Digestive Conditions
Hippocrates, who is referred to as the “Father of Medicine” has long been quoted for saying “All disease begins in the gut”. Similarly, a common view point in naturopathic medicine has been that the digestive system is the corner stone of health and is strongly linked to the health of the immune system via the human gut microbiome or gut flora.
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One of the main contributing factors to decreasing favorable gut flora is the overuse and overexposure to antibiotics. The most common digestive conditions that are commonly treated with antibiotics include diarrhea, colitis and certain types of stomach ulcers.​​
NATUROPATHIC TIPS FOR PREVENTION
Following a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced optimal diet suited to each individual is the most efficient way to maintain and prevent digestive symptoms and conditions in order to decrease the need for antibiotics. Read More
ASSESSMENT & NATUROPATHIC DIAGNOSIS
The aim of the naturopathic assessment process is to determine the cause(s) of the symptoms and conditions. Naturopathic doctors can perform examinations and order diagnostic tests to help determine the root cause of what a patient is experiencing. They invest time in visits taking an extensive history that investigates diet, exercise, habits, sleep and emotional state, in order to determine how it impacts the health of the individual. Read More
NATUROPATHIC
TREATMENTS
Naturopathic treatment is individualized and dependent on determining the cause of the symptoms. Read More​​​
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It is always best to work with your naturopathic practitioner or other trained health professional to determine the best treatment option.
Key Points
Long-term impacts of antibiotic exposure on the human intestinal microbiota.
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Diet plays a significant role in determining the health of the digestive system. Diet changes can induce significant microbial shifts within 24 h. [2.5]
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A consequence of repeated antibiotic treatment is the long-term persistence of antibiotic resistance genes and changes in the human intestinal microbiata. [2.6]
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Imbalance of the normal gut microbiota have been linked with gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and wider systemic manifestations of disease such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and atopy. [2.3]
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Probiotics help restore the composition of the intestinal microbiota following antibiotic therapy. [2.8]