Intestinal Dysbiosis: What Is It

Intestinal dysbiosis occurs with the alteration of the balance of the microbiome. The causes can be different and concerning, for example, an incorrect diet. The main natural remedies can reduce symptoms. Our intestine is populated with microorganisms of different species, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Some benefits for our health, others harmless, and others potentially pathogenic such as Candida, but they are all useful. They form the microbiota, a real organ that weighs about 1.5 kg. Without the intestinal flora and all its microorganisms, we could not live as they degrade polysaccharides such as cellulose and produce fatty acids, oligosaccharides, and vitamins, as well as intervening in the regulation of the intestinal barrier. Even the slightest imbalance can cause discomfort or real illnesses.

What Is Intestinal Dysbiosis?

Dysbiosis of the intestine is an alteration of the physiological bacterial flora and the qualitative and quantitative balance of the bacterial strains present.  Dysbiosis is not a disease in itself, but it can increase the likelihood of other diseases occurring, or in more sensitive individuals, it can give annoying symptoms. In naturopathy, we speak of soil: the soil is altered, and the conditions are created to allow a disturbance to take root and grow. Concerning the triggering principle, three main forms of dysbiosis are distinguished:

1. Deficiency dysbiosis is caused by a decrease in the intestinal bacterial flora population, often due to a diet low in soluble fiber and rich in preserved foods.
2. Putrefactive dysbiosis is caused by a diet rich in fat and meat but low in fiber.
3. Fermentative dysbiosis is mainly caused by a diet too rich in insoluble fibers that are neither digested nor assimilated but used by a series of bacteria to carry out fermentation processes. 

Bacterial Flora And Dysbiosis 

Normally the microbiota is composed of at least a thousand different species of microorganisms whose total number amounts to about 10, followed by 13 zeros (difficult even to imagine …). The type and number of species present are different and specific for each of us, just like fingerprints. Mostly symbiont microorganisms are found, which perform beneficial functions on the whole organism:

1. They complete the digestion processes if already activated correctly by the bodies in charge;
2. They counteract the proliferation of pathogens;
3. They promote the production of nutritional molecules for the intestinal mucosa;
4. They nourish the bacterial flora of the genitals;
5. The structure and support of the total immune system, therefore, also at a systemic level, keeping the gut-lung and gut-brain axes in balance.

However, intestinal dysbiosis is triggered when an imbalance occurs for internal or external reasons or when a population of microorganisms prevails over others that decrease in number. Given the close link between the intestine and the whole body, the consequences of intestinal dysbiosis on the whole organism can be severe.

They can manifest themselves:

1. a general increase in susceptibility to infections, such as colds  and cystitis, candidiasis, tonsillitis, etc.;
2. dips in energy, chronic fatigue;
3. difficulty losing weight;
4. hair loss.

Any change in the balance of the intestinal bacterial population affects the onset and course of even more severe diseases such as allergies and inflammatory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. The intestine, with its nervous and immune systems, is in constant communication and dialogue with the rest of the organism, The intestinal nervous system is similar to the brain and guides all intestinal activities. What happens in the head (thoughts, emotions) affects the condition of the belly and vice versa. This leads us to say that intestinal dysbiosis can be related to neurological symptoms, according to the new findings of psychoneuroimmunology.

Causes Of Intestinal Dysbiosis

The main causes of intestinal dysbiosis are found, above all, in lifestyle and eating habits, including an unbalanced diet with an abundance of industrial foods or bad and too fast chewing.

 These are the main causes of intestinal dysbiosis:

1. bad eating habits;
2. stressful lifestyle;
3. smoke;
4. alcohol;
5. excessive use of medications such as laxatives and antibiotics;
6. altered sleep-wake cycle: unrefreshing sleep or night shifts;
7. High air pollution with heavy metals.

Symptoms Of Intestinal Dysbiosis

The classic symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis are related to intestinal irregularity, abdominal swelling, and possible local inflammations and infections:

1. abdominal bloating;
2. constipation or diarrhea;
3. fatigue and feeling unwell;
4. mood and sleep disturbances;
5. Recurrent candida infections or cystitis.

How Is Intestinal Dysbiosis Diagnosed?

The Dysbiosis Test to diagnose intestinal dysbiosis is a laboratory test on a urine sample. Two molecules are considered, skatole and India, present in the urine of eubiotic subjects, therefore not dysbiotic, with traces from 4 to 20 mg.  In the case of intestinal dysbiosis, these traces are increased. The dysbiosis test also provides information on which part of the intestine is imbalanced. So very precise for a targeted therapy based on probiotics. The test will be repeated after three months, at the end of taking the probiotics, to check the rebalancing of the intestinal bacterial flora.

Remedies And Treatments For Intestinal dysbiosis

It is important to start with the diet with what to eat and what not to eat in case of intestinal dysbiosis:

1. Avoid foods that are too refined and already prepared;
2. I prefer whole foods, cereals, fruits, and vegetables.
3. Drink at least one liter of plain water, not added, per day.
4. Practicing healthy and regular physical activity: allows you to keep stress under control, promotes the elimination of stagnant liquids and intestinal peristalsis;
5. Assisted colon hydrotherapy to periodically cleanse the intestine deeply;
6. Undergo cycles of probiotics to enrich the intestinal flora.
7. Purify the body in seasons with herbal preparations, supplements, or herbal teas based on artichoke, boldo, milk thistle, and dandelion.
8. Use flower therapy: Bach flowers, such as Crab Apples, or Olives, promote liver purification and recover the states of asthenia that are typical in the case of dysbiosis.

Finally, in case of absorption of heavy metals harmful to the microbiota, periodically take Chlorella, with its chelating action: it helps to eliminate the accumulation of elements that are harmful to our body.

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