Integrative medicine is a comprehensive approach to health care that looks for the underlying root cause of illness, and then provides a wide variety of therapeutic options including medicines, diet and nutritional supplementation.
The digestive system (aka. gut) plays a central role in human physiology is the key area of nutrient absorption and toxin elimination. The gut is the physical window to the body uniquely designed to allow the “good stuff to get into the bloodstream, and keep the bad stuff out.” Unfortunately, this does not always happen and people’s health can be greatly compromised by toxic food or a toxic gut (from pathogenic bacteria, yeast and parasites) that leads to inflammation and oxidative stress throughout the body. This oxidative stress and inflammation triggers stress responses through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis eventually leading to adrenal dysfunction.
A food example of this problem is gluten intolerance which generates inflammatory processes in the digestive system manifesting as bloating, gas, and stool problems (constipation and/or diarrhea), but also systemic issues such as fatigue, headaches and joint aches and pains. In severe cases, a form of gluten intolerance called Celiac Disease has been linked to cerebellar atrophy (leading to neurological problems of balance and spatial perception) and Schizophrenia.
In addition to the immune reactions linked to gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease, a protein fraction of gluten called gliadin has also been associated with causing psychological changes in individuals with autism and some mental health disorders. The gluten peptide called gliadorphin has been linked to brain chemical changes affecting attention, speech and behavior.
Pathogens in the digestive system too can directly lead to health problems. Parasites such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba histolytica are serious infections that can be debilitating causing problems such as digestive pain, weight loss (or inability to gain weight), fatigue, poor sleep, food intolerances and joint pain. In some cases these infections can lead to neurological problems as well and even death if the infection is serious enough.
Helicobacter pylori is another pathogen of the digestive system that not only damages digestive function, but can lead to chronic symptoms of food intolerance, gut pain and inflammation. All of these pathogens can exist for years and go undetected or unrecognized with respects to a person’s health problems.
Candida overgrowth (candidiasis) is a common problem with individuals suffering from digestive disorders and fatigue. However, what is less commonly appreciated is candida’s ability to alter cognitive and neurological function. Candidiasis is known to influence behavior problems in certain children and susceptible adults leading to self-stimulatory activities, sensory issues (sound and touch sensitivity) and other odd behaviors.
The digestive system is also the focal point of immunity that influences the rest of immune function throughout the body. This immune system called Mucosal Immunity is the first line of defense against pathogens entering the body through the digestive system and is uniquely set-up to neutralize these pathogens and influence immune shifts throughout the body to keep things functioning appropriately. A breakdown in mucosal immune function leads to pathogen over-growth and increased antigen absorption from the gut which can trigger systemic inflammation and oxidative stress – all of which is a trigger for autoimmune reactivity and chronic ill-health.
Appreciating the interrelationship between digestive, immune and adrenal function is critical with respects to understanding and implementing assessment tools and therapy based on the tenets of integrative medicine.
