Digestive upset is extremely common and can be the result of many things. It is typically characterized by a feeling of discomfort in the abdominal area that often offers after eating a meal, but not always. Symptoms include heartburn, bloating, belching, and/or nausea. Simple indigestion affects nearly everyone from time to time, and though it is not considered to be a serious health condition, it can be quite uncomfortable. It may also point to other more serious health concerns like celiac disease, food sensitivities, H. Pylori, irritable bowel syndrome an inflammatory bowel disease (colitis or crohn's), GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), or peptic ulcer disease. Click on any link to read more about the one you are interested in.
The first step is to find out the cause. Are you eating foods that your body is reacting negatively towards, otherwise known as a food intolerant reaction? This can occur with both healthy and unhealthy foods and food sensitivity testing can help to identify the culprit(s). Certain medications can wear away at the protective mucus lining of your digestive tract. Or perhaps you went on a tropical vacation and picked up a chronic stomach bug. Some people are sensitive to various food combinations or suffer from mental-emotional concerns like anxiety which can lead to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Once the cause is identified, you are one step closer to knowing which treatments options will work best.
Medications such as anti-acids are commonly prescribed for many digestive health concerns. Unfortunately they only act as a bandaid solution and if the cause is not removed, the condition often worsens.
If symptoms are severe, your doctor will often refer you to a specialist to rule out more serious concerns like colitis, ulcers or celiac disease.
There are many natural and effective solutions for digestive upset however first and foremost the cause must be identified. The Naturopathic Doctors at KIH use various assessments and tests to help determine what this may be and then treat using a variety of nutritional counselling, natural supplement recommendations and/or acupuncture. Read more about our treatment plans below.