The Gut/Brain Axis.

The  Gut - Brain Axis.

          Your gut is populated by an astronomical  number of microbes that play a large role in maintaining your health.  Just how great a role we are only starting to learn.   The gut  microbes and their activities communicate with  the brain in a relationship known as the gut–brain axis, a phenomenon we have only recently begun to research.    There is a mutual relationship in that the intestine serves as the host to the bacteria and the bacteria give something in return.  So the lack of the normal  healthy microbes  may ultimately lead to disease.  This can lead to neurological, psychological, metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders.  This includes disorders such as depression, autism, obesity, irritable bowel  syndrome and various bowel including irritable bowel syndrome.  The good news is that gut microbes may be altered with the use of probiotics, antibiotics, and fecal transplants.  There is considerable research going on in this area at present.

          The communication between the brain and the bowel has been known for many years.  In 1822 when Alexis St. Martin accidentally shot himself in the stomach, he was left with a wound that communicated from his stomach to the outside.  The fistula never healed completely leaving a portal for his surgeon to observe the digestion that was going on and how it was altered by various stresses that the good doctor subjected him to, in a series of experiments that would never be tolerated today.  They did however result in much new knowledge about digestion and observable mucosal changes in response to stresses of various kinds.

         The normal  bowel bacteria (commensals) colonize the bowel soon after birth and live on throughout    A growing body of research indicates that the communication between the bowel and the brain  flows in  both  directions. The host intestine provides the bacteria with rich energy resources and the microbes aids in governing homeostasis within the host, commonly linked with the well-being of mood, metabolism, and the GI tract itself.  Therefore, it is reasonable that the lack of healthy gut bacteria may also lead to a deterioration of these relationships and ultimately disease. Psychological, metabolic and bowel malfunction may occur.
          The good news, restoration of the normal flora is possible.

          Let me know if you are interested in hearing more about this.