FAQs

Biome restoration involves supplementing the human biome with a wider variety of organisms than our current, modern lifestyles typically promote. Modern technologies including toilets, water treatment facilities, and antibiotics and even shoes may prevent humans from acquiring the same degree of diversity in their inner biomes that our ancestors had. Biome restoration is the simple concept of adding back into our body’s ecosystem an array of organisms, including our natural animal life (fauna).

The hygiene hypothesis was formulated in the 1980s and stated that the clean living of modern humans leads to allergic reactions. This hypothesis has been revised and refined many times in subsequent years. Biome restoration has no relationship to being clean.  That is, the amount of dust in your house or mold in your refrigerator does relate to the microbes and fauna (animal life) living in and on you. Biome restoration, also called biome reconstitution, is the controlled re-introduction of species into the human population aimed at supplementing the human ecosystem – not spreading flu virus to our neighbors!

The organisms selected for biome restoration, which are not bacterial probiotics, are called “probiomics” or “body biomics.”  Like a probiotic, they are beneficial organisms that inhabit the human digestive system.  However, they are animal, as opposed to bacterial, life.

At present, the probiomic we produce is called HDC (Hymenolepis diminuta cystercercoid). The organisms are found in grain beetles, which are common contaminants in the human food supply. Ancient humans would have consumed these organisms when they ingested fragments of grain beetles that were unprocessed and uncooked.  (Recall that soap and running hot water were not in common use during pre-industrial times.)

HDCs normally live in rodents, and don’t typically develop into adult organisms in humans. Repeated exposure to higher organisms, like HDCs, complete the natural ecosystem of the human body (which also consists of trillions of bacteria and other species), supporting good health.

Some individuals who live on farms and live very closely with their farm animals are exposed to a wider variety of organisms and likely have more varied biomes. Otherwise, people that use toilets, wear shoes, shop at the supermarket, and drink clean water should consider biome restoration. That is, anyone who lives in an industrialized society may choose to supplement their healthy lifestyles using HDCs.

Dosing will certainly be very individual. Listen to your body, observe your children carefully.  You will figure out the optimal dose for you.

People take varying amounts of HDC in weekly to monthly doses. (Biome Restoration recommends you do not take them more than once per week.) If you have concerns, discuss dosing with your doctor.  A very small minority of people report some mild stomach upset with HDC ingestion.  Simply drop your dose for a time, until this side effect vanishes.

Most people take a vial of 30-60 HDC every 2 to 3 weeks.

The most common protocol used in children is to start with 1 vial of  10 HDC.  If no side effects occur, increase to 20 HDC in 2 or 3 weeks.  If side effects are seen, stay at that dose for at least one more vial, in 2 or 3 weeks, typically until no side effects occur.  Then proceed to a vial of 20 HDC and again, if no side effects are seen, move up to a maintenance subscription of a vial of 30 HDC in 2 or 3 weeks.

There are some children and adults on doses as high as 100 HDC every 2 weeks.

The risk of colonization, while very low, does exist, and may be more likely in children or in those who are immune-suppressed (see FAQ below “Who should not take HDCs?”).  Two children, that we are aware of, over time developed severe stomach cramps associated with HDCs. If severe stomach upset occurs, discontinue use and consult your doctor immediately.  You may need to treat with an anti-helminth medication to remove the HDCs, if needed. (See FAQ below “What supplements and medications will affect my HDCs?)

In our shipping solution, the HDC will live for the 8-11 days for international shipping and then another week in your refrigerator. However, based on laboratory studies, we recommend that OUR PRODUCT BE USED WITHIN 7  DAYS OF ARRIVING AT YOUR HOUSE IN THE REFRIGERATOR AS THIS WILL ENSURE TOTAL VIABILITY. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT, WHEN FINANCIALLY VIABLE, YOU USE OUR EXPEDITED SHIPPING OPTION, ESPECIALLY DURING EXTREME WEATHER MONTHS (HEAT AND COLD).

We are continuing to work on expanding the HDCs’ life span.

Your HDC will come in a tiny tube of clear liquid. The HDC may be visible in the liquid as small, white dots, or tiny clumps.

The shipping fluid’s ingredients are: water, amino acids, glucose and trehalose, with traces of physiological salts, natural organic acids.

For vials being shipped outside the UK: Vials may contain a trace of Amphotericin B which is an antifungal compound used in the preparation of the HDC. The amounts used are far below therapeutic amounts for treatment of fungal infection in humans. Amphotericin B is not absorbed by the body when taken orally.

HDCs may not be good for people who are severely immunosuppressed (for example, by HIV/AIDS or a genetic condition, or who are on major immune-suppressive drugs). The use of body biomics by those individuals is not recommended at the present time.  Certainly, you should consult your doctor before using HDC.

If someone wishes to begin to restore their biome while pregnant, they should do so under a physician’s supervision.

Please be aware that there are certain pharmaceutical products that may harm HDCs. If you take any of these, you may wish to consider taking HDCs more frequently. These include:

Alcopar, Anecoline, Metronidazole and anti-helminthic medications (albendazole, diethylcarbamazine, mebendazole, niclosamide, ivermectin, thiabendazole, pyrantel pamoate, paraherquamide, levamisole, piperazine, praziquantel, promethazine, tridabendazole, octadepsipeptides, amino acetonitrile derivatives).  Also, Alinia (Nitazoxanide) does have anti-helminthic properties.

If you do not like your HDCs, or if you develop a colony and wish to kill it off, you will need to take one of these pharmaceutical medications.  Most typically, one dose per day for 3 days is adequate.

Body biomics have several limitations:

A body biomic is not a drug. It is a supplement that helps maintain good health. It does not treat or prevent disease. Based on several recent scientific studies, it seems likely that helminths do help maintain a healthy microbiota.  Remember that this is a macrobiotic organism – not a probiotic (microbiotic bacteria). A body biomic is only one part of living a healthy lifestyle. Thus, the use of body biomics is recommended in conjunction with other factors of healthy living, including:  a nutritious diet, regular exercise, stress reduction, adequate vitamin D intake and so forth.

Yes, absolutely! Exercise, sleep, diet and so forth are all crucial parts of healthy living. Another one of the easiest thing you can do to support good health is take vitamin D supplements, especially if you don’t eat enough vitamin D in your diet or if you work indoors under artificial lighting. The renowned scientist and physician Michael Holick wrote an excellent article for the New England Journal of Medicine [1] describing the widespread nature of vitamin D deficiency and explaining how vitamin D is essential for proper immune function.

Reference: Holick, M.F., Vitamin D deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, 2007. 357(3): p. 266-281.