FAQs

It’s distilled seawater so much of the sodium chloride is removed, leaving a concentration of hugely beneficial minerals. We add a small amount to our probiotics because seawater contains traces of every mineral on earth, as they drain from the land into the sea. Amazing fact: the salinity of human blood is the same as the salinity of the sea.

The probiotic drinks and live yogurts in the shops contain microbes but generally only from one or two families such as lactobacillus and streptococcus. They may also contain sugar and preservatives. Of course, they are better than fizzy drinks or processed food, but it will take a long time and a lot of them to benefit your digestive system. Our probiotic contains a wide range of microbes from 15 main families of bacteria, and within that there are many subcultures so it is a more complex and wide-ranging mix.

Yes, the bottle may expand when stored in warmer than room temperature environments. This living liquid contains live bacteria that have been involved in a fermentation process and slightly higher temperatures may cause the bottle to expand. You may hear a light fizz when opening. Store at room temperature out of direct sunlight.

See the sell by date on the lid of the bottle.

For the microbes to perform at their best it should be consumed while at room temperature. For that reason, we recommend not storing it in the refrigerator; keep it in a temperate environment out of direct sunlight.

Yes. In fact, it is the microbes in your gut that help your body to assimilate nutrients from food and from supplements. So having a diverse and populated microbiome will support your body to absorb the nutrients in supplements.

Alcohol can have a negative effect on your gut bacteria, and equally with the bacteria in this probiotic. We recommend alcohol is avoided for a few hours before and after taking it.

With specific conditions (e.g. pregnancy and breastfeeding), we recommend consulting a doctor before use. There is lots of research suggesting that pregnant and breastfeeding mums and their babes benefit by boosting their microbes. Microbes play a part in every function, from boosting digestion, metabolising food, preventing allergies, eczema and hay fever as well as producing neurotransmitters that affect brain development.

We also make Kids for children which has been specifically brewed to benefit those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It contains strains of friendly microbes which have been shown to pass from mother to child in natural childbirth and breastfeeding.

It does not contain any dairy, nuts, soy or egg derivatives and we do not process these materials in our brewery. However, customers should be encouraged to contact their doctor before using our product if they have any concern about allergies.

Our range has been certified safe for vegetarians and vegans by the vegetarian society apart from Revive and Fitness.

Yes, it is very helpful to rebalance your gut microbiome during and after any antibiotic treatment to help restore and maintain a healthy balance in the gut. Whilst antibiotics usually help to get on top of illness, they can also destroy the ‘beneficial’ bacteria in the gut as they are not discriminating. Ideally you would start taking a probiotic towards the end of the course of antibioitcs (perhaps the last 3 days) and ensure to take it at a different time of day. Then when you have finished the course of antibiotics you can take a double dose for a few days.

Everyone is different, but research suggests that it takes at least 3 months to restore gut health, and some experts say it can take up to two years for optimum results. This is because the microbial community needs time to rebalance and diversify, especially if it has been depleted by antibiotics or a limited diet.

Yes, it is thought that taking a regular daily dose over time will produce the best results. Little and often!

We recommend taking it in the morning and before breakfast. Try keeping it on your kitchen counter, out of direct sunlight, so that you remember to take it in the morning.

"With a bit of time and dedication put towards improving your gut health you will feel great and see results in all aspects of your health.

If you have not done so already it’s worthwhile improving your diet by removing gluten, refined sugars, seed oils and trans fats. Replace inflammatory foods with healing foods, like fermented vegetables (i.e. sauerkraut, kimchi), eat lots of leafy greens and add prebiotics to your diet. Treat any intestinal pathogens (such as parasites) that may be present and take steps to manage stress, maybe try yoga or meditation."

Occasionally customers have reported a loosening of stools or some gas and discomfort during the first few days of taking it. This is quite normal because it means the bacteria are busy working to balance your digestive system. If the discomfort persists or becomes too uncomfortable reduce the dosage or discontinue use.

The bacterial balance in the gut is complex and not all of the causes of imbalance are fully understood. Taking probiotics can be beneficial, especially if you are also managing your diet and lifestyle. A good quality probiotic can have positive effects for the vast majority of people but do not necessarily work the same way for everyone. It may take a few weeks, or even a few months, for you to start to feel the benefits but it is important that anyone taking our probiotic for the first time uses it for at least three months to give it the best opportunity to work.

No specific health claims can be made for probiotics as they are not listed on the EU register. There are many studies and articles that show the links between beneficial bacteria and health and many people including dieticians, nutritionists, doctors and scientists, believe that taking supplements which contain live bacteria commonly known as probiotics can maintain balance in the gut and that can lead to many health benefits.

We pride ourselves on offering a high-quality product every time. The production process is run to full food standards certification and we regularly test our products with an independently certified laboratory, to ensure that every batch reaches the stated quality and purity. If you want to see a version of our HACCAP or GMP certificate then please contact the office on info@microbz.co.uk.

Just as cabbage through lactose fermentation becomes a more nutritious food when it is turned into sauerkraut, the microbes in our probiotic also ferment and boost the juices, herbs and minerals that they are fermented with. The microbes pre-digest the ingredients into bio available compounds that are easily absorbed into the body. Our probiotic is not just a powerful living fermented liquid, it is also a rich source of micro-nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals.

Our probiotic is a living culture that contains 15 strains and billions of active bacteria. It is fermented to a Ph level of 3.2, and this means that the unopened bottle will stay fresh and viable right up to the use by date without refrigeration. Freeze-dried capsules have beneficial bacteria in them that are asleep and need to be woken up in the small intestine.

We regularly test our products using ALS Food and Pharmaceutical, an independently certified laboratory to prove that each cfu/g (colony-forming units per “g” meaning grams) contains at least 500 million living bacteria per 1ml. That means a 15ml shot of contains over 5 billion viable bacteria right up to the use by date on the label.

It is made with 15 strains of carefully selected bacteria: bacillus subtilis, bifidobacterium bifidum, bifidobacterium breve, bifidobacterium infantis, bifidobacterium longum, lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus bulgaricus, lactobacillus casei, lactobacillus fermentum, lactobacillus plantarum, lactobacillus rhamnosus, lactococcus lactis, saccharomyces boulardii, saccharomyces cerevisiae , streptococcus thermophilus.

The culture is brewed slowly in small batches with super juices, herbs and minerals to make this a unique fermented food supplement.

It is a living liquid food supplement containing 15 different strains of friendly bacteria which are known to support and protect the gut. When bacteria are consumed in a liquid, they get delivered straight to the lower intestine. Unlike freeze dried capsules it is already at the right Ph level enabling the bacteria to survive the acidic environment of the stomach, ensuring that most of these friendly microbes reach the lower intestine alive and ready to work.

The high-quality sugar is food for the microbes, and all are used up in the fermentation process. We regularly test the finished brews for sugar (amongst other things) and the result always comes back as sugar-free.

"We hand brew our probiotic and so each of our brews does have its own personality. This means that different batches may taste different and may, as you say, become a little fizzy. The fizz is the result of the probiotic going into what is called secondary fermentation. This means that some fermentation has taken place in the bottle, and the gas that is a by-product of fermentation dissolves back into the liquid causing it to be a little fizzy.

Secondary fermentation indicates that the bacteria are alive and active so the product certainly does still work and is perfectly safe to drink."

"The probiotic does contain yeasts as they are a very important source of beneficial microbes and nutrition to protect the immune system and keep pathogenic organisms such as Candida Albicans in their place. We all have some of the strains of Candida in our gut (there are around 20 different strains) but when we have a healthy gut microbiome, all micro-organisms are in balance with each other.

Our advice on this matter is that if you are currently suffering from an overgrowth of Candida Albicans to avoid sugars and yeasts and not take this probiotic for the acute period in case it may aggravate symptoms. (Some people are more sensitive to yeasts in general than others). After the condition has been bought into remission (there are various approaches) then we highly recommended taking it to maintain a healthy gut environment along with a healthy plant rich diet."

No, it cannot make B vitamins as such, but when combined with a gut friendly diet the microbiome can flourish and then certain microbes will be able to produce Biotin, Folic Acid, B1 and B12.

Our probiotic is a living liquid food supplement designed to support overall health and wellbeing and boost your immune system. Of course, there would be no harm in taking a break from it but for optimum results, and to obtain the best microbiome, we would highly recommend taking it every day as a part of your daily routine.

We introduce substances into our probiotic that are designed to activate the body to heal itself. Even small amounts of particular herbs can nudge the body to re-find balance, and balance = health.

None of the herbs and minerals in the probiotic are in medicinal doses. We know that no one thing heals the body, the body is designed to heal itself given the right environment. The amounts of herbal ingredients that remain at the end of the fermentation process are designed to nudge the body into self-healing. The key is that the microbes give our brews an intelligence and they help the body access what it needs from the herbal ingredients, and distribute accordingly.

"The white bits you have seen in your probiotic are quite common. Some of the bacteria in it are anaerobic – this means they normally live in an oxygen free environment. When the liquid is exposed to the air, during the bottling process and obviously when you open it, these bacteria act to create the right environment for themselves – i.e. they try to “protect” themselves from the air by forming a skin of sorts.

The sediment is evidence that the bacteria are alive and active. It is perfectly safe to drink the product, white sediment and all, and the sediment will not affect its effectiveness."

We use qualified medical herbalists to design the probiotic range, and each of the selected ingredients has been the subject of scientific study.

Our probiotic is brewed to a ph (acidity) of 3.2 which is the same as stomach acid, so the living microbes are not affected in fact they naturally survive.

"All our products are hand brewed and therefore each batch is unique. We know every bottle contains billions of microbes but we do not put a consistent number on our labels, because our test results naturally vary.

The world of microbiology is full of mindbogglingly large numbers, and many producers claim ever higher CFU counts; we are confident that each tablespoon of our probiotic is teeming with billions of beneficial bacteria. We also believe that rather than the number of beneficial microbes, an important factor in their ability to maintain health is the combination of many different strains of microbes; the diverse, broad spectrum nature of our probiotic. "

"Hydrogen peroxide is water with an extra oxygen molecule and it can be very effective to give the body more oxygen, in a concentrated form it is also used to clean surfaces. We use a micro-dose of food grade 35% solution which is carefully diluted to ensure it is safe for the body. Hydrogen peroxide is found naturally in mother’s milk and fruit and vegetables and it can activate the immune system, increase the oxygen content of the blood and body tissues and detoxify the body.

There is some evidence that cancer cells thrive in a low-oxygen environment so hydrogen peroxide promotes healthy metabolism by saturating cells with oxygen."

The amounts of herbs and minerals in our products are not medicinal doses. They are designed to stimulate the body into self-healing. The key is that we deliver microbes alongside the herbs. Microbes give our brews an intelligence and act as a messenger. They help the body access what it needs, and distribute accordingly. What the body doesn’t require, it will allow to pass through the system.

"Our probiotic is safe for everyone. Occasionally people report a reaction when they start taking it. A reaction indicates an existing imbalance of some kind in the microbiome. A reaction indicates what needs the most healing and is usually a sign of that kick starting. Very often this 'healing crisis' is a detoxification process happening and causing unpleasant symptoms.

Some people report rashes when they start taking it. Rashes are a classic sign of a detox happening.The body heals from the inside to the outside and the skin being our largest organ can be very efficient at taking on this role. What you want to do when detox is happening is to support the process, so don’t put creams on to suppress, but drink plenty of filtered water and eat lightly.

We would recommend that you keep taking the probiotic but halve the dose until you feel like sympotoms are easing. "

Our approach is to deliver a multi-strain, synergistic, wide angled, broad spectrum product. Research and our own experience suggests that a combination of microbes and herbs is powerful. There is strength in community intelligence and action. Diversity, abundance and generosity are in nature; these qualities are also in our brews. We know that every microbiome is unique, and we trust that the microbes will help the body access what nutrients it needs from the formulation. Anything the body doesn’t need, it allows to pass through the digestive process.

It is a great probiotic to try if you have celiac disease, and we recommend that you start with Revive. Because it is a fermented product, all the gluten is used up by the microbes. All of our products are regularly tested to ensure the gluten is below 20ppm and therefore registered as gluten free. However we know that for people with serious gluten intolerances having products containing any gluten can be scary therefore microbz immunity is made with organic molasses rather than any barley and is also allergen and gluten free.

They are designed to supplement your diet. Microbes get energy and sustenance more from prebiotics (vegetables that are high in inulin), which is one reason a plant based diet is preferable. The many ingredients in our probiotic are a great supplement to your diet, and the diverse microbes in a healthy gut will deliver those nutrients to wherever they are most needed in the body.

We develop all of our products with a medical herbalist. It was important to use a form of glucosamine sulphate in Revive and Fitness that is derived from crustaceans because it is easier for the body to absorb.

L-glutamine is found in Revive and is an amino acid that is naturally made in the body but which most people are deficient in. It is important for protecting the gut lining (from mouth to bottom) and increasing the stability of the gut.

Revive is designed to repair the gut, so we recommend it as a starting solution to digestive issues. Not only is a healthy gut the foundation of a good immune system but if nutrient absorption is not optimum from there, the body finds it hard to correct any deficiencies. After Revive, you could move on to Sustain for regular maintenance.

People tell us it can be tough going it alone. It can be a big lifestyle switch to commit for three months to rebalancing your microbiome. So we add the support of the group, the daily noticing, and email nudges to help anchor the process.

Every digestive issue and almost every other health issue (apart from broken bones) begins in the gut, so whatever is going on for you will benefit from a reboot. 80% of our immunity lives in the gut too, so keeping the gut in good condition with a diverse multi strain culture helps to ward off pathogens and keeps us healthy.

Our modern lifestyle can harm our microbiome, due to chemical cleaners, car exhausts, fertilisers in food and drinking water, as well as anxiety and stress. Even if you don’t have a serious health condition, a reboot will revive and rejuvenate you by delivering billions of beneficial bacteria every day.

The specially selected herbs, minerals and electrolytes in Fitness help the body to recover after exercise. Glucosamine and collagen are important ingredients for connective tissues, and delivered by the billions of microbes in our brew. People – not just athletes - tell us they notice improved stamina and quicker recovery after exercise.

microbz Breathe is our fermented probiotic for easier breathing. It has 15 families of live active cultures and herbs to maintain healthy airways. This powerful combination of beneficial bacteria, herbs and minerals has been specifically designed to:

Aid the lungs and respiratory system
Help the thinning, loosening and expulsion of excess mucus
Aim to relieve asthma symptoms
Help those who suffer from chronic bronchitis or struggle with high pollution levels

The role of gut bacteria in immune system development has been well researched and it turns out that the microbiome – the trillions of good and bad bacteria in your body – can have a big effect on breathing problems and asthma. When the microbiome is out of balance, the symptoms can be much worse.

Liver disease can be an inherited condition, but there are also lots of lifestyle factors which can contribute to an unhealthy liver. Some of the warning signs of an unhealthy liver are:
Skin and eyes with a yellowish appearance

Itchy skin
Dark urine colour
Bruising easily
Swelling in the ankles and lower legs
Chronic fatigue

"Viruses need a living host in order to survive and multiply. They can only survive on surfaces (i.e. outside a living host) when in a droplet form, and only for a limited time. The good bacteria in our products eat away at the matter in this droplet, creating an environment where the virus cannot survive. So, whilst our products don’t directly kill viruses, they do breakdown some of their defences.

We need to have concrete scientific evidence to support the efficacy of probiotic cleaning products against specific viruses (e.g. SARS-CoV2) before we can advise our customers. We are hoping to test our products against specific viruses, but until such a study is complete, we cannot state anything for certain."

Anywhere you store water; in kettles, water jugs, animal troughs, water tanks, flower vases, dishwashers and washing machines. The ceramic water pipes discourage limescale and algae buildup so you don’t have to clean or de-scale so often.

The ceramic clay is fired with beneficial bacteria at a very high temperature, so the microbes are no longer alive. Yet these beads revitalise water damaged by chemicals or industrial processes, so it is easier for the body to absorb. They work by resonance, bringing the energy of balance back into water.

Definitely, microbz cleaners are 100% natural, non-toxic and safe to use around people, pets and the environment. Introducing more beneficial microbes into your home may even have a positive benefit for their health.

The cleaners are made from 100% natural ingredients. The essential oils used are organic.

The cleaners are not made from plants. They are made from microbes which are derived from nature. The ingredients include beneficial microbes, essential oils and enzymes. Microbial or probiotic cleaners are more effective than plant-based cleaners because they don’t just clean – they also add beneficial microbes to your surface or textile.

Yes. The surface cleaner is suitable for any surface.

The power cleaner contains enzymes for an extra boost to break down grease and grime whereas the surface cleaner does not.

No. You need to dilute it. Find out more about dilution rates here.

The cleaners smell of essential oils. The scent is not overpowering.

Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are great natural cleaners, but they would not repopulate a surface with beneficial bacteria for long-term results. Various studies have shown that surfaces cleaned with microbial cleaners stay cleaner for longer because the pathogenic bacteria don’t come back so quickly, as they are repelled by the ‘good guys’.

And microbz cleaners have essential oils added so the smell is different – we would say better! But if you still want to use vinegar and bicarbonate of soda for particular situations, we recommend you don’t use them at the same time or on the same day as your microbz.

The more you use microbes to clean your home the longer your surfaces and textiles will stay clean. The balance of good microbes over time builds up a bio-film of positive bacteria meaning you will need to clean less often.

"Yes. Microbial cleaners work by introducing bacteria (microbes) that are positive to the environment you’re cleaning. The job of these bacteria is to gobble up dirt and grease – which they are very good at – and to fight off pathogenic, or bad, microbes.

Chemical cleaners kill all the good and bad bacteria on a surface but after 20 minutes or so the surface will be recolonised with bacteria and the strongest ones are often the bad ones. Also, because bacteria are living creatures, the more you kill them, the more likely they are to mutate and grow resistant to antibacterial cleaners. By balancing the good and bad you are cleaning with the power of nature."

Yes. They may be the only thing that is safe for those with severe allergies. The beneficial microbes in the cleaners should help to ease allergy symptoms. However, if your symptoms dramatically increase or you don’t see any improvement over a month then please contact us.

They have been infused with microbes for that extra microbial boost and are designed to restructure water and make it more easily absorbed by the body.

Anywhere you use water – in the dishwasher and washing machine we band them together with elastic, so they don’t run away. Place a few in the kettle, in the water jug, and in spray bottles.

No, the microbes are baked into the ceramic. But they still affect water through resonance. So the microbes change the vibration in the pipes, which in turn affects the structure of the water.

The air we breathe is full of microbes. When you spray beneficial microbes in Air Freshener they rebalance allergens, pollen and smells to minimise anything harmful.

Bamboo is an incredibly renewable and versatile crop. It requires very little water and doesn't need to be sprayed with pesticides or fertilisers to grow.
Bamboo material is softer than silk, and it's also anti-bacterial, making it a great candidate for cleaning.

Yes. Beneficial microbes are very good at fighting fungal infections. They help to balance out the bacteria and microorganisms in a plant which helps to keep fungal infections at bay.

Yes. We encourage you to use our Soil Conditioner and Plant Boost on your vegetable patch. They will help to keep your soil fertile and help your vegetables grow. They are 100% natural and completely safe – you don’t even need to wait before harvesting and eating.

Yes. Plant Boost and Soil Conditioner can both be used on your potted plants. If you use a little Soil Conditioner as you pot new plants this will also give them an added boost of beneficial microbes.

Pond balance is completely safe and non-toxic for all animals in and around your pond.

The best time to use Plant Boost is throughout the growing season depending on the plant or vegetable. It is a foliar feed, so at least two to three leaves need to be showing on young plants before you use it. Also, on young plants use a very diluted solution as specified in the instructions.

The best time of year to use Soil Conditioner is in the spring when preparing the soil for planting, and in the autumn once annual flowers and vegetables have gone over or have been harvested. It is best to spray or water over cover crop, plant waste or bare soil or so maximum solution reaches maximum soil.

Soil Conditioner will, when applied, increase the fertility of your soil and because it is a natural product it does not have any negative effects. We would recommend that you do not use any chemical fertilisers.

"Large numbers of bacteria exist in soil. One gram of soil contains anywhere from a few hundred million to several billion microorganisms.

Microbes are fundamental to help the ecosystem function by breaking down organic substances and circulating nutrients. When the quantity of healthy microbes in the soil decreases or the balance is disrupted, other living things such as earthworms will be negatively affected and the soil will become impoverished.

The diversity of microbes contained in our products will increase the number and diversity of microbes in the soil. When they are activated, protozoans and larger organisms such as worms will increase in number and a healthier ecosystem will result. Soil with diversified microflora will inhibit the growth of specific disease-causing bacteria, which help prevent plant loss. "

Using microbes can lower fertiliser costs and can reduce weed infestation over time. Microbes mainly work anaerobically, therefore they are especially suitable for use in places where problems with rotting and smells occur. Throughout Europe microbes are used extensively in agriculture; in the UK we are catching up.

Microbes boost plant growth, plant quality and soil fertility because they balance the environment and deliver nutrients to plants. They stimulate decomposition and fermentation which helps rotting, so that less energy is lost. Soil that is rich in beneficial microbes produces productive plants, suppresses illnesses and produces high-quality yields.

There is scientific evidence to indicate that microbial cultures can suppress soil-borne pathogens, accelerate the decomposition of compost, increase the availability of mineral nutrients and useful organic compounds to plants, enhance the activities of beneficial, indigenous microbes, fix atmospheric nitrogen, and reduce the need for chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

If you have added Bokashi to the layers of peelings, leftovers, and general food waste in your kitchen compost bucket as you go, then it will all have begun to break down already. When you empty it, we recommend you bury the contents in the garden around a foot deep, and sprinkle another layer of Bokashi. It will be absorbed into soil within about a month.

Yes. It is common at first for pets (and humans) to have a loosening of stools. If anything, it is a sign that they need more Nutrition Booster to stabilise their gastrointestinal system. If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, please contact us.

Yes, our nutrition range is suitable for young animals however we recommend starting them on a lower dose. Try a half dose initially and increase gradually as they grow.

Nutrition Booster is the best product for pets who are suffering with constipation. The beneficial bacteria will start to work in their guts and help to loosen their stools.

Try mixing the product in with your pet’s wet or dry food. Start with small amounts and increase gradually to the full dose.

People worry about the word “bacteria”. There are three kinds of bacterial microbes good, neutral and bad. Horses need a balance of these and thankfully only a few of the good bacteria are needed to keep the bad and neutral in check. As long as the balance of good, neutral and bad bacteria remains constant and the gastrointestinal tract is stable and the horse stays healthy.

All the sugars are taken out in the fermentation process so in the final product there are no sugars. Microbz products are100% natural for any horse or pony with PPID.

We don’t like chemicals and given the choice we expect our pets will feel the same. Cleaning kennels, coops, patios and other outdoor areas where urine and faeces produce smells and flies with Healthy Habitats helps reduce odours and fly infestations. Because it’s 100% natural it’s perfectly safe for your pets to walk on before it’s dried and you need not worry about them licking their paws.

Spraying Healthy Habitats or Air and Fabric Freshener on your pet’s bedding can reduce odours in between washes.

The nutrition boosters can increase appetite and strengthen digestion. They aim to support the animal's immune system by delivering friendly microbes to the gut and can supplement medical treatment.

Microbes can be very effective in treating wounds. We have seen pictures of a horse horribly wounded by barbed wire that healed within 10 days. For wounds, spray daily with undiluted microbes until healing is complete.

Yes. Beneficial microbes are very good at supporting a pet’s immune system and helping them to fight allergies. However, if you notice any increase in your pet’s symptoms then please stop using the product and contact us.

Gut health and wellbeing are as important in animals as it is humans. Microbz products are natural and safe for your pets and their environment.