{"id":6932,"date":"2017-12-01T14:00:59","date_gmt":"2017-12-01T22:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/?p=6932"},"modified":"2017-12-01T20:15:42","modified_gmt":"2017-12-02T04:15:42","slug":"herbal-therapy-equivalent-rifaximin-treatment-small-intestinal-bacterial-overgrowth-sibo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/herbal-therapy-equivalent-rifaximin-treatment-small-intestinal-bacterial-overgrowth-sibo\/","title":{"rendered":"Herbal therapy is equivalent to rifaximin for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Despite the fact that this paper was published in 2014, it\u2019s still very relevant and I\u2019m just behind in sharing it via a blog post: Herbal therapy is equivalent to rifaximin for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth<\/a><\/p>\n

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Patients with small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) have chronic intestinal and extraintestinal symptomatology which adversely affects their quality of life. Present treatment of SIBO is limited to oral antibiotics with variable success. A growing number of patients are interested in using complementary and alternative therapies for their gastrointestinal health. The objective was to determine the remission rate of SIBO using either the antibiotic rifaximin or herbals in a tertiary care referral gastroenterology practice.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019ve also decided to post this study now because I\u2019ve been dealing with chronic SIBO for some time and am in the middle of doing the Metagenics herbal protocol (more information on that below).<\/p>\n

SIBO symptoms and conditions<\/h2>\n

Here is a summary of some of the chronic intestinal symptoms: Abdominal bloating (gas), belching, flatulence, abdominal pain, cramps, constipation and\/or diarrhea, heartburn (reflux or GERD), nausea and food sensitivities.<\/p>\n

Here is a summary of some of the extraintestinal (outside the intestinal system) symptoms and conditions that have been linked to SIBO and\/or dysbiosis: disorders of mood and behavior (including anxiety), diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, rosacea, restless legs syndrome, pain, anemia, interstitial cystitis, and other pelvic conditions such as vulvodynia<\/a>\u00a0and proctalgia fugax (rectal spasms)<\/a>, chronic prostatitis and polyneuropathy.<\/p>\n

During season 3 of The Anxiety Summit, I interviewed Dr. Allison Siebecker on Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Anxiety<\/a>. We talked about the SIBO Questionnaire I use with my clients and she gave me permission to share my modified version. You can find this SIBO questionnaire here<\/a>. Please check out Dr. Siebecker\u2019s site siboinfo.com for a wealth of information about SIBO.<\/p>\n

The herbal treatments in this study<\/h2>\n

In this study, one hundred and four patients who tested positive for newly diagnosed SIBO by lactulose breath testing were offered either 1200mg rifaximin a day or one of two herbal treatments for 4 weeks. Lactulose breath testing was done again at the end of the treatment.<\/p>\n

These are the two herbal treatments that were offered:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dysbiocide and FC Cidal (both by Biotics Research): take 2 capsules twice daily of each of these products<\/p>\n

or<\/p>\n

Candibactin-AR and Candibactin-BR (both by Metagenics): take 2 capsules twice daily of each of these products<\/p>\n

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The ingredients in each of the products
\n (from the paper: Herbal therapy is equivalent to rifaximin for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Study conclusion<\/h2>\n

The study concluded that these herbal therapies are at least as effective as rifaximin for resolution of SIBO. It also states that the herbal products also appear to be as effective as triple antibiotic therapy in patients who don\u2019t respond to rifaximin.<\/p>\n

Adverse effects<\/h2>\n

With regards to adverse effects, they were reported as follows: in the rifaximin treated patients there was 1 case of anaphylaxis, 2 cases of hives, 2 cases of diarrhea and 1 case of Clostridium difficile; in the herbal group only one case of diarrhea was reported.<\/p>\n

A comment about bioindividuality<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ll notice that the only herb that is in both sets of herbal protocols is Red Thyme Oil or thymus vulgaris and yet both herbal protocols offer a solution. I\u2019ve heard Dr. Siebecker share that of all the different approaches for SIBO (including the elemental diet), at least one approach works for everyone. So, if you\u2019ve tried an approach and it hasn\u2019t worked, don\u2019t give up and move on to the next approach. This points to bioindividuality, and there being no one size fits all approach.<\/p>\n

Dr. Siebecker lists the above combination herbal protocols together with the herbal protocol her and team use on her site<\/a>, which, again, is different from the above: 1-3 of the following herbs x 4 weeks per course, at highest levels suggested on product labels.<\/p>\n