Naturopath for Gut Issues: A Natural Approach to Better Digestion

Dr. Nicole Monk,ND- A licensed Naturopathic Physician with the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta, Dr. Nicole Monk focuses on addressing the root causes of health concerns and the prevention of disease through evidence based practices. 

Key Takeaways

• Naturopaths offer a holistic approach to treating gut issues.
• Treatment plans are customized to fit a person’s unique health needs.
• Common treatment methods include dietary changes, lifestyle tweaks, and herbal medicine.

Why Gut Health Matters

Our gut does more than just digest food. It helps regulate hormones, maintain healthy immune function, support skin health, and improve mental health. 

Our gut is, in many ways, an ecosystem containing trillions of microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, and viruses that perform a variety of functions.

These microorganisms live in what is referred to as the “gut microbiome” and help digest the food we eat, absorb essential nutrients to give us energy, and protect us from harmful pathogens and bacteria.

When our guts are “out of whack”, it can affect our bodies physically and mentally. Gut issues can cause bloating, discomfort, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, constipation, skin problems, and even anxiety and depression.

How Naturopaths Tackle Gut Issues

Naturopaths don’t just slap a band-aid on symptoms. They dig deep to find the root cause of why your gut microbiome is no longer in balance. 

Instead of relying on conventional medications that mostly treat symptoms, they focus on a holistic approach that accounts for all aspects of your health, including diet, exercise, lifestyle and mental health.  

When you go to a naturopathic physician, it isn’t like a normal doctor’s appointment. You are not in and out of there in 5 minutes.

Instead, it is a comprehensive session where a naturopath will work one-on-one with you to create a treatment plan that isn’t just a dose of medication but a way of life, giving your gut everything it needs to heal and bring things back into balance.

Common Gut Issues Naturopaths Treat

Here are some common gut issues that Naturopaths often see in practice. 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Did you know that, according to the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation, roughly 5 million Canadians deal with IBS and other digestive issues? 

Symptoms like cramping, bloating, and unpredictable digestion are all too common in Canada and can make daily life difficult for many. While conventional medicine may keep symptoms at bay for a while, in the long-term, these medications may do more harm than good. 

To combat IBS, a naturopath may recommend: 

• The consumption of more probiotics (live bacteria and yeast found in dairy products)
• Herbal remedies like peppermint, ginger, fennel, turmeric, and chamomile
• Dietary changes and nutrient supplementation
• Stress management techniques
• Functional testing 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

IBD can cause inflammation in your gut, which can damage your gut lining. Research from Crohn’s and Colitis Canada shows that more than 300,000 Canadians live with IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis that have no known cures. 

To combat IBD, Naturopaths recommend anti-inflammatory diets, such as the intake of foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids (best found in cold water fish like salmon, herring, mackerel, and halibut). 

They may also recommend dietary changes to reduce inflammation, such as limiting meat or dairy products. On top of that, they may also recommend taking specific supplements to help manage symptoms.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is a gut issue that happens when the gut lining becomes damaged, allowing toxins and undigested food particles to enter the bloodstream. 

As you can imagine, this is not only painful but also leads to inflammation, food sensitivities, and autoimmune issues. 

To treat leaky gut syndrome, a naturopath will likely recommend dietary changes and nutritional supplements to help the gut heal naturally and reduce pain.

Food Sensitivities and Allergies

About 3 million Canadians, or 7.5% of Canada’s total population, have some form of food sensitivity or allergy. 

This number could even be more as many people who have food sensitivities don’t even realize it until symptoms start to become more obvious. 

A naturopath can help identify trigger foods causing gut issues through elimination diets and functional testing options. While the process can take time, it can lead to better digestion and fewer health problems in the long term.

Natural Remedies That Are Proven to Work

Herbal Medicine

Herbs like peppermint, ginger, and licorice root have been used for centuries to ease digestion. Our ancestors knew these herbs’ healing properties, but today, scientific studies back these claims as herbal medications like peppermint oil, for example, have been found to reduce IBS symptoms by up to 40%.

Probiotics and Prebiotics

There are good bacteria and bad bacteria. Good gut bacteria are essential for digestion and overall health, and Probiotics help replenish good bacteria. To keep these bacteria fed, you need prebiotics (found in foods like bananas and onions). 

Increasing the intake of foods rich in probiotics and prebiotics can help improve gut health, but to what extent is still undetermined.

Digestive Enzymes

As the name suggests, digestive enzymes help break down the food we eat, absorbing all the essential nutrients and making digestion easier. People with bloating or food intolerances often see improvements by adding enzymes to their meals.

The Power of Diet

What you eat has a massive impact on your gut health. Thus, for a naturopath, food is medicine. 

Eating the right type of food can improve gut health, while the wrong diet can lead to more serious gut problems.

Here are some common diets that Naturopaths might suggest for treating various gut issues:

• A low-FODMAP diet to reduce bloating and IBS symptoms.
• A gluten-free plan for people with a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.
• An anti-inflammatory diet to heal damaged gut lining and reduce digestive distress.

Combining Naturopathy with Conventional Medicine

While naturopathy focuses on natural remedies for healing, it doesn’t discount the need for conventional medication, especially when it comes to treating serious gut issues like Crohn’s disease. 

In fact, in many instances, naturopathy is used in conjunction with conventional medicine and other forms of therapy to manage symptoms. A holistic, well-rounded approach to healing often brings the best results.

FAQs

Q1) How do I know if I need to see a naturopath for gut issues? 

If you have constant bloating, stomach pain, irregular digestion, or food sensitivities, a naturopath can help figure out what’s going on.

Q2) How do naturopaths diagnose gut problems? 

They use health history, symptom tracking, food sensitivity tests, microbiome analysis, and stool testing to pinpoint the issue.

Q3) Are there side effects to naturopathic treatments? 

Most natural treatments are safe, but it’s important to work with a trained naturopath to avoid interactions with medications or allergies.

Q4) How long does it take to see results? 

It depends on the condition and the person. Some people feel better within weeks, while chronic issues may take a few months to improve.

Personalized Treatment Plans: No One-Size-Fits-All Approach

Gut health depends on your diet, lifestyle, medical history, and genetics. That’s why at Spectrum Therapeutic Solutions, located in Dartmouth, NS, our licensed naturopathic physician, Dr. Nicole Monk, uses a combination of modern science and old-school wisdom to figure out the root cause of your gut issues – tackling your digestion problems with personalized, science-backed treatments. 

Why live with digestive issues when real solutions are just a call away? Book an appointment or contact us for more details.