What is IBD?

IBD is a chronic condition of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Different aspects of the digestive system may be affected. One area affected is the intestines where parts may become swollen, inflamed and ulcerated. In some cases, this inflammation can disrupt the body’s ability to properly digest and absorb nutrients from food. In untreated cases, this can create nutrient deficiencies and other downstream health problems.

IBD is considered to be autoimmune in origin and at present there is no known ‘cure’ for the condition.  Drugs and surgery are thought to reduce the symptoms and provide possible temporary relief.

Types Of IBD

There are 3 main types of IBD.  Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Indeterminate colitis.  The differences mainly relate to the location of the affected area and the likely depth of inflammation.

Crohn’s Disease

This condition can affect any area of the body from the mouth to the anus, however, the area most affected is the latter part of the small intestine (the ileum).  Crohn’s usually affects all layers of the intestine and is characterized by patchy areas of affected tissue.

Ulcerative Colitis

This condition usually begins in the lower part of the colon (large intestine) and may affect the entire colon.  This condition usually only affects the innermost aspects of the large intestine and is characterized by a continual pattern or more vastly affected area rather than the patchy areas affected in Crohn’s.

Indeterminate colitis

this is a term used if it is unclear if the lesions (affected areas) are Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis as its presentation exhibits characteristics of both conditions.   

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is caused by a chronic and inappropriate immune system response in the digestive tract. The result of this response is inflammation and tissue damage. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight-loss and fatigue. The exact cause of IBD is not known but it is known to involve faulty immune system regulation. Heredity only plays a minor role and most people with IBD do not have this as part of their family medical history. The most common treatments utilized today attempt to reduce inflammation or suppress the immune system. There is however a new and entirely different approach to managing IBD that does not carry the risks of traditional treatment.

Traditional Medical Treatment IBD

There are 2 major classes of drugs used to manage IBD. The first, and most commonly prescribed drugs are anti-inflammatory drugs. These attempt to decrease the inflammation that is caused by the inappropriate immune system response. The second class is more aggressive and may cause more serious side-effect. This class is called immune system suppressors; they do not target the inflammation caused by the immune system but target the immune system itself and attempt to suppress its functions directly. Both classes of drugs can cause serious side-effects.

Functional Medicine IBD

What is a functional medicine approach to Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis?

There has been a great deal of research involving chemicals produced by the body that regulate the immune system and the digestive tract. Again, it is important to remember that IBD occurs because the immune system is not being regulated. The 2 chemicals we will focus on are called serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals are also called neurotransmitters because they are produced by nerves and permit nerves of the body to communicate accurate information to each other regarding the status of the body. If these 2 chemicals are out of balance, the immune and digestive system will suffer.

Serotonin

The digestive tract produces and utilizes huge amounts of serotonin; it produces more serotonin than any other organ in the body, even more than the brain! Excess serotonin has been linked to another bowel disease called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and can cause pain, cramping and diarrhea. Approximately 50% of patients with IBD also have symptoms of IBS! Serotonin imbalances have been observed with immune system imbalances and inflammation of the digestive tract. It is known that in Crohn’s disease there is excess production of serotonin in the intestines and it may ultimately be a disease of serotonin overload. There is growing evidence that the immune system and neurotransmitters are intimately connected.

Dopamine

Studies have shown that the immune system is also regulated by dopamine. Altered levels of dopamine are intimately connected to inappropriate immune system responses in IBD and other diseases involving the immune system. It also stimulates the bowels to secrete appropriate chemicals, calms motility thus reducing diarrhea and cramping, improves blood flow and protects against ulcers. One of the primary benefits of dopamine may be its ability to regulate serotonin imbalances. Addressing imbalances of serotonin and dopamine should be considered in any patient who suffers from IBD or IBS.

If imbalances are present, they can often be corrected without the use of prescription medication or damaging side-effects.

While the exact cause of IBD is not known, anything that puts stress on the immune system should be considered. In addition to serotonin and dopamine balance, this would include gut flora (bacteria) imbalances and food intolerances that can trigger an exaggerated and inappropriate immune response. One should also consider nutrients required by the immune system so that it can keep itself regulated. Tests can be performed to evaluate serotonin and dopamine levels as well as gut flora, food sensitivities and nutritional needs.

Schedule An IBD Functional Medicine Doctor Appointment 

What is different about a functional medicine approach to IBD?  Functional medicine looks for the underlying cause of your symptoms.  The goal of which is to identify the imbalances and restore proper functioning.

If you suffer with IBD or IBS your body is suffering an imbalance that is causing a disease process. Functional medicine focuses on the CAUSE OF DISEASE instead of putting out the fires caused by the underlying disease process. Searching for and addressing the underlying cause of disease is what we specialize in at Naperville Integrated Wellness. For more information about out clinic or functional medicine go to napervilleintegratedwellness.com.

If you are looking for a functional medicine doctor in Chicago, Plainfield, Aurora, Frankfort or Wheaton, please contact us today!