The human bowel contains a complex population of bacteria comprising several hundred different species and numerous sub-species.

These bacteria and the chemicals they produce may have a negative or a positive effect on the human body.

The 'good' bacteria found in the human bowel are known as 'flora'.

Human flora components are considered beneficial as they have important functions eg. they aid in the breakdown of proteins and fats and the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

In addition, normal flora constituents boost the immune system and protect us from pathogenic ('bad') bacteria.

Problems may arise if 'bad' bacteria implant themselves among the 'good' human flora. This can cause an imbalance that can have a debilitating and toxic effect on the body.

Probiotics are usually normal human flora components that are introduced into the body to re-establish dominance in the bowel, thereby reversing the damage and associated problems caused by bad bacteria.

It should be noted that commercially available oral probiotics are currently incapable of implanting permanently into the bowel flora as they have lost their capability to adhere to epithelial cells through the process of culturing in the commercial laboratory. Only fresh human probiotics from another human being that retain that capability and hence can be implanted to reverse bacterial deficiency and eliminate invading infections.