What are Biofilms and how do they affect you?

We are, upsettingly, mostly made of bacteria. Bacteria are the foundation of every life form on this planet, so “eradicating” them is impossible (and unhealthy).  Had bacteria not developed resistance to antibiotics, all life on this earth could already have become extinct!    Biofilms are colonies of bacteria, fungi and parasites that clump together and adhere to a mucosal lining in your body by producing a protective matrix around themselves that essentially provides a shield to your immune system, making them very difficult to eliminate. 

Biofilms can be found in many areas of the body.  Once a colony has formed under a biofilm, they then use a unique method of communication with other bacteria etc called “quorum sensing”, effectively drawing other microbes to join them under the biofilm.  An example of this is sinus infection, whereby the biofilm has proven too strong for the immune system to eliminate, and chronic infection persists.  Having tools to break down biofilms then is a useful this to understand.

One of the the big hitters in my clinic for this purpose is herbal extract of Thyme.  You can also use a good quality Thyme-infused honey, or make your own by steeping dried or fresh thyme in honey overnight. For chronic biofilm situations (e.g. chronic sinusitis, chronic gut infections etc), this may not be enough.

Sinusitis (whether due to allergies, injury, genetics or diet) can make you feel persistently unwell, and it’s very important that you get this treated and cleared.  Stagnant mucous in the sinus cavities is a breeding ground for bacteria, and once established, they can be very hard to shift.  I recommend addressing the cause (identifying the potential allergen combination of herbal medicines along with a nasal spray and addressing the underlying cause (e.g. food intolerance, environment).

Then, a food first approach is absolutely recommended. Check Taste Success for some easy food-based programmes to help you.