Probiotics, Colonics and the Gut Biome by Rebecca Harder

Have you heard that colonics wipes out your good bacteria, also called intestinal flora or “probiotics”?

I wish that were true. Then the colonic would be wiping out all the bad bacteria as well and we could easily reintroduce the good guys. It just does not work that way. For example,  Richard Sprague experimented with his gut biome using a uBiome test to monitor his gut with doing cleansing expecting to wipe out the gut flora, but what was interesting was how the gut recovered very quickly. He wrote the following:

“Your gut microbiome changes constantly in response to everything from diet to exercise, so when looking at multiple uBiome test results side-by-side it can be complicated to figure out what caused a particular change. What if you could radically alter your microbiome with a cleanse and just track that, along with precisely what you eat afterwards? What could you learn?
I recently tried exactly that, using a colon cleanse – the kind you do before a colonoscopy screening. By flushing most of the bacteria from my system and carefully watching them grow back with side-by-side uBiome tests, I learned a few things that might interest you as well:

My gut microbiome recovers pretty quickly. Unlike antibiotics, which are known to cause long-term (and possibly permanent) changes, losing bacteria this way seems only to affect the total numbers, but they sprout right back just like a haircut. In two weeks I was as good as new.   This is an overall view of how my gut biome changed:

Amounts and ratios changed, but not the specific organisms. Of course I lost a bunch of bacteria – that was the point – but surprisingly I didn’t seem to gain anything really new, even after an aggressive attempt at re-seeding. I didn’t gain or lose a single phyla. Other than amounts and ratios, I had to dig down to the Class level of the biological hierarchy to find anything that was permanently lost, and even at the very fine-grained Genus level, only two taxa that had been regularly present beforehand were now extinct. (Holdemania and Methanomassiliicoccus). 1

It seems that probiotics are "all the rage" right now, but most of the "scientific" community, (I call them the "high priests of science-ism") state that probiotics do nothing such as in this article by Gut Science: "“There’s no evidence in humans, however, to support taking probiotics just to generally improve your gut health.” 6

It all comes down to who are you going to believe?  (In all such tests, I question what was the lifestyle of the person they were testing? and what were the probiotics? Not all probiotics are equal). 

So what do colonics have to do with probiotics?
The Colon Hydrotherapy Association is very clear about what a colonic does. They state just a few things and I-ACT is emphatic that it’s members not make any claims or give benefits to what colonics do. So I have to be very careful in what I say on record. The organization makes no claims that the colonic will change your gut biome, neither for wiping out the bacteria or improving the bacteria. They simply state that  “Colon hydrotherapy irrigates and cleanses the colon. It is an extended and more complete form of an enema utilizing gently infused warm,  filtered water into the rectum which hydrates the colon, softens and loosens waste and results in evacuation through normal peristalsis” 2.  When people call in and ask for the benefits of colonics I tell them “none, absolutely none other than it hydrates, lubricates, reshapes and strengthens the colon peristalisis.” Now these are not what people are looking for. They want to fix their constipation, gas and bloating, parasitic and candida overgrowth and general IBS and SIBO.  Although hydration, lubrication and peristalsis are a part of making that happen, people want a more direct answer and direct solution. So basically, I say  "I can tell you no benefits” other than the hydrate, lubricate, strengthens and reshapes the colon.…. but you might want to check out these excellent articles from Medical Doctors on the subject. You might want to get my book “Gastra Girl, Saving America One Colon at a Time” which has these articles in it.

So in such articles what do physicians say that a probiotic does? The word "probiotic" is a compound of two Greek words: "pro," to signify promotion of and "biotic," which means life. Their very definition is something that affirms life and health. Dr Kevin Passero, ND gives us the most important thing that good bacteria / gut flora / probiotics do for us when he states that “Most people don’t know that 60-70% of their immune system is located in the gut as a vast network of lymph tissue referred to as GALT (gut associated lymphatic tissue). The probiotics in our gut are constantly interfacing with the GALT and essentially priming the immune system for contact with other bacteria.” 3  (GALT is very important but rarely talked about today’s popular and famous physicians.) What you will find is more along the lines of what the wonderful Dr Julian Whitaker, MD says on his website. “Probiotics reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea, they’re helpful for constipation associated with  IBS and for ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, and other inflammatory bowel diseases. Probiotics have a positive effect on insulin sensitivity where some researchers have found that people with type 2 diabetes have different gut bacteria than those without diabetes.  When your gut bacteria are out of balance (dysbiosis), it can affect your mood. For example, anxiety gives us butterflies and stress ties our stomach in knots. Thanks to the gut-brain connection, Lactobacillus and perhaps other strains appear to tone down the stress response and improve anxiety and depression. Your brain, skin, and immune system are all physiologically intertwined, mediated by gut bacteria”. 4 

Would you believe probiotics affect your WHOLE BODY as researcher Ann Louis Gittleman, pHD directly states? In her book “Gut Flush Plan”, she states the probiotics in your gut protects your whole body, including your bones. “Research now shows that osteoporosis can be connected to a lack of probiotic bacteria in your colon. Scientists at Baylor University found that probiotics boost calcium absorption. Other research shows that the acidic environment created in the colon by probiotics and fermented foods plays a big role in calcium assimilation.  Without an acidic colon, calcium absorption slips and your chances for both osteoporosis and colon cancer, linked to poor calcium metabolism, may subsequently rise.  When you bolster your probiotic population, you are also boning up on calcium”. 5.

So it is no wonder why people want to protect and “bolster” their probiotic levels.  Therefore, the single most asked question of concern with doing colonics is “will it wipe out my gut flora?”  How do people come up with these concerns about colonics being harmful and wiping out the good bacteria… aka..Probiotics? Spend a few minutes searching the internet and you will find countless articles stating that it will be harmful because it might disturb your gut flora as I wrote in the prior blog. (CLICK HERE).  The reason they say that is based on personal opinion (pharmaceutical bias/conflicts of interest) and not true scientific research. And if you were to really research it by talking with colon hydrotherapists “off the record”, you would hear countless stories of their personal observations with their clients on how colonics improved the client’s gut biome so that their gut flora would flourish, and normalize gut functioning and overall health. But on record, I could never say such a thing. You certainly wont hear me say that over the phone when clients call asking, “Are there any benefits to doing colonics?”

Richard Sprague went on to test whether probiotics were effective at changing the gut biome and he found them not to be. He found virtually no changes in his gut biome when testing with uBiome Testing. I would strongly agree with him and I do not doubt his testing because most probiotics don’t do anything for you. Most probiotics are not going to work in most people because they can’t overcome the the mutiny of bad bacteria, parasites and yeast/fungus they war against in the average gut biome of today, and they cant colonize/thrive in the excessive waste and mucus environment. I refer to both these issues to address with the “intestinal terraine” but the popular term for this is now the “gut biome”. *

Probiotics do not attach to poop and excess mucus which is the problem with most people. (Even if they “go everyday” they are likely constipated and don’t know it.) Probiotics colonize in a healthy colon, upon healthy colon tissue. Which is why fiber and colonics can really help clean things up so that probiotics can thrive. Cleansing the colon of excess waste and mucus via colon hydrotherapy and at the same time getting adequate hydration, eating truly nutritious whole food with lots of fiber, proper exercise, good sleep, stress and pain management, along with an ample does of happiness, all contribute to creating a gut biome that will flourish with good bacteria.  Yes, there is a time for natural antimicrobial actions, but the focus must always be in improving the terrain or gut biome. Otherwise, bad bugs will just come back. Getting “great guts” is not accomplished just by taking a probiotic pill. Wouldn’t that be nice!  Introducing good bacteria via fermented foods or a fermented plant based organic probiotic such as the one I endorse for 15 years, works in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle. To say it another way, even the very best most expensive probiotics won’t work if you have an unhealthy lifestyle that includes alcohol, tobacco, high stress, poor sleep, medications like pain killers, psychotropic meds, sleep aids, antibiotics, steroids, and lots of processed foods, sugar and dairy. Oh dairy is terrible for your gut and in another blog I will share why. So is meat. Both of which deserve a full blog.

What is the probiotic I love? It is food based, plant based, organic, and not found in America but all the way from across the earth - Australia. This brand uses a fermented probiotic culture that is fully tested for heavy metals and radiation which is a problem with “organics” because organic labeling does not test for them.  Although the probiotic source I suggest has been private labeled here in the US under Donna Gates probiotics, and once upon a time when Jordan Rubin used it in his Primal Defense, and best brought to the American public by the dynamic and super talented Tamara Yapp in her Real Foods Real Life probiotic line (RFRL), I will be bringing it here from the company “Probiotics for Everyone”.  The Australian company that makes the exclusive fermented probiotic base that others use in their formula’s is AGM Foods (Grainfields) and don’t let that name fool you. It hides the true power of the probiotics which is an exclusive fermented culture that is over 30 years old and predates the wicked Round Up Ready (glysophates) and GMO crops and is incredibly resilient surviving radiation with shipping and is super effective. People NOTICE a difference with these food based fermented probiotics.  I found Probiotics for Everyone when Real Food Real Life  (RFRL) decided to retire and Probiotics for Everyone is a very close second to RFRL, if the company can get it shipped properly since they have the worst customer service I have ever experienced. But because they do make, at this time, the best probiotic on earth, I have hung in there and hope to get the brand “Probiotics for Everyone” in time for launching the Gastra Girl 2018 Spring Cleanse. These fermented probiotic products are predigested naturally fermented grain based superfoods.  Unfortunately, “grain” has become a dirty word thanks to propaganda by the meat and dairy industry. Folks, think about, what fueled most of civilizations for 6000 years? It was not meat as the popular doctors are promoting. It was healthy grains! The problem is our modern grain supply is poisoned with glysophates and GMO and mold. But there are healthy grains, properly grown, harvested and prepared and these are what Grainfields use to make the best fermented probiotic base (beneficial bacteria) on earth.

Are they the only probiotic that is effective? No, they are just the probiotic base in 3 different private labels  I have used over the last 15 years and had great results with. If you find another that you think is just as good, oh PLEASE share with me. I welcome your thoughts and research. The thing I look for in probiotics is that they are  PLANT BASED, FOOD BASED, ORGANIC, TESTED FOR MOLD, RADIATION AND HEAVY METALS, AND THE OLDER THE CULTURE, THE BETTER. There really is a health revolution going on! It is up to us to find the truth behind the hype and marketing more now than ever since the allopathic physicians have sought to take over holistic health and wellness.

1. (https://ubiomeblog.com/2015/12/10/experimenting-with-a-gut-cleanse-by-richard-sprague/)

2. (International Association of Colon Hydrotherapy or I-ACT.org)

3. (http://www.vitabase.com/articles/digestive-health/probiotics-friendly-bacteria.aspx).  

4. https://www.drwhitaker.com/little-known-health-benefits-of-probiotics

5. Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD: The Gut Flush Plan p. 96

6. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/gut-week-do-probiotics-work-are-they-good-for-me/

(To be covered in another blog, the gut biome/intestinal terrain includes neurotransmitters and your third nervous system but just sticking to talking about the microbial mutiny and slimy sludge in impairing your gut flora for today).

** You can get the book "Gastra Girl: Saving America One Colon at a Time" now at Colon Care, LLC Portland OR or through the upcoming health coaching site:  www.GastraGirl.com April 2018.

Because I was doing what I love, giving colonics   I wouldn't want to do anything else, but I was giving more than I should.  For the last 15 years, I have given beyond what most colon therapists give in a session and more sessions in a day than most therapists. I truly have done over 20,000 sessions. There simply was not anything left in me at the end of the day to blog. I would much rather give colonics and work directly with people than blog. But two things happened that leads me now to start blogging. One, the clinic kept growing and people were asking me to mentor them and for more health information.. There was so much more that I wanted to give to my dear clients but there was not time during their sessions or for me to follow up with them after.  As the clinic grew, I could barely keep up with the increasing administrative responsibilities and the demand for more care and services.  But there was another reason something had to change.  I have a dream. I want to build a healing retreat that provided everything people need to heal. As I showed the dvd's to my clients of various retreats across the country from BellaVita to Tree of Life to Optimum Health Institute, over and over clients would say "Rebecca you need to open a retreat" And I'd say "God willing, one day I will".    Many clients who knew where I lived wondered why could I not do it in Oregon? Even though I lived in a log home on 10 beautiful acres with a creek and walking trails,  there was one very important thing missing....sunshine. The body NEEDS sunshine to heal and the great NW just does not have enough of it. In fact, Portland has so little sunshine and so much mold that some people are sick because they live here.  Their bodies need a drier climate to heal and thrive.  So to accomplish all that, I brought on three exceptional women who are very talented, caring and yes, highly experienced.  My close friends know that I tend to "grade" everything and these ladies are definitely "the A team"!  This sensational staff is continuing the same stellar colonic care while I focus on health coaching, creating a youtube channel/blog and building a sunny retreat center. I can't wait to get the colonic system up and running here and give some tummy rubs. But Im not gone from Portland. Just splitting my time between the high mountain desert and rainy Portland. I plan on being at Colon Care one week a month so I hope to see you there. Stay tuned to my blog for progress on the retreat center and the soon to be Blog and YouTube Channel Gastra Girl.

Colon Care uses OPEN Colonic Systems. We are one of only 3 Centers in Portland Metro Area using OPEN Systems. All the other places are CLOSED systems.  It is not that one system is better than the other. It is simply that an OPEN system is FAR MORE COSTLY to put in and to run than a closed and secondly, they are a lot more work to clean and maintain than closed systems which is why most of the training places support closed systems. 3/4 of all therapists use closed systems There is a lot of false information given by other therapists about Open Systems and they are basically myths that need correcting.

BOTH Open and Closed Colonic Systems do a great job of cleansing the colon! It is NOT the system but the therapist that determines the outcome of the colonic. BUT, they are very different in how they affect your colon and other organs. 

I support both OPEN and CLOSED colonic systems that are FDA registered and only those therapists who use DISPOSABLE tubes. One of the local closed colonic places in SE Portland uses a metal speculum which is disinfected and reused.  If a client pays more, then they will use the disposable. Do you want to trust the tube to be properly disinfected  that went into so many other people????    I shake my head in shame! What a bad rap for us professional therapists! 

I support CLOSED system for people who are elderly who are not very mobile, people in wheelchairs,  have spinal injury so they can not recline on their back, or are so weak that an open system would fatigue them such as in the case of late stage cancer.  A CLOSED system MUST have a toilet in the room. Once the session is over, people need to "go" but they aren't connected to the CLOSED system so they have to hold it till they get to the toilet. The person won't make it down the hall to a restroom so people in wheelchairs would have tough time getting there before they need to release. In an OPEN system center, the colonic system is a toilet in a bed, so no need to have an additional toilet in the room and people release all they need to before getting off the system. They have to be able to get onto and off of the system on their own.

The OPEN System has a lot more surface area to disinfect than the CLOSED, and requires a minimum of 20 minutes to clean properly. BUT both the OPEN and CLEAN systems need the room disinfected and this is where the other therapists cut corners. We spend 20-30 minutes after every session disinfecting the system AND the room including moping the floor wall to wall. Other places only allow 5-10 minutes to clean because they turn a room on the hour. We turn a room on a 2 hour basis so the client gets a full 90 minute session and we get 30 minutes to clean the room.  The myth that CLOSED therapists often tell people is that OPEN systems are dirty. IT is not the system, but the therapist who determines the cleanliness of the system. SO, look for a therapist who will spend 30 minutes cleaning. We are the ONLY ones in Portland doing that and we have a person dedicated to cleaning so the therapist is dedicated to you!

Another MYTH is that Open Systems are "smelly" for the client.  Our systems have built in exhaust systems so there are no odors. They are offered with all the open systems, so again, it is the therapist who would decline on purchasing and installing the OPEN system's exhaust system.  The CLOSED system has the likely potential for a client to have a mess on the table if they can't get up in time to make it to the toilet during the session. You are not supposed to drink 2 hours prior your session for a CLOSED system and if you have to release urine during, then you have to stop the session and get up and go the the bathroom then come back and get reconnected. OPEN systems allow you to urinate during the session as well as no worries releasing menstrual releases either.  So you should drink water all the way up to and during your session with us at Colon Care and we even serve you a delightful cup of lemon ginger tea during your sessions.

One last myth that needs correcting is that Open System Therapists leave you alone during your sessions.  Again, that is the therapist and not the system!  The OPEN system allows for the therapist to step out of the room while you are releasing and also be in the room with you when you want them to. I am available to the client at ALL times, but find some people prefer me to leave the room and just come in and check on them every 10-15 minutes. I offer massage to everyone and many people I stay the entire session with giving my advanced bodywork. It depends on the person and their privacy. At Colon Care one person is scheduled at a time so you get all the attention you want! OPEN systems allow for the client to insert the tube themselves in complete privacy and can get assistance with the insertion if needed.  A CLOSED system therapist inserts the tube into the client so the client is on their side and covered, but may find this very invasive and emotionally uncomfortable.

I hope this clears up some of the false information floating around by other therapists. Other things to look for in a cleansing center is the certification of the therapist. They should be at least I-ACT Certified. I am I-ACT Certified at the Instructor Level AND National Board Certified and giving colonics since 2003.  Good idea to check out i-act.org member ship list to see if your therapist is properly trained and not "self taught". Most therapists today have fancy websites with glowing reviews they made up or used Reach150 to filter out the bad reviews. We hear all the time from people that went to local places and got really bad service and wrote a review that did not show up. These places are using Review Filter companies to screen out the bad reviews. (Ours are genuine!). Look closer! Do the cleansing center's have pictures of the room and the building and themselves?  If it is stock photos? Well likely you will get "stock" care.   Until next blog, enjoy these last few days of summer!

After 7 years of waiting, my little bundle of joy was born!  Meet Cello, a Standard Poodle 7 weeks old. Born May 15, 2014, in Amity Oregon at Friendship Farms.  He is a certified therapy dog in training!  

He is super mellow, very well behaved for a puppy and from day 4 has worked along side me at the clinic. Never once jumping on a client, he is incredibly gentle and tags along with me if a client wants or he is happy to stay at the front desk. 

Bringing Cello to the clinic was one of the biggest risks I made in business. You never know how people will respond. We boldly claim to be the CLEANEST clinic in the country and would having a therapy dog change that? Even one that is hypo-allergenic and does not shed? Even one that is super clean and groomed daily with no fleas?  I now boldly claim he is cleaner than most clients coming in. I wipe his feet and belly every time before he comes into the clinic. It is my hope that his sweet personality and super silky coat that you just have to pet, makes our clients smile and enjoy their visit even more!

Why the name Cello? We play classical music here at Colon Care, and particularly a favorite of mine and clients, is Vivaldi Cello Concerto #6. So registered him as that, aka.... Cello!