Your digestive system is one of the most important systems in the body. If your body cannot properly digest and absorb nutrients and eliminate waste products, then it is difficult to achieve optimal health. Proper gut function is critical to addressing many seemingly unrelated conditions.
If your gut is not happy, your body is not happy!|
The human gut microbiome plays a role in health and the development of chronic diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Beyond this, imbalances in the internal ecosystem present in the digestive tract have been linked to other inflammatory conditions such as asthma and allergies, as well as autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In addition, gut microbiota have been implicated in the development of endocrine imbalances, anxiety, and depression. Resolving digestive problems means more than a quick fix to relieve a symptom. It means taking a holistic and comprehensive approach to healing your digestive system and promoting long-term digestive health.
Pinpoint the issue through testing
Testing is now so advanced it can effectively pinpoint the area of gastrointestinal imbalance and used to identify the causes of your acute and chronic digestive problems. Armed with this information, an assessment can be made of the overall role of digestion and absorption in your body and how they affect other health conditions you’re experiencing.
Disorders of digestion and intestinal function can be treated very well through functional and holistic approaches. Working with the body to optimize digestion, reduce inflammation, and improve elimination can have widespread positive effects on overall health. Most people are unaware that the intestines contain about 85% of the body’s immune cells and neurotransmitters.
Intestinal conditions that respond very well to integrative medical approaches include:
- Gastro-esophageal reflux
- Food allergies and intolerances, including Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivity
- Poor digestive function including hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid)
- Yeast and bacterial overgrowth of the intestines
- Parasitic infections
- Crohn's Disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Microscopy or lymphocytic colitis
- Irritable Bowel Disease
- Symptoms of GI dysfunction may include:
- Bloating
- Fever
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Anemia
- Abdominal pain
- Cramping
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Food intolerances