Gut health and FUNCTIONAL DIGESTIVE DISORDERS
Good gut health is critical to every aspect of our health which is why I'm so passionate about digestion.
Many women suffer from occasional stomach upset when they've eaten too much or picked up a stomach bug.
However if you have regular problems with your digestion (pain, bloating, reflux, constipation), it's likely that you're not getting the full benefit from your food, which over time, can lead to disease.
There are a wide range of digestive issues that can cause someone discomfort, and some people suffer from several different symptoms at once. The women I work with have conditions such as IBS, SIBO, reflux, constipation, diarrhoea, histamine intolerance and food intolerances.
I love to help women overcome digestive problems and help you to feel confident in your food choices.
Seeing a naturopath for IRRITABLE BOWEL Syndrome
If you have been diagnosed with IBS it means that your doctor has ruled out any serious digestive disease. Unfortunately this still leaves many women with UNSOLVED DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS and daily symptoms that are painful or embarrassing.
For some women, choosing what to eat each day becomes confusing because everything seems to upset their stomach.
Digestive upset doesn't have to control your life any more. There are many ways a naturopath can help you to heal your digestive system holistically and take back control of your eating and digestion.
Symptom relief is important but an emphasis will be placed on discovering the underlying cause of the problem. Symptoms can be eliminated once and for all and the digestive system can finally get a chance to heal.
Women who have suffered with IBS for a long time have often tried a FODMAPs diet, dairy free and gluten free with some relief, but they have never got to the source of the problem.
Restricted eating over the long term can cause nutritional deficiencies and more intolerances. It's a good idea to get advice about the foods that you can and can't eat so this doesn't happen to you.
Common underlying reasons for IBS are anxiety, low stomach acid, food intolerances, SIBO, dysbiosis and/or histamine intolerance, often in combination with a stressful lifestyle.
Natural treatments for constipation
If you struggle to pass a stool and go only every other day, then you have constipation. Constipation is something that I discuss with clients everyday in my clinic. It's a very common condition affecting about 25% of Australians.
Do you poop every day but rely on stool softeners or coffee to help you along? You could benefit from diet or lifestyle changes to improve your bowel function.
Constipation might cause bloating, gas and pain. Other symptoms that may occur alongside constipation include headaches, acne, eczema or irritability, especially in children.
If you're struggling to poo, your body is sending you a signal that you haven't eaten the right food or consumed enough fluids the day(s) before. Or you might have an underlying functional digestive condition such as SIBO (find out more below).
SIBO small intestine bacterial overgrowth
functional testing - accredited naturopath
Approximately 60% of IBS sufferers have a condition called SIBO.
SIBO occurs when the small intestine has an overgrowth of bacteria. The bacteria ferment starches and fibres from food into gases and cause symptoms.
These gases damage the small intestine and prevent absorption of nutrients. Patients can suffer digestive problems including diarrhoea, bloating, gas and constipation for many years before being diagnosed.
If I suspect that you have SIBO, I will recommend some functional testing:
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GI map microbiome mapping
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SIBO breath test
Eradicating SIBO involves adhering to a fairly strict diet for 8 to 12 weeks while taking an individually formulated herbal anti-microbial mix.
Candida overgrowth
CANDIDA OVERGROWTH in the digestive system is something that I very commonly see in my clinic.
Candida and other yeasts can be a normal part of the gut microbiome when they are kept in balance by 'healthy' bacteria.
When out of balance Candida can cause my symptoms throughout the body, not just in the gut. These are some the problems that a Candida overgrowth may lead to:
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Digestion: bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, gas, abdominal pain
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Vaginal: thrush (yeast infection), itchy vagina, vaginal dysbiosis
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Oral yeast infection
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Skin: itching, fungal nail infections, athletes foot, dermatitis, acne
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Allergies
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SUGAR CRAVINGS
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Mental and emotional: brain fog, anxiety, poor focus
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Energy: chronic or persistent fatigue, dizziness
Another variation of Candida overgrowth is SIFO. Small intestine fungal overgrowth is a common reason for unexplained bloating, nausea, belching, diarrhoea and gas.
The most accurate way to determine if you have a Candida overgrowth is to do a comprehensive stool analysis such as GI map. PCR/DNA testing is the most accurate technique we have to explore microbial imbalance in the gut.
Read more about the holistic treatment of Candida overgrowth.
Naturopathic solutions for FOOD INTOLERANCES
About 20% of Australians report that they have reactions to certain foods. Many of these reactions are due to an intolerance, rather than an actual allergic reaction.
Food intolerances can cause symptoms 1 or 2 days after eating, so it is often hard to pinpoint exactly which food(s) has caused the problem.
Food intolerances can cause widespread inflammation and be responsible for causing, or worsening, many other conditions such as diarrhoea, constipation, eczema, sinus, migraine and even PMS.
I can HELP YOU UNCOVER which foods cause your symptoms. Working with a combination of dietary changes and herbal medicine, we can gain relief from bloating, pain, gas, diarrhoea and/or constipation.
Supporting the health of your digestive system and also your immune system with essential nutrients and herbal medicine can make a difference to your digestive comfort quite quickly.
I am passionate about working with your GUT MICROBIOME using food, prebiotics and herbal medicine.
I might recommend a stool test to map the diversity of the bacteria in your digestive system. A lack of diversity can be the key to inflammation and food intolerances in some women.
Food intolerances could also be the result of poor digestive capacity and we might work together to build up the health of the cells in your stomach and small intestine.
Stress can play a role in poor digestive function and you might be surprised at how many women respond well to a herbal formula designed to calm the nervous system and provide relief from stress.
Common food intolerances are cow's dairy and foods containing gluten. I also find that many people I work with are HISTAMINE INTOLERANT, or have reactions to foods containing salicylates, oxalates, mould, sulphur or nickel.
The healthy GUT MICROBIOME
Our large intestine contains trillions of bacteria. These bacteria have evolved with us and assist our wellbeing as long as we look after them. The gut bacteria thrive alongside various yeasts and viruses, fermenting and digesting the fibres in our diet that we can't digest.
Research into gut microbiome is growing and it's now believed that a diversity of gut bacteria are as essential for our health as one of our organs, such as our liver or kidneys.
Our gut microbiome can become out of balance due to limited diets, processed foods, antibiotics, other medications, alcohol, pesticides and herbicides. The term we use for unbalanced gut microbiome is 'dysbiosis'.
Dysbiosis can contribute to many health conditions, ranging from asthma and eczema, endometriosis, histamine intolerance, and autoimmune conditions.
Dybiosis can also play a role when someone has problems losing weight, diabetes type II, or gut problems such as bloating and diarrhoea, and even changes in mood.
We are fortunate to be able to do a simple stool test to map the diversity of bacteria and other microbes found within the digestive system.
I can use this information to inform you of a range of foods that will benefit your diversity and your ongoing health.
LEAKY GUT
I love to use stool testing as a tool to uncover if you might have leaky gut.
Leaky gut is a condition where the cells that line your digestive system have become more permeable than they should be.
This permeability (or leakiness) allows toxins, bacteria and undigested particles of food to travel from the digestive system into the blood stream and then into circulation.
The result of leaky gut is immune activation and widespread inflammation.
Many symptoms are associated with this condition including bloating, abdominal pain, bowel changes and food intolerances, as well as skin conditions.
I wrote a blog for you to learn more about leaky gut. Everything you need to know about leaky gut.
Working with a naturopath to improve REFLUX
Reflux, or heartburn affects around 25% of the population, where stomach contents regurgitate into the oesophagus to cause burning and discomfort. Reflux can cause further medical problems, so it is important to find the underlying cause and eliminate the reflux.
Prescription medication for reflux doesn't solve the underlying problem and many women find that they take them for years and are unable to stop taking them without the reflux returning.
The treatment of reflux must be holistic and address the underlying cause.
When I treat people for reflux we pay attention to the foods that they are eating, coffee, medications, the manner in which food is eaten (quickly, or under stressful conditions, or in large quantities), if the person is overweight and the health of the digestive system.
Herbal medicines, diet changes and mindful eating can all play a part in improving reflux.
Some women with reflux have coexisting Helicobacter pylori. This is an opportunistic bacteria that thrives in the same low stomach acid conditions that are also associated with reflux.
Helicobacter pylori often causes nausea and burning pain in the stomach. Herbal medicine and nutritional changes can also help here, especially if you are trying to avoid antibiotics.
