The New Prescript Assist Reformulation is Dangerous, a Review
Prescript Assist old formulation recall notice!
Want to learn all about the HSOs in Prescript Assist? Get a copy of Fix Your Gut.
Everyone in the natural health community used to love Prescript Assist, but many of them changed their mind because of the new formulation. Some Guru’s have not changed their recommendations from Sisson,1 to Asprey,2 to Richard Nikoley. Chris Kresser finally changed his recommendation on Prescript Assist.3 Kresser states that they have changed the formulation to a new version that has not been tested for safety and clinically verified, unlike the old Prescript Assist formula. Well, I had my doubts about the safety recommendations of the old formula, the new formulation has manifested those doubts into a dark reality.
Many people still believe that Prescript Assist is the best “probiotic” supplement since sliced gluten-free bread.
However, why is that?
Well, in theory, Prescript Assist appears to be a perfect HSO supplement. Most of the “probiotics” found in the supplement are heat and shelf stable. Most of these homeostatic soil organisms are either encapsulated in endospores, pH resistant so they can survive stomach acid exposure, or produce biofilm when they colonize. Hopefully, they will survive your stomach acid and eventually colonize the large intestine for your benefit.
Endospores are dormant, tough encapsulations that protect the bacteria from your immune system, antibiotics, antibacterials, and even probiotics. Bacteria can also lay dormant in endospores until their environment becomes favorable for faster reproduction and survival. Bacterial endospores may also become opportunistic in a host, share in a “probiotic” communal with other true probiotics for a time, or slowly replicate to former larger colonies. Bacterial endospores can survive without nutrients for a long time and are resistant to UV radiation, desiccation, high temperatures, extreme freezing, and most chemical disinfectants.4
Kresser used to claim that the HSO’s found in Prescript Assist are non-toxic:5
“Finally, Prescript-Assist microflora are recognized Class 1 Etiological Agents, non-toxic, non-pathogenic, from independently maintained lines — this is well documented in both of the Clinical Therapeutics Articles. More than a decade of use as a supplement has revealed no adverse effects and/or side-effects [including reportedly patients with impaired immune systems], as well as the initial demonstrations with repeated consumptions of doses amounting to 500X that recommended for ordinarily daily use with no ill effect.”
Well, I will be damned, Prescript Assist used to be the safest probiotic ever produced, even with my doubts. Too bad that they changed the formula from an HSO probiotic that I would not recommend to a firm recommendation that no one should ever consume this “probiotic” supplement.
My Issues with Prescript Assist
It is unknown if most of the microorganisms in Prescript Assist are part of normal human flora. Many of the microorganisms have non-existent human studies and no human research studies. We might gain more information about the interaction between the microorganisms used in Prescript Assist and their human hosts once the human microbiome project6 is completed, but for now, it is truly unknown if any of these microorganisms are native flora.
You might be asking yourself what the big controversy is?
The main issue with probiotics using unstudied or lesser studied strains is that supplementing with any microbe with unknown pathogenic capabilities in even healthy people is playing with fire. Without proper research, we do not know what these organisms are capable of doing to our health. There was only one study performed (the second study was just a one-year extension on the previous study) on the old formulation of Prescript Assist. The study was a double-blinded, randomized trial with a placebo as a control. The original study was two weeks long, only had twenty-six participants, and used an irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) questionnaire to report initial symptoms or any improvement during the study. The second study was just a one year survey of twenty-two participants in the previous study. So because twenty-two people felt better on an IBS survey of taking Prescript Assist for one year, it is deemed by the authors that it is safe to use for a reduction of generalized IBS symptoms for short-term (a couple of weeks) or long-term (one year) use. Well, I have a few issues with the author’s conclusions. For one they used a survey which I believe to be one of the weakest forms of scientific data for the study and the study has a small population size. We also need more studies performed before we reach a broad conclusion. Whether or not you agree with Chris Kresser that the old studies prove that Prescript Assist was safe and effective is irrelevant, the new formulation of Prescript Assist has no studies to back up its effectiveness or safety. Do these poorly researched strains only improve our digestive or overall health, or do they cause severe, hard to relieve opportunistic infections? We have no idea without proper research into these organisms and their relation to our microbiome.
HSO’s That Are Not Considered Normal Human Flora or Have Non-Existent Human Interaction Research in Prescript Assist7
- Arthrobacter globiformis
- Azospirillum brasiliense
- Azospirillum lipoferum
- Azotobacter chroococcum
- Azotobacter paspali
- Azotobacter vinelandii
- Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
- Bacillus atrophaeus
- Bacillus brevis
- Bacillus firmus
- Bacillus marcerans
- Bacillus megaterium
- Cellulomonas fimi
- Kurthia zopfii
- Nocardioides simplex
- Rhodobacter sphaeroides
- Rhodopseudomonas palustris
- Rhodospirillum rubrum
- Streptomyces griseus
- Streptomyces griseoflavus
- Streptomyces venezuelae
Documented Opportunistic HSO’s in Prescript Assist
Opportunistic Microorganisms That Were Removed From the Previous Formulation:
Opportunistic Microorganisms in the new Formulation:
- Bacillus lichenformis
- Bacillus pumilus13
- Bacillus subtilis
- Bacillus thuringiensis14 15
- Micrococcus luteus16 17 18
- Pseudomonas fluorescens19 20
- Pseudomonas putida21
All of these listed HSO’s are known to cause opportunistic infections in humans or can cause severe health issues, some worse than others.
Opportunistic infections and overgrowths are rare with Micrococcus luteus and Pseudomonas putida. Micrococcus luteus is a normal inhabitant of our microbiome and is found on our mouth, mucosa, respiratory tract, skin, and pharynx. Micrococcus luteus dysbiosis is rare, but can occur in compromised people. Pseudomonas putida dysbiosis is rarely reported in literature than its cousin who is in Prescript Assist, Pseudomonas fluorescens
Pseudomonas fluorescens has even been implicated as the cause of Crohn’s disease (I believe that it is a coinfection instead of being the direct cause.)
These bacteria can produce hardy endospores and/or biofilm, which make it harder to reduce their colonies if they become opportunistic. It is a lot easier to reduce colonies opportunistic Lactobacillus acidophilus then Pseudomonas fluorescens.
What I believe is a grave error in the reformulation is the addition of the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis to Prescript Assist. Bacillus thuringiensis produces the pesticide BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) toxin (delta-endotoxin), and its genes are inserted into genetically modified corn to produce the toxin. The bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis are applied to some organic crops as a pesticide to produce the BT toxin to kill caterpillars. However, the bacteria and the toxin can be thoroughly washed off during food preparation. I am not here to debate whether or not genetically modified corn (which I believe it is, especially in people with a higher stomach pH) is harmful to our digestive systems because researchers claim BT toxin is inactivated by stomach acid. Stomach acid inactivating the toxins is why the researchers claim it does not harm the mammalian microbiome compared to the alkaline microbiome of insects. I, however, will declare that ingestion of Bacillus thuringiensis over time would possibly germinate the bacteria leading to dysbiosis, leaky gut, cellular intestinal damage, autoimmunity, and gut inflammation from the production of BT toxin that would be active in a more alkaline environment (for example our small intestine which has an alkaline pH of around 7-8.5 pH which is enough to activate the toxin) within our gut. Finally, contaminated Bacillus thuringiensis containing products can contain beta-exotoxins which are toxic to humans. Beta-exotoxins are not supposed to be in any product that includes Bacillus thuringiensis or anything produced by Bacillus thuringiensis, but it is unknown if Safer Medical of Montana tests for it in the new Prescript Assist formulation.22 23 24
Is the”Probiotic” Supplement Just Capsuled and Bottled Fertilizer?
Prescript Assist appears to be soil inoculant by Tainio Biologicals when you compared the labels. They contain the
Tainio Biologicals also has an interesting disclaimer about the soil inoculant:
Disclaimer: All products are for Agricultural use only. By your purchase of this product(s) you agree to only use the product(s) in strict compliance with the instructions of use on the product label and recognize that Tainio Biologicals, Inc. is not liable in any manner for any off label use.
I do not believe that Safer Medical of Montana should be using Tainio Biologicals soil inoculant for their “probiotic” supplement. It is only supposed to be used for agricultural use, not human consumption.
Finally, Safer Medical of Montana has been threatening researchers with legal action that report concerns about Prescript Assist. George Ackerson, the founder, and owner of Safer Medical of Montana, allegedly has a shady past, read Greg Caton’s blog Meditopia for more information.
Now, I hope you understand why I cannot recommend any of my clients supplement with Prescript Assist, and I hope you look over my research and do some investigating of Prescript Assist on your own.
See more from this series:
- http://www.marksdailyapple.com/definitive-guide-to-primal-supplementation/#axzz31t4SchA6 ↩
- http://www.bulletproofexec.com/the-red-meat-scapegoat-the-new-york-times-carnitine-heart-disease-and-science/ ↩
- https://store.chriskresser.com/pages/prescript-assist-announcement ↩
- https://micro.cornell.edu/research/epulopiscium/bacterial-endospores ↩
- https://chriskresserlac-shopify.helpjuice.com/questions/47699-Prescript-Assist-and-*spore-forming-organisms* ↩
- http://commonfund.nih.gov/hmp/index ↩
- https://safermedicalmt.com/ ↩
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/846390 ↩
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/362918 ↩
- http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF01643394#page-1 ↩
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC172888/ ↩
- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rcr2.31/abstract ↩
- https://goo.gl/sO6jRc ↩
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1364539/ ↩
- https://academic.oup.com/femspd/article/48/3/410/506801 ↩
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/629642 ↩
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3141704/ ↩
- https://journals.lww.com/pidj/Fulltext/1996/08000/MICROCOCCUS_LUTEUS_AS_A_CAUSE_OF_RECURRENT.19.aspx ↩
- http://www.gutpathogens.com/content/2/1/16 ↩
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC133002/ ↩
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3434797/ ↩
- http://www.jbc.org/content/279/53/55168.full ↩
- http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09540105.2017.1313200 ↩
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5236067/ ↩
I just purchased prescription assist based on research I found, but did not realize there was a reformulation that has brought up concerns! I have not taken it yet. My question: has anything changed since this was written in 2019? What other pre-probiotic do you recommend? I see one vote for Seed….
It’s “homeostatic” soil organisms (HSO) [hemostatic has to do with stopping bleeding]
Hello, while Googling Prescript Assist to purchase more, I saw the link to this blog. Wow, you really are into bashing Safer Medical, throwing out ignorance? It would not take a College Graduate to figure out what is going on here. First I point out blasting his past conflicts with the Government, you have no clue about. If were to believe the Criminal System is anything but Honest, you could be stating something of value. Unfortunate everyday, more innocent US citizens are being released after spending 10-20-30 yrs in prison. Dishonesty runs rampant in Judicial Courts, thus no scientific data needed, proven local news broadcast. Next your wording and knowledge sounds impressive but once again does not take a College Graduate to observe, you have not PROVEN anything that you are stating. You apparently have not taken the Prescript Assist or done your own Study to make such bold statements. I have had excellent results with the product, I buy the original product. I believe I am alive today because of this product in combination with not consuming FDA approved garbage in my system. You are, I imagine a great source for Big Company’s that pay for “bloggers” to promote tactics in putting the mom and pop business out. My two cents will receive negatives, guaranteed. The public awareness is growing and the real frauds are easily recognized. I bet you started this blog with good intentions when you first created. How popularity becomes power.
Have you checked my Alexa statistics from the past couple of years? From both Google algorithm updates my traffic has dropped significantly. I am real popular and have sold out for sure. I still write my blog with the same intentions since the beginning, for people to gain their health back or remain healthy. I have lost many family members including my parents and my son from a lack of proper knowledge in the medical world. You know nothing of me and my work. Why would I ever take Prescript Assist? It is a dangerous product. You are running out of original product to purchase. Are you concerned about ingesting GM corn? If you are then taking Prescript Assist is ludicrous because it contains Bacillus thuringiensis which produces BT toxin. I am glad it helped you, there are people it helped in the past, but even the new formulation is not recommend by the “greats” including Chris Kresser.
Uh, yeah. The owner of Safer Medical was indicted for counterfeiting US notes, and he served time (indictment link below). It’s pretty clear cut. He was also accused of counterfeiting another company’s product in the late 90’s, some product called Cansema, but was never prosecuted it seems. There are also allegations of him being a pedophile. And now this same degenerate is being sued for bottling fertilizer as a health supplement. Let me guess, you think this is all bad luck? Right.
http://www.meditopia.org/docs/George%20Ackerson%20-%20Grand%20Jury%20Indictment%20-%20Counterfeiting%201990.pdf
Just freakin’ look at the label and see how many unknown bacterias are there. Do you really want to throw them all in your gut and pray for the best? I know sick people are desperate and ready to do everything to fix their issues, but jeez, use common sense. If just one of those not well researched bacterias get over your gut, you will be screwed. At least use some well studied bacterias like bacillus coagulans or s. boulardii (I also like b. clausii and subtilis, even though i have already read that John does not recommend them). They work very well for me.
And dont blame John. He can not recommend to his clients something that is not proven to be safe. He might get legally responsible, if something goes wrong with them. Use your head and remember, that you always make your choice!
Hi. When I took Prescript-Assist I had awful side effects. Down there, everything smelled of something rotten, not only the bowel movements. My gynecologist thought I had Gardnerella and gave me Flagyl (Metronidazole). I took it for two weeks and only then the problem solved. Before taking Prescript-Assist, I had never had that problem, only constipation, probably because of my total thyroidectomy (for thyroid carcinoma). Now I take Saccharomyces Boulardii with Metamucil (Plantago Ovata, also called Psyllium). Only this combination works, especially when taken before the main meal of the day. If you have only constipation, don’t try taking only Psyllium, it might worsen your condition.
This product almost killed my dog, gave him a very bad allergic reaction where he seemed to be having something like heart attacks over and over again. We couldn’t sleep for over a week after stopping it because he kept waking up, gasping for air and hyper ventilating. One time I really thought I lost him.
His farts while taking the pills smelt like chemicals and soil! But more on the chemical side! It was very strange and unnatural!
So I contacted customer service and someone named George Ackerson claimed to be the CEO replied.. BEWARE as he is a lunatic! I am filing complaints with both the Canadian and US governments who regulate these products to look into this dangerous product! I will also be forwarding the emails to see how the seller is managing negative dangerous reactions! (He told me to give my dog more) The man is absolutely crazy. He denies there ever being even 1 complaint or any negative reactions over 20 or 30 years he’s worked. He is obviously in-denial because it’s not possible for there not to be any complaints about any product!
He became very defensive when I told him about the reaction my dog had and started promoting the product to me! I Already bought the product he doesn’t need to promote it further! He continued to tell me to give it to my dog by sprinkling it in his food and to take it myself! My dog almost died from taking it and he wants me to sprinkle it on his food and to take it myself!? I think he didn’t want to believe me and in the end wanted to speak to my vet! The man is an old blind fool that doesn’t care if people get hurt, as long as he’s right and righteous in his head! He sent me photos of him with a dog?!…. That’s how professional he is. I’m not sure what that was supposed to prove. That he likes dogs? How is that supposed to help my dog who almost died from taking this garbage?
He’s selling fetalizer with 28 different bacteria strains! That’s more than most probiotics contain. MORE doesn’t always mean better!
ANTHRAX comes from soil and is a soil based bacteria! Many dangerous bacterias and chemicals can contaminate the product and this retard is selling this dangerous product and ignoring all negative reactions from customers! That is very dangerous so beware and think twice before taking this product!
EAT PICKLED FOOD for good digestive health and beneficial bacterias! Or take regular probiotics pills. Stay away from this seller and this product if you care for your health. Who knows what else he’s ignoring during the production and testing process ! Maybe he is skipping the testing all together.
Repost from Chris Kresser’s website… yikes! I don’t recall this being on his site before, looks like he updated it.
Important Update: Current Safety Concerns Regarding Prescript-Assist
Following the post below, I have learned of serious safety concerns regarding the Prescript-Assist product, which continues to be sold on the market. In connection with a lawsuit against Safer Medical of Montana, the original source of Prescript-Assist, it is now known that the active microbial ingredients found in Prescript-Assist were produced by Tainio Biologicals Inc, a biologicals producer for agricultural use only. Tainio Biologicals is not regulated by the FDA, does not follow Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), utilizes multiple undeclared ingredients, and none of the Tainio products used in Prescript-Assist have been tested for use in humans. We/I support Enviromedica’s responsible decision to remove the product from the market, and we/I ask that people who continue to purchase Prescript Assist based on our prior recommendation not do so.
People still dont get the fact that you MUST start off with VERY SMALL doses of any new probiotic or supplement that you put into your body. Especially if you have an extremely sensitive gut. Everyone starts popping 1-2 full capsules and then complain that they dont feel well and leave negative reviews on Amazon, etc. sometimes starting with literally a spec of powder from the capsule is necessary I dont know much about the new prescript asst formula but in the past I used the older formula for a while and my bifido and lactobacilli levels shot up. I also know Microbiome labs is doing great research on spore based probiotics and have shown that the product boosts diversity. my diversity has improved after just taking a tiny spec of Megaspore powder every day for 1 month.
One of the few soil-based organisms that has been extensively studied by science in humans is Bacillus Clausii (in Italy and some other countries, sold under the name Enterogermina). It works well for diarrhea and protects against diarrhea caused by antibiotics which cause the growth of antibiotic-resistant strains, like Clostridium difficile. It produces bacteriocins that control pathogens and regulates several cytokines, having been used even for sinus allergies. But it is not good for constipation. I had terrible issues with Prescript Assist and will never use it again. And I only took it twice, one capsule at a time.
John, I received this as a forward from my practitioner. I think we now have ALL the confirmation we need. It appears that the ex-distributor is trying to do the right thing by making this information known, and also appears they recalled all product on the market through the FDA in July. But it’s now under a different label from the manufacturer Safer Medical of Montana (if that isn’t an ironic company name in this case, I don’t know what is). The link to the owner/founder of Safer Medical’s shady past in your post says he was indicted for counterfeiting US currency! Great, sounds like a trustworthy source of what was supposed to be a healing product. Why the hell isn’t the FDA doing something about this?!!? Bold move to be bottling fertilizer. But so is counterfeiting federal notes…soooo yeah
Enviromedica v Safer Medical of Montana Inc (Case 1:17-cv-00649-SS Document 57)
“This discovery dispute arose when Enviromedica sought documents through a subpoena duces tecum from non-party Tainio Biologicals, Inc. (“Tainio”), an agricultural product supplier, who is Safer Medical’s sole source of key ingredients for a product at issue in this case. Dkt. #48 (Resp.) at 2. After Tainio produced documents on April 16, 2018, Defendants sent Enviromedica a Rule 26(b)(5)(B) “clawback letter” seeking to clawback six documents under the claims that attorney-client privilege and/or work product protections extend to the documents.”
Full Text Download of the case file: https://presnellonprivileges.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/magetic-clay-opinion.pdf
That probably means that the new one is no different than the one that was recalled. Which also means it has all the same problems. If this is in court proving they’re misusing a farming product, why isn’t the FDA jumping on it?
…because the FDA is in collusion with Fascist Big Ag companies such as Bayer.
John, love your blog. I feel like I have been close to turning around my health. I (per my naturopath) seem to be dealing with SIBO, Candida, low stomach acid, minor LPR, and also bone density, borderline anemia, and hormone issues….
My focus is on fixing my malabsorption issues and I feel like I’m getting close. It’s amazing when my digestion is improved how much I can tell that I’m absorbing more nutrients and starting to feel better.
The catalyst for me seemed to be Betaine HCL… have tried with and without Pepsin because minor LPR started… I read your blog about saying to go without Pepsin if you have silent reflux. Tried that but I think my LPR started while taking HCL without pepsin. Not positive though…
But that led me to thinking it’s one of these issues than started the LPR while the rest of my digestion was improving: 1) HCL Pepsin or without Pepsin 2) The probiotics I was taking – Hyperbiotics (advanced strength 3 x day) plus S. boulardii with FOS were exacerbating my SIBO 3) My diet being paleo focused was too high in fermentable carbs 4) My natural herbals to reduce SIBO and Candida screwed up my microbiome…
As of two days ago I stopped all probiotics and have been trying the Fast Tract diet (low fermentable carbs) while taking HCL with Pepsin and taking herbals to knock down SIBO/Candida.
Time will tell but it seems to be helping… but I know per my GI Effects panel that I have very low healthy bacteria and short chain fatty acids…
I just saw your S. Boulardii recommendation and am curious if you think my above plan plus that since it doesn’t have FOS and then making Biifido enemas to try and populate my colon while not giving my small intestine the opportunity to overgrow?
My current theory is that my LPR was starting because I’d the combo of fermentable foods plus FOS and lacto/bifido probiotics further populating my small intestine despite Hyperbiotics goal of trying to get them further down the tract?
Initially I was blaming the HCL/Pepsin but it seems that adding that was what started me on the mend… Many thanks!
I recommend asking your health care professional about Bifido enemas for sure. Bifido colonizes the colon so it might be a good idea to take it using an enema instead of ingesting it. Some of it might be eliminated from stomach acid and bile, which can cause less of it to colonize if it actually does when taken orally.
I started taking prescript assist and 2 weeks later i came out in a ouzing skin rash that became infectious and I had to take antibiotics for a week to clear it. I didn’t want to take the antibiotics but it was spreading on my face fast. The doctor put it down to a shaving rash but i wasn’t convinced. after taking the antibiotics i started back taking the probiotics again. After a week the skin outbreak started again but underneath my jaw line and slowly it has spread. It isnt infected but there is puss on some of the areas. Last night I got violent red spots around my nose and red skin around my nose. My diestion, mood and energy improved when i started taking PA but the skin outbreak is not very nice at all. How do I know if this is my body elimating bad bacteria and toxins or if i am having really bad side effects that i should be concerned with? I am worried about the probiotics are becoming pathogenic and damaging my health. Before this i never had problems with my skin and had a healthy glow but had some issue with digestion with on and off constipation. any help is much appreciared as i am really worried and quite stressed about it. I thought I was helping my body to be healthier and now i wish i just refrained from taking anything. I have also been having regular blood tests and my blood serum iron level has been steadily reducing. I am not an exper but i am thinking is there a connection. Do i have leaky gut (because of bad bacteria) and are the probiotics killing off the bad bacteria and is the waste and toxins making its way into the bloodstream and then skin via a ‘leaky gut’? I don’t have any bloating, heartburn, constipation issues at the moment.
I ran into an Ag product called Biogenesis NP that is virtually like for like on the new Prescript Assist formula. Unfortunately, it was only after I bought the product and had a bad reaction to it. So far, I can’t find any GRAS documentation on most of the strains in the product and I can’t figure out where the guy is actually manufacturing it since he lives out in podunk Montana. It’s starting to look more like he’s shifted his operations to rebottling fertilizer.
I personally worked for George Ackerson for 3 months and have been given his new CBD tincture to nebulize as well as my family only to have him personally admit in text emails and in person that his products were so toxic he thought someone could actually die from consuming them. Then insisted repeatedly that I keep taking them. After I stopped and told him how sick it was making me he backed out of a wood business we were partners in and had theft charges brought on me illegally by lying to authorities saying I stole tools he had given me. Thank God I have proof. Just wanted to let you all know. Please contact me if you can help me to understand who this crazy man is? Thanks
i was having horrific anxiety and mild depression using lacto/bifido products. prescript assist has handled those nicely and things are sooooo much better.
i must add that i was taking Primal Defense which is a mix of lacto and sbo’s and i was feeling lousy with a good day here and there. so i wanted to know what in the formula was hurting me. so i decided to try a sbo only formula which is Prescript Assist. it’s only day 4 and i’m taking 1/8 of the full dose. anxiety all but vanished in day 2 and digestion is fine.
my theory is this: if you have Candida or sibo then sbo’s are the path to choose. if you have neither of those and solely want to boost your good flora then traditional strains are the way to go. i have candida overgrowth bad: thrush, jock itch, athlete’s foot, poor digestion and poor nutrient assimilation. been sick for years with it.
s. boulardii i believe is not good to take at great lengths. i believe it inhibits bacterial growth whether good strains or bad and creates dysbiosis in the long run.
i’d be happy to update my experience with Prescript Assist after more time and larger doses. Not getting my hopes up but it’s not hurting me yet. that is surprising because i am hyper-sensitive and over-reactive to most all probiotics and supplements in general.
Your bad reaction to ‘lacto and bifido’ depends on the strains used. You may have been taking strains that produce high amounts of histamine that will surely raise anxiety levels.
Hi Greg,
Could you give us an update on using Prescript Assist. I’m so confused as to buy it not to buy.
Hi John,
What probiotic supplement do you recommend for everyday consumption?
Thank you,
Hannah
I do not recommend a probiotic for everyday consumption. You need to eat a varied diet like the Perfect Health Diet for a healthy microbiome.
Has anyone noticed sleeplessness. I swear since I starting taking these I cannot sleep. I also take zoloft and clomzapam . Do you think this could be a problem.
Hi, Interesting article, thank you. I’ve been told S boulardii is good for people on long-term antibiotics, especially for Lyme, Bartonella and other tick-borne diseases. That it actually helps kill Bartonella? Do you have any information/thought on this? I’ve also been recommended Align and General Biotics Equilibrium. Am seeking information on these probiotics. Would be great to have your thoughts.
Maybe, in the gut, but S. boluardii should not get into the bloodstream, vagus nerve, spinal column or brain to compete with Bartonella, nor would you want it to. Some good reference information on Lyme: http://buhnerhealinglyme.com/
Some comments mention symptoms like anxiety, panic attacks and acid reflux, well I’d like to add that I suffered badly with anxiety and acid reflux on a daily basis, then I discovered that I was sensitive to digitally pulsed microwave radiation which is emitted from cellular phones and WiFi. I stopped using a mobile phone, made sure my internet connection was only wired with no wireless signals coming from the modem by testing with a detector, I shielded my room from neighbours emissions and now I have no acid reflux (no more anti acid tablets) and my anxiety and depression has gone, I also sleep better. A good documentary to watch is “Resonance Beings of Frequency” on YouTube.
Hi Jade, very interested in your comment. I suffer with severe anxiety and depression. For a year now, since birds nested outside my bedroom window and kept me awake, I have taken to sleeping in the lounge on my recliner and feeling quite comfortable there I am still sleeping there. I wonder whether some of my problems could be alleviated if I get back back into bed because in my lounge I have my wi-fi box, tv, hi-fi on and never switch them off at the socket at night when I sleep. I also have my headphones plugged into my mobile with lots of meditation vids playing in my head all through the night. I am wondering if any of the above could be exacerbating my symptoms.
How long before you noticed your anxiety and depression cleared up please? Really need help as I am such a mess physically and mentally
This is like the most useless comments ive seen in any comments. Sorry, but unless you live eat sleep 24×7 in your house, you are always surrounded by radio waves. Every inch of your life is covered by radio frequency, (when you step out of your house).
If you live in rural area, sure, there’s the possibility of not surrounded by waves all the time. But then again if you live there, stress and anxiety is pretty low, so will your reflux kept to a minimal.
I took an entire bottle of Prescript-Assist and just started on another when I began to experience good deal of nausea. I have had severe bouts of stomach upset and nausea which I fear is from the Prescript-Assist (which I have since stopped taking). How long does it take to get this out of my system and is there anything I can do to hurry this along? (I have candida and leaky gut and am looking for a better probiotic to assist in my recovery.)
It should take a few days for it to get out of your system and for the inflammation to reduce.
I have been on Prescript Assist Pro for months now. Initially I didn’t find any issues as my gut has been through several problems including intestinal surgery, multiple cases of CDiff, chronic constipation and low motility and more recently SIBO. I am convinced the doctors have changed my gut microbiome too much as now I am terribly bloated, more constipated and my stool smell has changed to almost something chemical and it’s definitely noticeable. How long would it take to change and reverse these side effects? The best pro biotic that always worked for me is VSL3 I’m wondering if I should be adding back twice a day?
Many thanks in advance!
I’ve had great results with Prescript Assist. I’m hyper sensitive to probiotics as well as prebiotics, and if something doesn’t agree with me I find out right away. Prescript Assist has improved my digestive processes and bowel function dramatically, and the results have lasted. FYI I also pay attention to diet, and work with a functional medicine doctor to fine-tune everything. I have found that the combination of diet and Prescript Assist, along with a prebiotic called Biotagen from Klaire Labs, has worked well for me.
I’m not here to argue, because I know from personal experience that what works for some people doesn’t work for everybody. Gut issues are highly personal, just as each person’s microbiome is unique to them. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all when it comes to probiotics or diet in general. It is too bad that we don’t have the ability to sample a probiotic for a short period without shelling out $$, and that’s a drawback. But, at least in my case, Prescript Assist has been worth it. It may or may not be worth it for others, but there’s only one way to find out.
Hi Rita,
Can you give us an update on the Prescript Assist. I have CFS,TH2 immune dominance and leaky gut and am curious how many caps and long did you have to take the PA before it restored your gut function?
Appreciate your perspective.
John — 90% of the studies you post against any probiotic or HSO are never ones based on INGESTING the product. The studies on this page where an individual HSO caused problems were due to hospital equipment being infected with the organism, where people developed problems due to INTUBATION or other medical procedures.
Next time you go off on a rant about Prescript-Assist or MegaSpore or whatever — try finding human studies where the SBO or HSO or probiotic was ingested, instead of inhaled or as a result of being intubated, etc.
I just read your comment on Dave Asprey’s forums where you said the first probiotic was named in 1989. That ignorance says everything…unless of course you meant 1889.
So cute: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emilia_Ghelardi/publication/299538914_Identification_and_Pathogenic_Potential_of_Clinical_Bacillus_and_Paenibacillus_Isolates/links/5704ed2208aef745f7169be0.pdf
In addition I did not say the first probiotic supplements were started in 1989, I was quoting what someone else had said in the thread, http://forum.bulletproof.com/discussion/10502/down-with-prescript-assist. If you are going to quote me please do it correctly, thank you.
So if you don’t reccomend Prescript assist, is there another reseasonably priced probiotic you recommend. I have tried many brands with no luck. I have R/A alot of stomach issues, constipation, and I can’t keep weight on. Im down to 101 lbs and my family is getting worried. i eat a Gluten free diet and have mostly removed all foods that seem to cause RA flares. Thanks for the help
I would limit starches, especially resistant starches and consider taking GOS. https://fixyourgut.com/recommended-prebiotic/, https://fixyourgut.com/klebsiella-cause-rheumatoid-arthritis-alkalizing-spondylosis-part-1/
My 33 months son is on intravenous antebiotics in hospital for the last 4 days (pneumonia). Can I give him prescript assist? What’ s the safe dosage? Thank you in advance!
Run everything by your doctor but since your son is in a compromised immune state I would heavily advice against the use of Prescript Assist.
I do not recommend that he takes PA, he is immunocompromised.
Thank you very much for your advice. What about boulardii? Is it not safe too? If that’s the case, GOS is the one you recommend in our case, too?
Hi John – Since you are the only one out there who seems to think Prescript-Assist is not a good idea, I felt you might be the only person to help us out with a very bad problem. I was taking PA and S. bouillardi and they were both helping me a lot. My 22 years old son has a three year history of reflux, stomach ulcers and untreatable anxiety/panic and we have spent three years working to solve any or all of these issues. So I gave him PA and S. bouillardi, just one a day for several days. He definitely had die off since he had a headache and flu-like symptoms, irritability for 2-3 days,but his anxiety was MUCH better, so we thought it was doing what it should – he had been on many different probiotics over the years that never seemed to do anything prior to this. After five days on the PA, his anxiety began to spike up quite badly and got very bad, so we discontinued both the PA and S. bouillardi. His anxiety has moved into full blown panic attacks about irrational, nonsensical subjects but nonetheless, are quite troubling in his current situation of being a college student with a lot of stress anyway. Food allergy tests just showed he is yeast sensitive to brewers yeast, bakers yeast, wheat gluten, dairy and corn. He had already been gluten free for a month or so, but was eating more corn because of this. So now we are completely stumped and his anxiety is out of control and affecting everything in his life. His anxiety actually spikes up after each meal, and I can’t help but wonder what the probiotics have to do with this…All because I thought it was a good idea to share my probiotics with him. We are ordering a stool analysis next week to see what might be the problem but those results are 3 weeks away. I am begging you, if you have any idea where we should start (other than just to read your book, which I probably will…) to reduce his anxiety and panic attacks, we both would be so grateful. No medicines or natural remedies for anxiety are helping any more (GABA, theanine, valerian, etc). Are there other probiotics that can counteract the activity of the PA or S. Bouillardi? I know the latter organism is a yeast, but thought it was a beneficial yeast that would kill off any Candida. I am working with a practitioner but she has had only good results from using PA and S. bouillardi. Any suggestions or direction of where to go with this terrible problem would be greatly appreciated!Thank you in advance…
What issues does he seem to have, Th1 or Th2? https://selfhacked.com/2014/06/16/supplements-foods-exercise-right-type-th1-vs-th2-dominance/, https://fixyourgut.com/why-supplementing-with-probiotics-may-make-you-ill-part-5-th1-th2-immune-reactions/
Hi I’m from Norway so pardon my spelling errors.
My sister struggled with anxiety and racing heart rate as well. Doctors didn’t believe her, never suspected diet to be the issue, accused her of being hypochondriac, which didn’t help her.. She’s now been avoiding all sources of gluten / wheat in her diet for about 2 years. This has made things dramatically better for her and she is now finally back to “normality”.
I my self (29) struggled with IBS and acid reflux from around when I was 14 years until recently. I remember how I would always know where the nearest toilet facility was. And if I ate a slice of bread before turning in, I’d typically wake up in the middle of the night chocking on stomache acid.
Thankfully both the IBS and the Acid Reflux cured it self by avoiding first milk(19) which helped tremendously for the IBS then gluten(26) which stopped my Acid Reflux issues completely and after 3 years now I can eat healthy amounts of dairy again. Cheese and yoghurt is fine and i can eat an ice-cream every now and then as long as I avoid gluten. Gluten was the disease, IBS was the symptom and severe milk intolerance was a result.
Fun fact, the standard lunch at school from when you are 6-18 is bread and milk.
Although both of us noticed a positive effect very soon after removing gluten from our diets, it did take a long time for the gut to heal and for the symptoms to cease entirely. One thing you must also be aware of is that gluten is often found in products where you least expect it, like soy-sauce, so always read the label first!
Hang in there, stay away from gluten and wheat and hopefully your gut isn’t damaged beyond repair and things will get better.
Holy words, I do believe that gluten, lectins and acellular carbs are the main culprits.
How is the awareness in your beautiful country? Do people accept that the staple food is a nasty villain? I’m from Italy and people are too brainwashed…
I have a sensitivity to corn and rye and barley and eggs, which affect me mentally. Whenever I have any cornflour or cornstarch or any eggs or malted sweetener (made with barley), I get ‘off’. The problem is mentioned by Hulda Clark in her books, but she was not the first to notice it. I think the problem is supposed to be a mold which grows on some crops, which produces an unusual toxin. Apparently it caused an entire town to go insane in the 1700’s in France, due to a contaminated rye crop.
Try l-glutamine. Got rid of my panic attacks
Have you considered working with Trudy Scott or looking into whether he having issues with histamine intolerance? ( try Yasmina Ykelenstam’s info)?
I am on prescript assist and I’m feeling strange inflammation come and go. For example, on my feet, I’ve had issues with joint inflammation coming and going, bowel movements are pencil thin as opposed to more normal, my body feels very tight and painful like a muscular Skeleton pain and stiffness when I get up to walk or sit down as now I have an odd lower back ache. I have stopped PA before because it seemed to give joint inflammation. I’ve felt sharp electrical impulse like pains in areas that inflame when I eat wrong. I’m more gassierc too.
I’m also sensitiv to yeast. Once i tried Bouillardi, and a got diahhrea. It’ because Bouillardi is yeast. Maybe PA.is ok, but Bouillardi not
This is an old thread, but still… I experienced something similar. I am still looking for a solution, but one thing that did help a bit was Losec in double to tripple dose. Maybe the bacteria that is causing the problem is pH sensitive. It also seems to get better over time. I went back to using my old probiotics, but honestly I don´t know if it has had any impact now.
Did you find a solution?
I have methane bacteria and have been on two antibiotic my Doctor says no more Iam nausia all the time For three years now will probotic get rid of the bacteria
Most probiotics are hydrogen producers so they would actually feed the archaea.
hello, John! I posted here on your blog the damage prescript assist did to my health. Since I took it, my health changed to worse, and I’ve developed histamine and mast cell issues, including dermographism, reflux, hives and rashes after eating fish, chocolate, etc., acing heart, etc. I have stopped taking saccharomyces boulardii, in fear it might increase histamine, but it was the only thing that made my bowels work well. Are you aware if it increases histamine? Do you think glutamine might make things worse?
I’m trying to learn a bit more about prebiotics and probiotics and was advised prescript assist you should only start with 1/4 of a capsule first for 3 days and check for side-effects? If there was a reaction straight away, then you would even start with less for your body to adapt or could it be an indication of unhealthy digestion. Then work your way up to 1/2 capsule, 1 capsule and so forth. What is your view? I understand that this supplement is a native microbe as opposed to the transient microbes, still trying to figure all of this out, and with something like prescript-assist you do not necessarily have to take it long term. I understand your article and where you are coming from; a long time has to pass before any study can be deemed credible but my question as it wasn’t so clear was about how much to start with, not just with this product but any probiotic supplement. Thanks!
I would titrate the dosage of any probiotic the same way, it is no different with PA. Start with less amounts of the recommended dosage and increase as your body adapts. Like with Gutpro powder I suggest people start with 1/64 of a tsp daily and increase based off of how you feel.
John,
I’ve been advised I have leaky gut which is the probable cause of my tendency to food allergies (nuts seeds,vegetables,yeast). I’ve taken Klair Labs Complete for 5 years with no effect on the allergies. What else can be recommended to heal leaky gut and/or indirectly food allergies? Prescript Assist was the new ultimate thing!
Thanks, Lenore
Most of the time taking care of overgrowth and increasing diversity in the gut can help. Ingesting diverse seasonal food, avoiding gluten, limiting casein, ingesting clean protein, if you can tolerate ingesting bone broth or collagen, and ingest EPA / DHA (seafood.) Maybe supplement with GOS or acaia fiber. Working on sleep and circadian rhythm can also help. Finally, getting vitamin D from the sun and maintain safe levels can make a difference.
OH my goodness! I follow the paleo diet for a while now and was doing so well. Over the holidays I ate a few servings of waffles and also had some sugary treats and alcohol…I was a bad girl. My bowels didn’t like it and i started having symptoms of gut dysbiosis. I ordered prescript assist and it started helping me immediately. It has been over a month of taking is and I am having horrible bloating, abdominal pain and constipation. So I guess I am going to stop taking it and hope for the best. I will probably wind up reading your book if my symptoms do not go away. I originally started taking this because The Paleo mom always had such good things to say about it. I wish I had done more research!
I would not be so dogmatic about Prescript Assist. I recently worked with a client who ended up in the hospital, and as a result of the hospital stay, she ended up with C.diff., one of the most serious and life-threatening gut infections. I tried reinoculating her with high dose Sacc. B and multiple strains of Klaire Therbiotic Complete, a probiotic that most of my clients do very well with. In this case, it did not help at all. However, when I suggested she try the Researched Nutritionals Prescript-Assist Pro (SBO), within 3-4 days the gas and bloating stopped and within a week, her stools had normalized. Very dramatic turn-around with this Soil-based organism product. Goes to show that you cannot make gross generalizations about most things and that protocols need to be customized for each person depending on their unique situation and biochemistry. I have come to believe that there is a time and place for the soil based organisms, although they may not be appropriate for everyone (like everything). Judy Loring, CN, Novato, CA
I caution the use of soil based probiotics more than even standard probiotics. Granted either one could go sour at anytime. It is always best to try to culture the flora back using targeted prebiotics and food. You final statement is better than most and I applaud you for that. If you want to recommend them to your clients then by all means do so. I will not for mine. The only reason why I wrote the HSO series in the first place was that most people in the blogosphere and the probiotic companies themselves treated them as completely harmless and that they could not cause any problems whatsoever.
I have been able to eat eggs again lately and this coincided with me trying prescript assist. Maybe it cured my intolerance?
Hi John!
I’ve discovered your page recently and am really enjoying your information – thanks! I am actually in one of your mentor’s practitioner training right now (I’m already a practitioner, just adding to my tools) and am leading a group of people through a Paleo and Microbiome Reset this April. So I’ve been doing extra internet browsing. The SIBO protocol we are learning is not jiving with my own chronic high methane SIBO, so I stopped it. In the past I get worse with any lacto probiotic. I do like bifidus only ones though, and I couldn’t tell a difference either way when I’ve used PA or Probiotic 3. I’m sorting out my thoughts on SIBO and on probiotics right now, so thanks for your dissident viewpoint! Refreshing!
Laura Paris
Thank you for this article. While I merely understood roughly half of what you said, I now feel reassured that I am NOT crazy sitting here with side effects from this damn pill! It causes me intense gas pain that lasts for days… but only when I take it and eat egg. Very strange. I got it off Amazon and was worried that may have caused a quality control problem, so I call the number and left a message but never got a call back. If this is just “die” that my body needs, I’ll endure. But I have always had a smart body that rejects bad things so I try not to doubt it. I certainly hope I am not putting myself at risk taking these.
I would stop it with those side effects, it may be die off but at what risk?
It may unforseen genetic issues like methylation, mitochondria, or histamine reaction with PA, as I have these issues and have had those bad reactions that were not die off! My body cannot process all incoming foods and supplements. Apparently my body attacks PA and as a result can do more harm than good
i was searching for problems with prescript assist. I also feel sick after taking them. I stop, then try again. This weekend I felt nausea, diarhea and pain in my gut. They are going in the bin. Is there longterm effects of taking it even a bit. i am worried.
Hi John,
Of the 3 probiotics you mentioned, which one is the best to treat sibo? Jarrow Formulas Ideal Bowel Support or the Life Extension Bifido Gi Balance? Thank you.
-Michael
None of them, I do not recommend probiotics in conjunction with SIBO. https://fixyourgut.com/why-supplementing-with-probiotics-may-make-you-ill-part-2-mmc-issues/
Many people seem to have good effect from Prescript assist and I hoped it could help me, I have extreme bacterial overgrowth and really bad bowel flora. Have tried three times. First time my tongue turned yellow and I felt sick. I stopped. Then I tried again, but this time I got extreme gout pain (have never had before), felt sick etc. I tried a third time too, stopped yesterday. I feel sick (or yeah, I was sick before too…but worse) and my tongue is black! I tried to tell myself that PA is really potent and that all these symptoms are some kind of herxheimer reaction, but now I am doubting..
I doubt it would help you at this time like most probiotic supplements because of your extreme overgrowth and motility issues.
Discomfort after taking a probiotic, especially a strong one is inevitable. When the bacteria starts to take hold, it kills off the bad stuff. It’s that bad bacteria decaying that causes the discomfort. It can feel nasty due to the variety of symptoms it unleashes but it means the good bacteria is taking hold. It’s a die-off reaction. When you understand it, you don’t fear it.
Of course with an imbalance of bacteria, that creates food intolerances and they damage the intestines and they need time to heal up so that all the goodness in food is properly absorbed again.
It’s cheaper to make your own probiotics with fermentation but big drug companies don’t prosper from advocating that.:)
It seems to be true! Fermented foods can have way way way higher cfu counts than pills. Like 10 to 1000 times higher than a pill with one serving. That’s the claim I keep reading. Is that so?
Hi, John~
You seem to be the only one out there down on Prescript-Assist. I wish I would have read you before I took it! I had to take an antibiotic for a UTI and wanted to be heavily proactive in restoring my gut, so decided on PA. I took it for a week, experienced terrible bloating, gas and constipation. Have been off it for a week and am still terribly bloated. I thought it would just go away, but the info you have here on opportunistic HSO’s has me very concerned. Is fixing what I’ve apparently done to myself covered in your book? If so, I will happily purchase it.Thank you for your help. I’m so sorry for the loss of your child.
Dear Kimberly,
Yes, follow the SIBO protocol in my book Fix Your Gut.
John
Kimberly,
I’m having the exact same issue as you described in this comment. Could you please tell me how you are doing now and what actions you took.
Thank you,
Anders
I took some P. A. a while back, for like 2-3 weeks maybe … I started to develop quite some arthritic pain in my thumb. I NEVER felt that before. P.A. had been my only supplement, nothing changed about my diet or daily habits. SO I strongly suspect P.A. did that to me. I have stopped for 2 months now and the pain is gone. Pfffff …
I’m wondering if taking primal defense caused me my recent relapse with SIBO that I’ve been trying to manage with your protocols for a week. I felt like I was just beginning to tolerate some fermented foods and RS in small quantities. I was taking 1-2 pills of the HSO every other day or so.
Dear Dave,
Any probiotic can become opportunistic and cause SIBO if the conditions are right. The problem with HSO’s is the biofilms that they produce are problematic. Fix Your Gut has some great recommendations in removing the opportunistic bacteria and re-balancing your gut flora!
The information for this can be found in Fix Your Gut.
So what probiotics do you recommend for IBD, Crohn’s, SIBO, antibiotic use and other related things ?
I have made a post about probiotics that I recommend here: https://fixyourgut.com/three-recommended-probiotics/. There is also more great information in my book Fix Your Gut.
I have been using FloraStor/S. Boulardii after getting C. Diff induced colitis from a dental prescription and subsequent vancomycin use. Prescript-assist seems to be helping greatly but as you said it may be the initial phase. I took a quarter capsule initially with not much relief but took 1 whole pill since 4 days and it seems to help a lot. A relief after a long long time. But now a downer after I read your reports on HSO’s. Will your recommended probiotics above work in my case as well?
Since you are taking it and its is helping currently continue to take it for a week or two further and then ask your doctor about discontinuation.
I use affiliate links but its for products I do believe in and recommend in the protocols in my book and on my blog. I have also coached people to use these supplements and I have used some of them myself.
Have you thought about the use of a FODMAP diet for two months to shift his microbiome?
John,
I’m glad you’re writing about this. My son has autism (high functioning) and have been debating using HSO’s over and over. I want to help him – not put him at further risk.
There seems to be an echo chamber in the paleo blogosphere and often times it’s for products and services that the bloggers are compensated for. I’ve seen it with HSO’s and then with RealDose fish oil etc. etc.
Each of these have very generous affiliate programs – and there’s nothing wrong with affiliate links – I do pay per click and affiliate marketing too. These guys need to make a living –
I just get a feeling in my gut (no pun intended) that some of these recommendations wouldn’t be there if compensation wasn’t involved.
I use affiliate links, but they are products that I have used and recommend to other people. I also list products that cannot be found on Amazon because I believe that they are the best. It is a necessary evil but I do not make recommendations based on compensation.
Good Article but I would need to see you debate someone much smarter than I or anyone else on this thread to believe your claims and get past the fact you are trying to sell a book that advocates against probiotics. Have you had such a debate with someone who knows the science and is pro Prescript Assist or any other probiotics? If so link on your site so we know the facts back you up and your argument holds up against people of equal intelligence on the subject. If you are proven right I will stand corrected and follow your protocol. I don’t mean to come of as rude but I am off the opinion you have to prove it among people who have the ability to call you out if there is incorrect info in your argument. The history on probiotics and millions of scientist so far say you are wrong. What makes you smarter or more of a qualified opinion than people who know more on the subject than you and do the psychical lab work rather than link sharing and opinion ranting?
Because not everyone agrees that HSO’s are safe ad some companies make them out to be, in fact in the studies that I listed many microbiologists have had such fears that I have shared in my writing to their use to improve digestive and overall health. Take that what you will but I have backed up a lot of my work in the multiple blog posts I have made about them on my website. Also, Hooper and I discussed at length about HSO probiotics on our live stream.
Hello Robert, right now the microbiome summit is going on and barely any of the speakers are talking up probiotics, it’s an unregulated industry, so John is right on, good for you John.
I’ve taken some P.A., heard it was great for travelers diarrhea, found some reviews where airline employees were raving about it. I’ll probably finish up the bottle that I have but I will only take these things like once a week, if that.