Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The future of understanding immunity, chronic disease and possibly cancer rests firmly in the gut. Many people in our society carry the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which is essentially a diagnosis of exclusion, without a discrete or identifiable source of the pain, bloating and discomfort. But what is strange about the gut as an organ of disease, is that it doesn’t only present with common signs of gut dysfunction, such as pain with eating, gas or bloating. These are the cardinal signs of irritable bowel syndrome, but these same symptoms may also herald the presence of multiple other medical considerations and conditions as well.
The gut is unique in its processing and delivery of our amino acids, cholesterol and fats; in housing nearly ten times the number of cells in the human body in the form of bacteria, yeast and parasites; and for guiding and instructing the immune system- seventy five percent of which is poised just behind the lining of the gut. A conventional physician sees a diagnosis of IBS as affecting simply the gut, and approaches it as such by focusing on simply the gut symptoms. A functional view acknowledges that the gut pathology strongly influences numerous additional body systems, involving organs such as the skin and heart, bones and joints, several autoimmune disorders, asthma and the mind. The neurologic system can be impaired in the form of memory, behavior, or pain.
Gut health is essential to the sick, and to the trained athlete. Chattanooga Functional Medicine has the knowledge, testing and treatments to bring your dear gut to a state of health. Fix the gut; everything else follows.
The gut is unique in its processing and delivery of our amino acids, cholesterol and fats; in housing nearly ten times the number of cells in the human body in the form of bacteria, yeast and parasites; and for guiding and instructing the immune system- seventy five percent of which is poised just behind the lining of the gut. A conventional physician sees a diagnosis of IBS as affecting simply the gut, and approaches it as such by focusing on simply the gut symptoms. A functional view acknowledges that the gut pathology strongly influences numerous additional body systems, involving organs such as the skin and heart, bones and joints, several autoimmune disorders, asthma and the mind. The neurologic system can be impaired in the form of memory, behavior, or pain.
Gut health is essential to the sick, and to the trained athlete. Chattanooga Functional Medicine has the knowledge, testing and treatments to bring your dear gut to a state of health. Fix the gut; everything else follows.
The gut is the future of medicine. At CFM we are proud to provide the most advanced and comprehensive means of evaluating your gut health, and we know the steps required to bring your gut, and your body, to a state of wellness. One need only open a weekend paper, magazine or periodical to see that the gut is all in the news today. Recent reports, too numerous to mention here, have brought the function of the gut to light in respect to multiple illnesses to include ADD, autism, depression, obesity, and autoimmune disorders. I have no doubt that other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, will someday be shown to have an association with IBS. Too often there is a wide schism between known diagnoses, such as colon cancer or ulcers, and the wastebasket, “tough luck” term of IBS. It seems as if either the gut either has something bad and treatable, like a coon cancer, or something which is more of an inconvenience but not particularly significant. Recent research is showing that the dysfunction seen with irritable bowel syndrome may be far reaching, with influences on inflammation, nutrition, cognition and immunity.
To acquire and maintain a healthy gut, we utilize the “three R” program, which is to remove the dangerous and pathogenic organisms, repair the damaged wall of the gut, and finally repair and repopulate the gut with the bacterial and fungal species that have been proven to be beneficial to the health of the gut.
Removal of toxic or pathogenic organisms is often achieved by the use of dietary, herbal and nutritional interventions. Frequently conditions such as yeast overgrowth, or bacterial imbalances can be reconciled with the use of herbs, however on occasion a pharmaceutical anti-fungal or anti-parasitic drug will be chosen.
Repair of the gut lining is essential. Numerous environmental exposures, from non-steroidal drugs such as Motrin, to excessive stress and alcohol consumption all serve to damage the one cell layer thick lining of the gut. When this happens, the gut becomes “leaky”, and toxins, microbial species, and food components become exposed to the underlying immune system. Symptoms may range from something almost unnoticed like gassiness following consumption of an irritating food, to full-on inflammation and damage to the lining of the gut, its anatomy, and ultimately its function.
Finally, we need to repopulate the gut with the correct balance of biological species. This is achieved through the use of pre-biotic foods, foods which nurture and support the “healthy” bacteria, like onion, leek and Jerusalem artichoke. Varying strains and quantities of probiotics are used as well, with attention to species, number, and quality. Specific formulations will be recommended to you by name. CFM strongly suggests that you utilize the specific products that we recommend and sell.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome does not need to be simply a diagnosis of exclusion, with a perfunctory prescription and an anti-depressant as the only recourse. Conversely irritable bowel syndrome is a call for balance within the intestinal, nutritional and immune systems. With the correct identification of the dysfunction and directed interventions, the gut, and ultimately the entire body, can be returned to a state of health, wellness and optimal function.
What's Next?
Learn more about how you can benefit from Functional Medicine by visiting our blog
Head on over to our Home Page for more information about Dr. Scott Resnick
Contact us to set up a New Patient Appointment.
To acquire and maintain a healthy gut, we utilize the “three R” program, which is to remove the dangerous and pathogenic organisms, repair the damaged wall of the gut, and finally repair and repopulate the gut with the bacterial and fungal species that have been proven to be beneficial to the health of the gut.
Removal of toxic or pathogenic organisms is often achieved by the use of dietary, herbal and nutritional interventions. Frequently conditions such as yeast overgrowth, or bacterial imbalances can be reconciled with the use of herbs, however on occasion a pharmaceutical anti-fungal or anti-parasitic drug will be chosen.
Repair of the gut lining is essential. Numerous environmental exposures, from non-steroidal drugs such as Motrin, to excessive stress and alcohol consumption all serve to damage the one cell layer thick lining of the gut. When this happens, the gut becomes “leaky”, and toxins, microbial species, and food components become exposed to the underlying immune system. Symptoms may range from something almost unnoticed like gassiness following consumption of an irritating food, to full-on inflammation and damage to the lining of the gut, its anatomy, and ultimately its function.
Finally, we need to repopulate the gut with the correct balance of biological species. This is achieved through the use of pre-biotic foods, foods which nurture and support the “healthy” bacteria, like onion, leek and Jerusalem artichoke. Varying strains and quantities of probiotics are used as well, with attention to species, number, and quality. Specific formulations will be recommended to you by name. CFM strongly suggests that you utilize the specific products that we recommend and sell.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome does not need to be simply a diagnosis of exclusion, with a perfunctory prescription and an anti-depressant as the only recourse. Conversely irritable bowel syndrome is a call for balance within the intestinal, nutritional and immune systems. With the correct identification of the dysfunction and directed interventions, the gut, and ultimately the entire body, can be returned to a state of health, wellness and optimal function.
What's Next?
Learn more about how you can benefit from Functional Medicine by visiting our blog
Head on over to our Home Page for more information about Dr. Scott Resnick
Contact us to set up a New Patient Appointment.