Professional Documents
Culture Documents
What Is A Biofilm?
I believe that pathogens present in the gut may be a much larger issue than we
originally thought. This is because biofilm-producing microorganisms are
now estimated to be involved with 80% of all GI infections in humans (1). A
biofilm is formed of what are called extracellular polymers that act like a
glue and create a physical barrier around colonizing bacteria, fungus,
parasites, etc.
Once a pathogen colonizes and begins to form biofilm, it becomes harder to
detect and remove; especially the longer it is present. Not only do biofilms
shield the pathogen from our own immune system, but they also accelerate
the growth and dispersion of the pathogen throughout the GI tract while
providing an environment for new pathogens to attach and grow.
It is interesting to wonder how many chronic health issues go unsolved due to
undetected infections like this. The answer is probably way too many.
How Do We Deal With Biofilms?
All this talk about biofilms may sound disconcerting so far but, now that we
know about them, this information is actually quite empowering. By taking
steps to safely break up biofilms, we drastically increase our ability to detect
and destroy unwanted pathogens. Thanks to recent scientific advances, this is
now possible.
The traditional approach to GI infection would be to administer prescription
antibiotics. Time has shown that this approach is not very effective. In fact,
prescription anti-biotics have often been isolated as a contributor to biofilm
formation (2).
Luckily, research has highlighted some natural alternatives that are able to
address biofilms gently without creating deeper issues. These are my top 7.
Curcumin
Turmeric and its primary active constituent, curcumin, seems to be one of the
most diversely beneficial natural compounds currently known to man.
Likewise, a 2014 study review acknowledged curcumin as an effective anti-
bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, as well as anti-parasitic. On top of the anti-
pathogen benefits, curcumin has also been deemed significantly effective at
disrupting biofilm (3).
Another 2013 study found that out of 35 different compounds observed,
curcumin landed itself as one of the top six biofilm-disrupting agents (4).
Activated Charcoal
While activated charcoal isn’t directly involved in breaking up biofilms, it is
a crucial step in a biofilm-breaking protocol.
Proteolytic enzymes assist the body in breaking down proteins and can be
very effective at dissolving biofilms. Particularly serratiopeptidase and
trypsin have been studied for the ability to mitigate the formation of biofilms
after orthopedic surgery, a potentially dangerous complication (11).
Each of the compounds listed above addresses biofilm formation in its own
unique way. By combining them into a comprehensive protocol, every aspect
of biofilm eradication can be addressed.
Avoid sugary and high-carb foods that feed unwanted bacteria and fungus
Hydrate Very Well: During this protocol, your body will be releasing a high
load of toxins, drink plenty of water to support your body’s ability to get
toxins out the body
Control Your Stress: Being under a high amount of physical or emotional
stress hampers the immune system and lowers your ability to fight infection
GI Pathogen Screening
Because it is so important for overall health, optimizing gut function is a
foundational aspect of my healing approach. Among my top strategies is
having my patients complete functional lab work that includes a
comprehensive stool test. This test is effective at uncovering pathogens in the
digestive tract.
I will often recommend this test on its own or as part of my Complete
Digestive Health Analysis Report. Before completing such a test, it may be
necessary to follow a modified version of the biofilm removal protocol
outlined above.
This is important because pathogens hidden by biofilms will not be picked up
by the lab report.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to our developing understanding of pathogens and biofilms,
eradicating stubborn and once hidden infections from the body is now
possible.
At The Parasite Summit, our experts will help you determine if parasites are
silently impacting your health–they’re FAR MORE COMMON than you
think!
WHY ATTEND?
Parasites aren’t just found in third-world countries, millions are already
infected in industrialized countries–they’re far more common than you realize
and could be silently hampering your health.
The Parasite Summit is online and free from September 11-18, 2017!
Do You Have Any of the Following?
Gastrointestinal: pain/cramps, excess gas, bloating, constipation/diarrhea
If you are dealing with any of these issues than you MUST
ATTEND this free online event!
2. Böttcher, T., Kolodkin-Gal, I., Kolter, R., Losick, R., & Clardy, J. (2013). Synthesis and activity of biomimetic
biofilm disruptors. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 135(8), 2927–2930. PMID: 23406351
3. Zorofchian Moghadamtousi, S., Abdul Kadir, H., Hassandarvish, P., Tajik, H., Abubakar, S., & Zandi, K. (2014).
A review on antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activity of curcumin. BioMed Research International.
PMID: 24877064
4. Magesh, H., Kumar, A., Alam, A., Priyam, Sekar, U., Sumantran, V. N., & Vaidyanathan, R. (2013).
Identification of natural compounds which inhibit biofilm formation in clinical isolates of Kiebsiella
pneumoniae. Section Title: Microbial, Algal, and Fungal Biochemistry, 51(9), 764–772. PMID: 24377137
5. Bjarnsholt, T., Alhede, M., Jensen, P. Ø., Nielsen, A. K., Johansen, H. K., Homøe, P., … Kirketerp-Møller, K.
(2015). Antibiofilm Properties of Acetic Acid. Advances in Wound Care, 4(7), 363–372. PMID: 26155378
6. Nostro, A., Roccaro, A. S., Bisignano, G., Marino, A., Cannatelli, M. A., Pizzimenti, F. C., … Blanco, A. R.
(2007). Effects of oregano, carvacrol and thymol on Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis
biofilms. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 56(4), 519–523. PMID: 17374894
PMID: 25058878
8. Rutherford, S. T., & Bassler, B. L. (2012). Bacterial quorum sensing: its role in virulence and possibilities for its
control. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine. PMID: 23125205
9. Ta, C. A. K., & Arnason, J. T. (2016). Mini review of phytochemicals and plant taxa with activity as microbial
biofilm and quorum sensing inhibitors. Molecules. PMID: 26712734
10. Kumar, A., Ekavali, Chopra, K., Mukherjee, M., Pottabathini, R., & Dhull, D. K. (2015). Current knowledge and
pharmacological profile of berberine: An update. European Journal of Pharmacology. PMID: 26092760
11. Chaignon, P., Sadovskaya, I., Ragunah, C., Ramasubbu, N., Kaplan, J. B., & Jabbouri, S. (2007).
Susceptibility of staphylococcal biofilms to enzymatic treatments depends on their chemical composition. Applied