31 Mar SIBO: Antibiotics are NOT the Answer!
SIBO: Antibiotics are NOT the Answer!
Paul A. Goldberg MPH, DC, DACBN, DCBCN
Goldberg Tener Clinic
Reversing Chronic Disease since 1976
Ms. Mallory Hughes presented at the Goldberg Tener Clinic a year ago with irritable bowel syndrome, fatigue, gas and bloating and general malaise. She had been diagnosed medically with small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO), a condition involving an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine specifically the duodenum where bacteria normally do not grow due to the presence of hydrochloric acid (HCL) from the stomach. After a year of medical care, her condition persisted and continued to worsen despite repeated antibiotics given to treat her condition. Today, after taking a Bio-Hygienic Approach™ at the Goldberg Tener Clinic, she is entirely well as the accompanying video above demonstrates. What can we learn from Mallory’s case?
The overgrowth of bacteria is part of the defining quality of a SIBO designation and alters the GI environment in ways that can lead to digestive and absorptive issues, impaired immune function and a general decline in well being. Patients with SIBO are often medically diagnosed with digestive diseases, skin issues, autoimmune problems, chronic fatigue syndromes and emotional disorders. The problems that arise, however, come not only from the SIBO and what caused it but also are frequently the consequences of drug (and alternative) treatments that are administered.
SIBO is reflective of numerous potential underlying problems and arises for different reasons in different people. Practitioners who employ uniform programs for SIBO for every patient, as is commonly the case, whether with drugs or “natural” treatments are not approaching these problems rationally and the clinical outcomes are therefore rarely successful.
Problems with Antacids and Antibiotics
The massive number of antacid preparations written by gastroenterologists and other medical physicians has assured the proliferation of SIBO in our population (see our video “How Ant-Acids Wreck Your Health”). In neutralizing hydrochloric acid (HCL) production, which normally prevents bacteria from entering the duodenum, they open a Pandora’s box for health havoc. The neutralization of stomach acid creates great difficulties in protein digestion and increases the entry of undigested protein molecules through the intestinal membrane into the blood triggering allergic reactions. Digestion further suffers with antacids and acid blocking drugs, as the pancreas no longer receives stimulation from the now diminished HCL flow that is required to release sodium bicarbonate and activate digestive enzymes. The digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates is therefore hindered with further adverse side effects.
Antibiotics also frequently play a role in the development of SIBO. Ms. Hughes had been prescribed expensive antibiotics (Rifaximin) repeatedly for SIBO without benefit. The use of antibiotics at best only temporarily lowers bacterial overgrowth which then commonly returns later even more aggressively.
SIBO is a real condition but it is not the cause of itself. The causes behind each case of SIBO must be identified and addressed. Ms. Hughes had suffered with health problems and unsuccessfully undergone medical treatments for over a year.
Working with us, Ms. Hughes underwent an evaluation that looked at her entire health picture and what factors had initially led to her problems. The outcome of identifying the etiological factors and addressing them in a comprehensive manner led to not only the eradication of her digestive issues but also a renewal of her health and the knowledge as to how to prevent future problems. Ms. Hughes did the hard work needed and patiently worked her way back to good health, following our directions carefully.
SIBO does not exist in a vacuum. Every patient with SIBO has specific reasons for having developed it. These reasons must be sorted out and acted upon. There is a dramatic difference between treating the manifestations of disease with drugs like antibiotics and making the effort to identify causes and renew ones health status through an individualized BioHygienic Re-Creation Program™.
Related Articles by the Goldberg Tener Clinic
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meaningless Diagnosis
- Tackling Inflammatory Bowel Disease Part I
- Tackling Inflammatory Bowel Disease Part II
- Bacterial Overgrowth of the Small Intestine (SIBO)
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Gastritis and Colitis
- Problems with Ant-Acids
- A Radio Interview with Dr. Goldberg: Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Serious Considerations Regarding Colonoscopy
- The Facade of Functional Medicine
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