You hear stuff about the gut microbiome all the time, and probiotics have been a rage for even longer. Then someone comes along and applies new science and technology to do something really revolutionary in terms of mega-high dose for a short regimen that’s actually designed to get to your colon quickly. That would be my biomedical engineering buddy Karl Seddon, in the UK, who developed Elixa Probiotic. Here’s the posting history on it and you can see many testimonials of great things at all of them:
- The New Science of Probiotics
- More Crazy Probiotics Stuff
- FODMAP Prebiotic Arms Dealing, Probiotic Mercenaries, and Uganda
Now, just like with most everything your mileage may vary, but I can say that the vast majority of reported results have been very positive and that I can’t recall any negative, only no effect noticed. Here’s the most recent testimonial, from Pam.
Thank you for your post mentioning Elixa probiotic. I have suffered from chronic diarrhea for over a year and endured a series of “cures” including colonoscopy, antibiotics, anti-fungals, restrictive diets, various probiotic and prebiotic concoctions… I elected to give Elixa a try and took two 6 day rounds back-to-back… on day 11…..”normalcy” returned…..spectacular…… I have not yet experimented with resistant starch but it is “on my list” thanks to your info,… love “free-the-animal”….!!
You can try it yourself by clicking here and placing an order.
Update: Amongst other anecdotes in comments, here’s one with some particular authority behind it, from Jake.
Have done two rounds.
Karl and I have communicated a fair bit over this product and his professionalism is second to none.
I know degrees don’t = expertise, but I’ve got an MSc in Sports Nutrition, and I personally am a sub-elite athlete and coach elite and Olympic athletes every day so have a decent idea of what it looks like when the human body does or does not work…
…and this stuff is the real deal!!!!
Today is the first after my first 6 day dose of Elixa. Nothing negative to report. Dandruff vanished. It will be interesting to see how long that lasts post dosing. Mental clarity increased too. Nothing major to report on the TMI front. Slight increase in frequency but not in total volume. In fairness, I did not take it to fix any issues but just for general gut health.
I will probably give this product a try … Why not? Am guessing that users of Elixa give up current probiotics during the 6/12 day dose but what about after that?
I liked Elixa, when I tried it a few months ago. My mood and attitude changed for the better. I’m going to try another round in a few weeks. I did notice that both of my elbows had very rough skin around that same time and found it unusual as winter was over and it was unusual for me for that to happen out of the blue. I’m chalking it up to coincidence.
fwiw, for me rough elbows went away when i stopped consuming the cheap industrial oils (soybean, corn etc) and went to EV Olive, Coconut and Red Palm oil.
also the voluminous gross disgusting and itchy ear wax disappeared as well
Have done two rounds.
Karl and I have communicated a fair bit over this product and his professionalism is second to none.
I know degrees don’t = expertise, but I’ve got an MSc in Sports Nutrition, and I personally am a sub-elite athlete and coach elite and Olympic athletes every day so have a decent idea of what it looks like when the human body does or does not work…
…and this stuff is the real deal!!!!
I did a twelve day course of Elixa in June. I took it specifically to see if it would help me tolerate potato starch. It did. Previously, even a teaspoon of PS would result in unbelievable gas– not painful gas, just never-ending, inescapable, smelly gas. Like an old-school coffee percolator left to run all day.
A month Post-Elixa, I am taking over a tablespoon of PS each day and still ramping up. I have only occasional non-smelly gas, but it’s here then gone. It is a clear difference.
On a related note, the only powdered prebiotic I could tolerate before this was an oligosacharide (Galactomune and ProBiota Immune brands). I started taking this because I read it was both the least likely to cause gas and had some anti-anxiety affects. But even this stuff gave me horrible gas until I started using Prescript Assist.
The oligosacharide stuff, which I’ve been taking for about three months now, has noticeably reduced anxiety (that Sunday night, have to go back to work pit in my stomach is usually gone now) and given me vivid dreams. That effect has now been magnified with the potato starch– crazy vivid dreams that seem like they last really long. I can’t imagine doing 4-6 TBS of potato starch, but I shall hopefully get there.
I appreciate all the info this site offers so that I can experiment on myself.
I tried the six day course of Elixa and actually found my mood lowered while taking it, if anything… No other positive results to report. I can’t for certain say that Elixa was the cause of my lowered mood though. So if anything, I experienced no noticeable effects from this particular probiotic. But I’ve also had poor reactions to other probiotics, in particular Prescript Assist. I have started and subsequently stopped taking Prescript Assist twice now. Both times my face erupted in hundreds of little white bumps/pimples right below the surface of the skin, all over my face. It was unlike anything I’ve experienced before — even the skin underneath my eyes got these bumps, as well as the outer edges of my eyelids. I stopped taking the capsules, and the skin outbreak died down after about a week. I also experienced extreme lower abdominal pain while taking another probiotic, I believe it was called Renew. Pain went away after I stopped taking the probiotic.
I’m wondering though if anyone knows of a reason for such negative reactions to probiotics, such as lowered mood/skin outbreaks/lower abdominal pain? As far as I know I’m not allergic to any of the ingredients in any of these pills…
So… you getting paid for these posts, or what? Might be decent to let us know.
I’ve taken a 6 day and 12 day course and had similar results. Psoriasis and dandruff retreat, and then come back with renewed vigor when the course is over. I’m wondering if something in me is causing the biome to revert once I’m not pumping in good bugs anymore.
Also noticed I fall asleep quickly and sleep like a log during the course, but same deal: once the course is over this sort of wears off.
Nope, don’t get paid for the posts. I get an affiliate commission when an oder is placed, in roughly the same proportion as when people buy stuff using my Amazon links.
I do only ever post about stuff I use myself and endorse because I like it. The one exception would be a negative book review, but I don’t do many book reviews and rarely finish a book I don’t enjoy.
Appreciate the candor. What are your thoughts (or) Karl’s on extended courses? 24 or 36 days?
Haven’t tried yet, but in the works.
Richard Nikoley, you said you don’t get payed for your review but get commissions. What’s the difference ?
I don’t do stupid questions and I don’t take bait.
If you don’t understand the distinction then you are too stupid for me.
47YO Male LCHF for two years, then some PS then some rice and potatoes for a few months, riding the Richard RS wave (because it made sense). Elixa for a week, and gut churning diarrhea for weeks, with no end in sight. Several long dialogs with Karl and tried his suggestions, but nothing worked. Then went VLC again and this stopped the horror in its tracks. Kudos to Karl for his commitment to customer satisfaction. But he agrees that my gutbiome is crazy fucked up. What I will say is that there has been NO supplement EVER that I have taken that has made any difference to ANYTHING. Except for Elixa. Even though it gave me the shits for two months, my skin has never been better, and my sleep was awesome. When I went VLC again, within 2 days I noticed dry skin. Like, really really noticeable dry skin. And the shits stopped immediately. So for some like me, that may experience negative effects of Elixa, I really believe that there must be a way forward. Actual permanent changes in the body with a mere 6 days of probiotics is pretty amazing. Just need to iron out the kinks for some of us. And I know Karl is working with us to achieve that. You guys really do rock.
Well, look there. A smart man, perceptive enough to understand it’s likely not a problem with the probiotic, which is acting somewhat like a canary in a coal mine.
Hope it gets worked out.
Karl answered my questions within 24 hours along with some great suggestions! That’s amazing. I have had life long exceza and I am making progress with Elixa. Thanks for developing this relationship with a great company!
Just as with my relationships with Tim Steele, Duck Dodgers, and now Karl Seddon, I think I have a knack for spotting real sincerity, passion, intelligence and capability.
In each case, they approached me exactly the right way with an idea, and sold me.
Not a single regret ever.
Suddenly it just hit me! I know exactly who’s life yours is mirroring Richard. John Mcafee the software virus guy.
Think about it man. You both fled south of the border to flee the oppression and tyranny of the US government only to be chased out of town after a dispute with the ‘locals’. You both like drugs. You both have beautiful wives. You both had successful businesses that you left behind. You both have a similar dislike of stupidity.
If you want to know what’s happening next in your life, ask John Mcafee dude!
“That would be my buddy Karl Seddon, MD in the UK ”
The website indicates he has a Masters Degree in biomedical engineering. MD is often taken to mean a medical doctor…..
Hi Richard,
I’ve been trying so hard to jump on the RS bandwagon because it seems to make so much sense. I’ve been basically LC Paleo for several years, felt great, high energy, weight loss, remission of auto-immune symptoms. Have spent last 6 weeks trying potato starch (got headaches/joint pain at first, presumably r/t autoimmune problem, so I began “scrubbing” with citric acid): All I experienced is bloating/water retention/weight gain. No positive effects. Replaced potato starch with banana flour/plantain flour/inulin: Still, nothing but bloating/ water retention, enough to feel like Michelin tire woman. Just finished 6 days of Elixa: No positive effects. Tried (cold) rice and potatoes, sharp abdominal pains and gas. Any advice? Very frustrated that RS is not working out for me. Had no digestive issues before RS/Elixa, just wanted to improve my overall health. Thanks.
Just finished my 6 days of Elixa. About a month into nightly RS concoction of Potato Starch, Banana Flour, Pysillium Husk, Inulin, Acacia, Tigernut Flour, and ORAC Grass mixed with water and Kombucha. Probably overkill, but so far so good
After several months of a type 6 stool the issue was resolved to a type 4 on day three. Fantastic.