A Gut Feeling: The Importance of the Intestinal Microbiota in Psychiatric Disorders
Here’s an excerpt from the introduction:
“Charles Darwin kept a diary where he would annotate feelings and symptoms, often describing his trouble with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and anxiety (1). In one of his letters to his medical advisors, he noted the “nervousness” when his wife Emma would depart that would trigger “intensely acid, slimy (sometimes bitter) vomit”. …
… “Is there a scientific basis for the adage, “my gut tells me?” Reading Darwin’s notes, one would consider that emotions and GI tract functions are directly connected. As the most recent works demonstrate, the intestinal tract is home for a heterogeneous microbial ecosystem dominated by bacteria but also comprised of viruses, archaea, and other eukaryotic microorganisms” …
