Dr Douglas Husbands

08/11/2020

If you MUST take the antibiotic Cipro, be informed of the great need for probiotics taken during and afterwards.

Ciprofloxin is in a class of drugs called Fluoroquinolones. Fluoroquinolones are antibiotics that are commonly used to treat a variety of illnesses such as respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tract infections. These medicines include ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and ofloxacin (Floxin). Fluoroquinoloes have very powerful antibiotic properties.

Fluoroquinolones have unwanted side-effects. This drug class is used as a chemotherapy agent in tuberculosis (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4461445/) . They drastically disrupt the balance of the "good bugs" in your gut, called your microbiota. They effect the balance of your gut microbiota for a long time (up to a year, according to research) even after one course of prescription (https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.0060280). They disrupt and impair nutrient absorption, especially of B-vitamins. A well known, undesireble side effect is they leave you more susceptible to tendon and connective tissue injury, particularly achilles tendon rupture (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4080593/). Lastly these drugs impair your immune system because of the disruption of your gut microbiota, leaving you more susceptible to post-antibiotic induced infections such as Clostridium difficile induced colitis, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The scientific literature confirms these statements: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32484262/?from_term=fluoroquinolones+side+effects&from_sort=date&from_pos=2

08/01/2020

A Research Literature Based Review on Vitamin D’s Effects on Respiratory Tract Infections and Immune Resilience

(Be warned: This is a long read, but worth looking at scientific factual information on this important topic. Nothing presented here is intended as providing medical advice but only as educational information.) There has been much misinformation regarding the effects of vitamin D on upper respiratory tract infections, including recommended vitamin D dosing, and immune resilience within the first eight months of 2020. Therefore, let’s look strictly at research literature for the science on this topic.

Whenever possible I am citing systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Systematic reviews are a selection of critically appraised scientific studies that review evidence on a clearly formulated question to extract and analyze data from studies in the review. A meta-analysis is a statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple scientific studies. Many times, but not always, a meta-analysis is a component of a systematic review.
I've added a research conclusions summary at the end for the convenience of those who don't want to read through the study details.

In a meta-analysis study, 8 observational studies involving 20,966 subjects concluded those with Vitamin D deficiency of less than 20 ng/mL serum vitamin D are 1.64 times more likely of having community acquired pneumonia than those with over 20 mg/mL serum vitamin D. Zhou YF, Luo BA, Qin LL. The association between vitamin D deficiency and community-acquired pneumonia: A meta-analysis of observational studies. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(38):e17252.

In a meta-analysis study, 32 observational studies concluded that serum 25(OH)D concentrations less than or equal to 30 ng/mL had 1.9 times higher all-cause mortality than those with serum concentrations greater than 30 ng/mL. Garland CF, Kim JJ, Mohr SB, et al. Meta-analysis of all-cause mortality according to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Am J Public Health. 2014;104(8):e43–e50.

In a systematic review and meta-analysis of Vitamin D and respiratory tract infections, 11 studies met the final analysis criteria involving 5660 patients of an average age of 16 years. The average vitamin D3 dose was 1600 IU/day. The dose interval varied between 24 hours and 3 months. The summarized results of the 11 included randomized trials indicates that supplementation with vitamin D significantly reduces the risk of respiratory tract infections. Bergman P, Lindh AU, Björkhem-Bergman L, Lindh JD. Vitamin D and Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e65835.

In a prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study of vitamin D3 supplementation in patients between 18 and 75 years old with an increased susceptibility to respiratory tract infections, 70 patients received 4000 IU vitamin D3 daily for 1 year, and 70 patients got a placebo. After 3 months, those in the vitamin D group had serum 25(OH) D levels of 53 compared to 26 in the placebo group. The findings of the study were that vitamin D3 reduced the total infectious score by 23% during the study year. Bergman P, Norlin A, Hansen S, et al Vitamin D3 supplementation in patients with frequent respiratory tract infections: a randomised and double-blind intervention studyBMJ Open 2012;2:e001663.

In a study of patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), 100% of the patients had a serum 25(OH)D3 level under 20 ng/mL. In this study, 25(OH)D3 were significantly lower in those patients who were ventilated with ARDS postoperatively (ARDS 6.8 ng/mL). The odds of ARDS in patients with 25(OH)D3

07/31/2020

What's the strict science on Vitamin D, respiratory tract infections, and immune resilience? Read this article to find out.

There has been much misinformation regarding the effects of vitamin D on upper respiratory tract infections, including recommended vitamin D dosing, and immune resilience within the first eight months of 2020. Therefore, let’s look strictly at research literature for the science on this topic.

07/02/2020

Are there clues from the gut bacteria that acute appendicitis is likely to occur before it happens?

"Yes!"...according to research published May 2020 by a team of researchers from Dr. Mark Pimentel's Cedars-Sanai Medically Associated Science and Technology program.

It was found that significantly higher levels of the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni are found in the appendices of those with acute appendicitis compared to those without acute appendicitis.

Why This Is Important for You and Your Loved Ones:
Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of need for abdominal surgery. It is now proven that extremely high levels of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) are found in those with acute appendicitis than those without. C. jejuni in the appendix was found to correspond to levels of C. jejuni found in the stool. Therefore, you can test for Campylobacter jejuni levels with a stool test way ahead of time and give pharmaceutical or herbal antibiotics to lower C. jejuni levels, preventing likely development of acute appendicitis and the need for surgery. https://bmjopengastro.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000412

Discussion, questions, and comments are welcome!

Objectives To compare the appendiceal microbiomes and examine the prevalence of Campylobacter species in the appendices of adult subjects with confirmed acute non-perforated appendicitis and controls with healthy appendices. Design Archived samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded appendiceal tis...

07/01/2020

Be Aware: The new PubMed search options may not give you all the research...

Could you be missing life-saving research in your scientific and medical searches?

05/27/2020

Do you know anyone who is dealing with illness from mold exposure? Our 6-month Mold Exposure Recovery Group Coaching Program starts on Wednesday, June 3rd.

Watch this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/2LRVOpt45to.

After watching the video, if you are sure you have mold exposure illness, and you would like to skip the 30-minute Roadmap to Mold Recovery Consultation, contact us by email to apply to join the group coaching at contact@drhusbands.com.

05/21/2020

See the insight of perspectives on Functional Medicine in 10-20 years from 64 Functional Medicine experts, including myself.

A panel of pracitioners have weighed in on the future of functional medicin and holistic healthcare in the next 10-20 years. Here are their thoughts.

04/19/2020

I know you have a lot going on now, and you might be at the end of your rope at times right now. But the question remains, how can you source energy and step into your health superpower when you feel like you have nothing in reserve and are completely tapped out?

Join us for the replay of the Exhaustion Epidemic Summit and get ideas on how to tap into significant healing, nourishment and REAL energy that will help you now and post our isolation. Watch my presentation about how mold and mycotoxins to be a hidden source of exhaustion.

Now that we are under a tremendous amount of stress, we need space and support to shift the dynamics of the overwhelm, whether this be physical or emotional, to one of peace and confidence.
Do yourself a favor and watch the interview series so you may have an empowering perspective rather than one of victimization and helplessness.
If you missed any of the discussions from the Exhaustion Epidemic Summit, you can go back to watch any of them for free before it closes
https://exhaustionepidemicsummit.com/ddh

04/16/2020

Is the Probiotic Bacterium Bacillus Subtilis Helpful for Gout? Also Kidney Stones? What Does the Science On This Say?


Increased uric acid in the blood is a major cause of elevated uric acid crystal formation that can cause severe joint pains in gout.

Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) is a bacterial organism commonly found in the soil that has beneficial probiotic properties. B. subtilis is therefore referred to as a soil-based organism. One of the effects of B. subtilis gives when taken orally as a probiotic is decreasing uric acid in the blood (1,2,3,4). B. subtilis decreases blood uric acid by generating the enzyme urate oxidase, which breaks down uric acid into harmless components (5). By decreasing blood uric acid levels, B. subtilis could have a beneficial effect on gout.


Besides high uric acid, high oxalate levels are also present in gout. High oxalate is also seen in calcium oxalate kidney stones. B. subtilis is helpful in prevention of calcium oxalate kidney stones. How? B. subtilis helps promote the growth of the gut bacterium oxalobacter formigenes (O. formigenes) (6, 7). Low levels of O. formigenes contribute to the development of calcium oxalate kidney stones (8, 9). B. subtilis could prevent kidney stone development by promoting O. formigenes growth.

I've clinically used B. subtilis containing probiotics for decreasing uric acid levels and oxalate levels, thereby helping gout and kidney stones. Along with dietary and lifestyle adjustments, I've found this to be a very beneficial, safe and effective tool for these health conditions.

References:
1.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC252350/pdf/jbacter00396-0079.pdf
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC99626/
3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S1063774519070149
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5439685/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5439685/
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4161865/
7.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6850040/
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3713771/
9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20602988/

04/13/2020

Mold & Mycotoxin illness is today's topic in my interview today on the Exhaustion Epidemic Summit.
In this interview you'll learn:
✨ How CIRS is often overlooked as a cause of exhaustion
✨ The pervasiveness of mold/mycotoxin illness and how we are unknowingly exposed
✨ Healing the gut lining is important for overall health, especially from mycotoxins
✨ And so, so much more!
Click here to watch over the next 72 hours for free: https://exhaustionepidemicsummit.com/dr-douglas-husbands/

04/09/2020

Hugging between those non-coronavirus infected in your household is good for you, especially now!

In this current COVID-19 age of social distancing, hugging people outside of our own household is taboo, to say the least. As I write this in early April 2020, if you dare to get within six feet of anyone outside of your own household, throughout the United States and the rest of the world, you’ll...