Cartoon of digestive system

Digestive Conditions

Hippocrates once said, “All disease begins in the gut.” Good digestive health is imperative to maintaining optimal health and preventing chronic disease. If you have symptoms such as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, inconsistent stool patterns, heartburn, fatigue, or any other symptoms related to poor digestion, then you may be able to benefit from naturopathic medicine.

Below are some digestive conditions that I commonly treat in practice.

 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is classified as a disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) according to the most recently published ROME IV diagnostic criteria and guidelines. The causes of disorders of gut-brain interaction are unknown, although they are associated with gut infections, excessive antibiotic usage, childhood trauma and adverse childhood events (ACEs), dysbiosis in the gut microbiome, and a family history of disorders of gut-brain interaction.

The test results for individuals with DGBIs are typically normal, causing patients to feel frustrated. Patients with a disorder of gut-brain interaction experience abnormal motility in their gastrointestinal tract, which may result in changes to stool patterns like diarrhea and constipation, as well as abdominal pain, gas, bloating and distention, reflux, belching, nausea, and many other symptoms.

Diet and lifestyle changes can significantly improve symptoms of IBS and disorders of gut-brain interaction. When treating these conditions, I use an evidence-based approach that incorporates laboratory testing, personalized nutrition, evidence-based supplements, and approaches that strengthen the brain-gut connection like gut-directed hypnotherapy and diaphragmatic breathing.

 

Autoimmune Digestive Conditions

Autoimmune digestive diseases occur when the body’s immune system wrongly attacks part of the gastrointestinal tract. These conditions include inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis), celiac disease, pernicious anemia, and many others.

Receiving a diagnosis of autoimmunity can be isolating and scary, and it not uncommon either. Canada has one of the highest incidences of Crohn’s and Colitis in the world, and the incidence of Crohn’s in Canadian kids has doubled since 1995.[3] Similarly, while the prevalence of Celiac disease in Canada is only 1 percent, researchers estimate that it goes undiagnosed 87 percent of the time.[4]

I support patients with autoimmune digestive conditions by working collaboratively with other medical doctors in their circle of care, requisitioning additional laboratory testing if indicated, providing clinical nutrition counselling, and utilizing anti-inflammatory medicinal herbs.

 

Acid Reflux and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Naturopathic treatment focuses on identifying food triggers that aggravate acid reflux/ heartburn as well as the use of vitamins and botanical herbs to help correct vitamin deficiencies - such as B12 and iron due to long-term use of proton-pump inhibitors - and reduce reflux episodes.[5] Several dietary and lifestyle factors can impact reflux, including:

  • Large meals and high-fat meals

  • Lying down after a meal

  • Various foods such as alcohol, chocolate, citrus fruits, and coffee

  • Weight gain

  • Smoking

Treatment plans are individualized and address the root cause of reflux as well as symptom management.

References:

  1. Saha L. Irritable bowel syndrome: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(22):6759. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759.

  2. Ghoshal U. Irritable bowel syndrome and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: Meaningful association or unnecessary hype. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(10):2482. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2482.

  3. Crohnsandcolitis.ca. (2018). Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada. [online] Available at: http://crohnsandcolitis.ca/Crohns_and_Colitis/documents/reports/ccfc-ibd-impact-report-2012.pdf [Accessed 20 Sep. 2018].

  4. Jamnik, J., Villa, C., Dhir, S., Jenkins, D. and El-Sohemy, A. (2017). Prevalence of positive coeliac disease serology and HLA risk genotypes in a multiethnic population of adults in Canada: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 7(10), pp.bmjopen-2017-017678.

  5. Lam, J., Schneider, J., Quesenberry, C. and Corley, D. (2017). Proton Pump Inhibitor and Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist Use and Iron Deficiency. Gastroenterology, 152(4), pp.821-829.e1.