The holistic approach to treating chronic disease and allergies is complex. The greatest breakthrough in research has been the recognition of the vital role that the gut plays in these conditions. The gut is surrounded by the largest concentration of immune tissues in the body, and any increase in the permeability of the gut lining has a powerful impact on the immune system.
THE BODY’S SECURITY SYSTEM
There are 5 layers or barriers, which protect our internal environment from ingested toxins, organisms and allergens:
1st layer – FRIENDLY BACTERIA [which form the bulk of the faecal content of our intestines]
2nd layer – MUCUS COATING [lining the inside of the intestine]
3rd layer – GUT LINING CELLS [it is the loss of “tight junctions” between these enterocytes that is the prime factor in the development of a leaky gut]
4th layer – IMMUNE SYSTEM [which is concentrated in the extensive Peyer’s patches around the intestines]
5th layer – LIVER [which receives and processes everything which is absorbed via the intestines]
CAUSES OF A LEAKY GUT
There are many factors in our modern Western lifestyles that cause these barriers to become compromised / weakened, and thus increasingly permeable. Among the most important are:
Stress [mental, physical or emotional]
Drugs, especially alcohol, antibiotics, hormone pills and anti-inflammatories
Food allergies and sensitivities
Environmental pollutants and toxins, including free radicals
Surgery [and the anaesthetic], severe burns and radiation.
Altered gut permeability gives rise to allergic and other chronic diseases by making it possible for partially digested food particles, toxic wastes and even bacteria to pass directly into the bloodstream. The immune system springs into action and forms immune clusters around the foreign particles. These clusters circulate to all parts of the body, causing a wide variety of symptoms such as eczema, asthma, arthritis, irritable bowel, migraines etc. The constant drain on the immune system can then lead to an immune suppressed illness.
The burden on the liver is also greatly increased as it attempts to detoxify the blood.
Other factors, which further compromise the body, are diminished stomach acid and pancreatic enzymes, which are essential to optimal digestion and breakdown of foods. Lack of these leads to a state of “modern malnutrition”.
Great quantities of cortisol are released by the adrenal glands when under stress, and this also aggravates the leaky gut syndrome.
TREATMENT OF LEAKY GUT SYNDROME
The aim of this treatment protocol is to remove obstructions to metabolic processes, and to encourage the body to self-regulate these vital processes. The 5 pillars of treatment are REMOVE, REPLACE, REINOCULATE, REPAIR & REBALANCE.
1- REMOVE
Parasites & bacteria & fungi
Dietary toxins, additives, chemicals and foods to which you are sensitive
2- REPLACE
Insufficient stomach acid and digestive enzymes
Nutritional deficiencies, arising from poor digestion
3- RE-INOCULATE
Friendly bacteria
4- REPAIR
Gut lining
5- REBALANCE
Rebalance lifestyle and deal with stressors.
6- LIVER SUPPORT AND DETOX
The above treatment program addresses all the above factors simultaneously, and includes herbs and other nutritional supplements. Correction of a leaky gut problem may take from 1 to 3 months to achieve. It is often necessary to address this syndrome before Homeopathy or other treatments can be successful.
