Imagine getting drunk without swallowing a single drop of alcohol. Not only is this a real medical condition, but the newest way to cure it is with a poop transplant.
Our intestines contain many types of bacteria and fungi, including some which turn sugar into alcohol. This is completely natural and healthy, until they become too numerous – a condition called auto-brewery syndrome (ABS).
In 2016, a Belgian man started treatment for ABS after several months of feeling drunk. His blood alcohol levels were three times the Australian legal driving limit, entirely caused by his unbalanced gut.
Doctors prescribed medication and a low-sugar diet, but a month later he was still suffering the condition’s effects. Because of this, they decided to try a new treatment – a poop transplant.
They took poo from his daughter’s intestines and inserted it in the man’s gut. Her healthy bacterial levels helped rebalance his, curing the ABS. Four years later, he remains sober – except after a couple drinks, of course.
Lachlan Writes Science 