Naturopathic Medicine for Digestive Disorders

Digestive disorders can result from a multitude of conditions, events, and environmental causes. Allergies, pathogens, parasites, stress, congenital conditions, lifestyle, and many other factors are all possible causes. Your naturopathic doctor (ND) will use a variety of natural and conventional medical techniques to discover the root cause of your digestive disorder. Then he or she will choose from a number of different strategies in the fields of botanical medicine, nutrition, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, acupuncture, environmental medicine, and lifestyle counseling to help you bring your body back to good health without the use of drugs.

What Types of Naturopathic Medicine Are Used to Overcome Digestive Disorders?

Naturopaths are committed to helping you find the gentlest, most effective course of action to bring your body back to good health without the use of heavy drugs. When a thorough physical examination assures that you do not have a serious problem requiring surgery or hospitalization, your naturopath can choose a number of different treatments, depending on the nature of the disorder. Dietary counseling is likely for digestive disorders. The counseling will probably include not only recommendations for some changes in the foods you choose, but possibly also changes in amounts of food and beverage taken at any time, as well as possible food combinations. Your naturopath may also advise you to use herbal preparations or vitamin supplements to relieve your particular digestive disorder. Since they are committed to using natural treatments that work with your body, naturopaths often recommend strategies for relieving stress as well as physical exercise to relieve digestive disorders. Naturopaths who are trained in specialties such as homeopathy and Ayurveda may recommend a course of action based on those disciplines as well.

What are Some Typical Naturopathic Treatments for Common Digestive Disorders?

• Stomachache: Warm Ginger Tea and Peppermint Tea, both taken without the addition of sugar or milk, are common naturopathic remedies for soothing occasional stomachaches. These mild and appealing beverages are particularly useful for helping children get over stomachaches. People who frequently suffer from stomachaches may be advised to avoid junk foods and to choose a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, high fiber, low fat, with only moderate amounts of protein.

• Indigestion: For patients who suffer from frequent bouts of indigestion, a naturopath may recommend a brief course of fasting, followed by a change in food combinations. Foods that take approximately the same amount of time to be digested should be eaten together. For instance, you will want to avoid eating starches and proteins together. Proteins can be eaten with rice or with green, leafy vegetables. Fruits are best eaten alone. Vegetables may be eaten with grains or legumes. Adding lemon juice or olive oil to salads is also a good way to aid digestion.

• Constipation: While a large number of patients troubled with constipation problems find that changes in diet and exercise patterns can relieve their problems, colon hydrotherapy may be recommended for others. Naturopaths who are trained in the use of this therapy can use it to help patients restore muscle tone and to excrete toxins from the large intestine.

• IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome can result from a great many different sources, such as allergies, yeast infection of the colon, parasites, and even stress. Your naturopath will probably combine conventional testing with natural strategies to determine the best way to help your body heal itself. He or she may begin by suggesting some strategies for combating stress and also some herbal preparations to soothe the lining of the colon and decrease inflammation. Since IBS is such an individualized condition, the naturopath is in a unique position to be able to help you consider all the factors that can help you stimulate your body’s innate ability to heal itself.

How Does a Naturopath Use Homeopathy for Digestive Disorders?

While conventional medicine is one health system available to the naturopath, it is not the only one. Many naturopathic doctors are also extensively trained in homeopathy, which often is particularly beneficial is treating illnesses that have not responded to other types of treatment. Your naturopathic doctor may, for instance, treat a food allergy by giving you a small amount of the allergen in order to help your body build up a tolerance to that factor. A variety of homeopathic remedies are available for digestive disorders, work with your naturopath to select the best one for you.

Why Does a Naturopath Consider More Than Laboratory Test Results?

Although they receive extensive training in conventional diagnostic techniques, naturopathic doctors do not rely strictly on the results of laboratory tests. Recognizing that each person’s life and health are influenced by a great many factors, Naturopathic Doctors work to discover the base cause of health disruptions. At your first visit, your naturopath will want to chat with you in order to develop an extensive profile of your lifestyle. Since your dietary choices, exercise routines, sleeping patterns, workplace, and residence all have an influence on your health, a naturopath will want to be aware of all the factors to be considered. A physical examination, along with an interview to develop the lifestyle profile, is part of the initial consultation.

Can a Naturopath Administer Tests and Prescribe Medicine for Digestive Disorders?

Conventional laboratory testing can be used to detect pathogens, parasites, allergies, and some conditions that have developed from illness or injury. Naturopathic training gives your doctor an extensive knowledge of the different types of tests available and their benefits. Licensing standards for naturopaths differ from one state, province, or country to another, and not all naturopaths practice in areas where they are licensed to order particular laboratory tests. If you live in an area where licensing does not give your naturopath access to testing, your Naturopathic Doctor will work closely with a cooperating physician to order any tests needed. In states or areas where naturopaths are not licensed to prescribe medicine, a cooperating physician will write the recommended prescription.

Additional Resources

The following chapters in this handbook on alternative medicines give a good overview of the role of naturopathy in treating digestive disorders:

“Gastrointestinal Disorders,” and “Naturopathic Medicine” in Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide, Compiled by the Burton Goldman Group. Future Medicine Publishing, Inc. 1995.

The website of the Canadian Association of Naturopaths gives information on all aspects of the science of naturopathy.