Adelaide IBD treatment. IBD Naturopath Adelaide.
Australia has one of the highest rates of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the world, with the condition found to be more prevalent in developed countries.
What is IBD?
IBD is not to be confused with IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) which is debilitating but not as severe as IBD. Under the umbrella term of IBD, there are two common conditions know as Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Both of these conditions are considered to be autoimmune in nature - meaning that the body's immune system mistakes its own healthy tissue as foreign, and attacks it.
Ulcerative Colitis is limited to the colon (or large intestine), does not impact the deeper layers of the bowel lining and there can be patches of healthy tissue throughout.
Crohn's Disease can effect anywhere along the digestive system from the mouth to the anus. The entire wall of the bowel becomes swollen with deep ulcers. Complications commonly include abscesses (pockets of pus) or fistulae (abnormal connections between two body parts).
What causes IBD?
Gut dysbiosis (imbalanced gut microbiome) - A diverse and balanced gut microbiome promotes healthy immune system function and maintains the integrity of the gut barrier. A number of diet and lifestyle factors can disrupt the gut microbiome including; recurrent/long-term antibiotic use, heavy alcohol intake, a highly processed diet, high sugar diet, chronic stress/anxiety, inadequate exercise and poor sleep.
Intestinal hyper-permeability (leaky gut) -the gut barrier should be semi-permeable so that it can absorb water and nutrients from food and take it into the bloodstream. Intestinal hyper-permeabilty is when the gut becomes far too leaky, allowing partially digested food, toxins and pathogens (bugs) to penetrate. Factors that contribute include; a diet that is low in fibre/high in sugar/high in saturated fats, heavy alcohol intake, over exercising, gut dysbiosis, some medications and chronic stress/anxiety.
Gut infections -Common infections linked to both the onset and relapse of IBD include but are not limited to helicobacter pylori and cytomegalovirus. Infections can trigger inflammation that may overwhelm the immune system's ability to regulate itself.
Vitamin D deficiency - This very important nutrient is commonly deficient in those with autoimmune conditions. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating the immune system so that it can better identify self as self and foreign particles as foreign particles.
Poor diet - Every food choice we make either fuels disease or prevents it. Diets high in sodium, sugar, red meat, protein and iron as well as diets low in fibre are associated with the development of autoimmune conditions. These diet choices are linked to a higher risk of developing colon cancer, which those with IBD are at a higher risk of developing.
Chronic stress - Poorly managed stress alters the way the brain communicates with the adrenal glands which increases inflammation, altering the function of the immune system. Chronic/poorly managed stress has also been linked to an increased risk of developing autoimmune conditions.
Smoking - If you needed 1 more reason to quit cigarette smoking, this is it! It increases inflammation, leading to damaged gut barrier tissue and disrupts healthy immune function. Smoking has been linked to the development of both ulcerative colitis and crohn's disease.
What does natural IBD treatment look like?
In summary, IBD can run in families however there is a very strong link between lifestyle and dietary choices. Conventional medication generally focuses on suppressing the immune system, reducing inflammation and providing pain relief which addresses the symptoms and help's to achieve remission HOWEVER medication always comes with side-effects. Naturopathic treatment that identifies and addresses the root cause can improve treatment outcomes, remission rates and most importantly the quality of life for those living with IBD. In fact, clients using a combination of both conventional medication in conjunction with natural supplements and lifestyle modification generally achieve the best clinical outcomes.
Are you ready to finally get to the bottom of things? Book a Naturopath appointment today.
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