The intestinal microbiome consists of about 1,000 different species of bacteria. They are essential for digestion, synthesis of vitamins and amino acids, and for strengthening the immune system. Each person has an individual composition of intestinal bacteria, which is formed in infancy and later develops depending on the diet. The microbiome can be classified according to diversity, dysbiosis and enterotype affiliation. In addition, risks for the development of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric diseases can be inferred from the presence of certain bacterial strains.

For most of our patients, we perform examinations of the intestinal flora, the digestive efficiency as well as various functional parameters in the stool (EPX, calprotectin, zonulin, etc.) and in the serum (iFABP). The intestine is involved in chronic symptoms of almost any kind, even if you may not notice it.

Regarding the number of bacteria, the small intestine (10³ to 10⁷ individuals per gram of feces) is not very densely populated with bacteria compared to the large intestine (10¹¹ to 10¹² individuals per gram of feces) and serves mainly for the breakdown (digestion) and the absorption of food components as well as vitamins and trace elements. Of course, the intestine also absorbs environmental toxins (e.g. pesticides, heavy and light metals, chemicals) and other substances that are not beneficial to health. Various environmental toxins or even dental materials can directly damage or irritate the intestine. The intestine can also lead to severe liver stress (autointoxication) through the formation of gases (e.g. biogena amines such as indicain, septin, cadaverine, etc.). The liver serves as our filter and must sort, store and if necessary also break down or detoxify everything. Every substance from the intestine must pass through the liver before it enters the large bloodstream of the body. The intestine has the largest contact area with the external environment and more than 2 thirds of our immune system is located in the intestine. Since the intestine has the largest contact surface with the external environment, the immune system must learn which antigens it tolerates and which it eliminates, an interplay between immune tolerance and immune defense. An intact mucosa is enormously important. All health problems related to a disturbed immune system (autoimmune diseases, allergies, collagenoses, vasculitides, etc.) benefit from a co-treatment of the microbiome or the intestinal flora. This is also supported by the rapidly increasing number of studies published in orthodox medical journals. To follow the latest findings is hardly possible due to the amount of publications.

It should also be noted that there is a complex communication of the intestine with all other human organs (e.g. with the brain, so-called gut-brain axis). Influencing the microbiome is possible, also through changes in dietary habits. Therapeutically, we work almost exclusively with herbal therapeutics.