You probably were caught with the title and are already wondering whats the relationship between the brain and our guts. Here is the relationship.

A study conducted by the Departments of Neuroscience and microbiology, cell and tumor biology in Sweden, Stockholm brain institute in Sweden, the Department of women’s and children’s health in Sweden and the Genome Institute of Singapore shows that intestinal flora has the ability to regulate neurotransmission, signaling proteins and even able to regulate tryptophan. The microflora has the ability to influence a gene called PSD95 or DLG4 and synaptophysin. PSD 95 is mainly post synaptic and is involved in ion channels, receptors and signaling proteins. Synaptophysin is a synaptic glycoprotein vesicle found in neurons of the brain, spinal cord and neuroendocrine cells. A deficiency of intestinal flora exerts a great impact on behavioral and motor activities and not only the brain chemistry and physiology are affected but organs such as the liver suffers from it. The same study shows that these changes start occurring during embryonic to fetal stages and have life long effects. This phenomenon is called developmental programming where the embryo and fetus are exposed to internal and external stimuli that has lifelong effects in the brain and other organs in the body.

In summary we are what our parents ate and to what they exposed us to and our offspring is what we eat and exposed them to.

In Chinese medicine the brain pertains to the water element while the large intestine to metal and small intestine to the fire element, the stomach and spleen-pancreas to the earth element.

In the chart you can see the 5 elements theory and how each element support each other. Fire supports earth which in turn nourishes metal and metal support water... There is another cycle where is called the controlling cycle in this cycle the element on the opposite side controls the element in question. An example is water, water is controlled by earth but when earth is weak water is said to attack earth hence you get bloating and other digestive issues. Metal controls wood and when metal is weak the wood attacks metal and the cycle keep repeating with each element. Now, wood element is assigned to the liver and gallbladder, metal to large intestine and lungs, water to kidneys and urinary bladder, fire to heart, small intestine and endocrine system while earth is assigned to stomach and spleen-pancreas. The study in question what is showing is exactly what ancient Chinese medicine practitioners were saying: all is connected and all affect and effect each other...no wonder we see poor intestinal floral (metal) affecting the brain (water) and manifesting in our stomach (earth) and cognitive-behavioral state of mind (earth, fire, wood, metal and water elements).

In order to have a healthy flora we need to avoid sugars, processed food and a lot of additives and preservatives from our diet. Consumption of more fruits and vegetables and more fermented food will help you keep a healthy flora...flora in order to survive need an environment that stimulates and support fermentation in our intestines and not decomposition which is needed for bacterias and fungi to thrive and dump toxic material in our intestines which are carried to our blood stream and lymphatic system clogging our body and rendering it useless to pathogens and like the study shows affecting every single organ in the body. Once the pathogens are in our body and the intestinal flora is weak we start suffering from many signs and symptoms such as allergies, bloating and other digestive issues, and headaches.

If you are thinking on buying supplements then you need to know that it should have probiotic and prebiotic. The best probiotics are usually kept refrigerated and are taken before eating.

About the Author

Emmanuel Arroyo is a New York State Licenced and NCCAOM board certified acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist with special interest on depression and men’s health issues and how diet modification can help depressed patient and how the use of essential oils can help emotionally and psychologically the patient, and unblock chakras. At the moment Emmanuel Arroyo practices in Queens, New York at his home based office and do community work at Vision Urbana division of Institute of Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly in Manhattan.

Emmanuel Arroyo can be contacted via phone at 917-324-1140 or by mail dr.agujas@gmail.com

Disclaimer

The information presented is for educational purposes and it is based on information read in journals or other sources and is not meant to replace medical advice.

References:

PNAS. Normal gut microbiota modulates brain development and behavior.(January 31 2011)