Gastrointestinal Disorders & GI Health

Naturopathic medicine is well-suited to address many different types of gastrointestinal concerns throughout the GI tract, ranging from acute to chronic issues.

In specific, chronic GI disorders such as IBS and GERD are often the most commonly addressed issues of the GI tract. When symptoms and overall well being improves in these cases, it is commonly due to an extensive investigation into the underlying cause. This investigation is one of the most important pieces of a Naturopathic doctor’s approach to healing.

Common GI Concerns

The naturopathic approach of addressing the root cause of dis-ease is likely to lead to long-term success and patient satisfaction. Some common GI-specific conditions that are often successfully managed or supported with naturopathic medicine include:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – including chronic constipation and diarrhea
• Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
• Crohn’s Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Gastritis
• Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)
• Food Intolerances
• Gallbladder dysfunction
• Liver disease
• Diverticulosis/diverticulitis

Naturopathic medicine is founded on the guiding principle that “all disease begins in the gut” – a concept first observed over 2000 years ago by Hippocrates. With this concept in mind, nearly every naturopathic doctor addresses digestive health as part of a holistic healing and wellness strategy, even if an individual does not have one of the above-named issues.

When addressing gut imbalances such as IBS or GERD, your ND will consider several contributing factors including lifestyle, stressors, diet, emotions, mental state, and overall constitution. The gut has a built-in nervous system, called the enteric nervous system, that functions autonomously from the brain. On average, the gut is sending up to 9 messages to the brain for every 1 message the brain sends to the gut. A huge chunk of the immune system resides in the gut, and a vast network of probiotics (some 3-4 pounds!) regulates the absorption and health of the epithelial lining of the intestines and colon. A large majority of your hormones are also produced within the gut, including the important hormone serotonin. Receptors for serotonin are found on the enteric smooth muscle, enteric neurons and epithelial cells, influencing almost every aspect of gut function. Serotonin also plays a role in clinical depression, which is often why people presenting with IBS also struggle with symptoms of depression as well. It all comes down to the gut.

Our Internal Systems

Human bodies are intricate and have various interrelated body systems. To achieve health in one area, it’s often necessary to improve health in another area first. Naturopathic doctors may start by focusing on the digestive system, a commonly affected area. Gut health impacts our overall health in several ways:

1. Immune function – A large portion of the immunesystem actually resides in the gut and is impacted every time food is consumed.
2. Microbiome status – Trillions of bacterial, viral and other microorganisms are located in the GI tract and play an important role in everything from immune health to brain and nervous system function, blood sugar, and weight regulation.
3. Nutrient availability – The breakdown, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients necessary for survival depends on optimal gut health.
4. Hormone (endocrine) balance – Hormone status, including reabsorption and excretion of hormones and their building blocks, is highly affected by gut health and nutrition.
5. Liver function – The liver plays an instrumental role in numerous biochemical reactions that affect one’s overall health. Some key liver functions include blood sugar balance, cholesterol balance, and detoxification.

Naturopathic Principles for GI Health

Naturopathic medicine operates under the principle that, under the right conditions, the body has an innate healing capability. The role of a Naturopathic doctor is to determine what those unique conditions are for each person. For some people, healing may look like reassessing lifestyle factors such as their eating habits and stress levels. For others, healing may mean managing chronic inflammation or infection with herbs or other natural therapies.

Because there is often more than one issue causing imbalance, a multi-layered approach is utilized. This approach ensures that all issues are addressed, as well as further encourages long-term results. Depending on the person, various therapies and modalities may be used to improve gut health. These can range from diet changes and nutritional supplements to herbs, probiotics and more.

One of the most important factors to achieving optimal gut health is determining the diet and dietary choices that work best for each individual. There is no “one size fits all” approach to a healthy diet and self. Your naturopathic doctor will help determine which foods work best for you, and which do not. Many people consume common foods that their body simply cannot break down well. This can set up an ongoing low-level inflammatory process which leads to issues beyond just digestive symptoms, such as “leaky gut,” immune reactivity and so on.

Removing aggravating factors, such as poorly tolerated foods, is an important component towards achieving wellness, as it prevents fueling the future risk of dis-ease. In addition, it is important to determine which foods, food groups, micro and macro minerals may need to be increased in the diet or supplemented with. Taking this step helps ensure that the body is receiving the key nutrients it needs to function well.

A Collaborative Approach

Naturopathic doctors are experts in integrative medicine. They are trained to communicate with, and refer to, conventional medical specialists when indicated. When it comes to digestive disorders, it’s helpful for your ND to work alongside conventionally trained gastroenterologists to determine any underlying physiological issues that need to be addressed. This can be achieved by obtaining exams, labs, imaging, chart notes, and more. In addition, there may be instances where more invasive interventions, such as surgery or conventional pharmaceuticals, are necessary. In those cases, naturopathic medicine works in conjunction with conventional methods to help improve the success of said intervention. For example, naturopathic medicine is a helpful tool in preparing for and recovering from surgery. A naturopathic approach also focuses on lifestyle counseling and other habit-focused means of preventing disease recurrence in the future.

The benefits of working with a naturopathic doctor for digestive wellness typically include not only a reduction or elimination of current digestive symptoms, but also improved overall health – including energy, mood, sleep, and skin.

Gastrointestinal health is crucial for all of us, regardless of what chronic or acute illnesses are present. If you are seeking additional support with an existing condition, suspect you may have a gut health issue, or just want to make sure your digestive system is working smoothly, request an Initial appointment on our website or contact our office at (804) 977-2634 to learn more about what our Naturopathic doctors can offer.