IBS is a common condition that includes chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas, and bloating. This talk will outline how diet, gut flora, stress, and lifestyle impact IBS. Amy Nelson, ND* addresses food allergies, yeast overgrowths, and SIBO in the treatment of IBS.
 
For questions, call 512-219-8600 or email pwcnorth@peoplesrx.com, and be sure to follow Peoples on your favorite social media channels! Facebook | Instagram
 
Amy Nelson, ND* received her Naturopathic Doctorate from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland where she studied nutrition, homeopathy, herbal, and functional medicine. She was the associate at The IBS Treatment Center in Santa Monica where she treated irritable bowel syndrome and complex food allergies. Dr. Nelson utilizes her experience in natural medicine to address female and male hormonal imbalances, mental health, and digestive disorders.

*Naturopathic doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.
 
 

IBS is a common condition that includes chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas, and bloating. This talk will outline how diet, gut flora, stress, and lifestyle conditions impact IBS. Amy Nelson, ND* completed an associateship at the IBS Treatment Center in Santa Monica, CA, where she addressed food allergies, yeast overgrowths, and SIBO in the treatment of IBS.
 
For questions, call 512-219-8600 or email pwcnorth@peoplesrx.com, and be sure to follow Peoples on your favorite social media channels! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
 
 
Amy Nelson, ND* received her Naturopathic Doctorate from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR where she studied nutrition, homeopathy, herbal and functional medicine. In addition, Dr. Nelson was the Associate at The IBS Treatment Center in Santa Monica where she treated irritable bowel syndrome and complex food allergies. Dr. Nelson utilizes her experience in natural medicine to address female and male hormonal imbalances, mental health, and digestive disorders.

*Naturopathic doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.
 
 

Did you know that exposure to moldy, water-damaged buildings has the potential to make you sick? Mold serves an important role in nature by recycling dead organic material into soil and nutrients for new things to grow. To grow, it needs moisture and food in the form of cellulose, starch, or other organic matter. Mold species common in the outdoor environment rarely cause serious health issues for people.

However, mold can also grow indoors, especially in buildings damaged by water. The species of mold that grow inside tend to be much more problematic for human health, and can occur in much higher concentrations because they are in an enclosed space. Most people don’t realize that mold can take root and form a colony within 24-48 hours of water damage happening. Continued growth of some of the most toxic molds only requires high humidity (>60%) or slight, consistent dampness (a slow drip that never quite dries out).

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

There is a short list of mold species that are known to be toxic to nearly everyone, the most well-known one being Stachybortys. But for about 20% of the population, exposure to a much larger list of molds can cause a pattern of chronic immune dysregulation called Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). CIRS affects many systems of the body, with the primary symptoms manifesting in mucous membranes and the nervous system. Those who are genetically susceptible to CIRS and are exposed to toxic microbes will experience a progression of multiple symptoms, gradually getting worse. They will also become more and more sensitive to other irritants over time including electric and magnetic fields (EMFs), allergies, food reactions, and more.

Like other chronic, multisystem illnesses, CIRS is not commonly recognized by most of the healthcare profession. Because developing CIRS requires genetic vulnerability, it can be quite difficult to identify if the source of illness is a particular building. Since 75-80% of the population does not have this severe immune reaction, it is common that only 1-2 people in a family will become ill. Others will just have mild allergies with the same exposure. Symptoms of CIRS overlap with those of mono, IBS, SIBO, Lyme Disease, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, MS, and often include psychological and/or psychiatric manifestations.

Common Symptoms of CIRS

Fatigue (progressive and deep)
Brain Inflammation (brain fog, spaciness, disorientation)
Anxiety, depression
Memory problems, slurred speech, vision changes
Coordination problems, issues with balance
Headaches, lightheadedness, dizziness
Respiratory issues (chronic sinusitis, chronic cough, SOB, wheezing, sore throat)
IBS- or SIBO-like symptoms (cramping, diarrhea, bloating)
Fake UTI (urinary frequency, urgency, burning, but no infection)
Unexplained weight gain or loss
Joint pain, muscle pain, muscle weakness
Muscle cramps, muscles feel wiped out with little effort
Exercise intolerance
Rash, skin flushing
Wheezing, weak voice
Cold and/or heat intolerance
Excessive thirst
Rapid pulse, heart palpitations, chest tightness or discomfort
Swollen ankles
Increased bleeding times (easy/severe bruising, bleeding gums, nose bleeds)
Immuno-suppression (more vulnerable to infections)
Increased static electricity shocks (watches and electronics may be short lived or glitchy)
Increased sensitivity to EMF, food sensitivities, other chemical exposures

Prevalence of Water-Damaged Buildings

It is estimated that around 50% of the buildings and homes in the U.S. are water damaged enough to cause illness. Austin is a particularly moldy city, nearly as moldy as a coastal city, thanks to our heat, humidity, and constantly-running air conditioners. Not only that, but AC ducts most likely don’t get cleaned as often as they should, and with rapid growth in Austin comes buildings being built quickly and with cheap materials more susceptible to mold. The city is also full of flat-roofed buildings, with nowhere for puddled water to go but down into the building. All of these create the perfect environment for toxic mold to grow invisibly, leading many to believe that Austin could have an even higher rate of buildings and homes with water damage.

What To Do

Getting away from the mold and into a clean environment are absolutely essential to resolving CIRS symptoms. Finding well-trained inspectors and remediators can be tricky in Texas due to our unusual building regulations, but it is worth doing the extra work to make sure that the mold is not only identified, but the cause is found and addressed.
Because of the broad symptoms associated with CIRS and mold illness, a practitioner should examine and treat each patient on a case-by-case basis. There is no all-encompassing fix. That’s why it is extremely important to find a mold- and CIRS-literate practitioner to help identify the problem and begin to detox, supplement, and repair neurology and immunity, all of which can be complex and tricky.

To book an appointment with Dr. Becky Andrews or any Peoples Rx practitioner, call 512-219-8600.

Becky Andrews, ND*, L.Ac. received her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine and Masters in Acupuncture at Bastyr University. She specializes in complex, chronic and “difficult” cases, especially relating to digestive health, fatigue, mood and detoxification. She works extensively with MTHFr and genetic challenges. In addition to seeing patients in Austin, she is faculty at AOMA School of Integrative Medicine.

*Naturopathic Doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.

If you have comments and/or questions about this blog, email us at blog@peoplesrx.com.

Explore the true causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and understand how diet and lifestyle impact the GI.
 
 
Amy Nelson, ND* received her Naturopathic Doctorate from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR where she studied nutrition, homeopathy, herbal and functional medicine. In addition, Dr. Nelson was the Associate at The IBS Treatment Center in Santa Monica where she treated irritable bowel syndrome and complex food allergies. Dr. Nelson utilizes her experience in natural medicine to address female and male hormonal imbalances, mental health, and digestive disorders.
 
 
 

For questions, call 512-219-8600 or email pwcnorth@peoplesrx.com, and be sure to follow Peoples on your favorite social media channels! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

*Naturopathic doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.
 
 

IBS is a common condition that includes chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas, and bloating. This talk will outline how diet, gut flora, stress, and lifestyle conditions impact IBS. Amy Nelson, ND* completed an associateship at the IBS Treatment Center in Santa Monica, CA, where she addressed food allergies, yeast overgrowths, and SIBO in the treatment of IBS. 

Amy Nelson, ND* received her Naturopathic Doctorate from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR where she studied nutrition, homeopathy, herbal and functional medicine. In addition, Dr. Nelson was the Associate at The IBS Treatment Center in Santa Monica where she treated irritable bowel syndrome and complex food allergies. Dr. Nelson utilizes her experience in natural medicine to address female and male hormonal imbalances, mental health, and digestive disorders.

For questions, call 512-219-8600 or email pwcnorth@peoplesrx.com, and be sure to follow Peoples on your favorite social media channels! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

*Naturopathic doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.

People are often surprised when the cause of their migraine, skin rash, or elevated cholesterol is a food sensitivity. The digestive system is not always the primary place where food allergies reveal themselves. Other organ systems like the skin, nervous system, and cardiac system can more swiftly respond to inflammatory reactions before digestive tissue becomes irritated. In chronic conditions, our bodies can endure a disorder for years. For example – it takes 40-70 years of daily cigarette smoking for chronic lung disease or cancer to manifest (American Lung Association).

Skin conditions like eczema are frequently related to food triggers. In 2015, The Clinical Journal for Experimental Allergy reported in a cohort study that infants with eczema were 11 times more likely to have food intolerances. The most common food intolerances associated with eczema are gluten and dairy, which are two common first-foods introduced to infants.

Dairy is a base for many formulas and is often encouraged by pediatricians as a source of calcium. Unfortunately, the inflammatory nature of milk likely creates more malabsorption than actual nutrient support. Even though skin is flared, look to the diet for the inflammatory cause.

Migraines and headaches have been long-associated with food triggers. The Journal of Neurological Sciences published a study that found 60 percent of the migraines they assessed to be associated with food intolerances. However, many people with migraines will not report digestive upset.

Elevations in LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and blood pressure are also linked to inflammatory diets. With a reduction in inflammatory foods, much like eliminating smoking and alcohol, LDL will also decrease. Dietary cholesterol is less impactful on your body’s total cholesterol than dietary inflammation. Blood pressure is also involved in that inflammatory reaction, and will also lower with an anti-inflammatory diet.

You do not have to have Celiac Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Crohn’s Disease to suffer the consequences from an inflammatory diet. Many people misconceive that if they are not having gastrointestinal distress, their particular diet must be fine for them. However, people who have digestive symptoms (gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, pain) are actually well informed by their body.

It is important that patients be honest with their practitioners about their eating habits when having issues so that diet can either be ruled out or looked into as a possible culprit. If you are curious about inflammatory diets and gut health in general, Peoples regularly has diet-focused events in our seminar series. Check out these upcoming events this summer:

Gluten Free/Dairy Free Easily
May 2 at 6pm

Thyroid, Adrenals, and Fatigue: Elimination
May 10 at 7pm

Ketogenic vs. Paleo
June 6 at 6pm

Amy Nelson, ND* received her Naturopathic Doctorate from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR where she studied nutrition, homeopathy, herbal and functional medicine. In addition, Dr. Nelson was the Associate at The IBS Treatment Center in Santa Monica where she treated irritable bowel syndrome and complex food allergies. Dr. Nelson utilizes her experience in natural medicine to address female and male hormonal imbalances, mental health, and digestive disorders.
 
 
*Naturopathic Doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.

Image courtesy of Stoonn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ayurveda, which literally translates to “the science of life,” does not diagnose disease or give it a name in the same way that allopathy does. That is the first thing to understand about how Ayurveda goes about preventing and/or managing a condition. Ayurveda diagnoses the current state of one’s constitution and works to bring it back into balance. In that sense, it is difficult for an Ayurvedic practitioner to discuss “diseases” with a client as a name, such as IBS, because it may not hold any clue to the cause and treatments required by the symptoms. Read more →

Sadly, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is just as pleasant as it sounds. Abdominal pain, cramping, changeable bowel movements and a generally, as you might guess, irritated bowel. Essentially this has become a catch-all condition in which any bowel irregularity in what looks to be a structurally normal colon gets put in this category. It can include gas, bloating, urgent stools, changeable stools, constipation, or frequent abdominal pain.  There is no test for irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS as it is more commonly known, it’s simply a collection of symptoms that don’t have any other good explanation.

The bottom line is that there are as many faces of IBS as there are people with the diagnosis.  The way your specific IBS looks depends on your own body and your own reaction to the environment, diet, nutritional status, stress levels (don’t forget your gut is your second brain) and your genetic tendencies.  Managing your own IBS comes down to finding solutions that are right for your body and for your symptoms.

Good general steps for anyone include:

• Fiber: Your digestive tract needs both soluble and insoluble fiber and most people in this culture don’t get nearly enough. The suggested dose from food and supplements is 25 grams daily but most people get 12 or less.

• Water: Like every other part of you, your intestines need enough water to work. If they’re not getting enough water, or if you’re taking high quantities of allergy medicines (we are in Austin after all) then your intestines may just be too dry.

• Check the Prescriptions: Many common prescriptions have side effects that include diarrhea, constipation, cramping, gas and bloating.  If something you’re taking is causing problems for you then it’s possible your doctor could help you find another medication that will suit your body better.

• Food: Cleaning up your intake a little bit can make the whole digestive machinery work better.  Decreasing hard to digest foods like dairy and grains and focusing more on fruits, veggies and lean meats will make a huge difference. Cutting out the processed foods can also take a huge burden off of your digestion.

• Glutamine: Many intestine rebuilders contain glutamine, which is soothing and healing to the intestinal lining. This can make a big difference if there’s been damage.

Great ideas if you tend to be more constipated:

• Magnesium: Magnesium helps your bowel to relax and allow everything to pass through more easily. This is a great help if you have a lot of cramping, spasms in your digestive system, or difficult constipation. The dosage is different from person to person so adjust it until you find the dose that helps your bowel movements but doesn’t give you loose stools.

• Digestive Enzymes with HCL: Sometimes things aren’t moving because your body is struggling to break them down. A strong digestive enzyme with hydrochloric acid can help get the machinery working again. Make sure to take one or two with each meal.

Support for Loose Bowels

• Probiotics: In truth these helpful bacteria can help with constipation or diarrhea because they help to regulate the way digestion happens. You need these beneficial bugs to digest your food properly.

• Charcoal or clay: Either of these binders, taken internally, will help to absorb any toxins from bad bacteria in the bowels. This stops the automatic purge reaction that happens in response to high toxins and lets your digestive tract slow down to normal.

Decreasing Gas and Bloating

• Fennel and Ginger: These herbs can help calm gas production and reduce bloating.  There are many great combination formulas available that will ease gas pains.

• Digestive Enzymes: Often gas and bloating happen because food isn’t digesting so it begins to ferment in the digestive tract. Making sure that you’re actually breaking down your food effectively will stop fermentation before it starts.

If you are struggling with a combination of symptoms or symptoms that seems to change frequently then it’s a great time to work with a practitioner. They can help you find the best combination of products or lifestyle changes for your body and your symptoms.

by Amy Neuzil, ND