IBDanswers

Here's an article from Wired about the benefits of probiotics.  I found it interesting but it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.  I've tried a few different probiotics in the past but haven't seen any direct personal benefit.  Of course, I'm really lucky that my Crohn's has been in remission for quite some time.  I'm quite sure that probiotics is something I'd try if I had a flare.

Statements like the following really do nothing to help the credibility of this Dr.  Sure so probiotics will help with any chronic disease.  Riiiight.

Pizzorno says he's used probiotics to treat irritable bowel disease, acne and even premenstrual syndrome. "It's unusual for me to see a patient with a chronic disease that doesn't respond to probiotics."

On the other hand, I do find it interesting that there might be a connection between when we started being really serious about stamping out all bacteria and the rise of these types of diseases.  I wish there was more science to support that, though. 

"After the Second World War, when our lifestyles changed dramatically, allergies increased. Autoimmune diseases like diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease are increasing," says Kaarina Kukkonen, a University of Helsinki allergy expert. "The theory behind (what causes) the diseases is the same: Lacking bacterial stimulation in our environments may cause this increase. I think this is the tip of the iceberg."

Another one of those things that make you go, "hmm".

"The world is very aware of the concept of global warming, which is a macro-ecological change," Blaser says. "I postulate that there are similar micro-ecological changes going on inside us."

Link to Hacking Your Body's Bacteria for Better Health