“All disease begins in the gut.”
The importance of proper digestion cannot be overstated. This is because gut function is inter-related to almost every organ in the human body. In fact, the human gut is referred to as “the second brain”, due to the fact that 90% of neurotransmitter synthesis begins in the gut. Patients suffering from chronic digestive disorders almost always have imbalances in other areas of the body due to their poor gut function. This is why a functional medicine approach (which looks at the whole body and each organ system’s relationship with one another) is ideal for correcting digestive disorders rather than a traditional medicine approach (which focuses on the gut alone and uses prescription medications/surgery to address the patients symptoms).
The immune system heavily resides in the gastrointestinal tract, simply because the GI tract is where the gut flora or “microbiome” reside. The gut microbiome consists of all the microorganisms from the mouth to the anus and is composed of bacteria, yeast, fungi, and viruses. The gut microbiome plays a critical role in overall health and carries out important functions including thyroid hormone production, vitamin K2 production, maintaining gut integrity, and digestive enzyme production. Establishment of a healthy gut microbiome is absolutely necessary in any patient suffering from a digestive disorder. The most common digestive disorders I see in my practice include:
Celiac Disease
Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
GERD/Acid Reflux
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Gallbladder Problems/Removal
Pancreatitis
Diverticulitis
Correcting digestive disorders includes comprehensive testing to identify the underlying triggers causing the abnormal gut function. In addition, any other organ system that has been negatively impacted by poor gut function must be supported. Once this is established the patient’s overall body biochemistry becomes re-balanced, leading to better brain function and a stronger immune system.