Herbal Axis™

Derek Clontz says, "The human gut, specifically the gut microbiome, is a complex ecosystem with intricate, bidirectional connections to virtually every organ system in the body.

"Your grandmother, great grandmother, and great-grandmother probably would have put it this way, 'Live begins in the colon, honey—and you better take care of it, because so does death.'

"Traditional herbalists then and now would tell you the same. Here, for our purposes, is up-to-the-minute that you can read and consider and discuss with your doctor. I encourage you read on and even research the matter further.

"If you gut is sick, struggling, or stressed, it won't be long before you have pituary, heart, vision, liver, kidney, pancreatic, brain and other failures that could wreck you life or even worse.

"Everybody's heard about the gut-brain axis, but fewer are aware of the gut-eyes, gut-lungs, gut-liver, gut-heart and other axes, axes being the plural form of axis. That's a shame. Knowledge is, as they say, power, in this context, meaning the power to enjoy glowing good, feel-good health instead of slogging through your days and tossing and turning through your nights wondering if your suffering will ever end."

Consumer Advisory. Statements and information are for informational purposes only and they are not to be construed as medical advice. If you are sick, consult a doctor you trust before trying to diagnose and treat yourself. Dietary supplements that appear on this Web site are foods, not drugs, and they have not been evaluated as drugs by the FDA. They are not intended to help you diagnose, treat, mitigate, prevent or cure any illness.

The gut-brain axis

This is a complex communication system between the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord, and the enteric nervous system (ENS), or "second brain," in the gut.

Neural pathways: The primary link is the vagus nerve, which sends signals about gut conditions directly to the brain and transmits signals from the brain back to the gut. The ENS also has over 500 million neurons and can manage local digestive functions somewhat independently of the CNS.
Neurotransmitters: The gut microbiome produces and influences neurotransmitters like serotonin (about 90% of the body's supply), GABA, and dopamine, which affect mood, stress, and behavior.
Microbial metabolites: Gut bacteria produce metabolites like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which can cross the blood-brain barrier and influence brain function, including memory and anxiety.
Involvement in disease: A dysfunctional gut-brain axis is linked to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

The gut-liver axis

This is a bidirectional relationship involving the gut, the gut microbiota, and the liver.

Communication routes: The main pathways are the portal vein, which carries nutrients and microbial products from the gut to the liver, and the bile ducts, which transport bile and its metabolites from the liver to the gut.
Microbial metabolites: Gut microbes produce metabolites such as SCFAs and bile acids. In a healthy state, these promote liver health. In dysbiosis, harmful byproducts like lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can damage the liver.
Intestinal barrier: The gut barrier prevents bacteria and toxins from entering the bloodstream. If compromised (a "leaky gut"), harmful substances can translocate to the liver via the portal vein, causing inflammation and exacerbating liver diseases.
Involvement in disease: Imbalances in this axis are implicated in conditions like fatty liver disease (MASLD and ALD) and liver cancer.

The gut-immune system axis

This axis is crucial for training and regulating the immune system, with 70-80% of the body's immune cells located in the gut.

Microbial education: The gut microbiome educates immune cells, helping them distinguish between harmful and harmless signals.
Immune tolerance and inflammation: The microbiome helps maintain immune homeostasis. Dysbiosis can trigger an inflammatory response that extends throughout the body.
Mediators: The gut-immune axis communicates via cytokines, microbial metabolites, and immune cells that travel through circulation to other organs.
Involvement in disease: Dysfunction in this axis is associated with autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and a range of inflammatory and infectious diseases.

The gut-cardiovascular axis

The gut and its microbiome significantly influence heart and vascular health.

Microbial metabolites: Gut bacteria produce metabolites like trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) from dietary nutrients like carnitine (in red meat) and choline (in eggs). High levels of TMAO are associated with atherosclerosis, blood vessel damage, and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Inflammation: A leaky gut caused by dysbiosis allows microbial products to enter the bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation that promotes plaque formation and endothelial dysfunction.
Blood pressure regulation: Gut-produced SCFAs have anti-inflammatory effects and may influence blood pressure regulation.
Involvement in disease: Imbalances in this axis are linked to cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure.

The gut-kidney axis

The kidney and gut share a reciprocal relationship, with dysfunction in one affecting the other.

Metabolite accumulation: In chronic kidney disease (CKD), the gut microbiota is altered, leading to an overproduction of uremic toxins from protein fermentation. These toxins, such as indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate, accumulate in the bloodstream and further impair kidney function.
Gut barrier dysfunction: Uremia and a high-toxin environment increase intestinal permeability (leaky gut), allowing endotoxins to enter circulation and cause systemic inflammation, which worsens kidney damage.
Involvement in disease: This axis is a key factor in the progression of CKD and its associated complications, including cardiovascular disease.

The gut-lung axis

This bidirectional communication pathway links the gut microbiome and lung health.

Immune cell trafficking: The gut microbiome influences the development and maturation of immune cells that travel to the lungs, affecting the severity of allergic inflammation, asthma, and other respiratory conditions.
Microbial metabolites: Microbial metabolites from the gut, such as SCFAs, can enter systemic circulation and modulate the immune response in the lungs.
Microbial translocation: In severe lung infections or sepsis, there can be a translocation of microbes from the gut to the lungs.
Involvement in disease: Imbalances in this axis are linked to diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), and susceptibility to viral infections like influenza.

The gut-skin axis

The gut microbiome influences skin health through communication involving the immune system and metabolites.

Metabolites: Microbial metabolites can be absorbed into circulation and affect skin hydration, inflammation, and cellular processes.
Inflammation: A dysfunctional gut barrier can lead to systemic inflammation, which is a driver of inflammatory skin conditions.
Involvement in disease: Conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea, and atopic dermatitis (eczema) have been linked to an imbalance in the gut microbiome.

The gut-endocrine axis

This axis involves the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the body's hormonal systems.

Hormone modulation: Gut microbes influence hormones related to stress (like cortisol through the HPA axis), appetite (like ghrelin), and metabolic function.
Nutrient and hormone interactions: Microbes produce metabolites and neurotransmitters that interact with gut endocrine cells, influencing the release of hormones that regulate digestion, appetite, and metabolism.
Involvement in disease: Dysregulation of this axis is linked to metabolic disorders, obesity, and stress-related conditions.
The human gut, specifically the gut microbiome, is a complex ecosystem with intricate, bidirectional connections to virtually every organ system in the body.