Rebalancing Gut Flora

[tanedout]

Clearly a big factor in this mess is gut dysbiosis (impaired gut flora). Many people are suffering from issues with digestion, and those who have done gastrointestinal tests (including myself) all have missing key species of beneficial bacteria (in my case I'm completely missing the lactobacillus and beneficial e-coli species).

Looking into 'correcting' gut flora imbalance, and one key tool looks to be the antibiotic Rifaximin. which is [almost completely] non-absorbed;

The poorly absorbed antibiotic rifaximin seem to be different from the other antibiotics, because it exerts non-traditional effects additional to the bactericidal/bacteriostatic activity on the gut microbiota. Rifaximin is able to reduce bacterial virulence and translocation, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been demonstrated to positively modulate the gut microbial composition. Animal models, culture studies and metagenomic analyses have demonstrated an increase in Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Lactobacillus abundance after rifaximin treatment, probably consequent to the induction of bacterial resistance, with no major change in the overall gut microbiota composition.

Eubiotic properties of rifaximin: Disruption of the traditional concepts in gut microbiota modulation

Has anyone got any experience with this anti-biotic? It's used to cure SIBO, but looks like it could be very beneficial to correcting gut flora if used correctly - I'm thinking along the lines of using it without probiotics then correct post-treatment diet - i.e. live yoghurt etc to introduce strains like lactobacillus

Anyone used it before? Thoughts on the best way to rebalance gut flora?

 

[Aflac94]

This is interesting

 

[tanedout]

This is the study I was referring to in the gut protocol thread (will bring this up again, rather than go off topic too much in the other thread)

 

[tanedout]

Just reading this article on SIBO treatment with Xifaxan and neomycin - VERY interesting!

The author reckons she cured her SIBO with these antibiotics, but they may have caused other issue themselves (specifically the neomycin)

Interestingly she reckons neomycin impaired her bile flow. Xifaxan also is activated by bile, so this is required for it to work effectively.

My symptoms got progressively worse until I had a period of time about a month after I took my last dose. At that point, all I could eat was steamed potatoes and chicken breast.

This was likely a result of the effects of the Neomycin on my liver, which impaired my bile flow and ability to detox.

like most things in life, this choice to use Xifaxan and Neomycin was not without its consequences.

I believe that most of my symptoms that developed as a result of using the Neomycin were because I had a history of years and years of herbal antimicrobial use coupled with persistent gut infections.

This combination likely overloaded my already burdened liver, adrenals, and thyroid. Sending me into a spiral of new symptom after new symptom.

Powerful antibiotics, like Neomycin, often cause dysbiotic shifts in your microbiome. Which leave you with not enough good gut bugs, and very likely an overgrowth of pathogenic ones.

This imbalance of gut bacteria can lead to a host of health issues. Everything from hormonal imbalances to parasites and other overgrowths can be caused by taking antibiotics.

SIBO Treatment with Xifaxan and Neomycin - My Experience

Sounds like her case is actually similar for a lot of PFS/PAS cases. I wouldn't be surprised if she also had CFS like symptoms.

I'm probably going to get some Xifaxan on order and if some more herbals don't do the job, then I'll give that a go.

@Admiral

 

[Admiral]

Thanks. Reading up on it some have also gotten worse on Xifaxan, so I am somewhat hesitant.

 

[tanedout]

Thanks. Reading up on it some have also gotten worse on Xifaxan, so I am somewhat hesitant.

The case with anything unfortunately. What is clear from reading is SIBO is not cured by diet alone. It's a case of diet and herbal antibiotics, or proper antibiotics. I'm going to give Xifaxan a go - I've got some on order (won't be a full dosage, but enough to hopefully see if it has a positive effect, then I can always do another bigger round)

In a way the fact it's renowned for being extremely difficult to get rid of ties in with PFS/PAS etc, which are clearly very hard to get out of, so really could be tied in.