You think you reach an age where you have seen it all—NOT. It is my practice to try to read the local paper, The Houston Chronicle in the morning before I head out to my work as a holistic health care provider. The article that struck me this morning was “Last-ditch fight against intestinal superbug.” I thought it would be an article about the newest, latest, greatest antibiotic; or maybe, (hope against hope) the medical profession would be advising people to maintain good colon health by advocating good probiotics. Probiotics are the friendly bacteria which populate a healthy colon. Many things can kill these good bacteria: antibiotics, sugar, soda, caffeine, chlorinated water, and stress. Many holistic practitioners recommend their clients add good live bacteria to their diets in the form of live culture yogurt or probiotic supplements.
I was very glad that I had not yet had breakfast as I read this piece. These doctors are singing the praises of stool transplants. Maybe you are doing a double take, as I did. You read correctly: stool transplant. According to these doctors, taking healthy probiotic communities from a person without C-diff (a germ which causes debilitating diarrhea) and putting it into a person who is suffering, can cause the sick person to respond favorably. I don’t know about you, but the idea of having someone else’s poo inserted into my body is a wretching idea.
For centuries, we have known that to maintain good health, we must have good hygiene. This includes washing one’s hands after using the toilet, and regular baths. The idea of transplanting someone else’s waste products in the hopes of curing illness is mind-boggling to say the least. While I totally understand the concept of having good intestinal flora, I am totally against this fledgling practice, which was termed ‘the ultimate probiotic’ by Dr. Lawrence Brandt of New York’s Montefiore Medical Center.
I am so very glad I live in Texas…..
