Finding a solution.
The first step to eliminating digestive discomfort is to find out the cause. Once the cause is identified, you are one step closer to knowing which treatments options will work best.
Conventional approaches:
Medications such as anti-acids are commonly prescribed for 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.
Natural Healthcare Options:
There are many natural and effective solutions for digestive upset however first and foremost the cause must be identified. Are you eating foods that your body is reacting negatively towards? These are called food intolerances and can occur with both healthy and unhealthy foods. Food sensitivity testing can help to identify the culprit(s) by grading your immune reaction to many different foods. Other causes may include medication use as certain types wear away at the protective mucus lining of your digestive tract (e.g. alieve, aspirin); or perhaps you went on a tropical vacation and picked up a chronic viral infection. Some people are sensitive to various food combinations or suffer from mental-emotional concerns like anxiety which can lead to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). The Naturopathic Doctors at KIH use various assessments tools to help determine what the real problem may be. Once identified, a variety of treatments using nutritional counselling, natural supplement recommendations and/or lifestyle modifications are recommended to help create better digestive health and eliminate or reduce unpleasant symptoms. Read more about our treatment plans below.