An article intended for practitioners of Chinese medicine:

Probiotics... I couldn't make up my mind about it.

Different studies showed different results. Sometimes it was very effective in relieving digestive problems and sometimes it was just as effective as a placebo treatment.

To understand it more deeply, I asked Medina Keenan, a naturopath and Chinese medicine practitioner who mainly treats intestinal diseases and accompanies people with cancer, to answer my questions about probiotics.

Here are her answers:

I get asked a lot what type of probiotic is right for digestive problems. We know that each of us has a different composition of bacteria in our gut, so how do we know which bacteria are right for us?

Dina: "Our microbiome is like our DNA and it varies from person to person. In recent years, it has been studied extensively. We are working on tailoring personalized probiotics based on a stool sample, and the goal is to give people bacteria that are right for them. Some of the gut bacteria are the same for everyone and some vary from person to person, so we need to experiment with the mixture, dosage, and timing and find what suits us."

Are there types of bacteria specific to the digestive system? And how do they affect digestion?

Dina: "There are trillions of bacteria in the body. There are bacteria in the pharynx, eyes, vagina, nose, and more, and there are also intestinal bacteria. The intestines are the home of bacteria. One of the largest groups is Lactobacillus - this is a large group of bacteria that is mainly found in fermented foods. We have them in the intestines and we can get more of them if we eat fermented foods. Lactobacillus bacteria are related to the balance of the digestive system from the pharynx to the anus and are also related to the balance of the immune system.

Bifidobacterium - another large group of bacteria associated with the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Rhamnosus - another group of bacteria effective in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Vivomix is ​​a probiotic that contains all 3 types. Since it is a probiotic with a very large amount of bacteria, I do not recommend a whole bag but a quarter or half a bag a day."

My addition (Dana): Vivomix is ​​a very good probiotic but it contains a large amount of bacteria, for some people it is too strong. I have also heard a lot of positive reviews from people who have taken Bio 25 from Soferab.

Dina notes that she recommends Vivamix for acute attacks of intestinal infections, after chemo treatments and after intestinal surgeries. She uses Bio 25 for ongoing maintenance - maintaining an existing condition.

Is there a recommended time to take probiotics?

Dina: "I recommend taking probiotics at night before bed. When food comes in, the digestive system is busy absorbing the food and doesn't have time to bother with restoring the flora. If you take the probiotic before bed, the intestine can free up to absorb the good bacteria. In addition, most of the preparation of stool for defecation happens at night, and then the bacteria can help produce the stool that solidifies."

Are there different probiotics suitable for different diseases - irritable bowel/Crohn's/reflux, or do probiotics affect the entire digestive system?

Dina: The different types of probiotics are not necessarily important in the context of different diseases, but the powder versus the pill is important. Vivomix is ​​a powder and therefore contains live bacteria in a high dose. I recommend it during acute inflammation when absorption is zero. You can start with a quarter of a bag and gradually increase. In chronic conditions, probiotic pills can be used."

Are there any situations in which it is not recommended to consume probiotics?

Dina: "Some therapists do not give probiotics while taking antibiotics so that the intestine does not react too strongly and for fear that the bacteria will invade the bloodstream. I do give probiotics while taking antibiotics to prevent the antibiotic from affecting the amount of good bacteria in the body. During biological treatment, you should consult with your doctor about taking probiotics because probiotics strengthen the immune system and the drug tries to regulate the immune system's mechanism."

What else is important for you to say about probiotics and the digestive system?

Dina: "Fermented foods must be part of our diet - they are the best probiotics because our body has the ability to absorb fermented foods, no matter what bacteria we have. Sourdough bread, yogurt, kefir, kimchi, miso, kombucha are all fermented foods, but they should all be started in low doses because it can be difficult for bacteria to absorb in the intestine."

In reflux situations, I work more with digestive enzymes and less with probiotics.

It is very important in the process of restoring the digestive system to completely avoid foods containing preservatives. These substances are designed to prevent the formation of bacteria in food and therefore will also harm the good intestinal bacteria and prevent their normal development. Of course, refined sugar, white flour and industrial yeast also disrupt the balance in the digestive system and prevent the development of healthy flora.

"And one last thing: we must simultaneously take care of tension and stress because they destroy intestinal bacteria. The intestinal bacteria are another entity that is similar to us. In very sensitive people, there will be very sensitive intestinal bacteria that will be damaged by stressful situations."

Many thanks to Dinan Keenan

To join a WhatsApp group for Chinese medicine practitioners with information on treating digestive problems, click here