If I came home sick from anywhere as a child my mums first question was always, “have you been to the toilet?” I didn’t realize the significance of this until much later and I don’t think my mother even realized what she fully meant. Except that our poo is one of the best and of course the simplest signs of our inner health and therefore our outer health as well. Our poo (feces) can tell a lot about our health and is made up primarily of microorganisms, fibre other undigested materials and water. Living bacteria represent 80% of fecal dry weight. The regularity and frequency also tells you a lot about your internal operating system and the likelihood of you suffering chronic illness. Well, before it may even be diagnosed by modern medical systems. Luckily I learnt this lesson well. Around 2009 I was called over to see my mother as the doctors thought she was dying. When I arrived she was in a delirious state and getting worse. She hadn’t been to the toilet for 10 days in hospital and we were all worried about her. I went into town brought a vegetable smoothie and carried it back to the hospital. I was able to mix in some “super probiotics” (1 trillion) into her smoothie and later which she sipped through the day. The following day, less than 24 hours she had regained her composure. We repeated this twice a day for the week and she walked out of hospital. At this stage the nurses had cottoned on to what we were doing and were asking questions but did not want to take it past that.
Until recently the positive effects of the gut microbiome on our digestive system and health has been severely under rated. Wisdom of Chinese doctors from centuries ago, who somehow knew that the intestines were not merely a digestive organ, but the centre of health and well being. Hippocrates was recoded as saying that all illness begins in the gut. Throughout history from the Egyptians till around 80 years ago medicine and the bowels were frequently mentioned in the same sentence.
Even today the nomadic Maasai tribes in Africa attribute most illnesses to the effect of “pollutants” that block or inhibit digestion. In these communities the plants are used to cure diseases served mainly as strong purgatives and emetics; they “cleanse” the body and digestive system from polluting substances.[1] While studies of the great apes show they self-medication to control intestinal parasite infections and gut problems across Africa.[2] Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) for example, swallow the leaves of certain plant species whole, without chewing to aid expulsion of certain parasites. Swallowing rough or bristly leaves increases gut motility causing expulsion of adult worms, which disrupts the nematode’s life cycle and likely reduces worm burdens.[3]
[1] Bussmann et al., 2006.
[2] MCLennan and Huffman, 2012.
[3] Huffman and Caton, 2001.
Dr Dingle’s WA. Gut Healing Tour
Perth May 9
http://tix.yt/gutsecrets-perth
Bunbury May 29
http://tix.yt/guthealingbunbury29-5
Busselton May 31
http://tix.yt/guthealingbusselton31-5
Albany June 6
