Ancient and Alternative Healing Tools for Microbe Management

Introduction

Microorganisms are the predominant life form on earth and can be found in virtually every location on, above, and/or below the earth’s surface. In the process of building complex biological networks [1,2], microorganisms form a superstructure of commu­nication that has been termed “The Internet of Microbes” [3]. This microbial internet functions across media, within and between holobionts and ultimately reaches across the planet. Additionally, our knowledge of microbial functions and capabilities continues to grow each year.

Recent research into bacterial capabilities has led to the emerg­ing realization that bacteria are cognitive, conscious, information field-dominating, quantum-operating beings [4-6]. They possess sentient, problem-solving capabilities [7-10], multi-generational memory [11], shapeshifting capabilities [12], are superb informa­tion, energy, and light gathers, processors and distributors [7,13], and represent state-of-the-art models for investigating quan­tum-based living (e.g., entanglement, light-energy duality, field in­teractions via novel antennae) [14-16], and phase transitions [17]. Because humans and other holobionts are majority microbial by several measures, these microbial capabilities have implications for holobiont capacities including our own.

Table 1 presents a visual comparison of recent findings on the properties, features, and capabilities of bacteria as well as the re­markably diverse routes of communication used by bacteria. We first introduced this subject in Dietert and Dietert [18]. The side-by- side illustrations of the properties and communication capabilities of bacteria within the Internet of Microbes are important for any consideration of healing tools, for tools for microbe management as well as safety for the microbiome (Table 1).

Table 1: A Summary of Bacterial Properties, Capabilities, and Communication Mechanisms (See also references for this information: [4-6, 11-13, 19-37]).

These features are also:

1. A basis for conscious living in the human holobiont and

2. A foundation for healing strategies via the microbiome.

With this in mind, it is not surprising that healing modalities of a variety of types that focus inward and/or better connect our bodies to nature have an impact on human and other holobiont mi­crobiomes. Given the importance of the human microbiome to hu­man development, health, metabolism, and physiological function [38-43], it is important to explore all healing modalities for the po­tential to promote a healthy microbiome. It is particularly import­ant given the problematic track record of prevalent pharma-based western medicine when it comes to disease prevention and cures [40,44-46].

In this narrative review, we provide examples of ancient and alternative healing approaches that have been shown to affect the microbiomes of humans and/or other holobionts. Such information is not surprising when one considers the very nature of bacteria. This review builds upon and extends the information we recently presented in papers concerning both the embodied microbiome and the Internet of Microbes [18,47]. Among the alternative healing approaches that are discussed in the present review, we have set aside the consideration of sound, light, electrical, and magnetic ap­proaches to microbe management, healing, and wellness [48-51]. These four healing approaches have a substantial literature that will be included in a subsequent review.

Examples of Ancient Healing Modalities and Microbial Rebiosis

One of the realizations today is that ancient human civiliza­tion had health and wellness practices that not only could improve human health but also produce microbiota rebioisis as part of pa­tient/client outcomes. Evidence is showing us that many ancient healing modalities are microbiome inclusive in stark contrast to pharma-based medicine that has been institutionalized in many Western countries [18,45]. Table 2 illustrates examples of some al­ternative and many ancient wellness practices and reported effects on the microbiota. The studies included both human trials and lab animal model findings. While associated shifting in microbiota (e.g. the gut microbiota.) does not prove causation of biomarker changes and resulting health benefits, it is clear that these approaches are capable of mediating changes in immune and other systems biol­ogy-regulating microbiota. Table 2 [18,52-73] covers the healing modality landscape beyond those based on sound and light fre­quencies. These represent a major focus of this review and will be considered later.

Table 2: Examples of Ancient and Alternative Healing Modalities and Microbial Alterations.

Abdominal Massage, General Massage, and Metabolic Syndrome

Massage therapy has a long history of application dating back thou­sands of years [74,75] and can take several different forms [76]. It has been part of the Ayurvedic system where it is viewed as a complete therapy [77], while in the west it has been generally con­sidered as a complementary therapy [78]. Among the mechanoth­erapy benefits of massage as described by Van Pelt, et al. [79] are the modulation of skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation, useful changes in immune response, ribosome turnover, and protein turn­over, which in turn, benefits the recovery process from eccentric ex­ercise and disuse atrophy. For the purposes of this narrative review, abdominal massage (also known in Chinese medicine as visceral massage) is a focal point for discussion. This form of massage has been a research focus when it comes to the evaluation of potential effects on the microbiome. The linkage of abdominal massage to changes in the gut microbiome has been investigated in both ani­mal models and humans. Huang, et al. [80].

Abdominal massage (AM) has been shown to be particularly useful for addressing metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes [81]. This is particularly critical since the cadre of metabolic syndrome conditions spread inflammation to other tissues and organs result­ing in an increased risk of multimorbidity with aging. The example was shown recently of obesity having an elevated risk for 43 differ­ent comorbid diseases and conditions [40].

Evidence suggests that metabolic signaling is altered through this AM therapy. For example, it ameliorates fat accumulation in di­abetes model mice (Obese strain mice) fed a high fat diet. Evidence suggests that metabolic signaling (the PPARγ signaling pathway) is enhanced as part of the protection against fat accumulation [81]. Xie, et al. [52] examined the effects of abdominal massage in type 2 diabetes patients including both parameters for the disease as well as changes in the gut microbiome (see Table 2). They reported beneficial shifts in disease parameters as well as shifts in the gut microbiome following AM therapy.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, stimulation of body locations through needling, has a long history as a healing procedure probably originating in China and dating back a few hundred years BCE [82]. White and Ernst [82] describe its progression of use across the centuries as it moved geographically across Asia then to Europe. There has also been a progression of thinking concerning the mechanisms through which acupuncture works to bring healing. These include what are known as the facia theory, the theory of Qi moving though channels and or meridians, and a more recent neurological and immuno­logical theories including combined systems biology models (e.g., neuroimmune) [83-86]. Acupuncture has proved helpful for a wide variety of diseases and conditions including the following based on a recent evidence map: neurological conditions (e.g., symptom im­provement and improved sleep quality) including stroke (e.g., im­proved motor function), gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., symptom improvement), obstetrics, gynecology (reduced severity of men­strual symptoms), and women’s health (e.g., improved postpartum lactation), connective tissue disease (e.g., fibromyalgia) (e.g., re­duced musculoskeletal pain), pregnancy (e.g., increased pregnancy rate), and mental health (e.g., reduced depression and opioid crav­ings) [87].

Recently, Jiang, et al. [53] provided a comprehensive analysis of published research on acupuncture and gut microbiota alter­ations in humans and rodent animal models. Nineteen studies were included in this review. Of these, thirteen studies employed elec­troacupuncture, five used manual acupuncture and one was simply designated as acupuncture. By species, twelve studies used mice, four examined rats, and three had human subjects. Gut microbiota status was examined in 18 of the 19 studies with 17 of the 18 micro­biome-inclusive studies reporting one or more significant changes in microbiome diversity and/or composition. Across the studies, different animal models (e.g., species/strains) were used, human populations varied (age, sex distribution of the study population, etc.) and the targeted disease conditions also varied. As a result, no consistent pattern of microbiome modification was revealed in this sampling. But it is clear that acupuncture treatments can signifi­cantly modify the gut microbiome and gut microbiome modulation is known to affect not simply metabolism but also a wide range of different systems biology outcomes.

Across the 19 studies, a second major outcome was evident concerning elements of the microimmunosome [88] (e.g., gut bar­rier, underlying immune status) beyond simply the gut microbi­ota. As Jinag, et al. [53] discuss, at least some studies resulted in barrier morphological and/or functional improvement (e.g., tight junctions) and changes in the underlying immune system were also reported. Taken together this literature suggests that acupuncture treatments are highly likely to modulate the gut microimmuno­some among one or more targets, and that restored balance of the gut microbiome and/or improved barrier function and rebalanced immune function (e.g., better regulation of inflammation) can re­sult in useful health outcomes.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a comprehensive system of medicine that is thought to represent one of the oldest traditional medicine practices [89] on earth. It dates back at least to the 2nd century BCE when traditional Hindi philosophical schools in India included it in their materials [90]. However, the origins may be much earlier [89]. As described by Jaisalwa and Williams [90], Ayurveda is contained within ancient texts, the Vedas (where specific healing plants are described), and is thought to have divine origins from Brahma [58]. Mukerjee, et al. [58] describe the development of a complete Ayurveda medical sys­tem during the “Samhita” period of 1,000 BCE.

At its core Ayurveda comprises the five basic elements of the universe Vayu (Air), Jala (Water), Aakash (Space or ether), Prithvi, (Earth) and Teja (Fire) called the Pancha Mahabhoota, which form the three basic humors of the human body known collectively as the Tridosha [89]. Taken together, the Tridosha are considered as determining the Prakriti (or individual type) [56]. These three hu­mors control physiological functions of the body across principal and subdivisions of doshas [90]. Each body tissue is considered both separately and in a holistic concert [90]. Jnana, et al. [56] re­viewed the relationship between three dosha determination of in­dividual type or Prakriti, the gut microbiome composition, and the metabolome (Table 2).

This system of basic elements and doshas is considered to im­pact physical health, mental balance, spiritual well-being, social welfare, and environmental considerations through an emphasis on seasonal change, diet, and emphasis on lifestyle habits [58]. In their review, Mukerjee, et al. [58] illustrate the evolution of Ayurve­dic medicine into 18 distinct disciplines. The challenge of melding the comprehensive system of Ayurvedic medicine and western allopathic medicine was discussed by Chopra and Doiphode [91]. A sampling of Ayurvedic research is included in Table 2. These in­clude both clinical trials and research analysis of Ayurvedic plants and herbs relative to the microbiome. For example, Mukerjee, et al. [58] reviewed more than 30 Ayurvedic herbs as per the active in­gredients and evidence of healing actions (Table 2). Notably, and not surprisingly, some of these active ingredients exhibit effects on microbes (e.g., Asiaticoside from Clitoria ternatea L.).

Chiropractic Healing

Zhu, et al. [59] examined the influence of chiropractic therapy in immune rats on both the status of gut microbiota as well as al­lergic airway inflammation. As shown in Table 2, this study found there was significant benefit of repeated chiropractic therapy both for shifts in the gut microbiome and for reduction of Th2-driven al­lergic inflammation. This result suggests that more studies of chiro­practic therapies and their impact on the microbiome are in order.

Dowsing

Dowsing is shrouded in a certain amount of mystery. Research­ers do not agree as to its antiquity. Some say it only began in the 17^th century. Others point back to cave paintings that are 8,000 years old that show what appears to be a man holding a divining rod. What is certain is that the practice of dowsing has continued into the 21^st century. Both authors of this review have ancestors who were dowsers; in one case this was even recorded on a census. While centuries-old tension exists between “modern technologies” and dowsing, history also shows examples where ancient knowl­edge has been successfully blended with new technologies and new scientific revelations. One such case was the example of an English woman who was a well-known, accurate water dowser. During WWII, she was pressed into service by the Ministry of Defense to discover the whereabouts of German U-boats using just a map and a pendulum [92, p. 308].

One scientific paradigm that may now be leading to an expla­nation behind the phenomenon of dowsing is quantum physics. For one, it explains how consciousness or the observer effect might play a major role in dowsing [93 p .ix]. According to Charles Massey, Ph.D., successful dowsing relies on concentrated focus [92 p. 309]. Microbes are also making a surge as players in the quantum field (see Table 1). As knowledge increases about the microbial nature of the human body and Earth’s ecosystems as well as the potent field of energies within and beyond the human body [18], dowsing emerges as a reflection of quantum as well as scalar physics.

In Chapter 4 of Dowsing: The Ultimate Guide to the 21st centu­ry, Brown [94] discusses the reality that the human body is mainly microbes, energy, and space. When the bacterial functions of Table 1 are considered, it is not surprising if bacterial-gathered informa­tion and energy is a conduit through which information concerning specific targets (e.g., water, minerals, oil, pollution levels, other en­ergies) can be gathered via the Internet of Microbes. Raymon Grace [95] is one of the present-day master-dowsers who has found that the questions asked and answers received are virtually unlimited as are the ways in which dowsing can be applied. He is equally good at dowsing for a lost dog as he is at cleansing water in Canada from where he sits in Viginia. The potential role of microbes in the in­formation flow is distinctly plausible and has been supported by Kotlar [60] as shown in Table 2. In fact, this researcher discusses bacterial divining rods for oil. Because microbes inhabit virtually every ecological niche of earth and can easily operate at a distance,

information exchange between our holobiont consciousness and sensing targets beyond our physical body is much like tapping into a microbial search engine linked to the Internet of Microbes [3,18,47].

Liuzijue Training

Liuzijue (meaning six healing sounds) originates from tradition­al Chinese medicine and combines aspects of breathing techniques from Qigong with movement, breath, and focused techniques from mindfulness meditation. It has grown in use partly because of its ease of learning [96]. Primary application of health and wellness have focused on the treatment of hypertension and the success of Liuzijue training to reduce blood pressure [55] as well as improve lung function with pulmonary diseases [97,98]. Table 2 shows a study by Wu, et al. [63] where a 12-week LT protocol produced not only positive benefits on blood pressure in hypertension patients but also resulted in a shift in gut microbiome composition.

Medicinal Plant Based Remedies

Research into the effects of plant based medicinals including essential oils on the microbiome is a significant area of growth. Numerous studies have emerged during the past decade including one of the more comprehensive reviews as included in Table 2 [64]. A sampling of other studies is also found in Table 1 to illustrate the importance of this area of microbe management. Additionally, many plants used in the shamanic practices of indigenous peoples have recently been found to shift the microbiome. In fact, the whole of shamanic practices appears to be intimately linked to human and environmental microbes.

Meditation

The practice of and training in meditation is important in health and wellness. Numerous examples exist where the introduction of meditation regimes has resulted in:

1) significant reduction in disease-associated symptoms,

2) reduction in pharmaceutical needs,

3) improved function, and/or

4) increased resiliency. Meditation training has been applied to a wide variety of health conditions with positive benefits (via evi­dence maps) demonstrated to include stress reduction, improved sleep, fatigue reduction, reduced depression and anxiety disorders, reduced oxidative stress, reduced hypertension, reduced pain, and improved brain function [99].

Recently, several studies have monitored the capacity of med­itative practices to alter microbiota in conjunction with beneficial health outcomes. Many of these studies were described by Das, et al. [65] and by us [18] (Table 2). Those practices encouraging an inward focus were particularly effective in producing shifts in microbes associated with improved wellness and reduced disease burden. While different forms of meditation have been described as beneficial for alterations in microbiota, mindfulness meditation is among the most extensively examined to date.

Qigong

Qigong is an approximately 3,000-year-old traditional Chinese physical and energetic practice that has been associated with both longevity and reduced prevalence of certain diseases and condi­tions [100]. The practice includes various physical movements that are gentle and, therefore, can be practiced by a significant portion of middle-aged and older populations [101]. There is a controlled breathing aspect to Qigong, and practitioners have been shown to exhibit a high tidal volume [102]. Among the reported health bene­fits of practicing Qigong are reduced systolic blood pressure [103], reduced depression [104], stress prevention [105], and improved physical function in Parkinsons’ Disease [106]. As reported in in a recent meta-analysis study in Table 2, Qigong has specific effects on the human gut microbiome [67].

Reiki

Reiki is an ancient method of channeling healing energy that was rediscovered by the Japanese Buddhist priest, Mikao Usui. He further developed this discovery into the healing system now known as Usui Reiki Ryoho [107 p.5]. “Ki” in Reiki refers to life-force energy that flows throughout the human body [107 p. 21]. The word taken as a whole actually means the universal life-force energy, a vast energy that both connects us to all that is, while exist­ing within each person and living thing [108 pp.1-2]. The life-force energy that inhabits each person and living thing vibrates at a high rate and fast frequency. This has made it difficult to detect scientif­ically until more advanced technology was developed [107 p.21]. Reiki energy operates at an even higher level. In fact, it is at such a high vibration and fast frequency that it moves easily though all parts of the human energy field [107 p. 21].

In order to study the Reiki energy, it was important to identify its main characteristics. James Bachman and others have proposed that it is electromagnetic. Given that the heart and brain both gen­erate measurable electromagnetic fields (biofields), the proposal identified an avenue to target when trying to test for Reiki ener­gy [109 p.2]. The possibility exists that as an electromagnetic fre­quency, Reiki may alter the vibrational frequencies of the heart and brain, thereby altering the electrical currents that produce the hu­man biofields [109 p.2]. Interestingly, as seen in Table 1, microbes, in particular bacteria, communicate via electrical, electrochemical and magnetic fields. Using their specialized antennae, bacteria as well as other types of microbes constantly sample the ‘noise’ around them until they identify a useful signal, which they then tap into and use. We hypothesize that this may be one method by which Reiki is able to heal as the microbes in the receiver’s body detect Rei­ki’s electromagnetic field, register the information therein then act upon that information to alter themselves and their environment.

While that action is very difficult to observe in a laboratory, as shown in Table 2, a study in the lab was able to demonstrate the positive effects on heat shocked bacterial cultures in vitro after re­ceiving Reiki energy [70]. Given that these were in vitro bacteria outside of a human body, there was no possibility that a placebo effect via the power of suggestion could be induced. It is also inter­esting that the effectiveness of the Reiki treatment on the bacterial cultures was enhanced when the Reiki practitioners had given Reiki treatments to a human just before moving to the cultures. Clearly, more research on the effects of Reiki on human and other micro­biomes is warranted. Reiki has been applied in clinical settings for quite some time, both as emotional support when facing serious medical diagnoses as well as physical aid in hospital operating are­nas [108 pp.xxvi-xxvii]. The differences in experience are not only felt by the patient receiving Reiki but by the hospital staff in the operating room as well. Measurable differences in outcomes and quality of life for the patient have also been observed. Reiki has be­come a significant complementary therapy particularly within the nursing and palliative health care communities [110-112]. Addi­tionally, it is also extensively utilized as part of hospital procedure preparation and/or the treatment of various diseases and condi­tions [113-115].

Our opinion is that Reiki is a valuable tool for affecting better medical outcomes, and that as technological advances create tools with finer capabilities to register the high vibration and fast fre­quency of this energy, the widespread benefits of Reiki should be­come even more apparent.

Shamanic Healing: The Connection Between Shamanism and Microbes

According to Michael Harner, PhD, shamanism is the most wide­spread healing modality worldwide [116 p.40]. The practice of sha­manism encompasses ancient hunter-gatherer and early farming communities persisting to the present day even within urban cen­ters [117,118]. While they acted as a messenger of Spirit, healers and magicians providing entertainment for the community and its members [117], shamans curated ancient techniques and technolo­gies that are remarkably similar the world over [116 p xvii].

Shamanism is purported to have ancient origins and an un­touched, 12,000-year-old Natufian grave consisting of remains from internment rituals, specific grave goods and the construction of the grave itself all point to the oldest, established shamanic buri­al found [117,118]. Given the antiquity of shamanism and now the variety of practices in modern shamanism, scientific study of its ef­ficacy has been difficult to perform. However, one ancient culture whose practices have survived into the 21st century and have been studied in the Amerindians of South America. The observations concerning the way their shamans work shine a new light on what ‘spirits’ may be, interactions with them and how healing may actu­ally occur via shamanism.

According to Cesar E. Giraldo, PhD, Amerindian shamans de­scribe the beings they deal with “in ways that correspond to con­temporary understandings of microbes” [119 p .ix]. In Amerindian cultures, shamans have developed methods and technologies that allow them to even perceive the microbial world without the aid of microscopes [119 p.ix]. Often to achieve this skill, they employ Ayahuasca, a brew of several different herbs at least one of which possesses DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine ) while a second prevents DMT from being broken down quickly in the body. Interestingly, DMT has known effects on the human microbiome.

Amerindians conferred personhood on the ‘beings’ they con­sulted. Unsurprisingly, these ‘beings’ were found in the same cir­cumstances as microbes that caused the very diseases the shamans sought to heal [109 p. 2]. The ‘beings’ and the microbes even shared nearly identical characteristics, one example being the microbe that causes syphilis [119 p.140].

As part of their training and initiations, apprentice shamans would ingest certain microbes in a particular order and learn the rigorous dietary and fasting regimes necessary to keep the colony of these microbes at levels below the threshold that would create illness [119 p.67]. It was through these colonies that the shamans recognized the source of the illnesses in their patients by seeking the microbe they felt resonated with the ‘being’ in their patient. In theory the method of communication between host and microbe could have been through bidirectional communication via the Va­gus nerve gut-to-brain pathway [119 p.74].

To summarize, via this one particular, specialized, curated method of shamanic healing involving the ingestion of and inti­mate knowledge of specific microbes and the knowledge of how to maintain the balance of their own microbiome in order to remain healthy, Amerindian shamans are then able to recognize the specif­ic microbe that is in a state of overgrowth in their patient. They can then apply the dietary mechanisms of fasting, slow dietary rebios­ing and herbs to bring their patient back into a state of microbial balance.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice that integrates medita­tion, exercise, and martial arts. While each element of the Tai Chi practice has been shown to have potential beneficial gut microbiota altering capabilities, direct investigation of Tai Chi and microbiome status is limited to date. Wang, et al. [120] provided a recent narra­tive review of Tai Chi concerning a variety of potential health and functional benefits. Gut microbiota were discussed in this review article including the 2017 review on Tai Chi and gut microbiota by Hamasaki [121]. Hamasaki [121] emphasized that Tai Chi can im­prove immune function and reduce inflammation of the gut. These are two intertwining outcomes that are connected to the status of the microimmunosome [88]. Hamasaki [121] further suggested that Tai Chi may also affect gut microbiota through vagal modula­tion and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which has been a route for gut microbiota-brain/neurological effects [121]. Impor­tantly, Hamasaki [121] suggested protocols of directly exploring Tai Chi and specific gut microbiota and alterations/rebiosis. Another example of a human research study through which Tai Chi practice modulated the gut microbiome can be found in Zhang, et al. [122] and a further example is provided in Table 2 [73].

Conclusions

While many of the healing tools considered in this review have existed for decades, centuries or millennia, examination of the con­nection between the healing modalities and the microbiome is a relatively new avenue of study. Such mechanistic and personalized healing information has gained in significance due to the recent decline of the pharmacracy. A half century or more of increasing chronic disease prevalence (with few cures) resulting from pre­scription drug-driven western medicine [45,46] has meant that “al­ternative” healing modalities are increasingly moving to the fore­front. The present narrative review provides examples of ancient and alternative healing modalities where impact on the microbi­ome has been examined. In some cases, the changes in microbiome status appear to have a direct mechanistic impact on improvement in disease symptoms and/or physiological biomarkers of disease.

The major conclusions are that:

1. A substantial array of alternative healing modalities ex­amined produce significant effects on the microbiome and

2. These modalities appear to offer much needed holobi­ont-oriented alternatives to prescription drug-driven therapies many of which are toxic for critical human commensal bacteria [123,124].

Author Contributions

JMD is a practitioner of multiple healing modalities covered in this paper and drafted parts of Tables 1 and 2 plus Sections 7, 12, and 13. She also edited the entire manuscript. RRD contributed the majority of the microbiome-related research and content. Both au­thors have read and agreed to the published version of the manu­script.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Acknowledgments

The authors express appreciation to Dr. Brett Smith, Paula Bat­tencourt, Colleen Kiley, and Raymon Grace for their many helpful discussions.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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