Types of therapy
At Paracelsus Recovery, our holistic treatment model features probiotic therapies. The aim of probiotic therapies is to restore the balance of microbiota in the gut with a view to treating various conditions and enhancing overall health.
What are probiotic therapies?
Probiotic therapies involve the use of living microorganisms, usually bacteria or yeasts, to treat specific conditions and optimise health. The goal of probiotic therapies is to restore or enhance the balance of the microbiota in the gut. The quota of “good” or “friendly” bacteria, which are beneficial to health, can be disrupted by factors such as antibiotics, illness, poor diet, stress and various other environmental and lifestyle factors. Probiotics can be taken as either dietary supplements containing specific probiotic strains or as functional foods such as yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh or other fermented foods enriched with probiotics. Taking probiotics helps to colonise your gut with good microorganisms. Probiotics are often taken in conjunction with prebiotics, which are like “fertilisers” for gut bacteria, feeding and promoting the growth of beneficial microbes.
At Paracelsus Recovery, we use probiotics as part of our functional medicine approach to restoring your biochemistry and treating your specific condition. As the effectiveness of probiotics can vary between individuals, depending on their unique microbiota composition and the specific strain used, a bespoke probiotic treatment plan is essential. Therefore, treatment must be targeted to the individual and based on comprehensive laboratory testing to identify gut bacteria imbalance. These tests paint a clear picture of the composition, diversity and functionality of the gut microbiota, allowing our nutritional experts to pinpoint potential imbalances, infections or other abnormalities. Testing can help determine whether specific microbial imbalances may be contributing to symptoms such as digestive issues, fatigue, skin conditions or mental health concerns. To restore your gut health, our team will then design your individually-tailored intestinal detox and pre/probiotics therapy plan.
How are probiotic therapies helpful?
There is a growing and increasingly promising body of research into probiotic therapies. Having an optimal balance of gut bacteria has been linked to various health benefits such as: weight loss, improved digestion, enhanced immune function, healthier skin, reduced inflammation and a lower risk of certain diseases. Due to such benefits, probiotic therapies can help treat a wide range of health conditions. For example, as an imbalanced gut microbiome is strongly correlated with certain mental health conditions, such as depression, probiotic therapy is an integral part of treatment. By influencing gut microbiota, which play a role in regulating neurotransmitters, inflammation and overall brain function, probiotic therapies may help with mental health issues such as anxiety and stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) alongside depression. The efficacy of probiotics in mental health treatment is largely due to their effects on the gut-brain axis. This axis refers to the bidirectional communication network between the gut microbiota and the brain, mediated by the nervous system, immune system and biochemical signalling pathways.
Emerging research suggests that probiotic therapies can support addiction recovery by addressing the underlying changes in the gut-brain axis associated with substance use disorders. For example, probiotics can help repair the gut barrier and reduce inflammation caused by chronic drug or alcohol abuse, improving overall recovery. Due to the influence of the gut microbiota on dopamine reward pathways in the brain, probiotics may also help reduce cravings. Additionally, they can support the substance withdrawal process by bringing neurotransmitter levels back into balance. Aside from addiction and mental health conditions, probiotics are a beneficial element of treatment for cardiovascular conditions, metabolic syndrome, obesity and various physical health conditions. In addition, as the menopause has been shown to alter our gut microbiome, probiotic therapies are a helpful part of menopause treatment.
How are probiotic therapies used as part of your treatment?
At Paracelsus Recovery, probiotic therapy is a key element of our comprehensive and all-encompassing treatment programmes. As part of our functional medicine approach, probiotics are one of the tools we use to treat the root causes of your condition by restoring your biochemistry to an optimal state. Whenever our nutritional therapists deem it as beneficial, probiotics will be included in your programme. Probiotic therapies are an integral part of our treatment plans. However they are just one piece of the puzzle. In all cases, probiotic therapy should not be considered a standalone treatment; it is a complementary approach. Effectively addressing the multiple root causes of mental health and addiction issues requires a holistic, integrative approach to treatment.
Each of our treatment plans features extensive testing, including a detailed gut-health assessment, to pinpoint any imbalance of gut bacteria. This informs the exact strands and combinations of probiotics to replenish any inflammatory or immune system issues and support your recovery. Based on your results, our nutritional therapists curate your personalised nutritional treatment plan that aligns with your treatment goals. This plan includes an intestinal detoxification programme and pre/probiotics therapy to restore your gut health. Probiotics are a key feature of this plan alongside supplements and vitamin-IV infusions, dietary modifications and lifestyle changes. Our nutritional therapists will direct you to take the prescribed probiotics in certain combinations at specific intervals throughout the day. The frequency will depend on your individual treatment plan.
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