Thank you for your interest in the Natural Medicine approach to treating disease and healthy living! Caring Medical is currently a full time Prolotherapy doctor's office, headed by Ross Hauser, MD and we are blessed to fill the needs of patients seeking an alternative to surgery. We are accepting new patients and athletes suffering from chronic pain, sports injuries, and arthritis for treatment with Prolotherapy. Due to this large demand in Prolotherapy, we are not currently accepting new patients for natural medicine conditions, this includes autoimmune conditions, weight loss, menopause, hormones, or cancer. Through the years, we have seen so many lives turn around for the better with some of the methods discussed on this page, and encourage you to seek a Natural Medicine practitioner at www.acam.org.
The Response of Modern Medicine
Receiving modern medical treatment for leaky gut syndrome is a challenge at best. Individuals with the syndrome will usually visit several doctors, few of whom, however, will do a test for the leaky or hyperpermeable gut and thus never actually diagnose it. Symptoms such as pain, bleeding or inflammation are treated with NSAIDs, corticosteroids, prescription antibiotics, anti-histamines and immuno-suppressive drugs. In the long run, however, these treatments will do nothing to heal the problem and ultimately will not alleviate the pain, discomfort and frustration that individuals with this condition experience. In fact, long-term use of these medications may not only make the condition worse but may actually be the cause of the syndrome.
The Natural Medicine Approach to Leaky Gut Syndrome
For individuals suffering from a chronic condition like leaky gut syndrome, only natural medicine offers hope for a cure. A natural medicine practitioner will look for the underlying cause of the condition and use a variety of appropriate natural medicine treatments, including natural supplements.
The symptoms of leaky gut syndrome are very similar to irritable bowel syndrome. Both conditions involve significant amounts of chronic abdominal pain and can mimic each other with menstrual irregularities, painful menstruation, pain with bowel movements, diarrhea, and/or constipation. In the case of leaky gut syndrome, substances that normally pass through the bowels are able to enter the blood stream through the abnormally large spaces present between the cells of the gut wall.
Like all conditions treated by natural medicine, it is important to determine when and how the condition started. Individuals with leaky gut syndrome often find themselves taking several medications, such as NSAIDs, antihistimines and antibiotics, either specifically for the symptoms of leaky gut syndrome or for related conditions. The natural medicine approach encourages patients to wean themselves off these meds, which are actually culprits of this condition, in favor of a more natural approach.
Food allergies are extensively explored as well, as food poisoning, which is what allergies are in effect, leads to a permeable bowel wall. Dietary changes, that is, staying away from reactive foods, are recommended based on the allergy test results and will give the bowel a chance to heal. Alcohol consumption is another culprit closely linked to leaky gut syndrome, and eliminating its consumption is also strongly encouraged.
The leaky gut syndrome may have started after a yeast infection, and the possibility of Candida lingering in the intestines must be considered and treated if found. Gastrointestinal infections, such as Candida, have the potential to damage the lining of the intestines, causing the intestinal walls to become leaky. Understanding this concept is critical because the bowel is lined with prostaglandins and glycosaminoglycans to protect it from injury. Once these layers are destroyed via infection, medication or chemicals, there is a greater likelihood that toxic substances will be absorbed into the system. The significant incidence of fibromyalgia in women often results from these “leaky gut” and “leaky bladder,” that it, interstitial cystitis, syndromes. Also, because the most common substance in the digestive tract is food, nonabsorbable food substrates now become “absorbable” due to the increase in the intestinal permeability. This causes an immune reaction in the gut-associated lymphatic tissue (GALT) and the development of food allergies, which were discussed above.
Thus, to cure leaky gut syndrome, treatment of candidiasis and other microorganisms may need to be started. Various medications including Diflucan, Nystatin, Lamasil, and Nizoral may be prescribed, or aggressive natural nutriceuticals may be given to fight the fungal infection. Finally, natural supplements to promote colon health, such as Beulah’s Detox and Challenge caps would also be prescribed. In addition, patients are encouraged to eat fewer simple carbohydrates and replace them with more complex ones such as vegetables. The combination of all these treatments as needed is very effective at helping to cure leaky gut syndrome.
If you are interested in more information about our natural medicine program, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hauser, please contact Caring Medical at 708-848-7789 or online using our contact form.
