Dysbiosis or dysbacteriosis refers to microbial imbalances in the body. Dysbiosis can occur on mucous membranes, the vagina, lungs, nose, sinuses, ears, nails, eyes or more commonly in the digestive tract. Dysbiosis has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Normally pathogens are kept in check by “good bacteria” that carry out helpful and necessary functions. These beneficial microbial colonies keep one another in check so no specific microbial colony dominates. When this balance is disturbed by antibiotics these colonies have a decreased ability to balance each other’s growth. This leads to an overgrowth of certain microbial colonies which can then damage some other smaller beneficial bacteria causing a vicious cycle. As more beneficial colonies are damaged more overgrowth issues occur as the damaged colonies are less able to check the growth of the overgrowing ones. If this goes unchecked the pervasive and chronic imbalance can destroy the beneficial nature of these colonies as a whole.

Microbes excrete many different types of waste byproducts and Use different waste removal mechanisms Under normal circumstances the body effectively manages these byproducts. Since oversized colonies excrete increased amounts of byproducts the increased levels can overburden the body’s waste removal mechanisms.

These two negative outcomes cause many of the negative health symptoms observed when dysbiosis is present. (1)

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysbiosis

Signs of Dysbiosis:

Gas & Bloating

If you inflate like a balloon shortly after eating then you have a dysbiosis. Bacteria in your digestive system are feeding on your meal and producing gas as an unpleasant byproduct. This gas first starts to bloat your digestive organs until it eventually finds a way to escape.

Heartburn & GERD

Often advertised as a problem with excess stomach acid, indigestion is typically caused by lack of stomach acid. Low stomach acid that almost always leads to indigestion, heartburn, or Gerd. This impairs your ability to digest your food properly and contributes to leaky gut.

Undigested Food in Stool

If you can recognize the foods you eat in your stool then you are not digesting your food properly. Your body does not produce sufficient digestive juices to deigest your food and balance microbial growth in your digestive system. Over-eating makes this situation worse.

Fatigue

Harmful bacteria and pathogens create toxic byproducts that can lead to an immune response. In some cases of digestive dysfunction such as leaky gut, toxins can enter the bloodstream. This can overload your immune system and other organs eventually causing many different symptoms including fatigue.

*Author: Marie

Hello. I read somewhere (maybe on this site) the following:

“Candida treatment must bring yeast cells back into balance. Use anti-microbial herbs and phytochemicals in formulas from your natural or health food store that include a combination of these powerful herbs, 15 days on then 5 days off, repeating as long as needed. The 5 day break discourages mutating yeast from multiplying and developing immunity to the herbs.”

Does anyone else know whether the 5 day break is necessary? I just thought I would do a couple months of cleansing back-to-back.

Thank you!