When I first began studying functional nutrition around three years ago, I discovered that I had been suffering from IBS-C my whole life. I had suffered from chronic constipation (I would have a bowel movement every 7-10 days), chronic bloating, indigestion, and occasional acid reflux for 25 years. I had no idea it was IBS because I didn't know any different and assumed it was normal. 

When I started accepting clients, I saw that the vast majority of them had been diagnosed with IBS or were experiencing symptoms of it. I began to realize how widespread this problem is, particularly among women. To manage their IBS symptoms, these patients are frequently prescribed anti-diarrhea medications or laxatives. They are advised that this is a long-term condition that needs to be managed. What if I told you it doesn't have to be like that?

So, what exactly is IBS? When you're told you have IBS, you're not told anything about what actually is going on in your body. The symptoms of IBS are quite real, and they have a significant influence on your quality of life. However, IBS is nothing more than a collection of symptoms. We gravitate toward labels as a culture to alleviate perceived ambiguity and fear. We'd rather hear a diagnosis than be forced to look deeper into something unknown or unclear. I invite you to keep an open mind.

You should never settle for an IBS diagnosis. IBS symptoms are your body's way of informing you that something is wrong. It may be as simple as avoiding highly processed foods for some folks. For others, the root causes may be far more complex. I can tell you that every single one of my IBS clients has one or more of the following root causes: 

• Dysbiosis from parasites, fungi, and/or bacteria 
• Environmental toxins like heavy metals, mold, pesticides, and other chemicals 
• Low bacterial diversity in the gut
• Trauma experienced as a child or as an adult 
• Chronic stress
• A sluggish liver and poor drainage overall
• Circadian dysfunction
• Low digestive enzymes (low stomach acid, low pancreatic enzymes, bile deficiency)

Why is it critical to investigate root causes? Because, unlike "IBS," there's a lot we can do to address the underlying root causes. 

When I work with a client that has IBS, we follow the following protocol: 

1. We modify the diet so that it minimizes inflammation in the gut and throughout the body, and promotes microbial diversity.  
2. We create a sustainable drainage protocol that can be easily implemented and modified throughout the rest of the protocol. Drainage should be ongoing.  
3. We address dysbiosis starting with the big guys, parasites. Pathogens should be targeted in the right order for the protocol to be effective. There are some exceptions to this depending on the case, but generally speaking, parasites need to go first.
4. We select the right binders to target environmental toxins depending on the client’s exposure.
5. We target stealth infections with powerful herbs and more drainage support. This helps rebalance the immune system which in turn keeps pathogens at bay.
6. We repopulate the gut with resilient bacteria that can colonize it.
7. We then support the healing of the gut lining with herbal supplements and essential nutrients. 

Healing your gut is a long process that takes more than a few weeks or months to complete. As I like to say, we start working on the gut first, but it’ll always heal last. Stay well, friends!

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