http://www.ei-resource.org/ 3716-510 http://www.ei-resource.org/treatment-%11-nutritional-supplements/nutrients-a%11f/bile-supplements/ As a result of IBS and contributing gut issues including small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and fungal overgrowth, I have suffered for many years from poor bile flow and poor digestion and absorption of fats. A classic indicator being an 'oil slick' on the toilet water after bowel movements. This has also been confirmed by a number of stool analyses however. In an effort to help the situation I have tried various dietary changes and supplements and have given bile acid formulas a good go on more than one occasion. I notice a modest improvement in fat digestion and absorption but signs and symptoms still persist. Many people report finding bile supplements very helpful but in my case I derive much greater benefit from herbs that stimulate bile production by the liver (choleretics) and its secretion from the gallbladder(cholagogues). These herbs include dandelion, artichoke, Chinese bitters and Tribulus terrestris. For me these herbs improve fat metabolism, reduce abdominal discomfort and produce a healthier coloured stool. Also, these herbs are generally cheaper than bile supplements. ]]> Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:19:13 +0000 3034-491 http://www.ei-resource.org/treatment-%11-nutritional-supplements/nutrients-a%11f/betaine-hcl/ I have suffered from digestive complaints for most of my life and have been diagnosed with IBS. On the advice of my nutritionist I did a challenge test with Betaine HCl capsules to find out if low stomach acid was contributing to my problems and the right dose of the supplement to take to help with my symptoms. After discovering that I needed four capsules of Metagest from Metagenics I started on that dose with every meal and very quickly found much relief from my bloating and abdominal discomfort. It really was amazing! I stayed at that dose for a few months then reduced to 2 capsules every meal and have been taking this supplement at this level ever since. I wouldn't say I am cured but I am a whole lot better. I also appreciate this may not help everyone and is not the whole answer to IBS but I would recommend you look into it. Best wishes, Stella ]]> Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:41:32 +0000 2209-449 http://www.ei-resource.org/treatment-%11-nutritional-supplements/nutrients-a%11f/caprylic-acid/ Hi guys, I just wanted to post a quick review as caprylic acid has been very helpful for me. I am a 40-something year old woman and have suffered from thrush since my early teens. I suspected after reading 'The Yeast Connection' that I had a bigger problem with candida as I had suffered from fatigue, general malaise and mood symptoms for at least 10 years also. I tried all the medications for thrush which got rid of the immediate infection but it just kept coming back. I decided to try the antifungal diet along with caprylic acid at 1800mg twice a day and probiotics. My thrush disappeared within 2 weeks and after sticking with the above for a couple of months I was feeling better in every way. In fact I was pleasantly surprised to be feeling like myself again. I hadn't realised how sick I was! Caprylic acid seemed to be an invaluable part of my recovery so if you have problems with candida I would definitely recommend it. ]]> Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:58:29 +0000 3012-377 http://www.ei-resource.org/treatment-%11-nutritional-supplements/nutrients-a%11f/digestive-enzymes/ I have been variously diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fungal-type dysbiosis (Candida overgrowth), and leaky gut syndrome. It is fair to say my digestion is not optimal. I frequently see large chunks of recognisable undigested food in my bowel movements and also frequently see an "oil slick" on the surface of the toilet water indicating that my fat digestion and absorption is poor. Much of this is a result of a fast transit time due to nerves/stress, but I have found that digestive enzyme supplements make a huge difference as well. I use Best Digestive Enzymes by Doctor's Best which has a whole range of digestive enzymes for aiding digestion of carbohydrates, protein, and fats. While taking one capsule with each meal I find my stools contain much less undigested food and fat, which obviously means my body is absorbing more of the nutrients from my food which can only be a good thing. I also find that digestive enzyme supplements reduce my symptoms of bloating and gas after eating. ]]> Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:01:42 +0000 2658-342 http://www.ei-resource.org/treatment-%11-nutritional-supplements/nutrients-a%11f/vitamin-d-(cholecalciferol,-ergocalciferol)/ i have suffered from fibromyalgia and severe pain for 4 years and have had little help from prescription and non-prescription painkillers. they often help for a while but the effects fade and i need ever increasing dosages....which i don't feel comfortable with. after reading that vitamin D deficiency is common and can result in widespread pain i thought trying supplements was worth a shot. i was really surprised how well they worked. after a week of taking 3000 iu per day the severity of my pain was noticeably less and i was more mobile. the improvements have continued and i have now been taking the vitamin D supplements for 2 months. i am not taking any painkillers regularly anymore, just on the odd occassion where the pain flares up. i have also noticed that my low mood has improved somewhat and i feel much brighter and more motivated. the vitamin D supplements are very cheap and i haven't noticed a single sideeffect. if you suffer from fibromyalgia or general pain please give vitamin D a try. ]]> Sun, 17 May 2009 21:50:38 +0000 2658-330 http://www.ei-resource.org/treatment-%11-nutritional-supplements/nutrients-a%11f/vitamin-d-(cholecalciferol,-ergocalciferol)/ As someone who has suffered from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) for many years I have tried bright light therapy with various light boxes, a lot of anti-depressant medications, and even more nutrients and herbs in an effort to maintain my mood in winter. Bright light therapy was mildly effective but the best treatment I had found was simply waking with the sun and getting outside in the sun's rays as often as possible. That was until I discovered high dose vitamin D. This year I tried taking vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) concentrate in doses of 25,000+ iu per week. My response to this treatment was rapid and substantial. It may be hard for other SAD sufferers who are deep in despair to believe, but after only a few hours of the first dose I felt in my mind like it was summer. My mood improved hugely, everything seemed brighter, and I found myself enjoying things again. The only downside for me was that I found I was overly stimulated at night which made it difficult to sleep. However, this happens with any stimulating substance I take due to adrenal fatigue so may not be a problem for others. If it is just try adjusting the dose downwards. I went through my doctor to get the vitamin D3 concentrate as it is not widely available. It is a good idea to work with a healthcare professional when using such high doses anyway despite vitamin D's apparent lack of toxicity. ]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:38:46 +0000 1269-59 http://www.ei-resource.org/treatment-%11-nutritional-supplements/nutrients-a%11f/dhea-(dehydroepiandrosterone)/ I used DHEA a few years ago for a period of about 4 months at a dosage of 25mg every morning. I later reduced this to 25mg every other day and then 12.5mg every other day. After testing borderline low for DHEA on an Adrenal Stress Index (ASI) test I began taking DHEA supplements. To say the initial results were good is a major understatement. I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, chemical sensitivities, insomnia, and hypoglycemia, amongst other things. After only a week the DHEA seemed to have improved ALL of these problems significantly. I had more energy, felt happier and more relaxed, was experiencing the most refreshing sleep for 10 years, my blood sugar was a lot more stable, and reactions to chemicals were a lot less severe. Basically, I just felt better. A lot better! Unfortunately, much to my despair, there were quite serious side-effects. I have poor liver function at the best of times and after a few weeks I began to notice symptoms consistent with hepatitis....abdominal pain, pale stools that are painful to pass, muscle aches, yellowing of the skin etc. I had experienced the same when taking an antibiotic previously so knew the signs. It soon became clear that the DHEA was to blame so I had to drop the dose and then discontinue completely. I did notice that the many benefits remained on the lower dosages so perhaps I started much too high. I must add that I already knew my liver was susceptible to problems so if your liver is relatively healthy you will most likely not experience this problem. I personally did not personally note any other side-effects after 4 months such as the sex hormone related effects that are often reported. From my experience I would say that DHEA could be a VERY helpful treatment for people with similar health concerns to myself but clearly it must be used with caution. Get your DHEA levels tested (and your liver if you have concerns) and start treatment under the care of a knowledgeable doctor. Once on DHEA keep a lookout for any undesirable changes and discuss them with your doctor. ]]> Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:23:46 +0000 1189-52 http://www.ei-resource.org/treatment-%11-nutritional-supplements/nutrients-a%11f/carnitine/ I've tried both l-carnitine and acetyl-l-carnitine and noticed definite effects from both. Having tried both at a dose of 500mg twice daily I found both gave a strong energy boost. Unfortunately, rather than a smooth boost in energy that would have enabled me to maintain activity throughout the day it all seemed to come in one big lump rather like a stimulant. As a result, at the end of the day I was actually left exhausted and also had trouble sleeping due to the overstimulation. In this respect I found that the acetyl version was stronger, perhaps due to increasing acetylcholine levels. I should explain that I have experienced this overstimulation from a lot of supplements that others have found very helpful. This is more than likely due to my low DHEA levels which fail to provide a balance to the stimulant effects of various "energy boosting" supplements. I did find that carnitine supplements were very beneficial for my liver function which would be expected due to their anti-oxidant properties and ability to improve fatty acid metabolism within the liver. From my experience carnitine is a very powerful supplement that may well benefit those suffering from fatigue related illnesses. I would recommend a trial but suggest starting at low doses and building up to see how you react to it. ]]> Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:46:49 +0000