Here’s an opportunity for people interested in understanding how the trillions of micro-organisms living in and on the human body contribute to their health – or lack thereof: uBiome, a Silicon Valley company, offers microbiome sequencing, allowing you to explore your body’s own unique microbiomes.
Scientists now know that various microbes living inside and on the human body outnumber our human cells by 10:1. Like a rain forest, the healthy human microbiome needs to have a balanced ecosystem in order to maintain good health – and the balance needs to be in the types and amounts of good microbes as well as between those good microbes and pathological ones.
Our symbiotic microbial populations perform essential functions – including digesting food, synthesizing vitamins, and regulating all the metabolic functions in the body. Studies have also linked the gut microbiome to gut health and healthy development.
A poor mix of microbes in the gut microbiome impairs the immune system, playing a role in the development and progression of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, asthma, acne, other skin conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid imbalances, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, chronic Lyme Disease, fibromyalgia, and many more – including probably some cancers.
Gut microbial imbalances may also aggravate common obesity.
Certain microbes are known to modify the production of neurotransmitters in the brain so research is being done on how to use them to relieve depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other neuro-chemical imbalances.
See here for a list of and information about autoimmune diseases and here for information on the role of probiotic and pathological bacteria in oral health.
Male vs Female Microbiome Proportions
You can get a kit from uBiome to obtain samples from these microbiomes living on and in your body and have an informative report of the findings sent to you:
Gut
Mouth
Nose
Skin
Genitals
uBiome‘s SAMPLING KITS uBiome offers three types of kits: GUT KIT – $89 for a one-time purchase/ $71.20@ to subscribe for a kit to be delivered monthly: From just your gut sample, you get a comprehensive picture of how your microbiome compares to other lifestyles. A starter kit for curious beginners. GUT TIME LAPSE KIT – $199Sample three times: before, during and after a diet or lifestyle change. uBiome’s most popular bundle allows you to submit multiple samples to see how your microbiome changes over time. This kit is a 25% discount off the normal Gut Kit, and allows you to use three time points for comparison. FIVE SITE KIT – $399 for a one-time purchase/ $391.20@ to subscribe for a kit to be delivered monthly:
This kit lets you sample all five microbiomes – your gut, mouth, nose, genitals, and skin – to get a complete picture of the workings of your body. To purchase kits. OBTAINING SAMPLES
This is how easy it is to obtain the microbial samples to send to uBiome for sequencing: Open the tube you want to sample and follow the site-specific instructions below: GUT
Swab your used toilet paper to collect a tiny amount of poop.
Note – this probably way less than you think you need – just enough to change the color of the swab.
MOUTH
Vigorously rub the swab across the inside of each cheek for 30 seconds.
Note – do not touch your teeth or gums to the swab.
SKIN
Wet the swab with the PCR water included in your kit. (Do not use regular water.)
Swab along the lower half of the crease behind your ear for 1 minute.
Note – pull your ear forward with one hand and pull your hair out of the way if necessary.
NOSE
Wet the swab with the PCR water included in your kit. (Do not use regular water.)
Swab around the inside of each nostril at the depth of the cotton on the swab for 30 seconds each.
MALE GENITALS
Wet the swab with the PCR water included in your kit. (Do not use regular water.)
Swab in a circular motion around the base of the head of the penis for one minute (where the head of the penis intersects the shaft).
Note – if your penis is uncircumcised, pull back your foreskin first.
FEMALE GENITALS
Wet the swab with the PCR water included in your kit. (Do not use regular water.)
Swab the area just inside the vaginal opening, to the depth of the cotton on the swab for one minute.
Note – spread your labia with one hand and use the other to swab.
3. STIR AND SHAKE
Put the used swab into the vial and stir it for 1 minute to transfer the bacteria.
Discard the swab in the trash.
Close the tube tightly and shake vigorously for 1 minute.
4. SEND
All of kits include a secure mailer, so that you can send your samples right back to us.
US kits come with prepaid postage. Just drop the envelope in the mail.
I highly recommend you take a look at uBiome’s website. It’s written in plain English, is user friendly, contains several interesting short videos and lots of information about our human microbiomes – plus you can order your sampling kits directly from the site.
For more information on those microscopic critters living in and on you – our important friends with benefits who keep us functioning properly – see these other posts: WHAT’S IN THE HUMAN MICROBIOME ROB KNIGHT’S TED TALK: HOW OUR MICROBES MAKE US WHO WE ARE THE HUMAN MICROBIOME – TWO SHORT VIDEOS YOUR MICROBIAL FINGERPRINTS
REFERENCES Hardin, J.R. (2014). See: AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES: How they develop and how to put them in remission. https://www.allergiesandyourgut.com/post/autoimmune-diseases-how-they-develop-and-how-to-put-them-in-remission Hardin, J.R. (2014). Oral Health and Overall Health. See: https://www.allergiesandyourgut.com/post/oral-health-and-overall-health Hardin, J.R. (2015). Rob Knight’s TED Talk: How Our Microbes Make Us Who We Are. See: https://www.allergiesandyourgut.com/post/rob-knight-s-ted-talk-how-our-microbes-make-us-who-we-are Hardin, J.R. (2015). The Human Microbiome – Two Short Videos. See: https://www.allergiesandyourgut.com/post/the-human-microbiome-two-short-videos Hardin, J.R. (2015). What’s in the Human Microbiome. See: https://www.allergiesandyourgut.com/post/what-s-in-the-human-microbiome Hardin, J.R. (2015). Your Microbial Fingerprints. See: https://www.allergiesandyourgut.com/post/your-microbial-fingerprints
uBiome. (2015). See: http://ubiome.com/ © Copyright 2015 Joan Rothchild Hardin. All Rights Reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site or blog is intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.