How to Use Natural Antifungals in Your Diet for IBS

Only 99.9% of Bacteria? Jar Jar Binks: Does thisen include the good bacteria? Photo Peter Taylor

The antifungals I describe are natural versions of antibiotics. While probiotics help good bacteria grow in the gut, antibiotics kill intestinal bacteria. Unfortunately, antibiotics don’t just kill the bad bacteria – they wipe out ALL bacteria.

There are cases of IBS whose origins and triggers can be traced back to long-term antibiotics use, which destroyed both good and bad bacteria and led to an imbalance in the gut flora.

So if antibiotics can actually lead to IBS, why am I telling you to take something that kills bacteria? Well, first of all, the antifungals I describe are NATURAL antibiotics. They are not industrial strength pharmaceutical products. That is, they do their job without the undesirable side effects of pharmaceutical antibiotics.

And secondly, you will combine these natural antifungals with probiotics, which will help replenish the good bacteria once the gut has been cleared of the bad.

In fact, combining antibiotics with probiotics significantly reduces the negative side effects of antibiotic therapy.

However, this process will only work if you NEVER take any probiotics within at least 2 hours of taking antifungals. Otherwise, all of the probiotics will simply be eliminated by the antifungals.

NOTE: If for some serious conditions your doctor insists on giving you antibiotics, make sure to eat 24-hour yogurt or the GI Pro probiotics regularly to keep your gut flora intact. Otherwise, you are just asking for tummy trouble!

Recommended Antifungals

Aromatic oils extracted from plants act as powerful, broad-spectrum antifungal agents. The three primary natural antifungals I have seen work (from most to least potent), are:

1. Oil of Oregano

This is an essential oil that is extracted from true oregano leaves (Origanum vulgare), not the herb you have in your kitchen cupboard (Origanum majorana or majoram). This oil has antifungal potency against at least 25 different types of bacteria, and researchers from Georgetown University have shown that it can reduce infection “as effectively as traditional antibiotics” like streptomycin, penicillin and vancomycin. Besides destroying organisms that lead to digestive problems, oil of oregano also reduces pain and inflammation, as well as strengthens the immune system, which makes it ideal for the treatment of IBS flare ups.

2. Olive Leaf Extract

This extract is made from the leaves of olive trees and contains a powerful chemical compound called oleuropein (which is also found in extra virgin olive oil). Oleuropein is a potent natural antifungal agent against more than 100 different microorganisms. According to European researchers, this is due to oleuropein’s ability to dissolve the outer protective lining of various bacteria, effectively killing them. Besides its antifungal properties, olive leaf extract also supports the immune system by triggering the production of phagocyte cells. These immune cells are able to overwhelm and neutralize any foreign organisms they come in contact with.

3. Peppermint Oil

This is an antifungal essential oil that has been proven to stop the growth of at least 22 different types of bacteria in laboratory. More importantly for you, it has been shown in a number of double-blind, placebo-controlled studies to effectively treat the symptoms of IBS and other digestive issues, decreasing bloating, pain and the frequency of bowel movements. Peppermint oil also contains a number of minerals and nutrients that can aid in the recovery process, including iron, calcium, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A and vitamin C.

Natural antifungals, just like the secondary probiotic S. boulardii, don’t need to be taken daily forever. If you haven’t noticed yet, I not a big fan of long term supplements and pills, even natural ones.

If you eat healthy and naturally, your food will usually provide you with everything your body needs. Due to our digestive ailments, however, we often don’t get what we need; hence, the temporary requirement for external antifungals until we get over the hump.

Before starting any type of antifungal, though, remember this: Some of them are very powerful. Never take them unless you are ingesting probiotics as described above in order to replace the good bacteria that will be caught in the crossfire. Gradually start reducing the frequency about a month after the symptoms disappear completely.

Also make sure to take each natural antifungal extracts in turn (from most to least potent). That means that if you took oil of oregano on day 1, you should take olive leaf extract the next day, and peppermint oil the day after that.

This ensures that the body doesn’t get overly dependent on any one antifungal. It also prevents bad bacteria from developing resistant strains, which can happen with the overuse of any antibiotic, pharmaceutical or natural. By rotating natural antifungals, you avoid this problem.

Summary

1. Take natural antifungals every day in the evening at least 2-3 hours before or after probiotics.
2. Gradually reduce antifungal use a month after your last symptoms have disappeared. From once a day -> once every other day for 2 weeks -> once every 3 days for 2 weeks -> once every 5 days for 3 weeks -> stop completely.
3. Rotate the three primary natural antifungal extracts (i.e. take all three in turn). E.g. take oil of oregano on day 1, take olive leaf extract the next day, and peppermint oil the day after that.

Finally, don’t forget to incorporate these less potent, but highly effective, maintenance antifungals into your daily life:

1. Coconut oil – use once in a while along with your usual olive oil
2. Coconut flour – use in your cooking
3. Garlic and onion – use in your cooking