New research on the human microbiome proves that our gut is home to more living beings than any other habitat on earth. Our poo teems with life. Sometimes, it makes us sick. It’s to blame for many debilitating, sometimes fatal conditions. This book explains how it can also make us better, through Faecal Microbiota Transplantation. Behind the provocative title is a vital message. The last frontier to explore is the world within our own bodies, where great armies of billions of microbes make war to determine whether we, their hosts, shall live happy, healthy lives or degenerate, decay and die. Professor Tom Borody has been studying and researching the human microbiome for a lifetime. It is a microcosm of our world, which we have damaged through ignorance or carelessness of the consequences. We have laid waste to the living universe inside us with antibiotics. They have upset the balance of our microbiome and laid us open to a whole host of ‘incurable’ illnesses, not just gastric conditions but Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s Disease and many more. There is hope. If we are smart and swift, we can repair the damage. In 1988, Professor Borody performed the first Faecal Microbial Transplants (FMT) in Australia. He gave his patient back her life and livelihood. Hundreds of thousands more FMTs have taken place since then, worldwide. Right now, there is a desperate need for more research and more large-scale clinical trials. Big Pharma won’t support it because it won’t generate more pills and potions for them to sell. It turns out the most effective remedy for our many ailments was deep inside us all the time. This book will change forever the way you think about your own body. No shit.
A visionary in gastroenterology, Professor Thomas Borody is renowned for revolutionising the treatment of infectious and gut-related diseases. After completing his BSc(Med) and MB BS at UNSW in 1974, he gained expertise in parasitology and infectious diseases in the Solomon Islands before earning his MD at the Garvan Institute. His research journey took him to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where he honed his skills in clinical research. He was awarded a PhD by the University of Newcastle and a DSc by UTS, Sydney. In 1984, Professor Borody founded the Centre for Digestive Diseases, a globally recognized institute pioneering therapies for gastrointestinal disorders. He is best known for developing the first triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori, a breakthrough that transformed peptic ulcer treatment. His Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) innovations have helped thousands with Clostridium difficile infections, colitis and autoimmune disorders. With over 300 publications and 160 patents registered in his distinguished career, he has advanced treatments for Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and resistant Helicobacter pylori infections. His groundbreaking research continues to shape the future of microbiome-based medicine, offering fresh hope to patients worldwide.