Treating Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leaky gut is a common factor compromising health in western populations. Leaky gut is a situation in which the tight junctions which normally keep the intestinal lining tightly regulated begin to leak.
When there is a leaky gut, a damaged bowel lining results from poor diet, parasites, yeast, bacteria, infection, or medications, and this allows substances such as toxins, microbes, or undigested food to leak through which causes inflammation and often triggers immunological reactions. Four main causes of leaky gut include poor nutrition, chronic stress, toxin overload, and dysbiosis (an imbalance between good and bad bacteria in the gut). Toxins found in antibiotics, medications, pesticides, aspirin and NSAID use can contribute to a compromised intestinal lining. Casein found in dairy products and gluten breakdown products like gliadin found in whole wheat can cause increased inflammation in the digestive tract. Other common allergens include corn, soy, nuts, and citrus fruits.

Treating Leaky Gut involves:
1. Removing the foods that are damaging the gut and triggering the immune system. Test for food allergies and eliminate those allergenic foods for at least 3 months.
2. Replacing those foods with a healthy whole foods hypoallergenic diet.
3. Repair with targeted nutrients like glutamine (an essential amino acid that is required by gut enterocytes for growth and repair). GI Sustain and/or L-Glutamine powder.
4. Pancreatic enzymes can help breakdown food proteins to a level that maximizes absorption of food. Biogest.
5. Eliminate bad microbes that are contributing to inflammation. Berberine complex, Candaclear 4, Digesten (Juglans nigra), and Intestigen, are some of the products that I use.
6. Supplement probiotic bacteria (good bacteria) to crowd out any undesirable organisms like yeast, bad bacteria and parasites. Good bacteria contribute to healthy digestion and help create an intestinal lining that has maximal integrity. Good bacteria taken consistently may help you desensitize to the food allergies that you currently have. HMF Replenish, HMF Intensive, HMF forte are some of the products I use to replenish good bacteria.
Foods that can contribute to healing of the gut include carrot juice and cabbage juice. All non-starchy vegetables are high in phytonutrients which contribute to healing. Bone broth contains collagen and the amino acids proline and glycine that can help your damaged intestinal lining heal. Drink 1-2 cups daily. Fermented vegetables are very healing to the gut and include raw sauerkraut, kimchi and coconut kefir. Pickles (with a minimum of processing, sugar, etc) and foods like miso, tempeh (fermented organic soy) can also be supportive for a healthy gut; organic soy yogurt with live cultures can be eaten. Chia seeds, ground flax seeds and hemp seeds can provide much needed fiber and essential fatty acids for the gut. Grass fed beef, grass fed lamb and wild fish in the form of salmon, shrimp, sardines, herring can supply essential fatty acids for repair. If you do not tolerate seafood, I recommend supplementing with essential fatty acids in the form of fish and flax seed oil. Other herbs that support healing and the reduction of inflammation include Licorice root, Slippery elm, Ficus carica, Vaccinium vitis idaea, and Rosemarinus officinalis. Because grains can contribute to a leaky gut, choose non-gluten grains and soak overnight before cooking. If you are going to consume legumes (beans, lentils),I also recommend soaking overnight before consuming. Lastly stress is a huge factor which contributes to gut inflammation. Stress can be reduced by exercise, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises and emotional freedom technique; stress management should be a daily practice. This is just an introduction for leaky gut. Please come in for a proper consult if you want to know more at Parallel Wellness.

Reference: Wikipedia; Phytoembryotherapy, Doctors Franck Ledoux, Gerard Gueniot.

With the change in temperatures signalling summer and the beautiful warmth of the sun shining down, I was moved to do a post on the new consciousness. Most of the people around me are commenting on how they are wanting to reach their full potential right now. I can certainly relate to that. We are in an empowered consciousness space. It is all about being your authentic powerful self, one that is moved by love and kindness versus judgement and ego. Giving more of your richness to the world whether it be sharing your love with others, offering kindness to someone where someone else might criticize, blessing others by honoring the unique contribution that you bring into the world or that others bring into your world. In contrast to this loving space, right now, it seems as if old programs are coming up for people to be healed. Old programs of self criticism, self judgement, non-forgiveness towards the self- all these negative programs and the emotions that they evoke need to be embraced with the intention of letting them wash through you. Don’t get overly attached to what you are feeling right now. Repeat to yourself ‘This too shall pass’. We are all moving to a higher space of light and love, a higher space of self love and love for others, a personal quest to become the most authentic conscious individual that you can be. Releasing these old subconscious programs is part of the healing process that is underway right now.

In every moment, we have an ability to connect with well being and, in fact, bless other people. Think of the surroundings of your immediate environment as a beautiful milieu, one in which you can connect with other people and honor them. Say hello to people and really be in the moment with them in a sacred space. Take the time to really talk to people. Be here now. If you are fully present in the moment with others versus thinking about the next moment and what is on your to do list then you bless others.   Every moment, you have an opportunity to bless someone with love, to bring an awareness of their own beauty to their experience. If you look through the eyes of love, you are immediately drawn to what is beautiful about the other person. If you notice that and even comment about that to them, you bring that into their awareness and bless them. This experience of the other must come from the heart and be a comment that is of the purest sincerity and is genuine. When you look through the eyes of love, this often happens automatically. See everyone in your life as a miracle sent to bless your experience. This is the new consciousness that is inspired by love…

Building on my last post, I want to talk about using plants to help support balance in the face of stress. Plant medicines have been used for centuries in every corner of the world to help people flourish. Adaptogens are a class of plant medicines that are used to help people cope and thrive despite living with chronic stress.These plants are exactly what we need right now. These plants help us maintain homeostasis. They appear to balance out the H.P.A. (see last post for a description) axis;they counteract an exaggerated response to stress thereby reducing excessive cortisol levels if too high and when levels are too low can stimulate stimulate hormonal secretions when needed to bring up energy and reserves. What are some examples of adaptogens?

Ginseng is probably the best known adaptogen that heralds from China. Many forms of ginseng are utilized such as Panax (aka Korean) and Siberian ginseng. They contain ginsenosides (the active constituent of ginseng)  that are believed to interact with the H.P.A. axis to balance the body’s secretion of cortisol and ACTH. This helps increase one’s energy, stamina, memory, and concentration not to mention resistance to infection by viruses and bacteria. (The product Cold-Fx has capitalized on this unique property of ginseng.) Ginseng is not the most suited adaptogen typically for an individual who is anxious or suffers from high blood pressure or hypoglycemia.

Ashwagandha is sometimes referred to as Indian ginseng. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to combat stress and fatigue and reduce the effects of aging. The active constituents are withanolides. They contribute to the calming effect of the herb. The herb is sometimes used for insomnia and to promote relaxation. Ashwagandha produces positive changes in stress related hormone production, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Ashwagandha is a classic rejuvenating herb that would be a better choice in an anxious individual coping with chronic stress.

Another Ayurvedic herb that is a beneficial adaptogen is Bacopa monniera. It is a another balancing herb for reducing anxiety levels associated with stress as well as reducing mental fatigue. It helps improve cognitive function in the face of stress.

Rhodiola rosea is a plant that grows in high altitudes throughout Asia and Eastern Europe. It has beneficial effects on neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine so has been shown to be useful in treating depression. It helps prevent depletion of adrenal catecholamines associated with acute stress. Rhodiola also supports thyroid function and helps protect the heart. It is an herb with a good safety profile.

Plants that are supportive in low cortisol function include licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and black currant (Ribes Nigrum). These plants have anti-inflammatory action and help build up or tonify the adrenal glands. Licorice is contraindicated in high blood pressure but even drinking a cup of licorice tea can gently support adrenal function and support individuals who have low blood pressure. Ribes is my favorite herb to use when people have low adrenal function, are exhausted and suffer from chronic inflammation in the form of arthritis. It is a safe well tolerated herb that has a mild taste.

There are many other adaptogens that are great to support adrenal function- maca root, cordyceps, and holy basil come to mind. It is best to come in for a professional consult so I can match your picture with the plant that best supports you. Salivary hormone testing can be used to provide you with more information on how your adrenal glands are functioning under stress.

References: The Cortisol Connection Shawn Talbott, PH.D.

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