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Grapefruit Seed Extract

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/10/2010 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All!

I've been fighting a yeast infection since January due to a long course of Flagyl (4 months). Anyhow, I've been told I should grab some Grapefruit Seed Extract and take it orally for 14 days. I'm concerned though that it may interact with my Remicade or cause something to flare up with my Crohn's. Does anyone have any experience with Grapefruit Seed Extract? Anyone take it orally?
Posted 4/10/2010 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe you could ask a pharmacist. Grapefruit can sometime increase certain medications ... Or a doctor should know also. but, I wouldn't take it before checking with someone on your complete list of meds.
Posted 4/10/2010 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
GSE is incredibly strong, so start with a low dose. The only bad effects you should experience are potential gut ache (taking with food should help), and potential die off symptoms (GSE kills off yeast and bacteria). I wouldn't think it would cause a problem with remicade or crohn's though. Are you taking probiotics? That will help get rid of yeast too.
Posted 4/12/2010 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Well.... read about it some more and decided to give it a try today. I put about 8 drops of the extract in my juice at lunch and again at dinner. Now, I am experiencing EXTREME D (The remicade pretty much stopped that) and an upset stomach. Being a crohnie though I can't always pin point what the problem is. It seems coincidental that I started feeling ill after starting it today - however, there is a flu bug going around at work too. Perhaps I should just use it once a day? I spoke with a naturopath about this product, but the pharmacist didn't know much when I asked her about it.

I'm not taking a probiotic - there are so many of them and I often had D when taking them I stopped. I do eat Activia Yogurt though that has the lacto and bifi bacteria in it.
Posted 4/12/2010 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Eight drops is a lot, especially twice a day! You should start off with one. If that goes over okay, increase to 2, and so on and so forth. Let your body adjust. Also, you shouldn't use the same anti-fungal indefinitely, because the yeast will build up a resistance to it. You can swap GSE with things like Olive Leaf Extract, Oil of Oregano, Garlic, and Coconut Oil. There are many more, but those are the only ones I've tried so far. In the meantime, maybe try the GSE for a couple weeks and then give it a week off.

The Activia should help replenish your good bacteria some. Maybe you would do well with a single strain probiotic, like acidophillus. Start with a minimal dose, and work up. S. boulardii is supposed to be really good for killing yeast too.

Hope you recover from this setback quickly!
Posted 4/12/2010 2:10 AM (GMT 0)

GSE will kill off yeast quickly. Eight drops of it sounds like a lot. 2-3 drops two or more times per day should do it. If you mix it into something strongly flavored like Welch's grape juice, you probably won't taste it much.  Diarrhea results when you have a yeast die off...not to be too too gross but a cottage cheese like result is not uncommon along with a very sour odor. 

Other things to consider to fight yeast include (along with the things mentioned by spookyhurst) biotin, monolaurin, a probiotic that is a yeast killer called THREELAC, and also aloe vera juice. I hear there is a brand of aloe vera called George's that tastes much like water. Coincidentally, I just ordered some myself today from amazon.com.  The added benefit of aloe vera is that it also has anti-inflammatory properties that can be helpful to Crohnies in addition to helping to rid the body of yeast.

Posted 4/12/2010 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
Agreed on the pharmacist.

It is always a good idea to start on the smallest amount you can with any new supplement, as a general rule. Increase slowly...
Posted 4/12/2010 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses - I was just going by what the back of the bottle said. I think I will taper it down though and see how I tolerate it. Also, the bottle of extract I have has Oregano Oil in it as well.

Spooky - I did some research on S. boulardi and it’s actually a yeast based bacteria that can cause Fungemia in people who are imunocompromised. Since I am on Remicade the Pharmacist actually recommended against it. I’ve been having a hard time finding probiotics that don’t cause me D – I have been taking the pearls, anyone ever use them? They’re about 25.00 for a months supply. I read that VSL is popular, but I can’t find it in Canada.

I don't want to completely kill off the yeast; I just want to balance it properly. Will I have to start taking this for the rest of my life to prevent infections in the future?

As I mentioned above all started because I was on the Flagyl for so long and I have always been susceptible to yeast infections when on antibiotics in the past. I’m so frustrated – I feel like I get one problem under control and another one crops up. Not to mention, when I have my surgery you can bet I’ll be on antibiotics again and may end up in this same predicament.

Anyone else have suggestions?
Posted 4/12/2010 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Please be sure to mention this to your doctor. Grapefruit extract can change how things are dealt with in your kidneys...especially steroids and antibiotics. So if your doctor wants to prescribe those to you, he/she needs to know you've been taking this.

But I really hope it helps you. :)
Posted 4/12/2010 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
I will advise him when I see him next week that I have been taking it.  I'm hoping I can stop taking it by then.

 

Posted 4/12/2010 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
Okay then, so my best suggestion is this:  make your own yogurt.  It is soooo good for you (if you can tolerate it) and is loaded with billions of natural healthy bacteria. Much more so than you can find with over the counter probiotic supplements. You don't have to have a yogurt maker. You can make it right in your own oven. And, I've just read a recipe for making it in a crock pot.

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html

Posted 4/12/2010 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
I'd love to make my own but I am so busy right now that making it really isn't feasible. Also, I live in a basement apartment and don't have a full size fridge to house what I make.

I think I am going to do more reading about specific types of bacteria and see what would benefit me the most.

Off hand, how much would a yogurt maker cost?
Posted 4/12/2010 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
A yogurt maker will cost you around $60.00. Most people agree that the Yogourmet brand is one of the best. You would need to purchase the freeze-dried yogurt starter, as well.

The crockpot idea that MoobyDoo posted sounds great, too! Why didn't I think of that? idea I already own one of those!

I would beware of Activia yogurt! skull We've had discussion threads here before on it. Most people agree that it causes D for them. shocked If you don't want to make your own yogurt, you might instead consider purchasing a high-quality organic brand like Stonyfield or another from a health-food store.
Posted 4/13/2010 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
EMom - thanks for your reply. I haven't had any issues with the Activia, but I have thought about purchasing something else. I am in Canada and not aware of any brands of natural yogurt I could purchase here. Anyone in Canada have some suggestions?
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