SIBO | Diarrhea | Constipation
Chances are, if you've seen a naturopathic doctor, they've asked you a slew of questions about your number 2--we want to know the color, the shape, the size, have often you go, does it sink or float…the list goes on.
Have you ever wondered why we care so much about your poo?
We care because our gut health plays a big role in our overall health. Infrequent or hard bowel movements can lead to problems like hemorrhoids or fissures over time. Constipation can also be a sign that we're not getting enough fiber or water which has a big impact on our cardiovascular system. It can even be a symptom of other health conditions such as hypothyroidism and increases the risk for colon cancer. Loose stools or diarrhea can be a sign that we aren't absorbing our nutrients very well. Like constipation, it can also be a symptom of a bigger problem.
Sometimes it's easy to figure out what's behind abnormal bowel movements, and sometimes the cause isn't so clear. People who have chronic constipation, diarrhea, or a combination of both along with abdominal pain may be diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, commonly known as IBS. Recently IBS has been considered a disorder of the gut-brain axis. This means the communication between the brain and the intestines is misfiring, leading to extra time in the bathroom and a lot of discomfort.
Digestive Treatments
Treatment for digestive problems like diarrhea, constipation, or SIBO can be tricky but there is help! Our team of doctors is excellent at helping patients identify triggers and add in nutrients and herbs that can make a big difference. It's also important to address other contributing health conditions and perhaps most importantly, stress. The gut and the brain work together in mysterious ways and nobody's digestion is in tip-top shape when they're totally stressed out. We would love to support you through your digestive journey!
Crohn’s/Colitis/IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term that encompasses Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis (UC) and microscopic colitis. The exact causes of these diseases are unknown, but many factors are suspected to contribute to their development, including the gut microbiome, environment, and genetics. Symptoms usually include diarrhea, blood in the stool, and abdominal pain, but can also include arthritis and other symptoms in seemingly unrelated systems.
The primary goal of treatment is to decrease inflammation in the system to prevent the disease process from continuing; instead of curing, the goal is for patients to enter remission. Treatment can include specific anti-inflammatories, steroids, biologics, immune modulators, and more; many of these are managed by a gastroenterologist. Our therapeutics include focused dietary strategies, nutrients, anti-inflammatory herbs, managing dysbiosis, eliminating triggers, as well as exploring the foundations of health to prevent flares.
We stress co-management of IBD with gastroenterologists to bring our patients the benefits of conventional therapeutics and tools when needed while integrating more holistic approaches to help manage and prevent IBD flares.
