how to Improve IBS, diarrhea, acid reflux and tremors naturally?

Is it possible to get to the root causes of IBS and reverse it? Yes! Functional medicine addresses root causes of body’s dysfunctions, imbalances and dis-ease dynamics.

I want to share a success story of my functional medicine client who came to me in hopes to reverse her IBS-like symptoms as well as other health problems.

IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is a gastrointestinal tract disorder which signs and symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea.

This client experienced all of these symptoms. Diarrhea, however was an ongoing and chronic problem for her. Unfortunately, due to a fast transit time, ongoing diarrhea can lead to malabsorption of the nutrients in the small intestines. If your body isn’t getting the minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients it needs to run its biochemistry and thrive, it can cause serious downstream complications. For example, vitamin A, D and Zinc are necessary for strong immune system. If your body isn’t absorbing these and other important vitamins and minerals, your health can suffer.

Poor nutrition can compromise immune function and increase infection risk (read more in this study).

Therefore, it’s not surprising that this client used to get sick at least seasonally. This was also one of her concerns that she wanted to address. Especially, considering our current world’s situation.

Malabsorption of the nutrients can lead to low thyroid function. She experienced hair loss and felt frequently cold which are the signs of poor thyroid function. She was struggling with sluggish, low energy which can also be a sign of a low thyroid function. Thyroid hormone regulates metabolic processes essential for normal growth and development as well as regulating metabolism in the adult (read more in this study).

She also had chronic acid reflux. She’s been treating it with proton pump inhibitors for the past 10 years. These drugs purposefully create a hypochlochidria which is suppressing a release of stomach acid, so that the gastric juices are less acidic. Let’s not forget that stomach acid plays a critical role in the digestion, which we don’t want to suppress on a regular basis. Thus, long time use of these medications has a negative outcome on the health.

Every other day she would take ibuprofen for her headaches. A known side effect of the ibuprofen or NSAIDs is a wear and tear on the gut lining (read in this study) that can create malabsorption of nutrients and can contribute to enhanced intestinal permeability or leaky gut, that might create systemic inflammation.  

She had mild tremors and was diagnosed with the neuropathic pain and tightness. She was using Gabapentin for the nerve pain. Gabapentin side effects include dizziness and fatigue. Malabsorption of nutrients (because of the diarrhea and wear and tear on the gut lining) can lead to vitamin B12 insufficiency.

Vitamin B12 particularly is key nutrient for healthy nerve function.

B12 deficiency commonly causes different types of neuropathy which can manifest as tingling or numbness but in other cases can show up as pain.

This is a short list of the symptoms that this client was struggling with.

Prior to our mutual work, she’s been to numerous specialists. However, no-one knew how to help her with her debilitating symptoms. And despite taking medications, her symptoms were getting worse. She’s been from one specialist to another. Based on her lab work, she was told that she was fine. Obviously she was not fine based on all the symptoms that she was experiencing!

I worked with this client for close to 5 months. In 3 weeks her headache, acid reflux and IBS symptoms, including diarrhea were completely resolved. She is no longer afraid to go out and meet friends.

Her energy is back. She was able to slowly wean off the medications which she coordinated with her physician as well.

She is no longer having tremors, nor feels cold or loosing the hair. It’s been 10 months since our first session and this client is reporting that she has not gotten sick and feels vibrant.

Functional medicine honors the chain of interconnectedness in the body and treats each person as a whole, not just one body part, organ, gland or a symptom.

Nothing happens in the body out of nowhere. There are always logical reasons, triggers and root causes behind imbalances and dis-ease dynamics in the body that can be reversed. Yes, everything has a logical explanation as to WHY any kind of badness happens in the body.

I wanted to bring this client as an example to show how initially simple, annoying symptom such a diarrhea can lead to severe downstream imbalances.

One imbalance leads to another imbalance and so on. When we ignore the symptoms that our body sends to us, eventually those imbalances can become severe enough to manifest as a diagnosable disease.

During our mutual work, this client was often commenting: “How come no-one has told me this before? How come no-one has helped me to figure this out before? It all makes so much sense.”

Are you tired of not feeling your best? Are you frustrated of not knowing WHY do you have specific health challenges?

As a Functional Medicine Practitioner, I can help you to identify the drivers and root causes of your health concerns. While also reversing those dynamics without medications. Start your HEALTH JOURNEY by scheduling a Comprehensive Health History Assessment appointment. Healing is possible!

DISCLAIMER:

I am not acting in the capacity of a doctor, licensed dietitian-nutritionist, therapist, or psychologist and will not diagnose, treat or cure any disease, condition or other physical or mental ailment of the human body.

RATHER I SERVE AS A MENTOR AND GUIDE WHO HELPS A CLIENT TO REACH HER/HIS OWN HEALTH AND WELLNESS GOALS THROUGH IMPLEMENTING INCREMENTAL, POSITIVE, HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT HELP THE CLIENT TO LIVE AND THRIVE USING SIMPLE METHODS.

Functional Medicine services are designed for educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for, nor does it replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health-related advice from your healthcare professional.