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Gut Health

Sep 2
9 min read

Updated: Oct 6


Every path to health begins with a healthy gut, which refers to the digestive system, primarily the large intestine. The microbiome is the bacteria that populate the gut. In fact, bacteria cells are thought to outnumber human cells, so you could say we are as much bacteria as we are human! These bacteria are key to immune function, working with the body to consume and kill viruses, toxins, and harmful bacteria. They produce vitamins and hormones, and they influence personality and even the way we think. They are tied to our nervous system, communicating with each other and with the brain, which affects mental health.

 

This microbiome consists of both beneficial and harmful bacteria. The key is to keep the beneficial bacteria more productive and thriving than the harmful. If there are too many harmful bacteria, the beneficial can morph into harmful, and that is where you see many of the health issues common in society today. Most health concerns have a root cause in the gut and once you work on killing off the harmful bacteria, healing the gut from resulting damage and feeding the beneficial bacteria, your body can return to a balanced state of optimal health. 


Building the Microbiome

The foundation to a healthy microbiome starts at birth. A baby coming through the birth canal is coated with the first beneficial bacteria he will receive. Mother’s milk will continue to introduce more bacteria that will enter the new baby’s gut. Nursing provides the best foundation for a strong immune system.


Have you ever noticed how babies put everything into their mouths? This is a natural instinct the baby uses to continue introducing more and more bacteria into their microbiome. Kids love to run around in bare feet, climb trees, play in the mud, pet animals, etc. All this contact with dirt, plants, and animals continues to introduce different kinds of bacteria to the gut

 

In his book Eat Dirt, Dr. Axe shares a few ways to continue building the immune system once that foundation is laid at birth:

  • Toss the hand sanitizer and other sanitizing products and cleaners

  • Eat probiotic-rich foods like kefir, yogurt, and sauerkraut

  • Consume raw honey

  • Get a pet

  • Swim in the ocean

  • Walk barefoot in the dirt and grass

  • Do not wash your garden produce (yes, wash store bought)

 

Just as the bacteria can grow in the gut, it can also be destroyed. My son’s experience with antibiotics is a great example of having an entire colony wiped out and what can happen when we do not have that strong foundation. Even though he had a home birth and was nursed, he was born with a weaker constitution that was discussed in Lesson 1, so I had to be more careful with his diet and lifestyle. Other ways the friendly bacteria can be destroyed is through over sanitizing; as antibacterial chemicals not only kill harmful bacteria but also wipe out the friendly, toxins in our environment, GMO’s, pesticides in foods and soil, pasteurized foods, the list goes on and on. While this can be an overwhelming list, just do the best you can and ask the Lord to make up for the rest by strengthening and protecting your body through the efforts you can make.

 

The way to have a healthy gut and put up supporting “walls” in your body is to follow the suggestions above. If your gut is already damaged and you need to repair those “walls”, here is an inspired, simple, gut healing regimen that will kill off and sweep out harmful bacteria, heal and soothe the gut to set a healthy terrain to build and strengthen the beneficial bacteria. In addition to this protocol, it is important to follow a whole foods diet discussed in Lesson 1 on nutrition.

 

If you are not sure if you have a gut issue, check out this statement from the book, Eat Dirt by Dr. Josh Axe:


“The signs of leaky gut can be confusingly varied:

  • You might feel tired and sluggish

  • You could get frequent indigestion, heartburn, bloating and gas

  • You might develop sensitivities to certain foods, foods that you have enjoyed without incident for years (or decades)

  • You can experience persistent “brain fog” characterized by a cloudy memory and lack of focus

  • You may notice changes in your skin, such as dark circles under your eyes, or inflamed skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne


If the situation persists, you might start to develop more serious ramifications:

  • Chronic fatigue, adrenal exhaustion, and lethargy

  • Crippling pain and arthritis

  • A range of dangerous digestives conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease

  • Autoimmune diseases like Hashimotos’ thyroiditis

  • Sometimes, frighteningly, inexplicably life-threatening conditions”

 

I would add to that list “mystery conditions” such as my son experienced. As always, use your light of Christ to direct you if this may be an answer to a condition you or a family member is suffering with. I always start with the gut when addressing a health issue of any kind.


Gut Healing Program

The program is broken down into the following steps:

  1. Kill Off

  2. Sweep Out

  3. Soothe and Heal

  4. Build and Strengthen

 

Kill Off

The following herbs are used to kill off the harmful bacteria inhabiting your gut. These bacteria can cause addictions, including sugar, alcohol, tobacco, and other substances. They affect mental health and can actually cause depression and anxiety. Because of their affect over hormones and cravings they can cause chemical imbalances, obesity, mystery illness, allergies and chronic conditions. Kill off herbs can be taken alone or in a combination.

 

Take any of these herbs along with your breakfast in the morning for 4-6 weeks. Dosage would be around 2-3 capsules, 1-2 dropperfuls or 1 cup of tea. Go with what you feel when it comes to dosage, remembering how each body is created individually and may need more or less. 


 

Sweep Out

These herbs help the body sweep out the bacteria that are being killed off. They will also help flush out other toxins and cleanse the gut.

 

Take these herbs in the evening before bed along with the kill off herbs in the morning for 4-6 weeks. Dosage would be around 2-3 capsules, 1-2 dropperfuls or 1 cup of tea. Go with what you feel when it comes to dosage remembering how each body is created individually and may need more or less. 


 

Soothe and Heal

After killing off and sweeping out the harmful bacteria, the cleansed gut needs to be healed. Harmful bacteria cause all kinds of damage including leaky gut, which is where the intestinal wall has been damaged and undigested particles can leak through into the bloodstream. These herbs and foods help seal up "leaks”, tighten and firm the intestinal lining and soothe inflammation. They also lay a strong foundation for the beneficial bacteria to adhere to. 

 

Take these herbs for 1- 2 weeks after the kill off and sweep phase, then continue to incorporate into the diet. Dosage for herbs and blends would be around 2-3 capsules with each meal, 1-2 dropperfuls with each meal or a quart of tea sipped throughout the day. Ghee, collagen, and bone broth can be incorporated into meals each day.


  • Aloe vera juice

  • Calendula

  • Chamomile

  • Chia seeds

  • Marshmallow

  • Mullein

  • Purslane

  • Slippery Elm

  • Licorice Root

  • Bone Broth

  • Collagen; found in bone broth, certain foods or as a supplement

  • Ghee

  • Gelatin; found in bone broth, gummies or as a supplement

  • Olive oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil

  • Frankincense essential oil massaged over abdomen

  • Heartburn Blend

  • Gut Soother Blend


Build and Strengthen

Now the gut is ready to build up a healthy colony of beneficial bacteria. There are some herbs that will help with this, but most of the building will be done by introducing cultured foods, supplements full of different species of microbes, and “dirt”. Now is a good time to incorporate the other ways to build beneficial bacteria that was discussed at the beginning of this lesson. Start slowly with the building process, one item at a time in small amounts. Be mindful of how your body feels. If you get nauseous, head or body aches or just not feeling good, slow it down.


  • Alfalfa

  • Clover

  • Elderberries

  • Nettles

  • Red raspberry leaf

  • Blackstrap molasses

  • Yogurt and kefir

  • Cultured foods and drinks

  • Probiotic supplements or mixes

  • Raw honey 

 

Essential Oils for Gut Health

Essential oils can also be used in a gut healing regimen. Massage over abdomen massage or add to a bath.

  • Thyme

  • Rose

  • Cardamom

  • Peppermint/spearmint

  • Clove

  • Tea Tree

  • Fennel

  • Oregano

  • Tarragon

  • Essential oils for digestion

  • Digestive blend of your choice

 

Conclusion

Once the gut is healed you must continue to populate the microbiome with a regular source of probiotic rich foods or supplements and the "dirt" mentioned above that comes through walking barefoot, not washing garden produce, having pets, etc. Make the foods listed above part of your regular diet and strive to avoid substances that will destroy your friendly flora such as sugar, processed foods, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. 

 

Personal Experience

I have used the gut healing program in its entirety several times and each one looked completely different based on the condition and the person. Here are two examples of gut healing I did with myself and my son.

 

My four-year-old was experiencing frequent, high fevers and a myriad of health conditions that would vary from month to month, such as painful rashes, lung and bronchial conditions, ear infections, diarrhea, stomach aches with puking, pink eye, etc.    Every month I was in the doctor’s office trying to get answers and the results were about the same as my hands, “Take this antibiotic, it might be (fill in the blank with a condition)”. The condition was different with each visit and each doctor. In essence, they could not help me.  I was left to figure this out through study, prayer and the spirit directing me to truth.  During that time I was also suffering with a debilitating case of eczema. Well, the root cause of both of our conditions was the same problem, our gut health. 


My son had received an antibiotic when he was 12 months old to treat a severe sinus infection. Not only did he have an allergic reaction, but it also destroyed his gut flora and with it, his immune system. Every time a virus or bacteria got around him, his body could not fight it, so it went into extreme fever mode. Ironically, the very thing that caused the condition in the first place, antibiotics, was what the doctors wanted me to give him every time I went in. Luckily, I had the Spirit directing me not to fill the prescriptions and so that first dose at 12 months was the only one he ever had.


Four-year-old Experience

All meals were whole foods with no sugar or processed foods, and I tried to incorporate dried fruits and other foods listed above. ​It took three months of this simple schedule to completely heal his gut. He no longer had fevers and his body returned to a balanced state with no more mystery conditions.

  • Breakfast with a ½ cup of kefir, Gut Soother and digestives essential oil blend massaged on abdomen.

  • Lunch with gut support capsules w/probiotics and digestive eo massage.

  • Dinner with gut support capsules w/probiotics and a ½ cup of kefir.

  • Bedtime two dropperfuls of Gut Soother and digestive eo massage.

 

Adult Experience

My gut healing was a bit more intense. As an adult my gut had more opportunities for weakness and I have a stronger constitution than my son. This was the protocol I had to use for healing a nasty case of psoriasis all over my hands and ankles which began moving up my legs. I incorporated other herbs and foods specific for the skin condition I was dealing with in addition to this gut healing protocol.

  • Herbal Detox 3 caps, 3 x day for 6 weeks with a 1 week break at week 3.

  • Sweep out with Liver Cleanse and Dr. Christopher’s Lower Bowel, 3 droppers each, every evening before bed, 1 quart of Redmond Clay water daily taken at different times than the supplements so not to interfere with absorption.

  • After 7 weeks I began the Soothe and Heal phase for 3 weeks.

    • Gut Soother 3 droppers, 3 x day

    • Aloe vera juice, 1 cup daily

    • Collagen, 1 scoop daily

    • Frankincense massage over gut each evening.

    • Incorporated soothing foods like chia seeds, marshmallow tea, bone broth, ghee and olive oil.

  • Build and Strengthen phase for 6 weeks.

    • Probiotic supplements in morning and evening.

    • Collagen, 1 scoop daily

    • Probiotic drinks or food, 1 cup daily

    • Gut Soother, 3 droppers, 3 x day

 

After sticking to this regimen faithfully my skin cleared up and I was healed. I have to share a couple pictures of how bad it was so you can see the power that gut health has upon our body systems.



Resource for Further Learning

  • The Human Microbiome - Dr. Axe

  • Eat Dirt by Dr. Josh Axe

  • The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Fermenting Foods by Wardeh Harmon

  • The Prime by Kulreet Chaudharey

  • The Three Brain: How the Heart, Brain and Gut Influence Mental Health and Identity by Karen Jensen

  • The Body Ecology Diet: Recovering Your Health and Rebuilding Your Immunity by Donna Gates

  • Cultures for Health

  • Traditional Cooking School

 

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Disclaimer: The Information contained on this website is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use.  It is not intended to replace the advice of a licensed healthcare professional. Those who follow these suggestions do so at their own risk.

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