The western medicine has limited tools when searching for a cause. When the tools are exhausted, and no answers are found, patients are left with a vague diagnosis and medications to take indefinitely to control their systems. In an even worse scenario, those medication don’t even work.
What the western medicine fails to recognize is that most symptoms arise from a disrupted ecosystem in the gut, and the conventional diagnostic tools can’t assess the disruption well. The disruption can happen at a microscopic level that the doctor can’t see during an endoscopy or colonoscopy. The disruption can be caused by bacteria or yeast overgrowth that are not the typical pathogens, like Salmonella or Giardia, in the standard stool test panel.
Naturopathic doctors recognize the complex of the ecosystem in our gut and use a broader tool set to investigate the root cause. We take a thorough intake of patient’s diet, and we weigh in the potential of food intolerance. We utilize breath and stool tests that evaluates the digestion, malabsorption, inflammation and composition of the bacteria and yeast to catch the imbalance in the ecosystem.
The current medical system is quite defragmented when it comes to providing care. Patient are passed between the gastroenterologist, dietitian and primary care physician with no one serving as the hub to integrate the care. Treatment options are often not effective for people with chronic conditions or can further disrupt the ecosystem and increase patients’ risks for other health problems. The support for the recommended diet is particularly lacking with no handouts or guidance provided. They also are not trained in herbs and supplements, and as a result, can’t provide any comments or suggestions.
Naturopathic doctors spend a lot more time in their visits with patients to educate and guide a patient through the recommended diet which is often an essential part for treating the cause. We are able to review drug and herb interaction and provide safe and effective natural treatment options. The natural treatments can be particularly helpful for people who can’t tolerate drugs or don’t respond to them. We work on restoring a healthy ecosystem in the gut and reduce patients’ risks for relapse.
Questions or want to learn more? Contact us today!
I attended a continuing education event this weekend along with my colleagues, and we had the pleasure of listening to an interesting session by Dr.
Bloating is one of the most common complaints I treat in my patients. Because of the recent spotlight on SIBO, people automatically assume that bacterial
What brought me to specialize in naturopathic gastroenterology is my own struggle with constant bloating and belching since I was in elementary school. I remember that
Summer is when I get to meet my patients’ kids. With school out, parents often have no choice but to bring them along to appointments.
We’ll update you with our latest news and naturopathic health topics that impact you.