Approaching the Gastrointestinal System
The First Step
A thorough history and assessment of the digestive systems’ imbalance is an important first step. Is there bloating, gas, pain, diarrhea, constipation? Where is the discomfort exactly? When did it all begin?
Some Considerations
Many systems and factors influence the gastrointestinal function. What kind of food is being eaten. Are there food allergies and sensitivities? Is stress influencing the digestive system? Could there be a pathogen, an infection (such as Clostridium difficile, giardia, cryptosporidium, h. pylori, a protozoa, or candida)? Is there a bacterial overgrowth or a deficiency in the digestive capacity? Stool tests can be very helpful to evaluate bacteria, protozoa, yeast and other imbalances of the gut flora. I primarily use the GI Map by Diagnositic Solutions for my stool testing.
In Addition
Where is the problem? In the upper digestive system: the stomach (h.pylori) or esophagus; the small intestine (SIBO) or the large intestine (parasites)? What other symptoms are happening at the same time?
The Abdomen
What makes a digestive system diagnosis tricky is that there are many organs in the abdominal cavity which are adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract. Could it be the gallbladder, the liver, the kidneys or the pancreas? An ultrasound can be a helpful first step to evaluate these organ systems.
SIBO
Is there a Small Intestinal Bowl Overgrowth (SIBO) condition present? Common symptoms include bloating, pain, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), reflux, diarrhea, constipation. It is thought that 60 to 70% of IBS is due to SIBO! SIBO can cause nutritional deficiencies and is related to the slow transit time.
Problematic Foods
I often begin with a food allergy/sensitivity testing to understand if they may be causing a reaction. These reactions cause inflammation, an increase the release of cytokines, and can contribute to leaky gut syndrome. For some patients this is the crucial test and can clear up their symptoms.
Treatment
Eliminating the offending food, pathogen or bacteria is the key. This is done via specific herbs, prescriptions and nutrients. The treatment the GI tract takes time and patience. These plans take months. Persistence and follow through are important ingredients.
GALT
Have heard the expression you are what you eat? A vital real foods diet makes a difference. Surrounding the intestines is the immune system named the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). The GALT makes up 70% of the immune system by weight. By treating the GI tract, we treat the immune system directly.
Healing
The third step of treatment is working to heal the gut. Nourishing the mucous membranes is the goal and rebalancing the microbial flora. This means working with real foods, probiotics and supportive natural medicines to heal the mucosal lining of the gut. Glutamine and slippery elm are common ingredients used.
The First Step
A thorough history and assessment of the digestive systems’ imbalance is an important first step. Is there bloating, gas, pain, diarrhea, constipation? Where is the discomfort exactly? When did it all begin?
Some Considerations
Many systems and factors influence the gastrointestinal function. What kind of food is being eaten. Are there food allergies and sensitivities? Is stress influencing the digestive system? Could there be a pathogen, an infection (such as Clostridium difficile, giardia, cryptosporidium, h. pylori, a protozoa, or candida)? Is there a bacterial overgrowth or a deficiency in the digestive capacity? Stool tests can be very helpful to evaluate bacteria, protozoa, yeast and other imbalances of the gut flora. I primarily use the GI Map by Diagnositic Solutions for my stool testing.
In Addition
Where is the problem? In the upper digestive system: the stomach (h.pylori) or esophagus; the small intestine (SIBO) or the large intestine (parasites)? What other symptoms are happening at the same time?
The Abdomen
What makes a digestive system diagnosis tricky is that there are many organs in the abdominal cavity which are adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract. Could it be the gallbladder, the liver, the kidneys or the pancreas? An ultrasound can be a helpful first step to evaluate these organ systems.
SIBO
Is there a Small Intestinal Bowl Overgrowth (SIBO) condition present? Common symptoms include bloating, pain, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), reflux, diarrhea, constipation. It is thought that 60 to 70% of IBS is due to SIBO! SIBO can cause nutritional deficiencies and is related to the slow transit time.
Problematic Foods
I often begin with a food allergy/sensitivity testing to understand if they may be causing a reaction. These reactions cause inflammation, an increase the release of cytokines, and can contribute to leaky gut syndrome. For some patients this is the crucial test and can clear up their symptoms.
Treatment
Eliminating the offending food, pathogen or bacteria is the key. This is done via specific herbs, prescriptions and nutrients. The treatment the GI tract takes time and patience. These plans take months. Persistence and follow through are important ingredients.
GALT
Have heard the expression you are what you eat? A vital real foods diet makes a difference. Surrounding the intestines is the immune system named the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). The GALT makes up 70% of the immune system by weight. By treating the GI tract, we treat the immune system directly.
Healing
The third step of treatment is working to heal the gut. Nourishing the mucous membranes is the goal and rebalancing the microbial flora. This means working with real foods, probiotics and supportive natural medicines to heal the mucosal lining of the gut. Glutamine and slippery elm are common ingredients used.
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