Our Gut Flora Restorative Plan

Bacteria may not be something that you think is a good thing, but trust me, it is... 

In fact, if you suffer from yeast infections, urinary tract disorders, eczema, asthma, allergies, autism or ear infections, then you need to pay more attention to bacteria.  The truth is your entire digestive tract contains more than 500 different species of bacteria right now.  When many historical physicians said that illness stems from our digestive system and colon, they were absolutely right because of the action and interaction of all these bacterial colonies.  We refer to them as pathogenic or colonic flora.  Without them, we would never receive the nutrients we need from our food, and the loss of them as we age is thought to be a leading cause of serious disease and even death.  

Many people have heard of the infamous E. coli bacteria, but even though it is the most studied of all bacteria, we still do not fully understand its relationship with our body.  In fact, not much is known about the nature of most of our normal flora, but we believe there are very active interactions between these bacterial colonies and the health of our bodies.  You might think it obvious that these bacteria receive nutrition, protection and a stable living environment from our gut, but you may not realize that there are symbiotic benefits that we derive from them.  They provide many benefits and essential aspects of our digestion and our nutritional health.  They also stimulate, activate and even help develop our immune system (which goes back to what those historical physicians were saying!).  They also protect us from dangerous parasites and other bacteria that infiltrate our bodies from the outside. 

But not all of the normal flora in our digestive tract are beneficial.  We do host some that are parasitic and even a few that are pathogenic (capable of producing disease).  These "negative" bacteria will tend to become more active and proliferate when our immune system is occupied elsewhere, or when the natural balance between species of bacteria becomes compromised (such as with the use of antibiotics).  This is the reason why many women develop a yeast infection after taking antibiotics.  These bacteria can even create a disease during a period of time when our bodies are weak, which is why they are called opportunistic.  Many secondary infections during a chronic illness such as HIV or chronic emphysema are caused by these pathogenic bacteria. 

So don't judge a bacteria too hastily.  In fact, caring for your bacteria and the balance of these important critters can be the determining factor between health and disease, between illness and recovery. 

So be sure to periodically restore your normal flora balance with our Gut Flora Restorative Plan.  

Gut Flora Restorative Plan

We recommend doing our Gut Flora Restorative Plan at least once a season, or following a series of colonics, an intestinal cleanse, after a serious intestinal illness or if you have experienced recurring Candida.  The entire program takes 20 days, at the end of which you will have bacteria bliss!  You must be sure to avoid yeast, sugar and starches and to try to have light meals on the days when taking herbs. We also highly recommend prebiotic foods (foods that contain bacterial nutritives) such as whole, natural yogurt, Jerusalem or Globe artichoke, onion, banana, okra, asparagus, leek, garlic, wheat and barley.

Cautions: This plan should not be done by pregnant or nursing women

Your Gut Flora Herbal Kit

Whole Food Fiber - this natural organic powder contains the fiber of oats, beets, rice bran, carrot root and apple pectin.  This is a blend of soluble and insoluble fiber for probiotic nutrition and to enhance regular intestinal motility and elimination.

Gut Flora Complex - this is a natural herbal complex that has been clinically shown to increase intestinal immunity and the healthy balance of bacterial colonies in the gut while reducing Candida strains and other negative intestinal flora.  It contains oregano, anise, andrographis and phellodendron, an herb from Traditional Chinese Medicine that is strongly antimicrobial.  

Vitanox - this is one of the strongest anti-oxidant herbal compounds with rosemary, green tea, turneric and grape seed.  Providing strong anti-oxidant support post-microbial reduction is important to support a stronger gut immunity.  The green tea extract in Vitanox was found in a small study in Japan to "positively affect intestinal dysbiosis in nursing home patients by raising levels of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, lowering levels of Enterobacteriaceae and decreasing odorous compounds."

Golden Seal Tablets - the berberine and hydrastine contained in golden seal has long been known to repair healthy gut lining, normalize mucous production and reduce negative bacteria.  

Prebiotic Inulin - this is a strong support for restoring pH of the gut and normal antibody production.  It is essential for any food allergy or intolerance, and supports intestinal flora production through the gut environment.

Zymex II - this is a whole food digestive enzyme formula to restore immunity to the digestive system.

Wormwood Complex - this is the strongest formula for reducing parasitic infestation and negative bacteria of the gut with historical herbs such as wormwood, black walnut hulls, stemona root and clove bud. 

Synbiotic Intensive Powder sachets - this intensive acidophilus/bifidus formula provides one sachet for each evening before bed to restore normal levels of bacteria to the gut.  

Your 20 Day Plan

Days 1 & 2: Twice during the day away from food, take one to two cloves of crushed fresh garlic or 1-2 Garlic tablets and 1 tsp. Prebiotic Inulin with a large amount of water. This moves the garlic quickly into the small intestines, and inhibits digestive action on the garlic in the stomach.

At another time during the day, take 1 Tbsp of Whole Food Fiber with a large amount of water which will expand in the intestinal tract and provide food for the healthy flora. This specialized fiber is considered a prebiotic. At the same time take 2 Gut Flora Complex tablets as a demulcent, emollient and a nutrient which soothes the intestinal tract and encourages the growth of beneficial bowel flora. Whole Food Fiber also helps to prevent pathogenic bacteria from adhering to the lining of the intestinal tract.

Day 3: Take 2 Gut Flora Complex tablets with 1 Tbsp of Whole Food Fiber with a large amount of water.

Days 4 & 5: Take 2 Gut Flora Complex tablets with 2 tablets of Golden Seal and 1 Tbsp of Whole Food Fiber with a large amount of water. Before dinner take 2 more Golden Seal tablets and then before bed take 2 Vitanox tablets which will inhibit the regrowth of pathogens.

Days 6 - 10: Continue 1 Tbsp of Whole Food Fiber with a large amount of water before breakfast.  Twice each day on an empty stomach, take 3 Zymex II capsules and 2 Wormwood Complex tablets.  

Days 11 - 15: Repeat schedule for Days 1 - 5.  

Days 16 - 20: Repeat schedule for Days 6 -10.

Now that you have finished your 20 days, you will want to spend the next seven days continuing to take 1 Tbsp. of Whole Food Fiber each morning before breakfast with a large amount of water.  Then before bed, take one Synbiotic Intensive Powder sachet in a glass of warm water.  

Parasitic Concerns

You may want to add an antiparasitic aspect to your plan.  Often parasites are a major issue in the imbalance of the gut and the intestinal flora present.  For more information on our Antiparasitic Cleanse, click here.