Gut Microbiome

Gut Microbiome And Homeopathy

Interestingly, long before modern science stumbled upon the gut microbiome, in the early 1900s, a British homeopath, pathologist and bacteriologist Edward Bach began to associate the presence of certain bacteria found in the large intestine with chronic disease processes. Within a few years, these organisms were classified into groups and prepared as homeopathic dilutions, and were named the 'bowel nosodes'. Right from the outset, homeopathic practitioners using them claimed great success in the treatment of all types of chronic disease.

Coming back to the microbiome, it starts to develop right from birth and evolves or degenerates depending on multiple factors. Some common factors that influence the microbiome development or degradation are:

Factors That Damage The Gut Microbiome

• Gut microbiome dysbiosis in the mother: Since the child gets the initial lot of bacteria from the mother in the process of natural birth, a dysbiosis in the mother is passed on to the newborn. This is a disadvantage to the child right at the onset of life. Dysbiosis in the mother could be due to numerous factors discussed below.
• C-section birth: The first exposure to bacteria that form a healthy microbiome is during the natural birth process. A child is deprived of this initial dose of ‘probiotics’ if the birth is sterile and surgical.
• Lack of or inadequate breastfeeding: Breastmilk not only provides a healthy dose of good bacteria, but is also an essential nutrient for the developing child. There is no substitute for breast milk. Artificial feeds are loaded with sugar and neither provide the required nutrients nor are digested as well as breast milk.
• Use of antibiotics for mother or child
• Adverse reaction to vaccinations
• Environmental toxins: Recommended video
• Stress during pregnancy
• Lack of exercise (mother)
• Side effects of medications
• Improper diet (lack of variety, lack of fresh foods, processed foods, preservatives, chemical fertilizers and antibiotics in foods etc.)

• Stress
• Poor or insufficient sleep
• Lack of dietary fiber
• Jet lag
• Alcohol
• Tobacco

Signs, symptoms and conditions associated with a damaged gut microbiome:

1. Autoimmune diseases:
   • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
   • Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
   • Fibromyalgia
   • Graves' Disease
   • Guillain-Barre Syndrome
   • Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
   • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
   • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
   • Myasthenia gravis
   • Psoriasis
   • Rheumatoid arthritis
   • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
   • Type 1 diabetes mellitus
   • Vasculitis
   • Vitiligo
2. Chronic inflammation
3. Food Intolerances
4. Preterm birth: Being born before 37 weeks of pregnancy is termed preterm birth and is connected to a host of health complications for newborn. Studies in the field of gut microbiome indicate that these bacterial colonies have a significant impact on pregnancy outcomes, explaining why some women deliver before the appropriate time.
   Further reading: Maternal microbiome – A pathway to preterm birth.

   Among the most common complications of preterm birth are the neurological disorders in children.
   Further reading: Neurologic Consequences of Preterm Birth

5. Obesity: It is now well established that it is not only unhealthy diet and lack of exercise that makes a person gain weight. Our gut bacteria play a significant role in regulation of metabolism and dysbiosis causes weight gain.
6. Poor digestion: (bloating, gassiness, abdominal discomfort, constipation, diarrhea, intolerance to certain foods etc.)
7. Poor Immune function: Recurrent infections and slow recovery from infections (like C. difficile, bacterial vaginosis, persistent candida infection, recurrent abscesses and boils, chronic urinary infection, drug resistant infections)