FAQ

Health Sciences Institute, August 2001

The epidemic of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is here and even with a signifiant decrease in antibiotic use since 1995, the speread of resistant bacteria continues to skyrocket.

A team of researchers lead by Iichiroh Ohhira, Ph.D., has turned to beneficial intestinal flora to help win the war against bacteria. Scientists have traditionally assumed that the digestive system's mechanism for destroying pathogenic microbes was a result of the good bacteria simply outnumbering the bad - large colonies of friendly flora deprive harmful microbes of necessary food and nutrients. However, recent studies show that these beneficial bacteria can also fight pathogenic microbes in ways scientists never suspected.

Through mechanisms researchers don't yet fully understand, good bacteria located in the gut boost the body's general immune response to microbial invaders outside of the digestive tract.

Recent animal studies indicate that friendly intestinal bacteria may also ward off disease by improving liver function. Since the liver is one of the primary disease-fighting organs, researchers believe that boosting its defense mechanism may augment the body's ability to disarm and eliminate potentially deadly organisms.

Based on this research, Dr. Ohhira and his team at Okayama University developed a revolutionary probiotic (a supplement containing live beneficial organisms) with a new bacterial strain proven to destroy resistant pathogens. They isolated a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strain known as Enterococcus faecalis TH 10 in tempeh, a Malaysian soy product. This bacterium was carefully isolated and fermented over a five-year period, as a longer fermentation period was shown to enhance its microbe-killing abilities. As a result of this inventive culturing process, TH 10 became potent enough to kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureas (MRSA), which is responsible for many rapidly spreading infections occurring now in hospitals. Conquering this virulent microbe came at a critical juncture, as a few strains of Staph aureus are already resistant to over 20 antibiotic compounds. Researchers have found that TH 10's antimicrobial capacity extends to a number of other antibiotic-resistant microbes.

Although the "superstar" of Dr. Ohhira probiotics is TH 10, the other 11 bacteria in the product are also proven microbe killers. In fact, the anticarcinogenic activity of the lactic-acid bacteria (LAB) in general is quite significant. Since the beneficial bacteria are going to eventually settle in the intestinal tract, you might expect that colon cancer would be the only type of cancer affected by these organisms. While research shows that colonization by beneficial bacteria does have an inhibitory effect on colon cancer precursors, the friendly flora enforces the immune system's overall inhibitory effect on tumors and cancerous activity by neutralizing the carcinogens, like nitrosamines. Through stimulation of the general immune response, tumor generation may be reduced for other types of cancer.

Scientists are discovering that other illnesses not usually associated with the intestinal flora may also be inhibited by LAB. When animal and human test subjects are given probiotics containing LAB, they build a stronger general immune system that can resist viral fly infections, salmonella bacterial infestations, and cell mutations that are precursors to intestinal tumors. Animal and in vitro studies conducted in Italy indicate that probiotics may also be useful in treating urinary tract infections, immune disorders, candida vaginitis, lactose intolerance, high cholestrol levels, and food allergies.

One of the difficulties in developing foods and supplements that contain live bacteria is that the bacteria may no longer be alive by the time you use the product due to improper packaging, exposing the product to high heat during processing, or extended storage time without properly nourishing the bacteria.

To ensure the viability and potency of their bacteria Dr. Ohhira team developed a protective shell that keeps bacteria alive and free from infestation by harmful pathogens,  Their special fermentation process is "cold" and doesn't expose the bacteria to a high heat. Because of these meticulous culturing and packaging processes, Dr. Ohhira tests show that his product is more than 6 times stronger than any other naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria. This claim is based on research showing that 80 percent of all other probiotics are no longer alive by the time they reach the consumer.  These painstaking manufacturing methods result in a product that has a guaranteed shelf life of three years after shipment.

In addition to supplying TH 10 and the other bacterial strains, this supplement - called Probiotics OMX - provides 10 vitamins, eight minerals, four acids, and 18 amino acids.  Each capsule contains approximately 780 million lactic acid bacteria cells. Dosage depends on the condition being treated. More aggressive diseases, such as cancer, generally require a higher dose. After an illness is brought under control, a lower maintenance dose is suggested.

Besides being helpful in treating the health conditions already listed, research suggests that Probiotics  from Essential Formulas may also be useful in treating the following disorders:

Note: The Health Sciences Institute is dedicated to uncovering and researching the most urgent advances in modern underground medicine. Whether they come from a labratory in Malaysia, a clinic in South America, or a university in Germany, our goal is to bring the treatments that work directly to the people who need them.