AHS16 - Ancestral Health Symposium 2016

Some believe that Earth is in its sixth mass extinction event. The loss of diversity observed in the modern human gut may echo similar calamities in rain forests, coral reefs and rivers around the world. As vital portions of an ecosystem go blank or missing, tidal waves of change can occur. Expansion of opportunistic lifeforms into empty niches frequently lead to disease and havoc in frail ecosystems. The hallmark of modern gut health is missing mucosal protectors and overloaded phages, fungi and other opportunists. Since ancient times, plants were the first medicine to cure pain or alleviate digestive woes or skin maladies. Indeed, their properties may be magical for the modern microbiota. Aromatic resins of trees and shrubs such as frankincense and myrrh contain fatty acids and fiber which increase abundance of beneficial gut flora while being toxic to disease-associated polluters. Human clinical trials will be discussed. Employing the ancient apothecary as tools to mend the modern microbiome will be detailed.