Health Topics

GASTROINTESTINAL SPECIALTY

If you have gut problems, I can help. As Professor of Gastroenterology at SCNM, I see patients for all types of gastro conditions, such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder), Ulcers, Indigestion, Gallbladder problems, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Food Allergies, Candida Overgrowth, Bacterial Overgrowth/Parasites, Constipation and Diarrhea, Liver Conditions; in general, ANYTHING effecting the organs of digestion is something I can evaluate and help cure.

Gastrointestinal problems are a huge source of regular misery for millions of patients--for example, more than 60 million Americans experience heartburn once a month, and 15 million have daily problems with it. More than 1 million people in the US suffer from inflammatory bowel disease. While the digestive system is a miraculous set of organs which enable us to digest and absorb food it can become unhealthy in many different ways.

The Organs Of Digestion:

The Mouth--This area may develop periodontal disease, which prevents good chewing of solid food, and causes inflammation all over the body. B vitamins and iron oftentimes show up as oral problems, like tongue inflammation and cracks at the corners of the mouth. Food allergies can cause frequent canker sores.

The Esophagus--This is the tube connecting the throat to the stomach. This can develop changes from Gastric Reflux, which may be precancerous. It can also develop varicose veins, strictures, webs and another physical abnormalities, some due to nutritional deficiencies.

The Stomach--Peptic ulcers are due to a bacteria in the stomach, or a bad reaction to a drug or high stress. There can also be similar ulcers in the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. The stomach can also develop an auto-immune disease which prevents B12 from being absorbed. Drugs used to decrease stomach acid can increase pneumonia, gastroenteritis, bone fractures, vitamin deficiencies. A common diabetic drug, Metformin, can cause B12 or folate acid deficiency. The stomach may need to have its protective mucous lining rebuilt or may need help in producing Hydrochloric acid, which activates pepsin, the main enzyme in the stomach. However, the main problem now affecting so many Americans is GERD and it is exciting to report that I usually cure patients of their GERD and get them off ALL their prescription meds.

The Small Intestine--Many Celiac patients go undiagnosed for years; that can cause malnourishment as nutrients are not absorbed. Food allergies occur in the small intestine, as does "leaky gut" which is when the lining of the small intestine loses its integrity and needs to be completely healed. Crohn's disease can occur in the small intestine, too. Since some digestive enzymes are made in the small gut lining, if it is not healthy, then digestion of carbohydrates can be impaired.
The Pancreas--This is a main organ of digestion as it produces many enzymes, such as the lipases (digest fat), the proteases (digest proteins), and amylases (digest carbohydrates). If the pancreas is not working well, you will notice gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea as food is not well digested.

The Gallbladder--This organ sits under the liver and releases bile, which is needed to digest fats. People get gallbladder inflammation and stones, or have a gallbladder which simply does not function as well as it should. There are ways of treating those successfully without having to surgically remove the gallbladder. Up to 33% of patients who do have their gallbladder removed wind up with chronic diarrhea, curable with naturopathic care.

The Liver--Many illnesses affect the liver, such as all the Hepatitis Viruses. Naturopathic Medicine can be invaluable to patients who have chronic hepatitis viruses, as we know how to fully support the liver and their immune system to strive to keep the virus from causing liver failure. However, right now, the #1 reason patients get cirrhosis is because of NASH--Non-Alcoholic Fatty Steatosis, that is, a fatty inflamed liver in an overweight or obese patient. NASH, like alcoholic cirrhosis, can cause a liver to entirely fail and require the patient to get a liver transplant. Naturopathic medicine is very good at protecting and healing up injured, damaged livers and preventing transplants.

The Large Intestine--If you have problems with constipation, or diarrhea, or IBS, or IBD, or diverticulosis, or Ulcerative Colitis, or hemorrhoids, I should be your doctor! I see these conditions regularly, and with my gastro expertise, can oftentimes cure the problem and enable the patient to move on in life without daily symptoms.

Naturopathic treatment of gut conditions include a comprehensive history and workup:

• 1.5 hour patient intake and Physical Exam
  Diet diary analysis--What you eat affects how healthy your gut is.
• Food Allergy Testing--This test is usually vital to do. If you are eating a food you are sensitive to it can cause chronic problems with your digestive tract.
• Stool analysis--This test is oftentimes vital to do. If you have "dysbiosis", which is when you do not have enough good bacteria and/or you have an overgrowth of either candida, bacterial or parasitic pathogens, this can also cause chronic problems. Standard MD stool samples just check for 2 or 3 bacteria; my lab can check for hundreds of problematic pathogens.
• Organic Acid Analysis
  
• Blood work
  
• Analysis of over the counter medicines and prescription medicines--It is not uncommon that drugs patients are taking are causing a side effect of gut problems.
• Other indicated tests
  

Treatment for gut problems typically includes:

• Diet recommendations--diets to cleanse, rejuvenate, heal, and maintain solid gut health
• Lifestyle changes--analyzing sleep, exercise, intake of alcohol and so forth, which may be causing problems in the gut
• Stress relaxation--ways to manage unhealthy responses to situations which can wreak havoc with good smooth, even digestion
• Nutrient supplementation--to give the building blocks of tissue renewal and encourage good nutrient status
• Botanical medicines--to remove inflammation and enable tissues to heal
• Homeopathy--an individual remedy can do wonders in syngergistically aiding your body's capacity to heal.

All of the above treatments can be amazing at curing digestive complaints. If your digestion or gut is not healthy, you need to see me!