Gastrointestinal disorders require an integrative approach, so the underlying causes can be properly identified and treated. Hippocrates said it best himself that “all disease begins in the gut” and our experienced doctors have seen this to be true in many cases. If a gastrointestinal disorder is not properly addressed, it can cause a plethora of other secondary health issues such as autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, cognitive problems, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, anxiety, skin conditions, weight gain, allergies, and much more. At Aspen Integrative Medical Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, our naturopathic physicians specialize in determining the underlying causes of your gastrointestinal symptoms and prescribing personalized treatment plans to get you back on track. To learn more about gut healing at Aspen Integrative Medical Center, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

Gastrointestinal disorders refer to any symptom or disease that affects your gastrointestinal tract. This may include conditions involving your stomach, small intestine, or large intestine, as well as your gallbladder, liver, or pancreas. The most common gastrointestinal symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal bloating, acid reflux, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and blood in the stool. The following are a list of gastrointestinal conditions: 

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Gallstones
• Liver conditions – liver disease, cirrhosis, Fatty Liver, NAFLD
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac Disease 
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Gastritis
• Gastric ulcer
• Diverticulitis
• Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE) 
• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissures

The gut-brain connection, aka the gut-brain axis is an intricate, bidirectional “superhighway” between the gut and the brain. The axis consists of a complex network of physiological pathways that connect the gut and brain via the vagus nerve. Insights into this gut-brain axis have revealed a dynamic communication system that not only influences intestinal activities like digestion and motility, but also regulates immune and pain response, metabolism, mood, social behavior, and cognition. If the gut-brain axis is disturbed it can lead contribute to the following symptoms:

• Cognitive changes: This can present as impaired mental clarity, alertness, memory, stress response, mood, sleep, and focus.
• Mood disorders: studies have shown a correlation between gut-brain axis dysfunction and mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, and irritability.
• Fatigue: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition characterized by persistent fatigue that is not alleviated by rest and is often accompanied by cognitive impairment, headaches, and other symptoms. Studies suggest that gut-brain axis dysfunction may play a role in the development of CFS.
• Autoimmune disorders: There is emerging evidence that dysregulation of the gut-brain axis may contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
• Skin conditions: Gut-brain axis dysfunction has been linked to the development of various skin disorders, including acne, rosacea, and atopic dermatitis.
• Weight gain: There is evidence that alterations in gut microbiota and gut-brain signaling may contribute to the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
• Food cravings: There is evidence that gut microbiota can influence food intake by regulating satiety signals and modulating reward pathways in the brain. Thus, dysregulation of gut-brain signaling may contribute to the development of food cravings and compulsive eating behaviors.

Your gut is filled with trillions of microorganisms that play a central role in supporting immune health, mental health, hormone levels, and your overall wellness. When your gut microbiome is healthy, you have the right balance of microorganisms to digest food, absorb nutrients, and get rid of waste. When your microbiome is out of balance (dysbiosis), it may cause numerous gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, gas, abdominal pain or bloating, not to mention putting you at risk of developing health problems like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

In addition to abnormal gut microbiome, here are other common causes of gastrointestinal disorders: 

• Leaky gut
• Auto-immune disease 
• Inflammation 
• Dietary choices
• Food allergies or intolerances
• Stress and anxiety
• Toxin burden – heavy metals, glyphosate, mold, mycotoxins
• Chronic infections – Klebsiella, parasites, Lyme disease, babesia, Bartonella, etc. 
• Trauma and PTSD
• Lack of exercise

You can expect a thorough evaluation when you visit Aspen Integrative Medical Center for help with a gastrointestinal disorder. Our providers review your medical history, conduct a comprehensive physical exam, and run diagnostic tests to find the root cause of your complaint. We determine if your symptoms due to maldigestion of food, malabsorption of nutrients, leaky gut, auto-immune processes, infection, abnormal gut microbiome, toxin accumulation, a structural abnormality, and so forth. Once the causes have been identified then a personalized treatment plan can be prescribed and get you back on track.

Aspen Integrative Medical Center customizes care plans to best meet patient needs. Treatment for gastrointestinal disorders may include:

• Diet modifications 
• Pharmaceuticals
• Lifestyle therapy
• Herbal medicines
• Vitamin and mineral supplements
• Visceral manipulation
• Intravenous (IV) therapy
• Detoxification
• Infrared sauna
• Stress management
• Low level laser therapy
• Medical cannabis

Once your plan is in place, our provider will schedule regular follow-up visits to provide the ongoing support and education you need to make the lifestyle changes that improve gut health. We’ll also recheck diagnostic tests to make sure your plan is working.