Safety:
Cost:
Ways to Administer: Oral
Bottom Line: Probiotics may work for some people but not for others.
Overview
Probiotics are favorable bacteria (lactobacillus and bifidobacteria) or yeast (Saccharomyces boulardii) administered as an oral preparation that we introduce into the intestinal tract to correct imbalances in our gut microbiome. If you’ve used antibiotics, probiotics can help restore some of the gut’s beneficial flora that has been destroyed with treatment.
Efficacy
Although probiotics have been around for many years, research on the topic is still in its infancy. Ultimately, we’re still learning which microbes or combinations of microbes are the most helpful to people or conditions. In my practice, probiotics tend to be hit or miss. It’s about 50/50 — they work well for some people but not for others.
Safety
I gave probiotics four stars for safety because some people may have adverse reactions, especially individuals with small intestinal bowel overgrowth (SIBO). Probiotics may make their situation worse and cause further gut discomfort.
Cost
The cost for probiotics is relatively low and reasonably priced compared to many supplements on the market.
Dr. Bill Rawls’ Treatment Guide
Want to see more Lyme disease treatment ratings? See What Dr. Rawls has to say about popular treatments and therapies in his Lyme Disease Treatment Guide.
Dr. Rawls is a physician who overcame Lyme disease through natural herbal therapy. You can learn more about Lyme disease in Dr. Rawls’ new best selling book, Unlocking Lyme.
You can also learn about Dr. Rawls’ personal journey in overcoming Lyme disease and fibromyalgia in his popular blog post, My Chronic Lyme Journey.