Microbiome Hack Project

Project Overview

  • I’m doing a microbiome hack on myself, under the care of a naturopathic physician.
  • The goal will be to repair my gut microbiome and restore my digestive health. My gut flora will be tested before and after the procedure.
  • I am recruiting for trusted participants to donate biological material. The donations will be completely noninvasive, discreet, sanitary and convenient.
  • Complete information is provided below. Interested persons are welcome to contact me with any questions.

Table of Contents

Background

I’ve had debilitating digestive issues for the past 15 years. Over-prescription of antibiotics has been identified as a factor for those suffering from my type of digestive illness. I’m in pain most of the time, and chronically underslept, but I stay strong and make the best of life. I am the Director of Operations at the Parsemus Foundation and I love my job.

I am planning a trip to England in the summer to receive a life-changing therapy. This will be my first trip outside the USA and I am very excited. The therapy takes place over two weeks and will cost $6,000. This fee plus airfare and accommodations will bring the total up to around $9,000, and I have been saving every penny so I can make this happen. 

Recently, however, a friend who is a naturopathic doctor in San Francisco made a really intriguing suggestion: she said if I don’t make my savings goal and so cannot go to the UK, she could help me do the therapy at home. She’s had great success with other patients, and would charge me only $1000 for her time. The crucial difference is that, whereas the UK clinic provides the donation material, my doctor friend would need me to find my own donor(s).

The Human Microbiome

The therapy I need draws its power from the human microbiome. This microbiome consists of the 10-100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells harbored by each person. Complete information on this topic can be found on the Human Microbiome Project website. Dysbiosis (imbalance of intestinal organisms) in humans has been linked to everything from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to depression and autism.

The Procedure

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is a procedure that delivers healthy donor stool via colonoscopy, enema, or nasogastric tube. The procedure is prescribed for debilitating gastrointestinal afflictions, such as chronic, antibiotic-resistant Clostridium difficile infection.  FMT is not a new treatment. In fact, there is recorded use of the procedure in China dating from the fourth century. However, FMT has become a standard of care in the West only since around 2013.

Available in the UK in a medical setting for a range of intestinal illnesses, in the U.S. FMT is available in a clinic only for c. difficile infection. To treat any other illness, a U.S. patient must perform the procedure at home, ideally under the supervision of a naturopathic doctor.

My plan is to do FMT as a biohack project. I’m still working out how much documentation I want to produce, as daily journals, medical tests, metabolic measurements. Since I work for a nonprofit that educates about innovations in medicine, I will offer to write an article about my experience with FMT. I will refer to my doctor by name but it is up to my my donor(s) whether they wish to be named or remain anonymous in any publications.

Fecal transplant procedure
Click to view full infographic

The Donation

All I need from you is your poop. This is without a doubt the most humiliating thing I’ve asked for in my whole life. Poop is something no one wants to deal with. It’s the most disposable thing and yet very private. Please be inspired by the knowledge that you could change a human life, through the revelation of the healing power of the “muck” and chaos magic of the cosmos.

There is only one step that involves you: you would poop into a nuns hat that is placed on the toilet. You could do this in my home or I could come to you for pickup. The donation material must be used within three hours since after that time, the organisms in it begin to die outside the body. I would provide the nuns hat, any needed packaging materials, trash bags, etc.

That’s it! My doctor friend would take care of the rest of the process at my home. The ideal would be to do the procedure several times, perhaps once a week for four weeks. We would choose a day and time that works best for you.

First, we would need to determine if you are an eligible donor.

Donor Criteria

Interested persons will not be asked to share any private information with me. They can just look at the criteria and contact me if they qualify to be a donor. I will not ask them any personal questions. The doctor supervising my treatment will test my gut flora before and after FMT, so we have that data, but she won’t be able to test donor material, so I will be making a leap of faith. Whee! This is why I am searching within my trusted circle, to assure as much safety as possible.

Below are listed the criteria to be a donor. Of course, this all begins with someone who is open-minded, curious about science and medicine, and compassionate. 

  • Adults aged 20-40 are best.
  • Living in the Bay Area and, ideally, San Francisco.
  • Males are preferred donors because they have better digestion. Researchers believe this is linked to males and females having different microbiomes.
  • Omnivorous and possessing excellent digestion. No acid reflux, dyspepsia, chronic diarrhea, or constipation.
  • No communicable diseases or infections, such as HIV, hepatitis, herpes, giardia, etc.
  • Healthy body weight. Leanness is fine, but obesity is a disqualifying factor. Athleticism is ideal.
  • No autoimmune diseases, such as food or seasonal allergies, psoriasis, eczema, arthritis.
  • No personal history of cancer.
  • No mental illness. Normal sadness is fine, of course. But chronic depression, schizophrenia, bipolar, etc. are disqualifying factors.
  • No autism as this has been linked to issues with intestinal flora.
  • There is strong clinical evidence that treatment using material from a cheerful, energetic person can produce these same qualities in the sick person.

Contact Me

Thanks so much for reading. I truly appreciate the kindness of my extended circle of friends and how we make time for each other when help is needed. Please use the form below to let me know that you are interested in participating or to ask me any questions.

Love and Light,
Abraxas

Publications

  • Patangia D, Ryan C, Dempsey E, et al. (2022) Impact of antibiotics on the human microbiome and consequences for host health. Microbiology Open. 11(1): e1260.
  • Ursell L, Metcalf J, Parfrey L, et al. (2012) Defining the Human Microbiome. Nutr Rev. 70(Suppl 1): S38–S44.
  • National Institutes of Health – Human Microbiome Project website
  • Osadchiy V, Martin C, Mayer E. (2019) The Gut–Brain Axis and the Microbiome: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Vol. 17, Issue 2.
  • Lee L, Ser H, Khan T, et al. (2019). Relationship between autism and gut microbiome: current status and update. Gut. IDDF2019-ABS-0321.
  • Gupta S, Allen-Vercoe E, Petrof E. (2016). Fecal microbiota transplantation: in perspective. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 9(2): 229–239.
  • Allegretti J. (2019.) Stool transplants are now standard of care for recurrent C. difficile infections. Harvard Health Blog. June 3.
  • Yi‐Chao S, Yun‐Sheng Y. (2018). Fecal microbiota transplantation: Current status and challenges in China. JGH Open. 2(4): 114–116.