Do You Have the Guts to Be Healthy?
Do you have the “guts” to be healthy?
As Naturopathic Doctors, we are continually striving to give our patients the right tools to succeed in their personal health and wellness goals. To that end, a focus on gastrointestinal health is a key component of any comprehensive treatment plan. As Hippocrates said 2400 years ago, “All disease begins in the gut.” We know that addressing gut health is critical for our patients’ overall health and well-being.
So many people rely on prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications to manage their digestive issues, such as heartburn. In fact, it is estimated that 113 million proton pump inhibitor prescriptions (such as Prevacid) are sold each year, and are among the top 10 prescribed drugs from doctors. While symptoms may temporarily improve with these treatments, the use of certain medications can also lead to undesirable, sometimes even fatal, side effects.
Most people don’t realize how important that acid in our stomach is to our overall health, in that it is extremely important for absorption of our vitamins and minerals. In the conventional model, it is believed that there is too much acid being secreted causing discomfort, or reflux. However, in most cases it is actually too little acid being secreted which is the problem, as it no longer acts as a signal to shut the valve in our stomach, and this enables what is there, to escape and cause discomfort. It is important to consider this component when treating any digestive issues, and get to the root cause.
Fortunately, there are classic time-honored herbs, available to us from “Mother Nature” to support our optimal gut function:
Marshmallow Root soothes and protects the mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach.
Now, I am not talking about the artificial “white puffy things” we roast at a campfire, but rather the wonderfully healing properties that come from the actual plant itself, yes, it IS a plant!
Slippery Elm coats, soothes, and protects tissues. It is a great option to use when trying to heal and assist with reflux without completely shutting off the acid producing cells in the gut that most prescription meds attempt to do, which are essential for absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Aloe Vera Gel (aloin free) can soothe inflammation and is particularly useful for occasional heartburn. It is a powerhouse for inflammation in the body. Think of that plant our parents always had around the house as we were kids to treat our “booboos” scrapes and burns. Much like how it heals the outside of our bodies, it can heal the insides of our body as well.
Far too many people are reliant on their antacids, without questioning the side effects they are causing such as B12 deficiencies, decrease in energy due to malabsorption of vitamins and minerals, dryness of hair and skin, and ultimately ill health. Meanwhile, mother nature has been providing to us for years, before the advent of prescription medications, solutions to heal our gut health and treat the root cause. At Core Health Naturopathic Wellness Center we will help you get to the core of your health problems, and educate you on how you can heal your gut…naturally.
