Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, is an inflammatory condition of the intestines. There are two main types of IBD, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis is found in the lower intestine, rectum, and colon, while Crohn’s can appear anywhere in the digestive tract. With an appearance of cobblestone, Crohn’s can appear from the mouth and throat down to the rectum and anus. Where these two diseases overlap, however, a diagnosis can be difficult. When a patient has the symptoms but the location could be either disease, they can sometimes get a general diagnosis of IBD.
There are many different causes of IBD, including a genetic predisposition. IBD has been found to be prominent in specific populations. There has been new research and study of the microbiome, or digestive bacteria, that has found increased rates of the Kluyvera bacteria in individuals with inflamed gut and IBD. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is another bacteria that could be responsible for IBD. There is also a developing theory that IBD may be caused by the absence of a certain parasite. With improvements to modern medicine, we have flushed some parasites out of our bodies, which is normally a good thing. However, it is possible – according to this theory – that we have evolved over the years with a more symbiotic relationship with a parasite in the digestive tract. The theory is that the body is so used to attacking the parasite, the body is left with nothing to attack but itself in the parasite’s absence. This can then cause autoimmune and digestive diseases, but this is just a theory on the pathology of IBD.
Symptoms
The inflammatory condition of the gut is never a pretty picture. Some of the symptoms can include bloating, gas, and loose or “funny” stools. When this occurs, most people typically need steroids as part of their treatment. Depending on how long the patient has been suffering from IBD, a portion of the digestive tract may need to be removed all together.
Prevention and Treatment
There are some preventative measures you can take to avoid Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Due to the genetic predispositions, checking your family history is a good first step. Dr. Brody uses uBiome to examine a patient’s microbiome to look for potential imbalances of bacteria. He can also look at a patient’s DNA at SNPs and other genetic markers that could indicate a predisposition to IBD. Your diet is incredibly important, as the food you eat contributes directly to your microbiome. By altering your diet to include specific foods and avoid others, you can help improve your microbiome and avoid inflammation. Colonoscopies are also a good way to check the status of your digestive tract and are essential in the diagnosis process.
If you find you are potentially in the early stages of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, it should be looked at immediately. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you should go either to a gastroenterologist or the ER. Taking medications or supplements to control inflammation early on is key. Generally, supplements like glutamine are good for the digestive tract, and amino acids can help us heal. Short chain fatty acids can help the healing process, but dietary changes are the most important factor. Your diet can determine how much your immune system gets aggravated and what the response will be. You want your immune system to attack the bacteria, not your good, healthy cells.
Dr. Robert Brody’s Approach
Dr. Brody uses a personalized, natural approach with all of his patients. He uses tests like the uBiome and Opus DNA test to determine the cause of the symptoms and eliminate the problem at the source. If the symptoms are an acute flare-up with loose stools, Dr. Brody works with other gastroenterologists to use medication, steroids, and supplements to control inflammation in the short term. In the long term, he tries to use a personalized treatment plan to heal the digestive tract, remove any inflammation, and balance the bacteria in the microbiome. While Dr. Brody will only use one system of treatment at a time, he does so to make sure there are minimal side-effects of medications. The infrared sauna can help to stop the peeling off of cells in the intestines as well, helping to reduce the levels of inflammation.
To schedule an appointment, please contact the front desk at the Personalized Natural Medicine Clinic, located in the heart of Newtown, Connecticut.