Common Questions and Instructions
What makes Symbion different from other probiotics?
These strains are highly antifungal (candida is a type of fungus), as well as being beneficial strains. As the bacteria kill off the candida in the gut, they also stimulate the growth of healthy gut bacteria. Probiotic strains that you find at the health food store and elsewhere may be beneficial for people without an overgrowth of candida, but they will do nothing to get control of the candida fungus.
What are Symbion Probiotics?
The term “Probiotic” is Greek, meaning literally, “For Life”. Conversely, “Antibiotic” means “Against Life”, or “Anti-Life”.
Unfortunately, overuse of antibiotics causes all bacteria, both the toxic and the beneficial, in the body to be wiped out. Once this happens, opportunistic yeast, the most common of which is Candida albicans, can then take over the intestinal tract, wreaking havoc on our bodies and causing myriad symptoms. They are such hardy creatures that more often than not, even an arsenal of antifungal drugs cannot eradicate the overgrowth, and in many cases, make them even more virulent and drug resistant.
Symbion Probiotics contain three strains of highly effective beneficial spore-forming lactic acid bacteria that have been proven to not only get the aggressive candida strains back under control and in balance with our body’s natural ecosystems, but to prevent the overgrowth of the aggressive strains of candida in the future. Symbion bacteria cause the body to become a more balanced alkaline and pH levels normalize, a condition the candida yeast simply cannot thrive in (candida thrives in an acidic environment). As these friendly bacteria crowd out the overgrowth of candida yeast and toxic bacteria in the intestines, symptoms eventually disappear altogether. The powerful antifungal bacteria in Symbion overcome the candida yeast/fungus and prevent it from overgrowing in the future. The reason why there aren't "billions" of cfu's of bacteria in Symbion is precisely because they are so potent and effective in eradicating candida yeast.
Symbion Ingredients: Bacillus coagulans (200 million CFU*), Bacillus subtilis (100 million CFU), Enterococcus faecium (100 million CFU), Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS).
Each bottle contains 120 vegetarian caplets and contains no yeast, corn, gluten, soy, egg, dairy, sugar, salt, nuts or starch.
Symbion™ is manufactured in the U.S.A. in an FDA certified cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices), Kosher pharmaceutical facility, using only the purist, pharmaceutical grade ingredients. Each batch is DNA tested for ingredient purity, quality, and CFU concentration to ensure uniformity.
The company offers an unconditional 60 day money back guarantee on your first purchase, less shipping.
Common Questions & Instructions:
How do I take Symbion™?
The suggested beginning dose is one capsule taken after a meal. Once you've confirmed that this dose is tolerated well, after one week increase to one capsule twice daily. After about four weeks, increase to three capsules per day, spread evenly throughout the day. Everyone progresses at differing rates, so some people may want to go up to higher doses to get control of the candida, depending on the severity of the infestation, then slowly come back down in dose (one capsule at a time), until you reach a maintenance dose, which for most people is between 2-4 capsules a day.
If at any time, going up in dose causes any discomfort, go back to the previous dose for another week or two before trying to increase the dose again. This is known as a "healing response" and can be avoided entirely by going up in dose slowly.
Refrain from eating sweets (e.g., sugar) if possible for the first one to two months, as it feeds the bad bacteria in the intestines.
The vast majority of people report improved bowel function after taking Symbion™, however some may already have diarrhea or constipation. In both cases, we recommend taking a good fiber supplement, such as psyllium husks or guar gum to assist in productive bowel movements. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for brands they recommend. Fiber should always be taken on an empty stomach, either 30 minutes before your meal and Symbion™, or 3 hours after a meal.
How soon should I see results using Symbion™?
Results of using Symbion™ will vary from person to person, because of differences in their digestive condition .In some cases, changes are found rapidly, within a few days, but in others it may take a few weeks. A small number of people may need a few months to observe the benefits. Everyone in need, with time, should obtain benefits in their digestive condition and associated symptoms.
When should Symbion™ not be taken?
A. Together with antibiotics?
Since antibiotics by definition will kill both good and bad bacteria, we recommend that to preserve the benefits of Symbion™ it should be taken as far away from the antibiotic as possible. Symbion™ will not interfere with any medications you might be taking.
B. During pregnancy?
Probiotic supplements like Symbion™ have been shown to be safe, containing naturally occurring, beneficial microorganisms. However, it is advisable to consult your physician for their recommendation in individual cases.
C. During certain illnesses?
Symbion™ can be taken safely by mouth to restore and maintain the normal balance of gut microflora conditions, during most digestive illnesses, including diabetes. Always ask your doctor if you have questions.
Symbion™ can be safely stored in clean, dry conditions and should not be refrigerated. This Probiotic has a shelf life of 18 months. The container should be kept sealed until used and be stored out of sunlight or away from heat sources.
How long should I take Symbion™?
Symbion™ should be taken every day to help maintain good bowel function and a healthy balance of beneficial microflora in the intestines.
What is ThreeLac?
ThreeLac was introduced to the U.S. from Japan in 2001 where it has been on the market as an intestinal pH balancer. Over $50 million dollars worth a year is sold in Japan.
Unlike other dietary supplements, which are unregulated in the U.S., ThreeLac was formulated by scientists in Japan and is manufactured at a pharmaceutical company under strict government regulations. This particular combination of strains will not be found in any other product.
This proprietary formulation contains three strains of live lactic acid bacteria:
- Spore Forming Lactic Acid Bacteria (Bacillus Coagulans)
- Spore Forming Bacteria (Bacillus Subtilis)
- Lactic Acid Bacteria (Group D [non-toxic] Enterococcus Faecalis)
All in a proprietary microencapsulation delivery system which gets those bacteria into the intestines alive and unharmed.
Other ingredients include lemon juice powder (for flavoring), refined yeast powder (a small amount, which simply feeds the ThreeLac while in shipping and will not affect yeast sensitive individuals), and fiber (FOS, which feeds the live bacteria). Do not refrigerate ThreeLac.
The company bringing it into the US, Global Health Trax, is an FDA approved, GMP manufacturing facility in Vista, California. Since they have been selling ThreeLac in the US, the response has been so overwhelmingly positive that Threelac has become their best selling product.
There are 60 ThreeLac packets in each container.
The suggested beginning dose and long term use is 1 packet per day, right before or after you eat a meal. Let it dissolve in your mouth and follow immediately with 4-6 oz. of water. The food assists ThreeLac in reaching the small intestine.
The label suggests that "up to three packets may be taken if desired." We strongly recommend that you do not take three packets in the first 30 days; if you need to work up to that amount, it should be done over several months.
The more you take in the beginning, the more die-off may occur, which can sometimes make you feel lousy. We actually recommend starting with only one packet a day for at least the first 4 weeks, if not longer. That will give ThreeLac a chance to eliminate a lot of the yeast overgrowth and get it and the toxins out of your body so that when you do graduate to two packets, the die-off symptoms will not be uncomfortable, if any at all. People with severe symptoms therefore need to take it slowly in the beginning. Do not eat any sugar during this process. Sugar is yeast's favorite food and will cause it to proliferate.
Remember that Candida can be extremely resilient and difficult to rid from your body. Once you have it under control, you will want to keep it there. It can take time to reestablish good health and patience is required in this process. We've seen some web sites that sell the products who advise taking 5 packets a day in the first 30 days. These people undoubtedly have never suffered with this condition, much less come out the other side well with this program and this is not good advice. Taking that much in the beginning would have landed me in the emergency room!
ThreeLac and Oxygen Elements Plus is not a sledge hammer approach. Rather, it is a slow and steady process. We set up this website to help others in their journey back to good health and to let them know how it can best be done.
More information about candida is on the tab above labeled Articles & Resources.
Recommendations about how to begin and proceed:
The most important piece of advice we can give you is to take a good fiber product for the first several weeks at least, and drink lots of water to keep things moving. Even if you think you're having good bowel movements, it is very important to scrape the intestines out on a daily basis. Always take fiber by itself, on an empty stomach (either one hour before a meal and your supplements, or three hours after a meal). You will feel much better, I promise you.
When you do work up to two packets a day, if you experience die-off symptoms, please know that they do not last for long at all. If they last for too long or are too uncomfortable, you are taking too much ThreeLac and will want to reduce your dosage back down to one packet. You will know when to increase your dosage as you reach a “plateau." At this point you will not feel yourself going one way or the other, good or bad. In other words, some of your symptoms have disappeared but you are stalled in the area of continuing improvement. This is precisely when you should increase the number of packets you are taking – not sooner and not later. If you wait too long, your symptoms may begin to worsen. If you increase your dosage too soon, you may experience some uncomfortable die-off symptoms such as headache or muscle weakness. Just listen to your body.
The vast majority of people report improved bowel function, but a small number may experience constipation, or may be already constipated. Again, we cannot emphasize enough how important it is to keep your bowels moving. The die-off symptoms are caused by the dead yeast and toxins sitting in the bowels. If fiber alone didn't help enough, I took 3 tablespoons of plain mineral oil for 3 nights in a row. It acts as a lubricant and really helped to get things moving. Flax seed oil is also very good for constipation, as well as just being good for you in general. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for other recommendations.
If you take Oxygen Elements Plus, we do not recommend that you go over the 21 drops per day dosage. If you do take more and suffer with body pains, please cut back. You may want to start with only 3 drops and work yourself up one drop at a time until you reach a tolerable dose. Put the drops in a small glass of water and drink it. If you notice a skin rash developing or if you get a hoarse throat, stop the drops for about a week before you begin taking them again. About 1% report this reaction from what we've heard. It can also be used full strength or slightly diluted for skin fungus and full strength for nail fungus.
About 10% of people tell us they feel better very quickly, within weeks. Another 10% may take 4-6 months to get the overgrowth under control, but the vast majority we have heard from achieve dramatic improvement in about 2 ½ to 4 months. Every person is different, so please be patient with the process. When you feel you are ready to graduate back down in your dosage, go just as slowly (one packet at a time) as you did in the first place.
If your symptoms start coming back, you’re going down too soon. Again, this is a slow and steady process.
Do not refrigerate ThreeLac or store it near heat or in direct sunlight. Do not take natural antibacterial products such as oil of oregano, coconut oil, grapefruit seed extract (GSE), caprylic acid, garlic supplements (eating garlic is fine), olive leaf extract, or colloidal silver. These will kill the beneficial bacteria in the product. Besides, I took all of them for years and they did little, if anything, but aggravate my symptoms. None of them will get a Candida overgrowth under control.
I also did stupid (desperate) things, like IVs of pharmaceutical grade hydrogen peroxide, which succeeded in doing nothing more than permanently collapsing my veins (thank God it didn't kill me).
What if my symptoms return?
Keep in mind that a Candida overgrowth can come back if not kept under control. Once an overgrowth has occurred, we are especially susceptible to it's return.How long it will take to get it under control depends entirely upon the severity and the general health of the individual. We will always be subjected to reinfection in our lives (after a round of antibiotics, for example), just as we got it in the first place. If this happens, begin the ThreeLac program again if you are not on a daily regimen already. Alyson and I don't ever want our symptoms back again and so will take ThreeLac and Symbion as maintenance. I take one ThreeLac and two Symbion capsules, Alyson takes three Symbion a day only.
What happens when you take ThreeLac?
Bowel function may begin to change. Per Global Health Trax, a majority of people reported that bowel function improves with ThreeLac use, but a few people may experience constipation. That is why we recommend that you take a fiber product when you start.
At some point you might experience more frequent bowel activity. Stools may be loose and/or more voluminous, as more bowel matter vacates the body. A good fiber product should assist with this as well should it be a problem for you.
What is a Systemic Condition?
When the invasive fungal form of yeast penetrates the gastrointestinal mucosa, it breaks down the boundary between the intestinal tract and the rest of the circulation in the body. This allows partially digested dietary proteins to travel into the bloodstream, where they exert a powerful antigenic (antibody-stimulating) assault on the immune system. This breakdown also allows the yeast/fungus into the bloodstream itself. This is the condition known as having "systemic yeast overgrowth."
Oxygen Elements Plus (Now called Oxygen Elements Max)
The USP challenge test conducted by Bioscreen Testing Services showed that Oxygen Elements Plus (formerly Hydroxygen Plus) completely destroyed Candida albicans yeast and four other pathogens: Aspergillus niger, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. And that they did not return during the entire 28 day testing period.
Go to the GHT Product Showcase at their website to find more information about all products.
From the formulator of Oxygen Elements Plus:
"Oxygen Elements Plus is a liquid supplement that breaks down water molecules into a negative oxygen molecule which combines with the free radical causing O+ molecule, quenching the free radical and creating a stable O2 molecule. In addition it releases hydrogen. Oxygen is subsequently released throughout the body where it has the ability to kill yeast on contact."
The typical liquid oxygen supplement puts a burst of oxygen into your body which could have some benefits, but is limited in effectiveness because the delivery system is lacking. The oxygen cannot easily spread throughout the body and get into cells to be utilized.
Oxygen Elements Plus, on the other hand, does not give you a burst of oxygen. It has almost no oxygen in it, other than what is in the chemical bonds. Rather, it contains hydrogen sulfate in an ionic solution with trace minerals, enzymes and amino acids.
What happens is that when Oxygen Elements Plus encounters free radicals, it utilizes the O+ radical in a process that results in O2, or nascent oxygen. The result is a general cleansing of the body. The oxygen created by this process also creates an environment that is hostile to yeast, fungus and other pathogens and cleanses toxins in the bloodstream.
While GHT's suggested use is 7 drops three times a day, you might want to start with 3 drops three times a day until you reach a tolerable level.
FiveLac, introduced in 2007, has exactly the same ingredients (and strengths) that are in ThreeLac, with the addition of two common probiotic bacteria, Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus acidophilus and it costs more than ThreeLac at $55.50 retail. We don't take FiveLac, nor do we intend to switch over to it, as it is Threelac that got us well. We have remained symptom free since 2003 and helped over ten thousand other candida sufferers in the recovery process using Threelac since then.
What To Expect
With most of us, getting control of a yeast/fungal overgrowth is a two or three month or even longer process. Sometimes what you experience will be some die off symptoms where toxins are released by dead yeast. That's why we recommend starting with one packet (despite the label directions) and keeping your bowels moving to get the dead yeast and toxins out of your system.
When you do progress to more than one packet a day, if it gets too unpleasant, just cut back on the amount you are taking for a while to ease the symptoms.
Alyson got immediate results in the first 24 hours and declared "victory" within 2 1/2 weeks, though all things are relative, as she and I just got better and better with each passing day. I noticed improvement within a few days, increasing improvement each day thereafter and after 6 weeks declared victory myself, as I knew I had finally found the solution I had been so desperately searching for all these years. Alyson was symptom free at about four months; for me it was 6 months. Alyson was taking the maintenance dose of one packet a day and I took two. Since Alyson switched to Symbion after her horrible relapse a few years ago, she takes a maintenance dose of three Symbion capsules a day. I take two Symbion and one packet of ThreeLac as maintenance and we're both doing great on that dose and have been for years now. One capsule of Symbion is equivalent to half a packet of ThreeLac.
You can't imagine how wonderful it feels to be normal again after 19 years of suffering with "The Monster." Quite honestly, it feels a bit strange after all these years.
Other Benefits We've Learned About
"Lactobacillus sporogenes has been documented to significantly lower total serum cholesterol & the LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratio without any side effect in hyper cholesteroaemea."
"LACTOBACILLUS spores are capable of providing protection from pathogenic invasions into intestinal tract and help to restore the normal balance of the intestinal flora after antimicrobial drug treatment, whereas the non-sporeforming (vegetative cells) are a total failure. None of these ingredients cause any side effects."