What do you think, part it in the middle? Corn rows, sausage curls?
As for probiotics - digestive bacteria - the things I've been reading lately say there are loads (was it dozens or hundreds or more?) of different types in our mouths and guts. So, getting one or two types back seems a bit off kilter. I have read a load of labels and bought probably 10 different products to try to get as wide a range as possible. Currently in stock here:
Accuflora - Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lact. Rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium Bifidum, Lact. Salivarius, Streptococcus Thermophilus
Ultra 5 - Bacillus Coagulans
Top Care - Lactobacillus Gasseri (previously identified as Lact. ACIDOPHILUS), Bif. Bif., Bif. Longum
Ultimate Flora - Bif. Lactis, Bif. Breve, Bif. Longum, Lact. Acid., Lact. Casei, Lact. Plantarum, Lact. Paracasei, Lact. Salivarius, Lact. Rhamnosus, Lact. Bulgaricus
The last one's from a company called Renew Life. I found it at WalMart. Since it's the biggest mix it seems like a good bet. Of course we are at the mercy of the manufacturers, dependant on their honesty and integrity.
Note that the same bacteria can be renamed. That's just to make sure things stay confusing.
That's 13 dif. good bugs in bottles. The Lact. Bulgaricus I think is the stuff that makes Bulgarian yogurt. I don't know if different types of yogurt, like Greek and others have dif. bacteria.
Some studies are showing weight is linked to type of gut bacteria, as is disease resistance and other very important health issues. There's even bacteria transplanting - taking fecal bacteria from healthy people and giving it to people who's population may have crashed.
It's still pretty murky right now - how much of which type is needed for what results. There is also not one-size-fits all consistancy in what people need. For now my answer is throw some of each in there and hope it grows and does good work. I'll keep reading and watching for results. So far digestion seems to be behaving well.
Good luck with the black tongue. Does that make you a Chow Chow? ;)
(I'd mention it to the doc just so they are aware of how your body reacts.)