Rise of the DIY faecal transplants: Experts warn trend that sees people ingest others’ poo in hopes of curing ailments has ‘significant risks’

Poop transplants are offered to patients with debilitating intestinal disorders.

But hopes that the treatment could cure a range of other conditions have led to an increase in the number of people carrying out the procedure themselves, experts warn.

Fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), also called stool or poop transplants, involve collecting stool from a healthy person, which is then treated in a laboratory before being transferred to patients. It is already available on the NHS for a handful of patients.

However, social media users have taken to performing the treatment themselves, using the feces of friends or family members to fill syringes or make pills that they then transfer to their intestines.

Dietitians told MailOnline that the DIY approach is ‘incredibly dangerous’ and can lead to ‘life-threatening’ infections.

FMT is available on the NHS to treat diarrhea caused by the Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) bacteria and symptoms of ulcerative colitis – a condition that causes the colon and rectum to become inflamed.

In the US, the treatment is only approved for treating C. diff.

It involves collecting stool from a healthy donor.

Scientists then filter the stool to remove undigested food and other particles. It is then tested for diseases before being frozen and then transferred to the patient.

This is usually done via a colonoscopy, in which a doctor guides a tube through the rectum to the intestines.

The transplant can also take place through a tube that is inserted into the nose and then guided to the intestines.

The stool can also be converted into capsules.

This practice, which has its origins in ancient Chinese medicine, is thought to work by rebalancing the bacteria and other organisms in the intestines.

However, it is not without risks. The test may not detect a harmful pathogen and the tube used to transfer the sample may damage the intestines or lungs.

Although the NHS only offers this treatment for two conditions, research suggests it could help treat a variety of other bowel conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and neurological problems.

However, this wave of hope has led to them making their own DIY stool transplants.

Saffron Cassaday, from the US, has detailed how she used her husband’s stool to perform the procedure herself to treat her ulcerative colitis.

The 36-year-old collected her husband’s stool and mixed it with water or saline before putting the mixture in an enema bottle to administer to herself through her rectum. She performed the procedure more than 100 times in two years.

She shared her experiences in the documentary Designer S***, released last week, claiming the treatment cured her symptoms and helped her ‘get her life back’.

Clips on social media show people how others have made their own FMT products and performed the treatment in their own homes.

They claim the treatment helped cure their C. diff, poor digestion and “incurable intestinal diseases.”

TikTok videos that have been viewed thousands of times show people preparing syringes of feces to insert into the rectum.

A video posted by @Scottscotto, which has been viewed 1.3 million times, shows three syringes filled with feces that he claims will be transferred into his rectum by his husband.

Another clip, posted by @taniasiriphone, has been viewed more than 3,000 times and shows her unpacking fecal donation pills, which she said are “harder to get.”

A video from @Ryanroseevans has been viewed more than 8,900 times and describes how he used his wife’s stool to cure his ‘incurable bowel disease’ and performed the procedure at home.

People also take to Reddit to share their tips on DIY fecal transplants.

One user claimed that they used their father’s feces to make ‘frozen capsules’ or perform an enema.

Another user @ja-gandhi confessed to making his own capsules.

Videos on YouTube from 2013 show people how to make capsules and prepare donations for FMT.

A video titled “Do-it-yourself FMT Capsules,” posted by @davidepattibiomed89, shows people how to make capsules “without lab equipment.”

Another post from @MichaelHurstFMT4UC titled “DIY Fecal Transplants to Cure Yourself of Ulcerative Colitis” also shows people how to prepare stool for a transplant using items you can find “at the drugstore.”

Guts UK told MailOnline that it is aware of people who have tried or considered undertaking FMT themselves, but it strongly advises against this.

‘The idea of ​​people doing ‘do-it-yourself’ or ‘at home’ fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) is very frightening. This is incredibly dangerous and can cause serious harm,” said Julie Thompson, information manager at the charity and specialist dietitian in the field of gastroenterology.

Even if people know the donor, such as a friend or family member, they cannot test the safety of the stool at home, she warns.

This could make the procedure ‘life-threatening’ because of the infections that can be transmitted, says Ms Harrington.

She says: ‘Research in animals has even shown that it is possible to transmit mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression through faeces.

‘Although this has not yet been proven in humans, it is important to test both the effect and side effects of new therapies in carefully controlled clinical trials.’

The FMT available on the NHS is only for patients suffering from a severe C. diff infection and not responding to standard treatment.

‘It is always carried out by an FMT specialist. FMT is so specialist that there are only two UK hospitals with a recognized stool bank,” says Ms Harrington.

‘The poo donors undergo a rigorous screening process, which includes a full health questionnaire, blood and poo samples. The fecal samples are strictly checked.’

She added, “I urge you: If you are suffering from indigestion or a digestive condition, please do not be tempted to do a DIY FMT. We would never recommend this. Guts UK is here to help. Please contact us or your GP.’