Integrative Medicine : Lubiprostone for SIBO and Chronic Constipation.

A recent 2016 study for 29 female patients with chronic constipation and Small Intestinal Bacteria Growth (SIBO) used 24 mcg twice per day of Lubiprostone (a prescriptive intestinal secretagogue). 41% of those people who tested positive for SIBO were SIBO negative after 2 weeks. This well designed (but albeit small) study also measured gastric emptying time, small bowel transit time, colon transit time (CTT), combined small and large bowel transit time (SLBTT) and whole gut transit time were measured using wireless motility capsule and showed improvement in those parameters. Stooling increased from 2x per week to 4x per week. As someone who treats a lot of SIBO and Chronic Constipation this is a promising new integrative treatment that may even have better results combined with natural therapies and even other conventional therapies. I am investigating more about the reported low side effects of Lubiprostone. The most exciting thing is that it helps us understand more of the mechanism of chronic constipation and the importance of intestinal fluid interchange in regulating motility. More on Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Here.

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Uritica Dioica (Nettle) a versatile cure from nature

One of my favorite all-time herbs is Urtica Dioica known as Nettle. I was introduced to this herb why doing a trail run in Marin County, Northern California when I turned a corner too fast and was stung by one of its infamous needles. Little did I know that this plant who I was "cursing" was one natures best medicines . When I started my training as a Naturopathic Medicine student, one of my mentors, the late Dr. Bill Mitchell talked about Nettle root extensively. He stated it has some of the best antihistamine properties of all the plants because it is rich in plant sterols, fatty acids, and lignans which basically act like a fire extinguisher for inflammation especially with seasonal allergies. If you suffer from grass or tree allergies, try some Nettle root tea from Traditional Medicinals. Or stop by Herban Wellness in Kirkland and ask for a tea to be made up. Enjoy a cup in the morning and again in the evening and let me know if you see a reduction in your allergy symp

Plateauing

Plateauing in the process of change. I have experienced and you have experienced it. Things are going well and then we hit a flat point of progress. The typical response to the plateau that I have seen is to "do more" ,"add more", and "be more". It makes sense,right? Or does it? You're climbing a mountain after learning, growing, acquiring skills, and carrying more responsibility, motivation, and discipline. It seems worth it because you're seeing your health improve, relationships improve, mental health improve, and spiritual health improve. Then you suddenly you're at a flat point. Things are not quite where they need to be and you have acquired new things, skills, tools that require maintenance and nurturing. If you don't continue them you would... well....fall back down the mountain. Or would you? So we add more stuff, more noise, more ideas, more skills, and suddenly we look like a pack mule climbing to our asc

HPA Management: How to decrease anxiety?

This post is about Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal gland Axis (HPA) management. Specifically how to decrease anxiety. How do we decrease anxiety? Ask people to be clear of what is expected of us. And upon hearing what's expected be honest with ourselves and others about what is possible. If we you have expectations from others and for ourselves that have no boundaries; then we are likely going to experience an arousal state in the brain. This trickles down to anxiety related symptoms. Vice versa by not setting expectations we can reak havoc on our inner self relationships and outer self relationships. Of course I could write all day about lifestyle changes and herbal interventions that might help but the inner game of anxiety is so much more.

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