I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life

by Ed Yong

According to their verdicts, probiotics can shorten bouts of infectious diarrhoea, and reduce the risk of diarrhoea brought about by antibiotic treatments. They can also save lives from necrotising enterocolitis – a horrible gut disease that affects premature infants. And there ends the list. Compared to the hype, it’s modest.

Probiotics may not really help with much

And it’s still not clear if the documented benefits happen because of changes in the microbiome.17

Changes do not occur to microbiome

This is why the language around probiotics tends to be nebulous to the point of meaninglessness, with brands talking about ‘balancing the digestive system’ or ‘boosting immune defence’.

Probiotic marketing

Given all the important roles that bacteria play in our bodies, it should be possible to improve our health by swallowing or applying the right microbes. It’s just that the strains in current use may not be the right ones.

Note note

faecal microbiota transplant, or FMT.

Potty cure

This makes the microbiome the only organ that can be replaced without surgery.

FMTs are so simple that anyone can do them at home – and many have. Inspirational and instructional videos have appeared online, as have large communities of DIY-transplanters.

Wtf

A sham-poo.

Da pun.... Lol

Even paracetamol (acetaminophen), one of the most familiar drugs in the world, is more effective in some people than others because of the microbes they carry.

About effects of paracetomol

into the surrounding forest and came back with several golden tortoise beetles – gorgeous little baubles with metallic gold shells. Later that night, beewolf whisperer Martin Kaltenpoth told me excitedly about how he had watched one of Fukatsu’s beetles change colour from