While working the ER today, I unfortunately had alot of true infections that I diagnosed and required treatment. With some, like asthmatics, the infection should be quieted quickly so the asthma isn't triggered. With a mom who has 4 kids and one has a severe infection, better to treat than have the other 3 suffer. With a staff member who will be flying in 4 days, she may infect patients all day today and not be able to make an important flight this weekend. There always is the opposite where the signs and suffering is mild so I always give the option to consider waiting and helping the body fight back, more mucous clearing, hydration, temporary diet change, pain and suffering control all for the hopefully short duration of a few days on the road to recovery.
Back to today, as some needed fast answers and couldn't wait, I prescribed antibiotics but always with the education that we will kill the bad bacteria but at the sacrifice of losing good protective bacteria in the GI tract (gastrointestinal). When this happens, the bowel function will alter. The colon must have normal flora (a mixture of several bacteria, all at specific ratios to each other depending on the individual). When the ratios are off balance such as after an antibiotic wipes out all but one or two kinds of bacteria, the normal everyday changes that occur when partially digested food comes from the stomach into the small intestine and colon go into a dysfunction. Some not so desireable bacteria can grow into large numbers and when they are exposed to food sources, irritation to the lining of the small intestine and colon can occur which starts poor function. In alternative medicine, the colon is the source of the immune response and soon, immunity changes and we have altered reactions to normal infection, stress and trauma. There will also be altered absorption of nutrient further hampering the rebuilding process of the body, (leaky gut syndrome, malabsorption, IBS). Arthritis, eczema, and fibromyalgia are sometimes thought to stem from an initial trauma or infection. And you thought the GI tract was just for taking food from the stomach to the toilet!
The suggestion I always give is to try "acidophyllus". Most people know probiotics this way. Many folks have tried it in the form of yogurt, but this form is very limited in the bacteria it posesses and they may not be alive by the time the lid is opened. Advertising will be deceiving...."live bacteria" before pasturizing isnt mentioned. Probiotics usually come in refrigerated liquid form or capsule form. The content us usually lactobacillus acidophyllus and bifidobacterium longum. These are found in the GI tract and dairy products. They have good roles in the GI to help digest Lactose to lactic acid. People who are lactace enzyme deficient, can't digest the sugar and will rely on having good levels of the bacterias to aid in break down. Probiotics are also thought to decrease candida overgrowth and are also thought to be anticancer.
In the cases today, most antibiotics are twice a day and I would suggest taking the probiotic 2 hours after the antibiotic is in the stomach. Remember, the antibiotic can also kill the probiotics. Sending patients has been a challenge since Whole Foods is far away and I don't like off the shelf brands. Skeptics also warn that bottles that say refrigerate but it is thought the trip from the plant to the stores whould be in a refrigerated truck, but this is hard to keep track of.
I would ask the herbalist that works at the store you go to and see which he/she recommends. Also may want to check if there is a date for expiration. Sometimes enteric coated capsules work better to hold on to the ingredients until after in the small intestine. Some formulations will come with pancrease and lipase to help digest some other proteins. One should always becareful in going slow. The Gi may not want alot of new bacteria all at once. Starting slow and building up to 2-3 times a day would be suggested. The week you are adjusting, there may be a slight increase of gas and bloating.
Most bottles write 1-2 billion bacterial. Many will die going from factort to shelf, or from not keeping the bottles refrigerator or from just not being sold and keeping it on the shelf to long past expiration.
Probiotics can also be used in those with crohns disease or ulcerative colitis. Not necessarily to stop the dsease but more to improve absorption. Truthfully, this is usually how I break into a conversation with a patient. Once I find they have tried it once, we get into other herbs for the particular disease process they have. Then the floodgates open. They can be taken for a long time or just in 2-4 weeks bursts. If one brand doesnt provide much response then switch to different brand or type. If diarrhea still comes with the antibiotic, just finish the medicine and be sure to start the herbal after all antibiotics are finished.
I remeber several years ago, I had a cough that was productive with sinus pressure and I took ZPack (a five day macrolide family medicine) and after the first day I developed pseudomembranous colitis. Most pain I have ever experienced. Tried some acupuncture on myself but eventually had to call a GI specialist to help with the cramping gas and bloody diarrhea. That was the most intense night I have ever experienced and I told myself I would never take antibiotics again. So far so good!
