For some of you – simply eating an anti-inflammatory and blood-sugar balancing diet may be enough to heal your gut and free you from digestive issues. Others will need additional digestive support and probiotics. 

If you have more severe digestive issues, you may need to experiment with an antimicrobial protocol, but not everyone needs this. 

HOW TO DECIDE IF YOU NEED AN ANTIMICROBIAL PROTOCOL 

You may benefit from an antimicrobial protocol if:

• You have tried an elimination diet before (no gluten, grains or dairy for at least 30 days) and you have not seen resolution of your digestive symptoms 
• You feel less than 50% improvement when strictly following an elimination diet for at least 2-4 weeks 
• You have been diagnosed with SIBO 

You may not need to try an antimicrobial protocol if:

• You do not suffer from any digestive issues 
• You feel 50%-100% better with an elimination diet alone or with an elimination diet and digestive support + probiotics

If you are feeling better after 2 weeks on an elimination diet, and are seeing resolution of some of your symptoms, my advice would be to stick with the diet for at least 4 weeks and reassess where you are at that point. 

However, in my experience, I have found some people do not feel any better with a change in diet, or only marginally better. For these people an antimicrobial protocol can help. After completing an antimicrobial protocol these people then get much more positive results from following the elimination diet for a further period of time. 

ANTIMICROBIAL HERBS 

There are several well-documented anti-microbial herbs/plants. The most commonly used are:

1. Oregano
2. Barberry, Goldenseal, or Oregon Grape (containing the antimicrobial compound berberine)
3. Olive Leaf (containing the antimicrobial compound oleuropein)
4. Wormwood (also called Artemesia, containing the antimicrobial compound artemisinin) 
5. Garlic (containing the antimicrobial compound allicin)
6. Thyme 
7. Grapefruit Seed Extract

Most good supplement companies have antimicrobial protocols. A selection for you to investigate further is included below.  It would be a good idea to contact the companies producing these products to discuss their protocols further. 

*Caution/Disclaimer: 

You must consult your GP/healthcare professional before using any of these antimicrobial protocols. 

These protocols are not intended for long-term daily use. Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing, have a kidney or liver condition or are below the age of 18. 

If you have any other medical condition, if you are taking prescription drugs, or are allergic to eggs, or nuts consult your GP/healthcare professional. 

Antimicrobial Protocol 1: Bio Botanical Research Inc, Biocidin + Olivirex 

• Laboratory and clinically tested for effectiveness for over 28 years 
• Research indicates potential in addressing biofilms and chronic/resistant cases of imbalanced terrain 
• Research indicates potential in addressing SIBO

INGREDIENTS 

Biocidin: Bilberry extract, Noni, Milk Thistle, Echinacea (purpurea & angustifolia), Goldenseal, Shiitake, White Willow (bark), Garlic, Grapeseed extract, Black Walnut (hull and leaf ), Raspberry, Fumitory, Gentian, Tea Tree oil, Galbanum oil, Lavender oil (plant & flower), Oregano oil (plant & flower). 

Olivirex: Olive Leaf extract (min 18-24% oleuropein content), 125 mg combination of the following: Garlic (plant), Goldenseal (root), Milk Thistle (seed), St. John’s Wort (plant), Uva Ursi (leaf ), American Ginseng (root), Bladderwrack (plant), Cordyceps, Dandelion (root), Noni (dried fruit), White Willow (bark). 

SUGGESTED USE

Biocidin: 1-5 drops 1-3 times per day or 1 capsule 1-3 times per day. 

Olivirex: 1 – 2 capsules 2 – 3 times per day as needed. For best results take on an empty stomach with 8oz. of water. Additional water throughout the day is recommended. 

BUY: https://www.proactivehealthcare.co.uk/biocidin-liquid-30ml     

Antimicrobial Protocol 2: Renew Life, ParaSmart

• ParaSmart is a 15-day broad-spectrum antiparasitic, antimicrobial, and antifungal herbal cleansing program. 
• It contains herbs and extracts that are widely used to remove both visual (nematode) and microscopic (bacterial) parasites from the body. 
• It also contains antifungal herbs and extracts that are known to eliminate yeast/fungal organisms from the body.

INGREDIENTS

Wormwood Leaf (Artemisia absinthium) 4:1 Extract 600mg, Caprylic Acid 400mg, Garlic Bulb (Allium sativum) 4:1 Extract 400mg, Thyme Leaf (Thymus vulgaris) 4:1 Extract 400mg, Black Walnut Hull Powder (Juglans nigra) 200mg, Clove Bud (Syzygium aromaticum) 200mg, Pippli Seed (Piper longum) 200mg, Quassia Wood (Picrasma excelsa) 4:1 Extract 100mg, Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis) 100mg, Orange Peel (Citrus sinensis) 100mg

SUGGESTED USE 

Take 2 capsules of ParaSmart 1 and 1ml of ParaSmart 2 in the morning on an empty stomach (30 minutes before eating). Take 2 capsules of ParaSmart 1 and 1ml of ParaSmart 2 in the evening on an empty stomach (2-3 hours after eating). Consume both the morning and evening doses with 1 cup of water. Take for 15 days, followed by a 5 day rest period, and then continue for an additional 15 day period as required (additional ParaSmart Kit required). This will ensure that any parasite larvae are also destroyed.

Antimicrobial Protocol 3: Higher Nature, Oregano Oil + Candiclear

• Supports the intestines, stomach and digestive system. 
• Provides specific nutrients such as thyme to support healthy gut flora.
• Also contains lemon balm to support digestive health. 
• A broad spectrum formulation with octanoic acid and other gentle botanicals. 
• Gentle and easily absorbed.

INGREDIENTS 

Oregano Oil: 150mg oregano oil (minimum 35% carvacrol, 27.5% thymol)

Candiclear: 350mg calcium octanoate (providing 262.5mg octanoic acid/caprylic acid), 350mg magnesium octanoate (providing 304.5mg octanoic acid/caprylic acid), 50mg Pau d’arco, 50mg thyme, 50mg rosemary, 50mg lemon balm

SUGGESTED USE 

Oregano Oil: 1 capsule, 3 times a day 

Candiclear: 2-3 capsules a day, with meals

BUY FROM AMAZON

Oregano Oil 

Candiclear 

So there you have it – three antimicrobial protocols you could choose from to improve your gut health – if changing your diet and adding digestive support and probiotics has not helped your symptoms. Let me know in the comments below if you try any of these protocols and how you get on. 

Until tomorrow,

Chloe x

About Me

Hello, I’m Chloe. I’m a nutrition and health coach and I’m on a mission to inspire & support women so they can go from feeling fatigued to feeling fabulous! 

I help women who are FED up of being overweight, addicted to sugar and feeling tired ALL THE TIME to lose weight and optimise their health by fixing hormonal, digestive, autoimmune and energy issues.

My step-by-step programme, Revitalise, will help you lose weight, get back your energy, restore vitality and create lifelong health using the power of beautiful & delicious REAL FOOD. 

I’m here to make it easy for you to eat healthy, delicious food without counting calories or feeling deprived. You’ll reset your relationship with food, shift your mindset and build new habits for a complete health transformation!

Disclaimer: All information provided is for informational purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. Please consult your GP or a qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health and wellbeing. I am a nutritional educator and do not dispense medical advice nor prescribe treatment. While nutritional support can be an important complement to your medical care, a nutritional therapy program is not a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or care of a disease, illness, or injury by a medical provider. Nutritional evaluations and lifestyle assessments are not intended for the diagnoses of disease. 

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