You might consider trying Triphala, which is a combination of three herbs that have been proven in clinical studies to treat a wide variety of gut pathogens. I took it about a year ago for a pseudomonas infection.
One of the three herbs in triphala is an herb called haritaki. A 17 year old pre-med student proved that it was the only herb shown to completely kill pseudomonas, which is one of those "biofilm" bacterias that many CFS docs talk about. It was the only one that could penetrate the biofilm.
Triphala was shown to be effective against pathogens like staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pyogenes -- which might not be exactly the same ones you tested positive for, but it might just help.
It also helps regulate the digestive system, so if you're constipated, it will gently help to relieve that, or if you have diarrhea, it will help that as well.
Personally, if at all possible, I would avoid antibiotics, definitely Cipro. Cipro can cause permanent and spontaneous tendon ruptures.
You might also try replenishing your good bacteria with a prescription strength probiotic like VSL #3, or something from Custom Probiotics. They're both really high-dose, and perhaps if you called the folks at CP, they might even know of a particular strain of probiotic that fights the bugs you have. Probiotics are our bodies natural 'anti-biotics' after all...
Just my two cents -- Best of luck,
Dan
p.s. Oregano oil -- yes...too 'hot', too 'strong' for IC (and for certain people -- some swear by it, while some swear by grapefruit seed extract -- both are opposites). There's a website called ICDiet.com (I think that's the name) that discusses the best foods for your condition...
[This Message was Edited on 07/13/2009]
One of the three herbs in triphala is an herb called haritaki. A 17 year old pre-med student proved that it was the only herb shown to completely kill pseudomonas, which is one of those "biofilm" bacterias that many CFS docs talk about. It was the only one that could penetrate the biofilm.
Triphala was shown to be effective against pathogens like staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pyogenes -- which might not be exactly the same ones you tested positive for, but it might just help.
It also helps regulate the digestive system, so if you're constipated, it will gently help to relieve that, or if you have diarrhea, it will help that as well.
Personally, if at all possible, I would avoid antibiotics, definitely Cipro. Cipro can cause permanent and spontaneous tendon ruptures.
You might also try replenishing your good bacteria with a prescription strength probiotic like VSL #3, or something from Custom Probiotics. They're both really high-dose, and perhaps if you called the folks at CP, they might even know of a particular strain of probiotic that fights the bugs you have. Probiotics are our bodies natural 'anti-biotics' after all...
Just my two cents -- Best of luck,
Dan
p.s. Oregano oil -- yes...too 'hot', too 'strong' for IC (and for certain people -- some swear by it, while some swear by grapefruit seed extract -- both are opposites). There's a website called ICDiet.com (I think that's the name) that discusses the best foods for your condition...
[This Message was Edited on 07/13/2009]