A mental adjustment is needed on this one.

If this is, indeed, some sort of miracle that is as simple as it seems, then the real problem for researchers at this stage is how to repackage it to protect the existing apple carts. One way to do it is to shift away from the au naturel idea of simply loading oneself with probiotcs. Simply by doing nothing the cheap and safe and already available approach is relegated to the "unproven" category and the FDA keeps it there.

Meanwhile, another approach with "purified bacterial strains" introduced by medical professionals after a round of antibiotics is rushed to market.

So the "authorities" are going to control the discussions by controlling the questions and it is going to look the same from the outside.

If, however, we are not fooled by the "Great Oz" then there are some questions within our own reach. And with just a little common sense they should be far safer than what we are taking now. For example-

1) What if I gradually increase the dosing of the probiotic that I am taking? Say, ten-fold? With out adding in an antibiotic? Will the proper flora have an innate advantage and thus boot out the overgrowth of their less welcome cousins?

2) Oral application requires that the acidic gauntlet be run. May not be a problem or then again it might. Enemas are the obvious alternative, but what about a beeswax suppository with liberal quantities of commercial probiotics?

And while we are talking about the seamier side of life, nasal spray isn't the only show in town as an alternative application.

3) What about simply using one of these methods to maintain optimum nutrition for our gut? Crush a multivitamin and roll it into a beeswax pellet?

It is seldom that a genuine option like this falls into our laps. You can bet that, if it is indeed a "miracle", that there will be steps taken to send it all to the "vanished promise" locker where such things are hidden away.

-Rick