How healthy is your gut?  Most of us never give much thought to the state of “affairs” in one of the most important biological systems in our body.  There is more and more scientific evidence of the significance of gut health in overall health than we previously thought.  It is estimated that 70 million people in our country suffer from digestive disorders.  With a population of nearly 313 million in the US that means almost 1/4 of us have an unhealthy gastrointestinal system.

You may have never thought much about your gut health before.  Many people take the following “common symptoms” after eating as “normal”:

• Bloated and excessive gas
• Over-full feeling
• Belching or burning sensation

In addition to these common symptoms other signs and symptoms of what I call “sick gut syndrome” include the following:

• Fatigue after eating
• Chronic abdominal pain
• Diarrhea on a frequent basis
• Constipation (that means no bowel movement daily)

I am a physician dedicated to assisting my patients in gaining the highest level of health possible.  I love my work; I love the people I serve.  I have been in the profession of medicine for over 4 decades.  I’ve tried to grow and learn new approaches to helping people heal.

Fourteen years ago I finally made the decision to practice holistic medicine.  I discovered homeopathy, a most amazing scientific method of healing, and have been practicing homeopathy ever since.  I have not been able to help everyone who comes to see me.  A few months ago I wrote a blog about the obstacles to healing.  Like any dedicated physician, I want to find those obstacles and help my patients remove them.

As a pediatrician I am committed to, not only protecting but also helping our children, lead a happy and fulfilling life. As a medical professional it has always and will always be my primary concern: First do no harm. When we look at the medical environment for our children, we see that many drugs are being prescribed that have not been adequately (or not tested at all in children) evaluated for the safe use in children. Many drugs being prescribed today are for reasons that are called “off label.” That means the drugs have not been tested for efficacy or safety for our children.

Poisonous Toxins Are Everywhere

Recent studies by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have found toxic residues in our human tissues, especially fat. Umbilical cord blood analysis found 217 toxic chemicals that affect the brain and nervous system of infants. This is scary. We are floating in a soup of toxic substances that is making us sick.

Researchers have studied the link between chemical toxins and obesity. The pollutants are stored in our fat cells and poison our metabolism, preventing us from losing weight. The more obese a person, the more toxins are stored. Thyroid hormone levels are lowered, disturbing your metabolic rate and interfering with the hormonal signals that control your appetite. Toxins block the mechanism that tells your brain you are full.

What’s important about this research is that the role of a scientifically- based detoxification program is vital to restore your metabolism and your overall health. We all know that we live in a toxic environment. We must learn to live differently if we expect to be healthier, happier and full of vitality, strength and energy.

Several years ago I bought a book called, Biochemical Individuality, by Roger Williams from 1956. Yesterday, I searched for this book in my library only to find it missing, but that’s not what’s important here. There is a new era of individualizing nutritional supplementation that I believe will eventually become the norm. There is no “one size fits all” prescription for what each individual needs in terms of nutritional support. I may need a certain amount of Vitamin E, and you may need something totally different.

I just googled Biochemical Individuality ( wow! The power of the internet) and found the book on Amazon. I had this book in my library for all these years, but did not understand what the author was saying. Now I am beginning to get it. We know we are all unique, but how many of us have thought about our nutritional needs being unique?

I recently received a phone call from a former patient, someone who is giving up on life because she can’t find her way out of the “conveyor belt” syndrome that is so typical of our current “disease-centered” medical care system. It makes me weep to know that the resources for healing are right within reach…right inside this most amazing body that we have been given, and our system of medicine has either forgotten this or chooses not to recognize the numerous studies that support the inherent integrity of the human body to self-correct and heal itself.

In a recent report of all causes of death in our country, 106, 000 were from adverse drug reactions. We have developed a reliance on pharmaceutical drugs that ultimately cannot heal. We are told that these drugs have been tested and deemed safe, but then we pick up the prescription at the pharmacy and read about all the side effects…some very dangerous and even deadly. For a new drug to be approved for public use the drug companies have to run at least 2 tests and prove that it is more effective than placebo.