Toronto Naturopathic Doctor and IV Vitamin Therapy Clinic
Higher Health Naturopathic Centre and IV LoungeNaturopathic clinic
Gut health

Gut

Improve Your GI  Health with IV Vitamin Therapy

Gut health is a critical part of whole body health. As we know, the state of our gut and our body’s microbiome is imperative for overall wellness amongst many systems in the body. It’s fair to say that a healthy gut is a driving factor for a healthy you. Your gut isn’t just your stomach, it’s actually a catch all term referring to your gastrointestinal tract as a whole.

Your gastrointestinal system actually begins in the mouth, and includes your esophagus, stomach, and intestines. All food is ultimately broken down in the gut, making it very important to take care of and ensure it is operating a peak efficiency. In addition, your gut is a driving factor for immune health, metabolic health, mental health and hormones.

Why should you care?

As we continue to learn and as research continues, we are just beginning to understand just how complex gut health and the gut microbiome is, and its relation to systemic health. When we think about gut health we can start with the basics.

All food that we eat is broken down in the gut into molecules that our stomach can absorb, allowing them to enter into the blood stream and be delivered as nutrients throughout or bodies and to cells. In order for this process to work smoothly, a healthy digestive system is necessary.

A healthy gut is one that contains an appropriate proportion of “good” bacteria, immune cells that can protect against infectious agents, one whose protective barrier is preserved so that the tight junctions in the mucosal gut wall can effectively and selectively control what passes through its layers – keeping pathogens and toxins out, while allowing nutrients in.

When healthy, this also allows proper communication with the brain through nerves and hormones which helps support our mood, general health and overall well-being.

What are some signs and symptoms of gut health issues?

Gastrointestinal disorders can wreak havoc on one’s quality of life, especially during flare-ups for disorders such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

An unhealthy gut may cause local symptoms such as:

  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloating
  • Indigestion
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Acid reflux

other systemic symptoms include:

  • Headaches/ migraines
  • Joint pain
  • Skin conditions
  • Brain fog
  • and Mood disorders

Long term consequences of poor health can include the inability to digest your food properly, food sensitivities, problems sleeping, regulating your mood, altered energy levels, and issues regulating hunger and satiety.

Poor gut health has also been found to be implicated in autoimmune, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases.

You can see why taking care of this is so important.

How does IV therapy help?

IV therapy offers a way to improve your gut health by bypassing oral supplementation. The absorption of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients can be impacted when we suffer from digestive disorders.

When trying to supplement by mouth, we are depending on our digestive system to properly absorb it so that it can enter the blood stream and target cells at an appropriate dose to have an effect.

As you can imagine, there are a lot of possible limitations with oral supplementation when things are not working optimally.

In addition, certain nutrients have a maximum dose at which they can be absorbed by the digestive tract when supplemented orally (for example Vitamin C). IV Vitamin therapy bypasses the GI tract altogether, and therefore the challenges that may come with intestinal absorption.

IV Vitamin therapy delivers optimal and carefully selected therapeutic doses of nutrients directly to the bloodstream, and therefore acting as a direct highway to deliver these nutrients where we need them; our cells.

In addition, there are specific vitamins and minerals that can be added to your IV Vitamin bag to enhance nutrient absorption, provide high doses of anti-inflammatory nutrients notably for inflammatory bowel conditions, nutrient specific for gut healing and repair, and nutrients to help reduce pain and cramping. 

Specific IV Nutrients for Gut health

Some key nutrients for digestive health that may be included in your IV bag are:

Glutamine – Glutamine strengthens the barrier that is present in our intestinal tract, and reduces inflammation, both of which helps to prevent leaky gut. It improves the immune function of our GI system which is important for overall health. Glutamine is beneficial for food sensitivities (by addressing inflammation) and is a key ingredient for chronic GI conditions, including IBS, Crohn’s, and ulcerative colitis.

Taurine : Taurine plays a large role in digestion and metabolism. It supports the liver in producing bile salts which break down fatty acids, primarily cholesterol, in the intestine. It improves the digestion and absorption of fats.

Selenium : Selenium can help improve digestion and reduce malabsorption in the GI tract. It strengthens the gut’s response to inflammation, preventing damage to the gut lining. Deficiencies in selenium are correlated to higher oxidative damage in the GI tract, which can lead to different various GI disorders.

Zinc: Zinc is a critical mineral for a healthy gut. It has shown to be beneficial in treating conditions such as diarrhea and leaky gut. It helps to stabilize the gut lining and promote repair of gut tissue.

Bicarbonate : Bicarbonate helps to neutralize acidic environments in our GI tract, which has a protective effect on our gut lining. It is also a key anti-inflammatory nutrient used in your IV treatment.

Amino Acids : Amino acids are fuel for the lining of the small intestine and are the building blocks of our intestinal proteins. There is research to support several amino acids for gut-related diseases, as they support gut lining integrity and overall function. 

While some clients will do an IV Drip as a stand alone treatment, we usually recommend IV Drip Therapy as part of a treatment plan that also includes making the most out of your preferred diet, supplements, and lifestyle choices.

If you’re interested in finding out how our Naturopathic Doctors can help you, click here for a free consultation.

References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32302292/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26848182/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29494512/ 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11840007/ 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18670730

Healthy Nails, Skin and hair

Healthy Nails, Skin, and Hair!

How Can IV Therapy support healthier nails, skin, and hair?

Beauty starts from within, and healthy looking hair, skin, and nails is often a reflection of how things are working inside your body. There’s only so much you can do topically or externally to revitalize your appearance; the real magic happens when your cells are happy and your organs are in harmony.

Looking for healthier, more radiant hair, skin and nails? Let our Toronto Naturopathic Doctors introduce you to IV Vitamin Therapy the ultimate source of food for beautiful skin, hair, and nails.

How Does IV Vitamin Therapy work?

IV Vitamin Therapy also known as an IV Drip,  delivers optimal levels of individualized vitamins and minerals directly into your bloodstream, so that your body and cells can use it immediately.

This bypasses the absorption step needed in the digestive tract, and means you can get higher therapeutic levels of nutrients, faster and more efficiently.

How can IV Therapy support healthier nails, skin, and hair?

There are many ways an IV Drip can help your have heathier hair skin and nails. We’re going to list them out, and if they get a little technical, you can always contact us and we’ll answer all your questions.

You can book a free consultation by clicking here.

Hydration is a key factor!

Your hair and skin cells need a steady supply of water and hydration to keep the cells happy and healthy, so that they can grow and shine.

Without proper hydration, your hair can start to become thin and brittle, it can shed and break.

Your skin can become dry, flaky, and cracked, and it can make wrinkles more pronounced or cause your skin to sag in areas you do not want it to.

IV Vitamin therapy not only delivers important vitamins and minerals, but it also can help rehydrate your body simultaneously, talk about a win-win scenario!

Targeted Vitamins and Minerals that help nails, skin, and hair.

Your nails, skin, and hair, have very particular nutrient needs to keep them looking their best.

Collagen!

We know that collagen is an instrumental protein involved in the maintenance of healthy hair, skin and nails by providing strength and structure.

So How Do You Make Enough Collagen to Shine?

In order for your body to produce collagen it needs cofactors including Vitamin C, zinc and copper. Vitamin C is the cofactor for two important enzymes called prolyl hydroxylase, and lysyl hydroxylase which help to stabilize the collagen molecule and give structural strength to the cross-linking of collagen.

Basically, when you’re not getting enough Vitamin C, your collagen will suffer.

In addition to supporting collagen production, Vitamin C has some other major roles in terms of skin health. Vitamin C is a major constituent of both the epidermis and dermis layers in the skin.

Unfortunately, aging as well as sun damage and pollutants can deplete and cause a decline in Vitamin C within these layers of skin.

But that’s not all….you’re going to need a few more nutrients to get the Collagen you need.

Copper.  This activates an enzyme called lysyl oxidase which links collagen fibers with other supporting fibers, an important process involved in collagen maturation.

Zinc also plays a role in activating proteins essential for collagen synthesis, including the activation of collagenase which allows the cells to remodel collagen during wound healing.

Elastin is also another type of protein found in the body that plays an important role in skin health. Elastin has the unique characteristic of snapping back into place to maintain its original shape.

Collagen and elastin go hand in hand to help maintain our skin’s texture and shape.

In addition to our skin being stronger, adequate levels of these proteins also help it look more youthful. Similar to collagen, elastic requires the co-factors Vitamin C, zinc, and copper in its production.

IV Vitamin Therapy can help promote collagen and elastin production by delivering the nutrients needed to support these processes, in a fully customized super powered blend tailored for your individual needs.

We’re not done yet. Another important vitamin for healthy hair, skin and nails is Biotin.

Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7, and part of the B vitamin family, works to improve the infrastructure of our hair skin and nails.

Biotin has been found to be help support hair growth in women who have thinning hair.  A biotin deficiency can also result in a number of skin issues including dry, cracked, and irritated skin.

If your Nails feeling a little fragile? Biotin can help in growing healthy, strong nails when supplemented appropriately to prevent fingernail splitting and brittle nails.

Biotin is a vitamin that can be added to your customized IV Drip formula to promote the health of your skin hair and nails from the inside to out!

Our nails, skin, and hair are vulnerable to free radical damage.

Free radicals are unstable molecules, contributing to cellular damage in a variety of ways. When free radicals accumulate, they can cause cell damage leading to wrinkles, inflammation, and hyperpigmentation.

Anti-oxidants are important because they help reduce and stabilize these chain reactions, so that they do not cause damage to our cells.

Let me introduce you to the team captain of anti-oxidants; glutathione.

Glutathione is known as the “master” antioxidant in our bodies, and is a critical component to achieving the glowing, radiant skin that is sought after.

Glutathione is made up of three different amino acids: glutamine, glycine, and cysteine and is a heavy hitter in terms of preventing cell damage and death. It keeps our mitochondria strong so they can produce energy, helps our liver in naturally detoxifying toxins and waste from the body, and also protects our DNA against damage.  Glutathione repletion is a keynote of our healthy skin, hair, and nail IV Drip!

When you re stressed out, your hair can thin and fall out.

In addition, stress can contribute to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles. Being in a constant state of fight or flight can deplete your energy and nutrients, making you feel drained and worn out.

These are signs that your adrenals need some tender loving care, and your micronutrients need to be replenished!

As every individual is unique, we can tailor the nutrients in your IV vitamin bag to help mitigate the toll stress is taking on your body and cells.

At Higher Health, our Naturopathic Doctors are trained to individualize your IV Drip therapy directly to your individual needs. Looking for healthy skin, hair and nails? We have an IV Drip for that.

Book your free consultation today to discuss how IV therapy can help you glow from the inside out! Click here now and book.

References:

https://europepmc.org/article/med/1764357

https://europepmc.org/article/med/2648686

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509882/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33871071/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26362110/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31627309/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23949208/.

GERD image

GERD

What is GERD?

Belching? Bloating? Indigestion? Are you suffering from any of these symptoms?

Shortly after eating, do you notice a burning sensation in your chest? If so, you are likely experiencing HEARTBURN, the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)!

In this article we’re going to cover:

  • What Causes GERD
  • Why GERD is a problem that cannot be ignored
  • The Symptoms of GERD
  • What you can do to treat GERD

Before you get into this article, if at anytime you want to book a free consultation to speak with a Naturopathic Doctor about GERD, click here.

GERD is one of the most prevalent digestive disorders that occurs when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus. The reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus irritates the esophageal lining and results in the symptom classically known as heartburn. Occasionally, GERD can be asymptomatic or present with atypical symptoms such as a chronic cough or post-nasal drip.

 Why is it a problem – what causes GERD?

 Most individuals will experience the sensation of heartburn at some point in their life and when it becomes a more frequent problem, it is diagnosed as GERD. The majority of research suggests that GERD is caused by a failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is a muscular ring that connects the stomach to the esophagus.

An optimally functioning LES acts like a door and is closed at rest to prevent the acidic stomach contents from refluxing into the esophagus and opens when swallowing to allow food to get into the stomach. Inappropriate relaxation or poor tone of the LES causes stomach contents to re-enter the esophagus, resulting in the symptoms of GERD.

Spontaneous relaxation of the LES is usually triggered by gastric distention after eating, and that is why most people tend to experience acid reflux after eating a large meal. GERD may also be caused by gastric outlet obstruction, a hiatal hernia, decreased esophageal motility, medications, alcohol, tobacco, obesity, pregnancy and food sensitivities.

 What are some of the symptoms of GERD?

  • Burning sensation in the chest
  • Acid regurgitation
  • Sour/bitter taste in mouth
  • Indigestion
  • Bloating
  • Belching
  • Bad breath
  • Tooth decay
  • Coughing
  • Sore throat

Symptoms of GERD usually occur shortly after eating and for some people, reflux can be worse at night.

Untreated GERD can lead to serious complications such as Barrett’s esophagus, esophagitis, esophageal strictures, and esophageal adenocarcinoma, so it is crucial to seek the care of a qualified health care practitioner especially if you are experiencing any accompanying red flag symptoms (ex. unintentional weight loss, severe chest pain, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding).

What are some of the diseases associated with GERD?

  • Asthma
  • Cardiovascular diseases: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia
  • Sleep disorders: obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia
  • Psychological disorders: major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders
  • Gastrointestinal disorders: decreased esophageal motility, gastric outlet obstruction, hiatal hernia
  • Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
  • Obesity
  • Type II diabetes

How can Naturopathic Medicine help?

 GERD can usually be diagnosed based on symptoms and history alone, however your doctor will decide if it is necessary to send you for any further diagnostic testing.

The typical naturopathic treatment protocol for GERD consists of a combination of 5 key steps: lifestyle modifications, avoiding triggers, soothing the gastrointestinal tract, strengthening the lower esophageal sphincter and supporting digestion.

  1. Lifestyle Modifications:
  • Adjust your eating habits– Individuals experiencing symptoms of acid reflux should eat smaller, more frequent meals to avoid overeating. Eating large quantities of food can cause distention of the stomach and cause spontaneous relaxation of the LES, resulting in acid reflux. You should also eat meals at the same times every day to establish routine and avoid eating too quickly as this is proven to aggravate symptoms of GERD.
  • Avoid eating before bed– If you are someone who experiences symptoms of acid reflux at night, avoid eating 3-4 hours before bed. When lying down, our bodies are not in an optimal position for digestion due to gravity, and therefore can result in acid refluxing into the esophagus. Therefore, it is also beneficial to go for a walk after consuming a meal.
  • Elevate the head of the bed– Raising the head of the bed by 20cm with a block or using a wedge pillow is an effective way of reducing symptoms of nighttime reflux. Sleeping with your head and chest elevated can prevent the acid from refluxing into the esophagus.
  • Weight management– Being overweight can cause or exacerbate symptoms of GERD due to the increased intra-abdominal pressure. There is an association between increased BMI and severity of acid reflux symptoms thus weight management is key in overweight patients experiencing symptoms of GERD. Speak to a Naturopathic Doctor to discuss healthy long-term weight loss strategies and a plan that is right for you.
  1. Avoid triggers:
  • Identify triggers and remove them– With the help of a Naturopathic Doctor and a diet diary you can identify potential triggers of your acid reflux. This can be accomplished by tracking what you eat, monitoring when your symptoms of reflux occur, and eliminating potential triggers from your diet.
  • Research has identified certain triggers that are more commonly associated with GERD. The list below is a good starting point to try removing from your diet. However, this list may not apply to everyone and that is why it is important to identify your own triggers.
  • Common Triggers of GERD
    • Coffee
    • Chocolate
    • Spicy foods
    • Sugar
    • Dairy products (milk, eggs)
    • Tomatoes
    • Lettuce
    • Peppermint
    • Carbonated beverages
    • Citrus fruits
    • Fried foods and high-fat meals
    • Alcohol
    • Tobacco
    • Pork
    • Gluten, brewer’s yeast
  1. Protect and soothe the gastrointestinal tract:
  • As GERD can be very irritating to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, it is important to protect the gastrointestinal tract from any further damage and soothe any irritation.
  • Naturopathic doctors often use demulcent herbs such as marshmallow and slippery elm as they contain mucilage that coats the gastrointestinal tract to prevent any further acidic damage to the esophagus and also soothes any symptoms of heartburn the patient is experiencing. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is another great demulcent that can be used to protect and soothe the gastrointestinal tract, and can be consumed before or after meals.
  1. Strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter:
  • As mentioned above, a weakened or dysfunctional LES can result in esophageal reflux. Interestingly, melatonin has a functionally important role in the gut and therefore melatonin supplementation has been studied as a treatment for GERD. Melatonin has many different mechanisms of action and can be an effective treatment for GERD by decreasing stomach acid, increasing mucous production and stimulating the contractility of the lower esophageal sphincter.
  1. Digestive support:
  • Individuals suffering from GERD tend to have trouble digesting their food. Many factors can contribute to decreased digestive function such as stress, food sensitivities, and poor eating habits. In order to properly digest our food, our bodies need to be in a parasympathetic rest and digest state. Therefore, it is crucial to manage stress, enjoy your food, and chew slowly while eating to experience optimal digestion.
  • If you need more digestive support, bitter herbs such as gentian are consumed before meals to prepare the body by stimulating digestion. Some patients with more pronounced gastrointestinal symptoms may also benefit from digestive enzymes to further break down foods so they are more easily absorbed.

Before starting any supplements or a treatment plan, it is important to get assessed by a Toronto Naturopathic Doctor to see if GERD is the cause of your symptoms and what the best treatment plan is for YOU!

You can book a free consultation by clicking here.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140167/

https://www.aaaai.org/Conditions-Treatments/related-conditions/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2728193/

https://n.neurology.org/content/88/16_Supplement/P3.057

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557452/

https://journals.lww.com/gastroenterologynursing/Abstract/2019/01000/Gastroesophageal_Reflux_Disease__Pathophysiology,.3.aspx

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27250962/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16738270/

https://www.nhpassist.com/conditions/heartburn

Crohn’s disease symptoms

Crohn’s Disease

Understanding Crohn’s disease from a Naturopathic Doctor’s perspective. What are the symptoms and treatments that can actually help.

In this article we will cover the following for Crohn’s Disease:

  • What is Crohn’s Disease
  • What Causes Crohn’s Disease
  • Top Symptoms Of Crohn’s Disease
  • How to Test For Crohn’s Disease
  • What a Naturopathic Doctor Can Do To Help
  • How IV Drip Therapy Can Help Crohn’s Disease

 Before you get into this great article, if at anytime you want to talk to one of our Naturopathic Doctors about how they help with Crohn’s disease, or how IV Drip Therapy can help you can book a free consultation by clicking here.

Crohn’s disease is a lifelong illness and can severely impact one’s quality of life. It can be tricky to manage, and can often leave individuals feeling discouraged and hopeless affecting not only their physical health but also their mental, emotional, and social health.

If you are suffering from Crohn’s disease, please know that you are not alone and that your feelings and emotions are very real. A Naturopathic Doctor approach to medicine is to assess the whole person, and look at how a disease may be affecting the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of an individual.

What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is a chronic, relapsing disease which belongs to the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) family. Inflammatory bowel disease includes a group of conditions that inflame and attack the lining of your gastrointestinal tract.

When the gastrointestinal tract in inflamed, it makes it difficult to perform its job of breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste.  Crohn’s disease can affect the gastrointestinal tract anywhere starting from the mouth, all the way to the rectum; however, it most commonly affects the terminal ileum (the end of your small intestine that intersects with the large intestine) and portions of your large intestine.

What Causes Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s is a very complicated disease, and unfortunately there is no single cause that we know of yet.

What we do know is that the immune system plays a significant role, and that when your immune system is not working the way it should be, this can make your symptoms and flare ups happen more often, and be more severe.

Many inflammatory markers have been identified in Crohn’s disease, indicating a state of “chronic inflammation” within the GI tract.  Patient’s with Crohn’s disease commonly have an onset of symptoms between the ages of 20-30 years of age, or around the age of 50 years.

Although these are the most common ages we see people being diagnosed, it can occur at any age. There are no significant differences between the occurrence of Crohn’s in males and females; however, there is a strong genetic risk with the strongest risk factor being having a parent or sibling that was also diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

We also see a higher prevalence in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, in those who smoke cigarettes, use NSAIDs frequently, and in those who eat a low fibre/vegetable diet or a westernized diet high in animal meats, dairy, and refined sugar.

What are some of the signs and symptoms of Crohn’s Disease?

 Taking a very detailed clinical history is important in diagnosing Crohn’s disease as the presentation varies from individual to individual, and the symptoms can mimic other illnesses or diseases.  Below are some of the signs and symptoms that someone with Crohn’s disease may experience:

  • Abdominal pain, typically in the right lower quadrant. Can be dull or crampy, and mild to severe
  • Urgent Diarrhea
  • Incontinence
  • Nocturnal awakening to use the bathroom
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Extra-intestinal manifestations including but not limited to:
    • Eyes: Painful vision, blurry vision, redness
    • Oral ulcers, mouth or tongue pain
    • Joint aches / arthralgia
    • Skin manifestations including painful and/or purple bumps

 

What Are Some Of The Tests For Crohn’s Disease?

 There are many different tests a doctor may perform to determine whether you may be suffering from Crohn’s disease, and the extent of the disease.

These include:

Blood Tests:

  • CBC with differential
    • White blood cells may be elevated with inflammation or infection
    • Red blood cells/ Hemoglobin may be decreased in anemia
  • Nutritional status:
    • Iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, iron-binding capacity
      • Decreased absorption or increase iron loss to assess for iron deficiency anemia
    • Albumin and prealbumin level
      • Decreased with poor nutritional status and with protein-losing enteropathy
    • Vitamin D status
      • May be decreased secondary to malabsorption, or if your doctor started you on corticosteroid treatments for your Crohn’s to monitor for impaired metabolism
    • Elevated inflammatory markers : erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)

Stool Test:

  • Markers of inflammation
    • Fecal lactoferrin and calprotectin levels
      • Helpful in determining inflammation within the bowels and gut

Endoscopy/ colonoscopy:

  • Procedure to visually assess the intestines and any presence of disease

Imaging (CT or MRI):

  • May be used as additional tests to rule in/out disease or if bowel complications are suspected

 

How can Naturopathic Medicine help?

As mentioned earlier, naturopathic medicine focuses on a whole body and individualized approach. Both the signs and symptoms and how it impacts one’s quality of life can vary dramatically from person to person, despite having the same disease.

A Naturopathic approach aims to reduce both the severity and frequency of episodes, to reduce the complications of the disease and minimize the need for surgery, to assess and correct any nutritional deficiencies, and support the individual’s mental, emotional, and spiritual health in healing.

Naturopathic treatment can be integrated with your conventional treatments to help optimize outcomes and minimize adverse effects.

Your Naturopathic Doctor will assess any obstacles to cure, and what may be aggravating your immune system for it to be attacking your gastrointestinal tract.

This could include:

  • Dietary changes
  • Eliminating food sensitivities
  • Minimizing environmental toxin exposures
  • Reducing oxidative stress

One notable sensitivity in Crohn’s disease is that to baker’s yeast, and eliminating any sources of this in one’s diet can have profound affects for an individual. Food sensitivity testing may be indicated, and part of a larger discussion within your treatment plan.

Your Naturopathic Doctor will also have a discussion around strategies and tools to reduce inflammation and promote the healing of your gut.

Low dose probiotics may be helpful to lessen symptoms of relapses and lengthen remission times in those with Crohn’s disease. Apoptogenic herbs may be an excellent addition as well to help your body cope with stress, and to buffer the systems that may be depleted by both the disease process and pharmaceuticals.

Mind-body therapies may also be discussed to help support your mental and emotional health, the gut-brain axis, and to encourage empowerment, resiliency, and improve quality of life.

To correct any nutritional deficiencies, your doctor may recommend certain vitamins and minerals or the addition of IV Drip vitamin therapy.

Oral absorption of vitamins and minerals can often be impaired in individuals with Crohn’s disease due to the inflammation of the tissue; IV vitamin therapy is absorbed directly into the blood stream bypassing the gut and any absorption issues there. In addition, several conventional treatments and pharmaceuticals further deplete key nutrients. Important ingredients for the IV vitamin bag may include zinc, selenium, magnesium, trace minerals, B12, and Vitamin C to replenish any deficiencies, reduce inflammation, and to support optimal immune functioning.

An IV drip set up to help digestion would have the goal of:

  • Enhance nutrient absorption (bypass digestive limitations)
  • Provide high does of Anti-inflammatory nutrients
  • Give you nutrients specific for GI healing
  • Help reduce pain and cramping
  • Replenish electrolytes

This IV Drip would include:

Glutamine – Glutamine strengthens the barrier that is present in our intestinal tract, which helps to prevent leaky gut. It improves the immune function of our GI system which is important for overall health. Glutamine is beneficial for food allergies and chronic gut conditions, including IBS, Crohn’s, and colitis.

Taurine – Taurine plays a large role in digestion and metabolism. It supports the liver in producing bile salts which break down fatty acids, primarily cholesterol, in the intestine. It improves the digestion and absorption of fats.

Selenium – Selenium can help improve digestion and reduce malabsorption in the GI tract. It strengthens the gut’s response to inflammation, preventing damage to the gut lining. Deficiencies in selenium are correlated to higher oxidative damage in the GI tract, which can lead to different GI disorders.

Zinc – Zinc is a critical mineral for a healthy gut. It has shown to be beneficial in treating conditions such as diarrhea and leaky gut. It helps to stabilize the gut lining and promote repair of gut tissue.

Bicarbonate – Bicarbonate helps to neutralize acidic environments in our GI tract, which has a protective effect on our gut lining.

Amino Acids – Amino acids are fuel for the lining of the small intestine and are the building blocks of our intestinal proteins. There is research to support several amino acids for gut-related diseases, as they support gut lining integrity and overall function.

Find out how naturopathic medicine can help you with your Crohn’s disease. You can book a free consultation and speak to one of our Naturopathic Doctors by clicking here.

References:

https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11840007/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29494512/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18670730/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29688466/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28573652/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32872272/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304
https://www.sfadvancedhealth.com/blog/integrative-treatment-crohns-disease-symptoms