungals/antimicrobials but SD still remains.
Any suggestions going forward?
PS - You are doing such a tremendous work going through all these questions. Hopefully you will find a way to aggregate your advise so more people can benefit and you will get more time freed up.
Many thanks,
Viktor
RE Dr. B G's point #1 about diagnosing SIBO via breath testing, here's an addendum with the basic message that fungi also produce hydrogen gas. I'd bet over half those diagnosed with SIBO are actually suffering SIFO (fungal overgrowth) where testing falls short in distinguishing the two. Then they're prescribed an antibiotic like Rifaximin only to create further imbalance.
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/08/science/la-sci-sn-fungus-irritable-bowel-20120608
This paper is also about hydrogen gas-producing anaerobic fungi of the gut rumen. This one is interesting as it describes how hydrogen gas is utilized by another type of microbe, the archaea (methanogens). Similar relationship takes place between methanogens and clostridium bacteria. You may imagine how fungal overgrowth may generate more hydrogen gas (H2) than methanogens can absorb where H2 then shows up on hydrogen breath tests, misdiagnosed as SIBO when the problem is actually SIFO.
http://aem.asm.org/content/56/12/3793.full.pdf
this study is all about gut fungi producing hydrogen gas during fermentation:
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4613-0613-9_34
industrial illustration: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23489570
And here, a 2001 study asking the same questions without resolution:
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13590840020030249
We're also seeing fungal overgrowth decimating wildlife around the globe to near extinction events. Where are the bacteria which would normally control fungi? Even dolphins now have fungal diseases of the skin:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/bats-and-snakes-are-the-latest-victims-of-mass-killers-in-the-wild/2013/09/15/0118f6d6-1b0a-11e3-8685-5021e0c41964_story.html
This Gut Fermentation Profile measures ethanol in order to distinguish fungi from bacteria, though bacteria may also produce ethanol:
http://www.biolab.co.uk/index.php/cmsid__biolab_test/Gut_Fermentation_Profile
Keith~!
I'm gonna kill you with a feather and tickle you to slow deathdom...I'd rather read all of your freaking links instead of putting up a new blog post. THANK YOU UR SUCH A POWERHOUSE, NOW LET ME TIE YOU UP IN A SOUND PROOF ROOM AND SUBMIT YOU TO DOWNLOAD TORTURE FOR A WHILE.
Victor,
So you might need more time for overhauling the SI and LI... in studies and anecdotally (e.g. FTA blog) the apparent time for shifting and gut adaptation is 2-6 wks. Are you eating raw fermented foods at this time? Are you doing the SBO along with the bionic fiber at this time?
Also for refractory cases, consider Step #8. What mercury amalgams do you have? How many vaccines have you received, RU young did they start at Day 1 post-birth? Then there are concrete reasons the gut is extremely f*kcered, especially if you were not breastfed and received garbage baby formula (OY SOY ones~!).
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x2-NkTKt_go/UqAEmBLhrAI/AAAAAAAABmI/BPyM7eCawcI/s1600/dysbiosis+proposed+causes.png
Do you see all the reasons for gut dysbiosis/skin-gut disruptions (picture is from this #7 post)...? You need to find the root causes if things don't instantly clear up. I blame our modern dental, medical/Pharma markets and the human love for conveniences and technology ;)
Primal Defense is wonderful, but I don't find it as potent as some of the other strains of SBO that I talk about here. Consider C butyricum and/or B licheniformis.
Did you read this health turnaround? Anonymous was on 3+ mos PS, no change. Then in only 3 WEEKS with 3 SBO brands, complete and total AI and fingernail [fungal I think] reversal.
Anonymous took 3 SBO, 3 times daily with 4 Tbs PS in an almond drink (mild NSP fiber).
--Probiotic-3 (C butyricum, 3 strains SBOs)
--Primal Defense
--Prescript Assist
http://drbganimalpharm.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-to-cure-sibo-small-intestinal-bowel_18.html?showComment=1387317470631#c7104879112965817396
"My fingernails are clear and my cold fingers are gone. Oh, I didn't want to tell you this just yet. But my Sjogren's antibody (SSB-LA) turned negative last week! That's after being on the RS/Probiotics regimen for only 3 weeks! I was on RS since August, however. Also, one of the incipient lupus antibody that I tested positive (Chromatin) turned negative this time! My ANA is positive but with very low titer (1:40). That's the lowest I ever tested and even normal people test at that level. My rheumatologist will be confused!
If this holds up, and I'm hoping it does, I have cured an autoimmune disease. No symptoms and no antibody: that's a 100% cure. Not just remission. Being antibody-negative is not supposed to be possible, right? Whither molecular mimicry and eternal damnation, I mean, eternal autoimmune tissue attack? You mean, that's contolled by the microbiome, too? So much for Dr. Fassano and leaky gut(which I now realize seem to have been a foil ... it happens but the underlying condition seems to be gut dysbiosis and bacteria).
Wow, I gotta try this on my aunt who also has Sjogren's and my cousin who has Lupus. Thanks so much guys. This is not what modern medicine says is possible!"
Keith,
OK the mass-killing by fungi of bats, frogs and snakes is HEART BREAKING *weep*
I think we are seeing the massive global collateral damage by Syngenta, Bayer and Monsatan...
Thx for the links (almost done)
Keith
PPAR-gamma and why in Crohn's this is jacked for the gut:
http://www.chinafmu.com/upLoad/down/month_1305/201305181504227188.pdf
Dr. B G How could i email to you?
clikc on email, left side
http://www.blogger.com/profile/15451872961651116061
Hi again
I am curently taking the probiotic with RS + saccharomyces boulardii. I will try using three different probitoics in early Jan when I'm back from travelling and let you know how it goes.
- Breastfed
- No amalgans
- Standard western vaccine cocktail - not sure when the first one hit
- No anitbiotics for at least 7-8 years
- Had dandruff more or less whole life - SD started 5 years ago (30 now)
- eating some store bought raw sauerkraut/kimhci (claims that baceteria is alive)
Many thanks,
Viktor
Pamela here. Grateful for the detox recommendations, Grace. Para-Shield appeals to me. So do two that aren't on your list:
http://www.iherb.com/product-reviews/Gaia-Herbs-Scudder-s-Alterative-Supreme-2-fl-oz-60-ml/14882/?p=1
and
http://www.iherb.com/Nutricology-TriBiotics-90-Veggie-Caps/11778#p=1&oos=1&disc=0&lc=en-US&w=berberine&rc=64&sr=null&ic=21
Does anyone have any experience with either of these?
I'm also primed to get some of the Gaia adrenal support caps.
The ever evolving experiment continues. Potato starch and mung bean starch have been good all along, and the results are better now that I've reached the 4T/day level. AOR Probiotic 3 is still working well for me, but Prescript-Assist remains troublesome. Even a tiny amount (about 1/10 of a capsule) produces gut pressure and seems (hard to say for sure) to lead to rabbit-pellet poop the next day. Perhaps I should look into Body Biotics (mainly for the b. licheniformis).
Thanks,
Pamela
Pamela,
Thanks for your comment and thoughts! I love Gaia - -haven't tried that one yet.
Sounds like some GI intolerance because of rapid fermentation that is occuring more proximally, rather than distally. I'd consider that in your plan to go with what is tolerable. Prescript Assist has over 20 species and perhaps is strong for the GI frail. I love Tribiotic however and have used it millions of times myself. Nearly all supps have to comply with Prob 65 -- it scares consumers (which they are frankly quite stupid to think that their organic brown rice, rice bran syrup sweetener, high fructose corn syrup, GMO soybeans, GMO corn, apple juice, and soda are free of lead, mercury and arsenic! lol wtf).
For me the single strain C butyricium and B licheniformis were the bomb. For many overs, Prescript Assist and Threelac are miracle movers! Every person and their tolerability are different. Someday I'll be able to roll a StarTrek tracker over your face and body. The gasses detected will reveal the SCFA and other volative small peptides, carbs, fats and other by-products so that I'll know exactly what will 'fix' a suboptimal enterotype.
We can dream, no?
Viktor,
From your background -- mercury standard medical grade in the vaccine schedules and permanent gut disruption from antibiotics (even 7 yrs ago) there are potential niches that are completely empty and extinct that the soil based commensals may have occupied at some point. To rebuild the gut ecology all that you are doing is great IMHO but you may be missing a few foundational blocks.
S boulardii is nice - it can reduce yeast overgrowths as well as prevent amoeba and even C. difficile pathogenicity. It is often recommended to take WITH or AFTER a course of antibiotics.
However I think for mycobiome control (fungi) like those seen in skin or vag or gut or brain, then a multi-tiered strategy is more effective like the 7-steps. SBO strains are found dwelling near the wet, moist roots of plants underground. Naturally they produce antifungal compounds that mutualistically maintain and help the plant to thrive while maintaing its ecosystem.
Here are listed benefits:
http://www.gomegaspore.com/faqs/
Bacillus Subtilis HU58 – Bacillus Subtilis has been extensively studied on a genetic and functional level. There are several probiotic products in the pharmaceutical and agricultural markets that utilize this powerful probiotic. One very interesting function of Bacillus Subtilis is its ability to produce nearly 12 strong antibiotics that are potent fighters of opportunistic and harmful bacteria. Bacillus Subtilis HU58 offers MegaSporeBiotic the ability to prevent harmful bacteria growth in a variety of conditions. In addition, HU58 produces a very healthy compound called Nattokinase. Nattokinase is secreted from vegetative cells of Bacillus subtilis and has been shown to reduce blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and reduce excessive clotting by fibrinolysis. Along with Nattokinase, Bacillus subtilis also produces a number of other nutrients that have systemic health benefits such as B vitamins and Vitamin K2. Bacillus subtilis HU58 offers MegaSporeBiotic the important function of fighting off pathogenic bacteria and producing key nutrients in the gut itself. In addition, HU58 is an extremely potent immune stimulator. It has the function of germinating in the small intestines to some degree and this offers the effect of broad-spectrum immune stimulation.
Bacillus Licheniformis – A probiotic often found with Bacillus subtilis and other bacillus species, licheniformis has been shown to have a potent effect of preventing the growth of harmful bacteria via the production of a common antibiotic called bacitracin. It is also a potent immune stimulator. Another very important feature of bacillus licheniformis is its ability to produce highly effective and stable protease enzymes in the gut that assist in the digestion and absorption of proteins. Lastly, licheniformis also produces the whole spectrum of B vitamins in the gut including folic acid and biotin and acts as an important nutrient factory in the digestive system.
Bacillus Coagulans – A very well studied probiotic in the spore family that has a profound effect on inflammatory conditions such as IBS and Crohn’s. Bacillus coagulans offers MegaSporebiotic an expanded effect of controlling these common inflammatory bowel conditions in addition to its potent immune boosting activity. Coagulans has the unique attribute of producing lactic acid and specifically the L+ optical isomer of lactic acid, which has been shown to have a more profound effect on immune stimulation and gut defense than the other forms of lactic acid produced by conventional probiotics. Coagulans is also a tremendous colonizer and thus assures proper colonization of MEGAsporebiotic, which in turn will produce the beneficial effects required. Coagulans also plays a key role in digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. In fact, Coagulans can digest incoming fat to reduce the uptake of cholesterol. Coagulans adds another dimension to MEGAsporebiotic, giving it a potent ability to fight inflammatory conditions, aid in digestion and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
Dr BG
Many thanks for your answer. I already adhere to most of the 7-steps but will increase compliance.
Regarding the mentioned strains, any suggetion on obtaining a probiotic containing these? Megasporebiotic seems to be restricted to doctors only, and I do not imagine I would be able to convince a local (Swedish) doctor to place an order...
Btw, nattokinase also breakdowns biofilms!
Thanks,
Viktor
Pamela here again. Thanks for the feedback, Grace.
I have the same question as Viktor. I have searched several times over the last month or so for a source of Megasporebiotic, but it still seems to be marketed only to health care providers (and, not being in the US, I'm unlikely to be able to buy it). Also, there's no indication of price, which is a consideration.
Body Biotics may be a decent alternative. It contains: Lactobacillis Acidophilus, Bifobacterium Bifidum, Bacillus Licheniformis, Bacillus Subtilis, Lactobacillis Lactis, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Fermentum and Lactobacillus Plantarum. It doesn't have b. coagulans, though. In therapeutic doses of 6 capsules/day, it's pricey (US$49 for 90 caps, not including shipping). I found the info here:
http://www.life-enthusiast.com/body-biotics-p-1235.html
I'm still nosing around for information about consuming food grade natto spores for the b. subtilis var. natto. In the meantime, I'm eating natto several times a week and gochujang every day; when I remember, I sprinkle some potato starch on them. Over the long haul natural food is probably the best bet, but right now it would sure be helpful to find a good supplemental source of licheniformis.
Pamela
Viktor,
You said "Btw, nattokinase also breakdowns biofilms!"
Is that a good thing or bad thing?
Hi Dr. BG,
I've been newly introduced to your blog and have spent some--ok, a lot--of time going through your ideas on metal toxicity and diet. I did score quite high in terms of mercury poisoning when tested. However, I was using pectasol and, frankly, within 5 days my stomach would feel like I had a rock in it and I would be just plain sick. Tried it again after a few weeks with the same result. I'm going to try the diet you suggest (I've been on the PHD diet for quite some time) because I appreciate your knowledge and willingness to self-experiment. But I'd also like to take care of the metal toxicity in a manner that doesn't incapacitate me every five days. I know you've had some success yourself and know others who have tried various protocols. Any suggestions as to what I should consider looking into. Like many others who read your blog, I have a whole litany of health problems and I tinker around with new ideas to see if something works. You have a wonderful blog with a lot of interesting information( And it's truly impressive how active you are in the comment sections)--thanks for all your help.
happy holidays,
James
I just listened to the most amazing podcast from today! Chris Kresser and Robb Wolf talking about Soil-based organisms, SIBO, and RS. It's almost like they are giving high-praise to Grace and Tim.
They are missing a few steps, but getting close. Tim and Grace are the real dream team, not these bozo's.
Have a listen, folks!
http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/7/2/3/7230316366b84222/PaleoSolution-211.mp3?c_id=6566835&expiration=1388556861&hwt=e929c637a7095e4fd261e59bff1f07ef
it came from here:
http://robbwolf.com/2013/12/31/episode-212-guest-chris-kresser/
Hi Dr BG, I just found your blog while looking up SIBO and must say I feel quite overwhelemed with all this information.
I am not sure if I have SIBO but I have trouble with vegetables - FODMAPS cause me bloating. I have restricted myself to a ketogenic all meat diet for now to see if this improves things.
I'm not sure if I have SIBO, is it worth getting the breath test do you think? Is this the best first step?
I am a very stressed and anxious person so I wonder if perhaps this is the core problem rather than SIBO. Who knows. Any help is much appreciated!
Phil.
Can anyone recommend a different adrenal supplement than the Gaia one Grace linked to? It has ashwaghanda, which is one of my numerous intolerances.
I've been in stage3 adrenal exhaustion for over a decade. Sibo is only the latest problem out of a long ridiculous list of them.
Thanks for any suggestions.
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