Why Do Microbes Matter Most?

Our bodies are host to literally trillions of microbes – more than the stars in the Milky Way, more than our own cells. As they go about their lives, they influence ours. 

Only in the last few decades have we begun to understand the magnitude of these small passengers. The term “microbiome” (first used in the scientific community in the late 1980s) surged in public awareness over the last 20 years. It describes the microorganisms coexisting in our bodies – bacteria, viruses, fungi. 

Scientists eager to explore this new realm have provided a wealth of research – over 100,000 studies. Proof of the vital role microbes play in whole-body health. They simultaneously foster the development of immune competence and tolerance. Providing us with benefits we are only beginning to grasp, including:

• Hydration
• Nutrient synthesis
• Protection against invaders
• Tissue healing

In short, we need them.

By beautiful design, we are inoculated with microbes at birth, fortified in infancy by breast milk, exposed to them daily in our environment. They become a part of us. 

Good Bugs Gone Bad

But not all microorganisms bring benefits – balance is essential. What happens when balance is lost? Dysbiosis. Our bodies not only lose the benefits the good guys bring, they have an additional mountain of metabolic refuse to manage – thanks to opportunists or invaders, or both. 

It's easiest to identify a microbiome out of balance in an acute situation (think cold or a bladder infection). Harmful microbes temporarily have the upper hand, and the body rallies to manage the imbalance immediately, ideally restoring homeostasis.

But like the rest of life, there are gray areas. 

Dysbiosis isn't always obvious. Daily living can result in multiple, smaller hits to microbial health – a slow progression away from homeostasis toward smoldering inflammation and internal toxicity. It starts to take a toll on the body. We wake up fatigued, our performance suffers, mood deteriorates, body discomfort becomes the norm. It can be that subtle.

The vast majority of microbes reside in the gastrointestinal tract. The body has developed systems there to maintain and restore microbial balance. It employs complex communication between the GI tract, immune system, and liver – interacting, even collaborating, with the microorganisms there, to our mutual benefit. 

But microbes also reside in and influence other parts of the body. From the mouth to the skin, to the bladder and even the middle ear, each niche in the body houses a unique and delicate blend of microorganisms.

Dysbiosis, wherever it occurs, has system-wide effects. That’s why gut health is foundational care in Integrative Medicine. And why the oral microbiome is emerging as a crucial part of routine care.

Botanicals – The Natural Solution

At Biocidin Botanicals we understand that microbes are not an enemy to be eliminated, but an ecology to be nourished. How do we do that? By working with the gift of botanicals. 

Plants have developed tools to grow and flourish under the same environmental stressors that we face. They have an innate capacity to protect themselves, producing:

• Antimicrobial compounds
• Antioxidants
• Biofilm disruptors
• Immune modulators. 

(Yes, plants have immune systems, too!)

Each plant offers multiple activities – and when layered together in a formula – a powerful synergy occurs. Imagine the combination of antimicrobial activity, augmented by activity against biofilms, and supported by protective antioxidant action. The outcome is not additive but exponential!

 Botanicals offer a graceful and mighty solution that cannot be duplicated. The power to achieve and maintain balance. The power to thrive.  

Not only do botanicals affect the microbiome, but they influence host health. Immunomodulatory activity calls innate immunity to action while down-regulating pro-inflammatory pathways. The outcome? Another layer of balance (and health) between the host and the microbiome.  

The term microbiome may be relatively new, but the human relationship with microbes spans across all time – as does our reliance on botanicals. Traditional healers have revered the health-promoting properties of botanicals for eons. The human body (and its microbiota) have a natural and time-tested relationship with these botanicals. We recognize and respond to them. 

Because microbes matter most, we focus on integrated botanical solutions that matter the most. These tiny plant constituents deliver substantial benefits at the intersection of human physiology and the microbiome.That’s why thousands of practitioners have relied on our products for more than 30 years with tangible, sometimes astounding, results. Clinically effective, evidence-based solutions for your practice.