REMARKABLE DISCOVERY–BACTERIA IN OUR GUT CAUSE MANY DISEASES
Humans are finally beginning to realize that they are small links in the immense geography of living beings. We are also beginning to realize that our planet, composed of non living molecules, such as H2O and CO2, is totally connected to the bio- mass of living organisms.
Life on Planet Earth affects Non-Life in terms of temperature and the precipitation of water and the movement of air. Weather is changed by the quantity of vegetation and vegetation and animal life is changed by weather.
Our bodies are changed by our behavior in terms of what we we eat and how we behave; but, also, by the living mass of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in and on our bodies.
Scientists are just now beginning to discover the immense effects that the world of micro-organisms produce in the billions of cells of our bodies. Some of the trillions of microorganisms produce beneficial effects, but others, produce detrimental effects.
In order for humans to survive in excellent health, they must recognize and understand the relationship their bodies, including their nervous system, has with this powerful “under-ground” population of micro-organisms. These micro-organisms live on our skin, in all the cavities of our skin, but, the majority live in our “gastro-intestinal tract” which starts with our mouth and ends with our anus.
NOTE: THE GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT IS RICH WITH NERVES WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO OUR BRAIN!
PHYSIOLOGY OF THE GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT
As soon as we put food into our mouth micro-organisms enter that food. If the food feeds micro-organisms that produce disease of the mouth, we may develop infections of the gums and teeth, our breath will smell foul and cavities will develop in our teeth.
Along with the micro-organisms, the glands of our mouth will produce ENZYMES, which are molecules that break the chains of molecules in our food.
For example, AMYLASE, is an enzyme which breaks down starch into sugars which are easily absorbed and digested by the body. Amylase is secreted in the mouth and also in the intestine. We see that the process of DIGESTION, starts as soon as food enters the mouth.
When we chew, or masticate, we break down the large pieces of food so that the enzymes can more easily break down the molecules. Chewing is an important part of digestion. Un-chewed food must be broken down in the stomach or intestine contributing to the secretion of more acid and enzymes and is a cause of a condition called GASTRITIS which can cause ulcers or cancer of the stomach.
PERISTALSIS
After the food leaves the mouth and enters the first part of the Gastro-Intestinal Tract, called ESOPHAGUS, a rhythmically series of contractions begins. These contractions are called: PERISTALSIS.
These rhythmic contractions, follow each other, moving downwards, and move the food and all the fluids emitted by the millions of glands in the GI Tract towards the end of the Colon or Large Intestine until it is all expelled through the Anus. The food and the fluids from the glands and the micro-organisms are called FECAL MATERIAL or FECES.
We shall see this term applied again in the form of FECAL TRANSPLANTATION, a medical procedure where the feces of one person is implanted in the clean Gastro-intestinal Tract of another person. This procedure is analogous to a Heart or Liver Transplantation, in that the entire contents of an organ is transplanted.
The important difference lies in the fact that the Micro-Organism Population of one person is entirely different than that population of another person. Micro-organisms are part of our body. Micro-organisms can produce health or sickness! If they are producing sickness, we must remove them from our body and replace them with a healthy population.
Fecal Transplantations have been done in Sydney, Australia by a team led by Dr. Thomas J. Barody, who has had success in treating several life threatening bacterial infections the Colon and other parts of the intestine.
METHOD OF A FECAL TRANSPLANTATION
Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia on the two methods being used:
The procedure itself sometimes involves a 5- to 10-day treatment with enemas, made of bacterial flora from feces of a healthy donor, though most patients recover after just one treatment.
The best choice for donor is a close relative who has been tested for a wide array of bacterial and parasitic agents. The enemas are prepared and administered in a hospital environment to ensure all necessary precautions. The probiotic infusion can also be administered through a nasogastric tube, delivering the bacteria directly to the small intestine. The two methods can be combined to achieve the best result. Regular checkups are required up to a year following the procedure.
Prior to the transplant, the GI Tract of the recipient is thoroughly cleansed with water and enemas.
We must remember that any new bacteria must not contain parasites or harmful bacteria or viruses. The immune cells of the Donor and Recipient must be compatible.
DISEASES TREATED WITH FECAL TRANSPLANT
The first diseases treated with Fecal Transplants were those where one or two specific bacteria were causing life threatening illnesses.
Clostridium Dificile is a bacteria which can easily kill the person harboring this bacteria. Medical scientists quickly realized that if they could eliminate this bacteria from the GI Tract and replace the bacterial colony with healthy bacteria they could save the patient.
Recently, medical teams have tried Fecal Transplantation with such diseases as: Parkinson’s Disease, Type 1 Diabetes and OBESITY.
Results have been mostly positive, indicating that this technique will soon become standard as the technology and skills of the doctors improve.
SUMMARY
We live in a finely interconnected Universe. Every part of the universe affects, in a unique way, every other part of the universe.
The micro-organisms in our GI Tract play a substantial role in our lives and in our health. Because are GI Tract is firmly connected to our Brain and our Autonomous Nervous System, diseases of those systems may easily be caused by the type of Micro-Organisms that live in our body.
We may see, in the future, such diseases as the Auto-Immune Diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus Erythematosis, cured or mitigated by Fecal Transplantation. Obesity and various inflammatory diseases of the intestine have already shown cures.
In medicine, it has been demonstrated repeatedly, that every part of our body interacts with every other part.
Our colony of micro-organisms is no exception.
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