Services: Restoring Intestinal Balance

What is Dysbiosis?

“Dysbiosis is defined as a state of altered microbial ecology that causes or contributes to disease/dysfunction.  Organisms of low intrinsic virulence, such as bacteria, yeast and protozoa/parasites induce immunologic responses of a person.  In other words, there a billions of organisms that reside in each of us as part of our normal flora.  These organisms are vitally important to the development and maintenance of a healthy immune system.  Just a few of the critical functions involve: warding of pathogens, decreasing allergic responses, and helping in the excretion of toxins.  When this natural microbial balance is disrupted, illness can result.  Our goal in treating dysbiosis is to eliminate pathogens, which in turn, will help to normalize mucosal function and immunity.”

Body Restoration-An Owner’s Manual by Michael Lebowitz D.C. and Ami Kapadia M.D.

Why Do You Treat Dysbiosis?

Some of my patients have become so toxic they cannot heal, no matter what therapy they use. Chiropractic and physical therapy are excellent when the body has the capacity to heal itself. When that is not happening, it is my job to figure out why. For some people dietary changes, such as giving up wheat, make all their aches and pains go away when a month of therapy has done nothing. Over the years I have found treating the persons dysbiosis gets to the core of their problem efficiently and cost-effectively. It can be a difficult process and requires the patient to commit time and effort to get a good result. This is why we offer this type of work only to patients I think really need it, or have sought me out to treat dysbiosis directly.

Why is Treating Dysbiosis Important?

Establishing a proper balance of micro-flora in the body is important: to ensure we get the benefit of the good microorganisms aiding in digestion of food, for production of vitamins and other beneficial metabolites by good microorganisms, to relieve internal stress, decrease toxins formed by bad microorganisms and allow your immune system to down regulate instead of being hyper-vigilant. 70% of your immune system is devoted to your intestines for a good reason!

Paperwork

To get the most out of you time with the doctor it is best if you fill out your paper work ahead of time. The paper work can be found online at https://drspietrantone.com/office/forms/  Otherwise, it is best if you arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to fill this out.

What you should you bring?

Bring any supplements you are or want to take. Bring any foods that you think may be causing you a problem. Just put a small amount in a zip lock bag. It is often helpful to bring small samples of the air where you spend time working and sleeping. Just open a small glass jar in that environment for 1 hour and then close it up. The water you drink is commonly helpful to test as well. It is helpful to test shampoos, creams, lotions, toothpaste….you are using. Any prior tests you have had performed should be brought in at the first visit.

Drugs/Prescriptions

If you are taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or anti-histamines it is best to not take them on the day of your appointment. If you are taking steroid such as prednisone, it is best to wait until a week after you are finished taking these drugs. If you have been on them for longs periods it may not be as much of an issue. These drugs may skew the muscle testing results or make the body seem less sensitive than it really is.

Why Do I have to take Supplements and Herbs?

I recommend nutrients to do one of three things: supply a need for a possible deficiency, help kill a microorganism, or facilitate normal body processes that may need a little help, such as detoxification. The nutrients I give our patients vary greatly from patient to patient and are usually recommended for as little as 3 weeks to as long as 4 months. It is best to know ahead of time if you will have trouble taking multiple supplements. I try to keep my nutrient recommendations to as few as possible while still being effective. Some patients find they are unable, or unwilling take several supplements a day even for a few weeks. My recommendation is for these patients not to go through the process. It will save you both time and money.

How long will I have to take the Supplements?

Typically we retest in three weeks from the first appointment or from the time that you start your supplements and dietary changes. On occasion some patients are delayed in starting, which means their follow-up test will be delayed. Usually, at the three week mark, patients make some improvement and they are either finished or need to continue with reduced or different supplements. Some patients finish in a few short weeks while others can take a year. Every patient is different.

Why Do I have to do the Anti-Yeast/Antifungal Diet?

Yeast/Fungus is a common finding during testing. It is worth your time and effort to follow this diet as closely as possible because it eliminates all foods that promote yeast growth. We starve the yeast and then use herbals that will help kill it at the same time. Doing both is extremely effective at knocking out yeast. The better you follow the diet, the less likely you are going to need to follow it for an additional 3 weeks after the first re-test. If you do not follow the diet perfectly, do not give up! Continue the diet as best you can, continue to take your supplements, and we will see what happens at the retest.

***Sometimes during the first week of the diet patients will experience increased symptoms: fatigue, headache, nausea, diarrhea, skin rashes, or possibly vomiting. If this happens, call Dr. Pietrantone and he will most likely reduce or stop your supplements temporarily. The cause of this is die-off. Die-off occurs when yeast or micro-organisms die leaving an increase in toxins in the system. Die-off is usually 1-3 days in length. To avoid this some supplements are ramped up slowly and die-off is never an issue.

Why Do I Have to Avoid Certain Foods?

In the course of testing, your body may show it is sensitive to certain foods. It is best to avoid these foods for at least 21 days. This is enough time for your immune system to stop reacting to these foods. After 21 days your body will have the opportunity to react to this food again either positively or negatively. I find many sensitivities subside after 3 weeks. Sometimes a person’s last meal shows up during testing. This means that their immune system is so keyed up that it is probably viewing most foods as allergens. People who are in this state tend to have a longer road to recovery even if, at their 3 week follow-up, they seem to be clear. When dysbiosis is cleared, the intestines and immune system need to heal. This could take months to years.

Where Can I Learn More About Dysbiosis?

There is an excellent book available on www.amazon.com and www.gapsdiet.com called Gut & Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. The title of this book does not do it justice. It offers a detail explanation about the dysfunction in the intestines and the far reaching impacts on the body and mind. Gut & Psychology Syndrome covers how dysbiosis develops and dietary strategies to help heal the intestines. It is an excellent complement to the protocol Dr.Pietrantone uses in the office. The more you learn about dysbiosis and it potential impacts the more likely you are to follow through and get a good result