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What is IBS?
IBS is essentially a diagnosis of exclusion. Meaning, that when you have a myriad of symptoms, it could be a number of different gastrointestinal conditions. After diagnostic labs and imaging have been done, and nothing pathological is found, your collection of symptoms are stamped Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS. Within the conventional medical system, there is little to offer in terms of treatments, so many people are left feeling frustrated and unsure of what to do with their new diagnosis of IBS. People may go on to suffer with IBS for years with no relief. Symptoms of IBS The symptoms of IBS are varied, and the list can be quite lengthy. Some people have only a few symptoms at any one time, and others suffer with multiple symptoms, occurring all at once. Symptoms often wax and wane, and it can be difficult to determine what the cause(s) were for each and every exacerbation. Symptoms can include:
Natural treatments for IBS I have treated IBS in my practice countless times. Naturopathic medicine offers so many treatment options for IBS, which have a very high rate of success. With little to offer from conventional medicine system, naturopathic medicine offers a tremendous amount of treatment options for those willing to make the necessary changes for their health. With most conditions, inflammation is both a contributor and cause. Treating chronic inflammation can be addressed to a great degree with food, or the elimination of certain foods. When it comes to IBS, diet is absolutely essential. The foods you eat can either be your greatest asset, or the greatest detriment to your health. With IBS, there are no particular foods that cause a problem for everyone. However, there are common allergenic, inflammatory foods, most notably wheat and dairy, that are most likely contributing. There are often many other, less common food allergens, which could also be contributing to the inflammation in the intestinal tract. In order to discover which foods are an issue, an elimination diet can be done, whereby all major allergenic foods are eliminated, and then slowly one by one, are brought back into the diet, and you monitor to see if you experience any return of symptoms. This can be difficult, as it requires a close examination of what your body's normal is. Generally, people suffering from IBS have had the symptoms for so long, that they haven't experienced what a 'normal' healthy body feels like in years. The other option is food sensitivity testing, which most people prefer, as it is black and white in terms of what foods are causing an issue for them. Then, just those specific foods can be eliminated, as opposed to a more generic overall elimination diet. Beyond diet modification, certain aspects of the body need to be supported to return the body to its intended normalcy. Enterocytes are the cells that line the majority of the intestinal system. These cells are injured during the insult of IBS. Helping them heal can include L-glutamine, probiotics, demulcent herbs, digestive enzymes, and fish oil. Liver Detoxification Liver support is also important, as IBS creates a leaky gut picture. Our intestinal tract is meant to have tight cell junctions, allowing only essential nutrients to be absorbed via carrier transport proteins. With a leaky gut, various larger particles are absorbed into the blood, creating inflammation, the liver must filter these foreign molecules. The liver sends these to the digestive tract to be eliminated via stool. Thus a perpetual feedback loop exists where the liver is filtering the same toxins repeatedly. Herbs are a great way to help the liver detoxify. Some herbs to consider include; burdock, dandelion, artichoke, and milk thistle. Stress Stress is a major contributor to IBS flare ups. Ways to combat stress include; a proper sleep schedule (bed by 10:30pm), regular eating habits, balancing blood sugar throughout the day, social activities, exercise, and meditation. You can also support your adrenals with vitamins (ie vitamin C), minerals (ie magnesium), and/or herbs (ie rhodiola, ashwagandha, avena sativa, ginseng, etc). Who Can Help? IBS can be a complex multifaceted condition, and treatments differ for everyone. Consistency wins the race. Talk to your Naturopathic Doctor how IBS is best treated for you. When you know better, you do better! Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer
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Did you know grains, such as corn, oats, & rice can affect people with gluten sensitivity? The same may also hold true with the casein in dairy!
Read this informative article by Huffington Post! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/chris-kresser/gluten-intolerance_b_2964812.html Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer We are constantly being exposed to chemicals. Eating mostly organic (especially the dirty dozen) is a step in the right direction as we eat everyday. Another great step in reducing the chemical storm that is all around us, is avoiding chemicals in our skin care products! Some of these chemicals are known hormone disrupters, and in my practice, I see that this is a main problem in the majority of my clients.
There are so many things that we can not change, why not change the things we CAN? Read this short article below to learn the 4 Big Bad chemicals in skin care products that you want to avoid! http://www.organicauthority.com/delicious-beauty/4-big-bad-beauty-ingredients-to-avoid.html Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer Eliminating wheat will make you lose weight! Period! I see it time and time again in my practice in Vancouver. But what happens if letting of the weight stops, when there's clearly more to shed? Well, there can be other clinical conditions impeding your ultimate success.
Dr. William Davis - author of Wheat Belly - a National bestseller on the merits of eliminating wheat for shocking permanent health improvements - has an excellent blog that I recommend following. In his lastest post, he discusses the clinical conditions that can contribute to the lack of weight shedding, when removal of wheat is simply not enough. I lost the wheat, but didn’t lose weight written by Dr. Davis As well, here is a great short VIDEO interview Dr. Davis did on Global News while he was in Vancouver speaking at the British Columbia Naturopathic Association Convention. He states the brief reasons why wheat is bad for you, and addresses some FAQs regarding eliminating wheat. http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2012/10/global-news-interview/ Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer There are confusing arguments out there saying that coffee is good for you, or coffee is bad for you. I think the instinctual thought is that coffee is not a healthy product. Here are 5 reasons why I don't recommend my patients drink coffee.
1. Stimulates the production of cortisol and adrenaline, stressing your adrenal glands, and inducing a detrimental cascade of effects due to cortisol, most notably, to your liver. 2. Increases peristalsis of the bowels, which can lead to diarrhea. As well as acting as an irritant to the lining itself, leading to problems with ulcers and gastritis. 3. Drinking more than 1 cup of coffee per day can increase blood pressure levels. 4. There are over 1000 chemicals in coffee, some which are known to be rodent carcinogens. 5. Decaffeinated coffee is not any better you, as it is decaffeinated through a few methods. Mostly, very toxic methods that leave behind chemical residues. Listen to your body. If you find that coffee feels good for you, maybe it's not having the same detrimental effects it may inflict on someone else. However, if you feel that you 'must' have your coffee throughout the day to keep you going, that's most likely a sign of dysfunction either in your sleep patterns, or very commonly, your adrenal glands. Which all can be appropriately treated via Naturopathic Medicine via lifestyle alterations, including diet, and nourishing supplementation. Vancouver Naturopath: Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer Sometimes it's not just the foods you eat that are causing your symptoms! The stress hormone, cortisol, sends signals to your digestive system and other organs, and that can cause dysfunction!
There are many ways that your stress can be managed! Nutritionally, you can monitor your diet and supplement regime to ensure your adrenal glands are being nourished optimally. As well as physical activity, which can not be over looked when it comes to having your body adapt to mental stress. Read this excellent article to learn more. http://chriskresser.com/how-stress-wreaks-havoc-on-your-gut Vancouver Naturopath: Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer |
Dr. Moyer Naturopath Vancouver
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