I’ve discussed the extremely important health condition, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, a number of times, as it is present at epidemic proportions and for the most part not being diagnosed nor managed in conventional doctors’ offices. The Wheat Belly and Undoctored lifestyles provide a powerful start in reversing this condition, but additional steps are often necessary. A number of people in our Undoctored Inner Circle, for instance, have identified their own SIBO and then managed it successfully with the help of our Virtual Meetup discussions, even after doctors advised them that there is no such thing, or it was stupid, or received other unhelpful responses.
There is a related condition, intestinal fungal overgrowth, in which fungi proliferate, most commonly Candida albicans, in the colon, small intestine, stomach, even esophagus and mouth. Like SIBO, fungal overgrowth is common. While we know more about SIBO than fungal overgrowth, there are some important features to fungal overgrowth you should know about:
- Fungal overgrowth is caused by many of the same causes as SIBO, such as prior grain and sugar consumption; too much alcohol; antibiotic exposures; herbicide/pesticide exposures; any form of intestinal inflammation.
- Fungal overgrowth is associated with many of the same symptoms as SIBO such as IBS-like symptoms; persistent skin rashes, especially eczema; persistent allergies; persistent or new autoimmune conditions—even after all the components of the Wheat Belly lifestyle or Undoctored Wild, Naked, Unwashed program have been followed.
- Any inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease is associated with a high likelihood of fungal overgrowth. (It is not clear whether irritable bowel syndrome is associated.)
I won’t kid you: Managing SIBO on your own is sometimes a bit complicated. Our weekly Undoctored Virtual Meetups, I believe, are therefore helpful to navigate the finer points to know, for instance, when empiric management is acceptable without H2-breath testing, how to choose an herbal antibiotic regimen, how to stack the odds in your favor to prevent recurrences (which are common) and perhaps monitor with the new Aire device.
Fungal overgrowth is easier to identify than SIBO, as we have easy stool tests to identify the condition. Treatment options have also expanded enormously in the past few years. We now have these wonderfully concentrated phytochemicals called essential oils that are not just effective anti-fungal agents, but are more potent—and safer—than conventional anti-fungal drugs. For instance, if you were in the hospital with a serious Candidal infection of an artificial heart valve or other prosthesis, the device has to be surgically removed and you are treated with drugs like Amphotericin B, a highly-toxic anti-fungal drug. Several essential oils are more effective than even Amphotericin B against Candida and other fungi. (Essential oils cannot be used as intravenous treatment, but can be taken orally and topically.) The mixture of terpenes and terpenoids that are contained in essential oils also disrupt the biofilm that Candida loves to produce, i.e., the mucousy film it produces that makes it difficult to eradicate, something that conventional anti-fungals do not do. Unlike our discussions about SIBO in which we question whether addition of a biofilm disrupter such as N-acetyl cysteine is helpful, essential oils have their own built-in biofilm-disrupting capacity. There are also some moderately effective herbal choices to reduce fungal populations such as turmeric.
The Wheat Belly and Undoctored lifestyles achieve extraordinarily positive results. But, like SIBO, there can be issues that can persist even after these powerful strategies. Add fungal overgrowth to the list. If you would like a more extended conversation with details on how to test for fungal overgrowth, which essential oils and herbal preparations are the best choices and at what dose, I invite you to join the discussions on our Undoctored Inner Circle.
I’m wondering what causes my legs to ache while I’m in bed. I follow the no-grain lifestyle. This aching disrupts my sleep. I don’t want to take OTC pain relievers (e.g. aspirin, Tylenol) because of their toxic effects on the gut lining.
Have other readers had this problem and found a solution?
Susan wrote: «I’m wondering what causes my legs to ache while I’m in bed.»
Is this aching or cramps? If cramps, I have a list of tips.
re: «I follow the no-grain lifestyle.»
That’s not a comprehensive description of the program here, so I’m obliged to inquire what diet and lifestyle you are on, and for how long? (Although there are many blog comments by people using the name Susan, there’s no trivial way to discover which are by the same person.)
re: «I don’t want to take OTC pain relievers (e.g. aspirin, Tylenol) because of their toxic effects on the gut lining.»
… and microbiome, and liver. They are definitely worth avoiding when there are effective alternative solutions.
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It’s possible the aching legs might have some emotional component, related to stress.
Has Dr. Davis said anything about the use of CBD (cannabidiol), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, that can be used for control of pain? Dr. Perlmutter had a blog post recently on how CBD may heal inflammation. He also had a post saying that it may also help prevent osteoporosis, by inhibiting osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone).
Susan wrote: «It’s possible the aching legs might have some emotional component, related to stress.»
I take that to mean that it is aching, and not cramps.
That still leaves open the question of what diet and lifestyle you’ve been following and for how long. This matters because the approach here is to follow the core Undoctored or 2014+ Wheat Belly program for a sufficient period, then explore any residual issues (with SIBO and SIFO rising into prominence). SIBO already has a protocol on the subscription site. SIFO just got an Advanced Topic discussion there today, which looks like it might become a protocol down the road (and the initial list of suggested oils does not include CBD).
re: «Has Dr. Davis said anything about the use of CBD (cannabidiol), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, that can be used for control of pain?»
Not so far.
re: «Dr. Perlmutter had a blog post recently…»
Saw that. I also subscribe to ConsumerLab, who lately tested CBD supplements. Apart from the uncertain legality (despite recent federal law change), it’s clear from the CL results that what’s available at retail is a crap shoot. It’s quite likely to just be hemp oil, of indifferent potency as regards the CBD. And even the most potent products are still an order of magnitude less potent than doses shown in trials to have neurological effects.
And then, if it does work, why does it work? With any highly refined or essential oil, a question arises about microbiome and microbial overgrowth effects. If I had a condition where a reliable CBD product was thought useful, I suspect I’d first want to make sure that I was metabolically tuned up, had implemented the full gut flora cultivation aspects of the program, and had ruled out both SIBO and fungal overgrowth.
re: «He also had a post saying that it may also help prevent osteoporosis, by inhibiting osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone).»
The program here has long had a focus on preventing osteoporosis, and reversing it when found. The basics are diet, target vitamin D, and target magnesium, and then as needed, additional steps like K2&K1, and specific exercises. My impression is that this has worked well enough that CBD isn’t even on the radar yet.
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See the Original WB 10-Day Grain Detox FB Page as we’ve discussed many times the need to adjust dosages of Magnesium and/or Potassium to help those aching legs!!!
I know firsthand the horrors of Candida, it is a living nightmare. Back in 2001 I developed what I thought was a sinus infection (it was one of many first appearing symptoms of Candida). But after several treatments with antibiotics. I began to feel worse, including symptoms from head to toe, black spots in my toenails, vaginal and anal itching, a feeling like a fume was in and around my head, constant pressure on my temples and the left side of my sinus cavity was in pain. I visited 7 different doctors to figure it out – their diagnosis was “you must be grinding your teeth at night”. I knew something wasn’t right. I felt my life was over, the constant sensation that I was locked inside a spacesuit and couldn’t get out with the pain and fume sensation.
I spent many hours researching symptoms to try to figure it out and went back to my GP seeking his help after self-diagnosing Candida. He prescribed anitfungals including diflucan – only instead of the one pill wonder it is supposed to be, I was taking 4 per week. My symptoms starting reacting to this, but the treatment was far from over. You see Candida becomes resistant to antifungals.
My doctor said he took me as far as he can (but thankfully he knew fungal issues are real) and was ready to send me to Dallas for further treatment. I gave it a try with a doc I found on the web who sole practice is based on treating Candida with a different approach. It took 2 years but I regained my health. The story is much longer than a few paragraphs but I learned so much in that duration.
Ever since then, I knew you had to take health into your own hands and do your own research. The doctor I found on the web was Dr. Biamonte of New York, he saved my life. I continue to read and digest articles from him, Dr. Mercola, Dr. Weil and of course, Dr. Davis. It is so refreshing to see doctors who have been trained in traditional medicine, now turning the tide on what we have perceived as modern healthcare. Thank you Dr. Davis for your research and approach and helping us not to become pharma dependent and be subjected to unnecessary testing and piles of pills.