Digestive Disorders
No one is immune from the occasional stomach ache, but when bloating, gassiness, diarrhoea or constipation become the norm, it’s time to investigate. Some practitioners even go so far as to declare that all diseases start in the gut!
Conventional Approaches to Treating Gut Issues
Have you already seen your primary care doctor about your chronic gut issues, only to be given a prescription to deal with the symptoms and told to come back in 4 weeks if things aren’t better?
Perhaps you are dealing with regular bloating, acid reflux or GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease), diarrhoea, stomach cramps or even fatigue and brain fog as well?
Most likely your doctor recommended antacids or proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) to deal with “overactive” stomach acid or some other medication to deal with the symptoms.
While some medicines may slightly ease symptoms in the short term, they can seriously harm you in the long-term, and you will never never know why you have the bloating, diarrhoea or heartburn in the first place!
The problem with this is that there can be so many reasons why you could experience chronic digestive distress, and unless you understand the true root cause of what’s ultimately leading to the observed digestive symptoms, you will not know how to fix it for good!
Getting To The Root Cause Of Symptoms
While the symptoms of 100s of gut diseases are literally the same (bloating, gassiness, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain), they may be caused by very different mechanisms that require a specialised approach.
That’s why it’s dangerous to mask the warning symptoms with over-the-counter remedies like antacids, laxatives or anti-diarrhoeals – without investigating the true root causes.
In the 1990’s, we made incredible advances in understanding that our health is deeply linked to our microbiome – a collection of microbes including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses that live on and inside the human body.
The bacteria in our gut microbiome help digest our food, protect our immune system, fight harmful bacteria or viruses, and produce important nutrients like B12, thiamine (B1) and riboflavin.
They also produce important neurotransmitters that allow for proper brain function. This is why people with poor gut health oftentimes report brain fog!
Unfortunately, these new advances in science take around 17 years to find their way into conventional doctors’ practices. And that’s why you may be better served by a functional medicine practitioner like our team at Functional Health Clinic.
The Functional Medicine Approach to Addressing Gut Issues
The functional medicine approach to healing the gut is relying on advanced lab testing, followed by creating a custom-tailored, personalised protocol to restore your body’s innate healing potential so we can bring your body back into balance.
Since the gut impacts our health on so many levels, it’s the first place we focus on when we explore a Client’s case – determining whether they have leaky gut, irritable bowel syndrome, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or its cousin small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO).
The lab tests help us understand how to address the underlying dysfunction for good – whether it’s unresolved stealth infections, environmental toxins, food allergies or other endocrine or system-wide issues.
Sadly, conventional doctors aren’t equipped to untangle these complex, interdependent issues because there’s simply not enough time in a standard 7-minute visit, nor was the topic covered in their standard medical school training.
Oftentimes, we’ve heard from Clients things like “I have a “sensitive stomach” which seems to have become an accepted term for “just grin and bear it”.
But what it could actually mean is a serious gut imbalance that might have far-reaching consequences for your overall wellness.
Don’t just chalk it up to having a “sensitive” stomach or “getting older”. Seek out care from a functional medicine trained practitioner to avoid compromising your long-term health.
At Functional Health Clinic, our expert team is trained to investigate the symptoms and causes of your chronic digestive disorder and assemble an effective plan that’s supported by the appropriate lab tests.
If you have been experiencing chronic symptoms that may be connected with digestive problems and are looking for answers, schedule an appointment with Functional Health Clinic today!
Take The First Step On Your
Journey Back To Health
Perhaps you have questions you’d like to ask before you make a decision to become a Client. We are happy to answer any questions you have to determine if Functional Health Clinic is right for you or your child