Mary W: For those of you, who are curious about soil-based microorganisms, here’s my experience to date. I’ve been on it for 3 weeks. I started it after a bad relapse in overgrowth when no natural antifungals seemed to be keeping pace. Within 2 days of being on it, my digestive system had calmed way down. After a week, I could tolerate fats again and my bloated stomach was and is about 50% less bloated than it was. Didn’t have any noticeable die-off ‘til yesterday (diarrhea and stomachache when I ate). Today ok. Been able to increase the dose pretty consistently so I’m up to 7 capsules a day. Don’t know if I ‘m going to make it to 20 per day. I am also taking Thera-zyme SmI which has cellulase designed to digest the yeast die-off. http://loomisenzymes.com phone (800) 662-2630. I take it off and on because I’m not sure if it’s doing anything and I find it very constipating.
I know a lot of people have trouble with soil-based microorganisms, especially in the beginning. (I was able to start right away with 1 capsule; some people take less.) It must depend on the nature of each bacterial overgrowth. I am now intensely allergic (gastro-intestinally) to many things, including the fillers in all capsules and tablets, even vitamins in their pure form (have started doing vitamin/mineral IVs on a weekly basis) and yet I tolerate soil-based microorganisms --- at least for now. So, you never know...
Polly: The bacteria in soil-based probiotics are normally found in the soil, and are not the usual residents of the human intestine. For this reason, there is some concern about their possible long-term effects on the user. However, soil-based organisms can be very effective. Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, claims soil probiotics (Primal Defense brand) were of dramatic benefit in her child’s autism symptoms. [9] A study of patients with enteric infections demonstrated rapid improvement in patients put on 2 billion soil-based microorganisms per day. (The experiment used a combination of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis). [10] Of interest, Bacillus subtilis creates a biosurfactant that is particularly damaging to lipid envelope viruses like measles, herpes and retroviruses. [11] Bacillus licheniformis is also valuable. It kills many different types of fungus. [12]
If you decide to try soil-based organisms, start with only a half capsule per day, and gradually work up to the recommended amount. According to an article by the keep-hope-alive group, Nature’s Biotics (contains Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis) may give the user flu-like
symptoms or a cold during the first month of use. It may break up old fecal matter in the intestines. The experience of patients suggests that the product may be shifting the immune system away from the Th2 and towards the Th1 arm. [13]
Both Nature’s Biotics and Primal Defense contain Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis. The Primal Defense brand also makes an effort to include phytosterolins. Both Nature’s Biotics and Primal Defense have a very small amount of other microorganisms, but not enough to make a difference in my opinion.
There is another soil-based product, Flora Balance, which contains a different soil-based organism called Bacillus laterosporus BOD. However, I don’t know of any studies with patients using this particular soil-based organism.
A relatively newcomer to the soil-based products is called Threelac. It contains Bacillus Subtilis, and Bacillus laterosporus BOD.
Jenny: I’ve found that the soil-based microorganisms are really helping me with my digestion. I started to gain weight right away, a sure sign that everything I ate was in fact being absorbed.
Polly: That might be what is happening. The proper flora is needed to absorb our food. Rats without any flora need 30% more calories in their diet. [14]
Mona: Threelac and Hydroxygen (oxygen elements) truly gave me my life back. I have been candida overgrowth free for 10 months. GONE. It hasnt come back. It took me 4 1/2 yrs of trying other things and I never could get rid of it. It always came back whenever a stressful event would come into my life. It wasnt until the Threelac and oxygen that I actually was able to start getting well.
Polly: I’ve not tried the Threelac, but Health Trax’s Oxygen Elements Plus is the strongest oxygen product that I’ve tried so far. I liked it. However, I noticed that it had to be used consistantly, or else it made things worse instead of better.
_________________________
Table of Some Soil-Based Microorganism Products
(Approximate Price as of Aug 2003)
_________________________
Primal Defense from www.gardenoflife.com phone (800) 622-8986
$45 for 90 capsules
Composistion: Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus lichenformis, grown in a base of grasses, minerals, etc.
including 80 mg PhytoSterol/Sterolin from sprouts chosen for their high phytosterol content. (The Primal Defense formulation changes from time to time, so please check with the company for the current ingredients.)
_________________________
Nature’s Biotics, www.lifescienceproducts.com, phone (800) 713-3888
$54 for 90 capsules
Composition: Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus lichenformis in a base of phytoplanktons, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc.
_________________________
Flora Balance from www.flora-balance.com phone (800) 583-1939
$25 for 60 capsules
Composition: Bacillus laterosporus (BOD strain)
_________________________
Threelac from Global Health Trax www.globalhealthtrax.com phone (760) 542-3000
$65 for 60 packets
Composition: Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus laterosporus (BOD strain), Lactobacillus Sporogenes, Streptococcus Faecalis (strain group D, which is considered benign), Lemon Juice Powder, Refined Yeast Powder, Castor Oil, (The yeast is supposed to be a food source for the lactic acid bacteria, to keep it alive while in the packaging.)
_________________________
Attogram SBX from www.wholeapproach.com/diet.html phone (715) 248-7751
$43 for 90 capsules
Composition: Herbal blend of Reishi (Ganoderma), Shitaki, Astragalus, Schizandrae in a SuberB-X Base of minerals, trace elements, enzume proteins and a proprietary blend of organisms that include Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus lichenformis
__________________________
end of table
__________________________
Mary W: For those of you, who are curious about soil-based microorganisms, here’s my experience to date. I’ve been on it for 3 weeks. I started it after a bad relapse in overgrowth when no natural antifungals seemed to be keeping pace. Within 2 days of being on it, my digestive system had calmed way down. After a week, I could tolerate fats again and my bloated stomach was and is about 50% less bloated than it was. Didn’t have any noticeable die-off ‘til yesterday (diarrhea and stomachache when I ate). Today ok. Been able to increase the dose pretty consistently so I’m up to 7 capsules a day. Don’t know if I ‘m going to make it to 20 per day. I am also taking Thera-zyme SmI which has cellulase designed to digest the yeast die-off. http://loomisenzymes.com phone (800) 662-2630. I take it off and on because I’m not sure if it’s doing anything and I find it very constipating.
I know a lot of people have trouble with soil-based microorganisms, especially in the beginning. (I was able to start right away with 1 capsule; some people take less.) It must depend on the nature of each bacterial overgrowth. I am now intensely allergic (gastro-intestinally) to many things, including the fillers in all capsules and tablets, even vitamins in their pure form (have started doing vitamin/mineral IVs on a weekly basis) and yet I tolerate soil-based microorganisms --- at least for now. So, you never know...
Polly: The bacteria in soil-based probiotics are normally found in the soil, and are not the usual residents of the human intestine. For this reason, there is some concern about their possible long-term effects on the user. However, soil-based organisms can be very effective. Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, claims soil probiotics (Primal Defense brand) were of dramatic benefit in her child’s autism symptoms. [9] A study of patients with enteric infections demonstrated rapid improvement in patients put on 2 billion soil-based microorganisms per day. (The experiment used a combination of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis). [10] Of interest, Bacillus subtilis creates a biosurfactant that is particularly damaging to lipid envelope viruses like measles, herpes and retroviruses. [11] Bacillus licheniformis is also valuable. It kills many different types of fungus. [12]
If you decide to try soil-based organisms, start with only a half capsule per day, and gradually work up to the recommended amount. According to an article by the keep-hope-alive group, Nature’s Biotics (contains Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis) may give the user flu-like
symptoms or a cold during the first month of use. It may break up old fecal matter in the intestines. The experience of patients suggests that the product may be shifting the immune system away from the Th2 and towards the Th1 arm. [13]
Both Nature’s Biotics and Primal Defense contain Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis. The Primal Defense brand also makes an effort to include phytosterolins. Both Nature’s Biotics and Primal Defense have a very small amount of other microorganisms, but not enough to make a difference in my opinion.
There is another soil-based product, Flora Balance, which contains a different soil-based organism called Bacillus laterosporus BOD. However, I don’t know of any studies with patients using this particular soil-based organism.
A relatively newcomer to the soil-based products is called Threelac. It contains Bacillus Subtilis, and Bacillus laterosporus BOD.
Jenny: I’ve found that the soil-based microorganisms are really helping me with my digestion. I started to gain weight right away, a sure sign that everything I ate was in fact being absorbed.
Polly: That might be what is happening. The proper flora is needed to absorb our food. Rats without any flora need 30% more calories in their diet. [14]
Mona: Threelac and Hydroxygen (oxygen elements) truly gave me my life back. I have been candida overgrowth free for 10 months. GONE. It hasnt come back. It took me 4 1/2 yrs of trying other things and I never could get rid of it. It always came back whenever a stressful event would come into my life. It wasnt until the Threelac and oxygen that I actually was able to start getting well.
Polly: I’ve not tried the Threelac, but Health Trax’s Oxygen Elements Plus is the strongest oxygen product that I’ve tried so far. I liked it. However, I noticed that it had to be used consistantly, or else it made things worse instead of better.
_________________________
Table of Some Soil-Based Microorganism Products
(Approximate Price as of Aug 2003)
_________________________
Primal Defense from www.gardenoflife.com phone (800) 622-8986
$45 for 90 capsules
Composistion: Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus lichenformis, grown in a base of grasses, minerals, etc.
including 80 mg PhytoSterol/Sterolin from sprouts chosen for their high phytosterol content. (The Primal Defense formulation changes from time to time, so please check with the company for the current ingredients.)
_________________________
Nature’s Biotics, www.lifescienceproducts.com, phone (800) 713-3888
$54 for 90 capsules
Composition: Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus lichenformis in a base of phytoplanktons, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc.
_________________________
Flora Balance from www.flora-balance.com phone (800) 583-1939
$25 for 60 capsules
Composition: Bacillus laterosporus (BOD strain)
_________________________
Threelac from Global Health Trax www.globalhealthtrax.com phone (760) 542-3000
$65 for 60 packets
Composition: Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus laterosporus (BOD strain), Lactobacillus Sporogenes, Streptococcus Faecalis (strain group D, which is considered benign), Lemon Juice Powder, Refined Yeast Powder, Castor Oil, (The yeast is supposed to be a food source for the lactic acid bacteria, to keep it alive while in the packaging.)
_________________________
Attogram SBX from www.wholeapproach.com/diet.html phone (715) 248-7751
$43 for 90 capsules
Composition: Herbal blend of Reishi (Ganoderma), Shitaki, Astragalus, Schizandrae in a SuberB-X Base of minerals, trace elements, enzume proteins and a proprietary blend of organisms that include Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus lichenformis
__________________________
end of table
__________________________