Metagenics CandiBactin AR and BR Stops Rectal Bleeding

Because we know that SIBO and dysbiosis are a part of Crohn's disease, it makes sense to attempt to eliminate any bacteria in the small intestine. Dr. Allison Siebecker is a foremost authority on SIBO, and has created a great website on the subject:

http://www.siboinfo.com/

On the following page, she outlines an herbal protocol for overcoming SIBO in the small intestine:

http://www.siboinfo.com/herbal-antibiotics.html

We have one family member with Crohn's disease that has tried taking Candibactin AR and BR from this protocol. This person was diagnosed with proctitis, and experienced rectal bleeding on a daily basis. They found that the Candibactin products were very powerful in inducing die-off reactions, and they experienced a tremendous amount of increased diarrhea, nausea and pain while on it. They are going up on the dosage slowly, and over the time period of two years, have only made it up to one third of the dose. However, at this point this person's rectal bleeding has receded and has been gone for about a year.

Crohn's disease is notorious for having flares and remissions, however, this person has had Crohn's disease for ten years and has experienced steadily increasing disease until trying this protocol.

It makes me wonder how many more people would benefit from this type of treatment. Also, this treatment is one of the steps listed in Jini Patel Thompson's eight step protocol on her website.

The IBD-AID Diet

I just recently discovered a new evolution in the SCD diet trend - the IBD-AID Diet.

http://www.umassmed.edu/nutrition/ibd/ibdaid/

This diet is like the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, (SCD), but with more attention toward building up your gut biome, the importance of which recent research has brought out.

After people started talking about how important it is to build up your good gut flora, I became concerned that GAPS Diet, the SCD diet and others that eliminate food for bacteria, might be harmful to your gut flora.

Apparently, diversity and health in your gut flora is associated with less Crohn's disease.

After so many years on the GAPS Diet, and the SCD, I was concerned that I was starving the bugs that might help me.

The IBD-AID Diet seems to address this issue. It even allows a grain! Oats are allowed on the diet, with the evidence that oats selectively feed good flora.

Apparently the diet has tested well in clinical trials, with some people going into remission or able to eliminate some of their drugs.

D-Mannose - Not Just for Bladders Anymore

A recent Dr. Mercola article mentioned that d-mannose, a monosaccharide sugar, can not only remove bad bacteria from the bladder, but also from the digestive tract!

http://products.mercola.com/d-mannose-health-benefits/

He writes:

Could D-Mannose Benefit Your Gastrointestinal Health? 

*With D-mannose, many people first think of urinary tract health. However, this unique sugar may offer other potential benefits as well. 

 

Some studies suggest that D-mannose may be useful as a “prebiotic.” Prebiotics are substances that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut. The proper balance between “good” and “bad” bacteria is a prerequisite for both gut and overall health, so D-mannose may support your health by helping to raise levels of good bacteria.* 

Similar to how D-mannose works in your urinary tract, pathogenic bacteria are attracted to D-mannose on tissue cell membranes in your gut. D-mannose naturally occurs in the cells that line the walls of your urinary tract. 

There is also evidence that D-mannose may help protect against lectins in your gastrointestinal tract. Lectins are proteins found in beans, seeds, grains, and even some vegetables and fruits. They present a challenge to digestion because they are not broken down by stomach acid or digestive enzymes. 

Studies show that D-mannose may help bind and block lectins, and prevent them from reacting with and damaging your intestinal wall.*

So, if I am understanding this, it sounds like the d-mannose is removing the bacteria, and not killing it. This sounds like it would not cause the die-off that so many products cause. This sounds like some kind of miracle cure! 

In the past I have used d-mannose daily for months on end, and I have not seen an improvement in my symptoms from it. However, it does seem to work for bladder health, and can get rid of, and treat bladder infections for me.

So, the question is, what would be the appropriate dose that could make a difference in IBS or SIBO? This is not something I could find on the internet in any definitive form. But, one article said,  "In some lab studies and studies in mice, D-mannose components were shown to increase the growth of "good" bacteria. This suggests D-mannose may have some use for people with dysbiosis, an imbalance in good and bad bacteria."

Has d-mannose ever worked for you for intestinal health? What dosage did you use?

Investigation into Management of Angioedema caused by Intestinal Bacteria

This article shows the drug control flowchart that should occur for people with chronic angioedema. It says to start out with a long acting antihistamine like claritin and then add a secondary one like hydroxyzine if that is not enough.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0301/p1123.html

It also talks about how chronic angioedema can be related to bacterial and parasitic infections and that it is more common in women than men.

An article about angioedema has this statement, "Helicobacter pylori, a type of bacteria found in the stomach, can trigger abdominal attacks. Antibiotics to treat the bacteria help decrease abdominal attacks."

An article about histamine intolerance talks about how gut dysbiosis and having too many of the wrong kinds of bacteria can cause angioedema.

http://naturimedica.com/histamine-intolerance-causes-treatment/