I found out the hard way that even herbal "antibiotics" can have a strong effect on gut flora. I have been taking Japanese Knotweed and it has done a number on my digestive system not to mention making me feel awful. All the old symptoms including very strong anxiety came back in full force.

I immediately responded with an enema (which made me feel worse initially) and strong probiotics (Udo's choice at iherb.com). Within a couple of days I'm feeling very well and have learned a huge lesson about the colon and health.

We've all read that the intestinal permeability is compromised with (Mercury/Lyme/Candida/etc). In my case this was emphasized when it came time to have a movement I would feel sick often and much better as soon as the matter was passed.

The enema made me feel very sick in an instant then immediately much better upon release. I was very surprised that I could feel that sick that quick. Now I'm also surprised that I can have such a major level of improvement just by addressing digestive health and how quickly the feeling of illness can come and go. I can literally feel great then horrible within 5 minutes.

I also realize why the vitamins, especially B vitamins, help so much. I'm finding after a week of the strong pro-biotics and digestive enzymes I don't really need all these supplements as much. The colon is actually doing it's job and making these vitamins.

Had I known this to begin with I could have saved some years of suffering. Better late than never.

I'm wondering if mercury detox will wipe out good flora also. It is considered an anti-biotic.

Here's what I'm taking:

Probiotic:
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=3705630389853301316&at=0
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=3067&at=0
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=5931&at=0

Prebiotoc:
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=-633292424267838645

Digestive enzyme:
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=8311
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=857
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=2269
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=4847&at=0

Cheers

Wow - that is good info. Someone brought that up at The Herb Shop the other day. I eat yoghurt..but haven't had anything strong for a while as far as probiotics.

I felt really sick like that the other day. So nauseated. it came on from eating the garlic. I can't function that way so backed off. I need to persist, though.