Natural Treatments for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Australia
Linda Lowen is an experienced Australian naturopath specialising in digestive health. Since 2007, she has supported people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Linda established her Highbury practice in 2007 and the specialised IBS Clinic in 2010. With a change in location, she now provides telehealth consultations across Australia. Her personalised approach combines thorough assessment with nutritional and herbal medicine, supported by practical diet and lifestyle recommendations.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is not a disease. The term syndrome describes a cluster of symptoms common to most people with any functional digestive disorder.
There is no single cause for IBS there are however many contributing factors that are completely individual to every sufferer. Linda can help you identify the cause of your symptoms and begin to optimise function to your digestive system, improvements are often noticed within a few short weeks.
While most sources will tell you that food allergy or intolerance play a very small role in this condition, clinical experience shows food reactivity is implicated in 100% of cases.
Food sensitivities can be detected using
bio-compatibility testing.
Food Sensitivities are reactions that are not consistent and do not necessarily result in definite specific antibody responses in the blood. They are difficult to pinpoint by traditional blood tests and scratch tests. Reactivity is however mediated by the immune system and results in the release of inflammatory mediators like histamine.
Histamine has only recently been identified as causing more than hay fever and hives. From about 2010 scientists realised that the mast cells (white blood cells that release histamine) were behaving strangely and two new disorders were identified; Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD) and Mastocytosis. Histamine release from food reactions can masquerade as food poisoning, gastroenteritis or parasite infestation; when incorrectly treated with antibiotics the symptoms can become worse.
Damage to the mucous membrane in the digestive tract is common; it can be caused by stress, infection, antibiotics or poor diet. This damage is sometimes known as "leaky gut" and can allow undigested food components (especially proteins) to get into the bloodstream. The immune system will react by creating inflammation.
The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are diverse because the inflammation can be anywhere along the length of the digestive tract.
If it is in the stomach expect to have symptoms like reflux, bloating, indigestion and gastritis. Inflammation in the small intestine can result in diarrhoea after eating, bloating and flatulence. In the large bowel it can result in diarrhoea with mucous and perhaps blood in the stool or constipation with a compacted bowel. Here it can also present as alternating constipation and diarrhoea.
While some foods will initiate this immune response others will aggravate the inflammation. The reaction and pain can be immediate and quite severe. The person often recognises this and may eliminate the offending food from their diet, bringing a measure of relief; however the underlying cause remains, leaving them susceptible to the next aggravation.
Trying to identify foods that are causing the inflammation is much easier with
Bio-compatibility Testing.
Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
While these conditions are more serious the basic treatment strategies are the same. There is a stronger focus on supporting and balancing the immune system to re-establish normal function and to resolve inflammation. Conventional medicine has nothing to offer patients to heal the damaged intestinal tissue, their only focus in on immune system suppression.
Whether your symptoms are a mere annoyance or severely debilitating you will find the answers and the treatment you are looking for at the IBS Clinic. Call us today on 08 8395 2836 to arrange a consultation.
