Well, in one short, sharp word – NO!

It is now pretty well accepted that gastrointestinal health is the basis for over-all good health. There are many studies supporting the role of the digestive tract in proper and optimal immune function. Optimum GI (gastrointestinal) function is imperative for optimum digestion, and hence, optimum absorption and assimilation of nutrients. It’s no good filling up with good quality fuel if the carburettors are all blocked !!

The digestive tract, anatomically and physiologically, is extremely complex. Very simply though, there’s an upper part, a middle part and a lower part, with each part performing different functions and therefore requiring different types of friendly bacteria and micro flora.

A Functional Medicine approach to systematically addressing which part of the digestive tract requires targeted intervention is the ideal way to get the best and quickest results for any gastrointestinal problem.

What is Functional Medicine?

“Functional medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centred focus of medical practice to a more patient-centred approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and evaluating the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.”

The ’shotgun approach’ to gastrointestinal health, more often than not, leads to less than optimal results and frustration both on the part of the clinician and the patient.

A proper GI treatment and management program involves 4 steps, often referred to as the 4 R program:

• Remove : very often problems with the GI tract are caused by offending foods (dairy, gluten, preservatives etc), or offending organisms (candida, parasites etc). These need to be removed by dietary modification and elimination diets, together with anti fungal, anti bacterial or anti parasitic programs.
• Replace : assisting the digestive process during the gut healing phase is a great support for digestive function. This would include using digestive enzyme support, supplemental Hcl support, fibre,  etc.
• Reinoculate : the functioning of the digestive tract is driven by the presence of ‘friendly bacteria’. These organisms are ‘health promoting’ and essential for optimum function. Re-inoculation is not a hit and miss affair. There are different friendly bacteria formulas and the correct one must be used in order to get optimum results.
• Regenerate : healing of the cells of the digestive tract is a crucial component of GI health. As the cells are adversely affected by toxic onslaught, stress, pollutants, pesticides etc. it is important to provide the GI mucosa with the correct nutritional support for proper healing to take place.

Advanced nutritional support for the GI tract will therefore incorporate microflora balance, digestive support, microbial  defense and mucosal healing. This can only be achieved by an initial specific functional gut evaluation and then the application of a targeted GI health program.

For more information and suggestions about a patient specific Gastrointestinal Health program please feel free to contact me.