GI Concerns
Alternative Relief for GI Concerns
70% of your immune system resides in your GI tract. It is central to your overall well-being. At St. Louis Functional Medicine, we provide an alternative to traditional treatments for GI concerns in St. Louis, MO. We understand the complex interplay between your gut, immune system, nutrition, and overall health. Are you having GI symptoms because of a food sensitivity? Lack of digestion? Or do you have an overgrowth such as SIBO or other GI imbalances? These are all common questions we seek to answer when you come into the office.
A Deeper Look at Your Digestion
We believe that lasting relief comes from understanding the “why” behind your symptoms. Our approach involves:
- Comprehensive Root Cause Investigation – Instead of just handing you acid blockers for reflux or antispasmodics for IBS, we investigate the root causes of your GI discomfort. We explore everything from bacterial imbalances in your gut microbiome and potential enzyme deficiencies to the hidden impact of stress on your digestion.
- Advanced Testing and Assessment – We go beyond the basics with advanced testing designed to uncover what standard GI workups might miss. By analyzing your stool, we can gain a detailed understanding of your microbiome, identify signs of intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), and assess inflammation levels.
- Identifying Systemic Connections – Digestive struggles are often the “smoke” from a fire located elsewhere in the body. We investigate the hidden links between your GI health and systemic issues such as thyroid sluggishness, hormonal shifts, or autoimmune flares, to ensure we’re healing your entire ecosystem, not just silencing a single symptom.
Restoring Balance and Function
Our goal is to optimize your digestive function, allowing you to live without discomfort. Functional medicine helps with:
Addressing Gut Microbiome Health
Inside your gut is a bustling ecosystem of trillions of microbes that are essential for strong digestion and a robust immune system. When this inner world gets out of balance (a condition called dysbiosis), it can lead to frustrating symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, and pain. We help you nurture this ecosystem back to health with targeted support using probiotics, prebiotics, and personalized dietary adjustments.
Healing Intestinal Permeability
A damaged gut lining can lead to inflammation and unwanted immune reactions. That’s why we focus on repairing this vital barrier with targeted nutrients and personalized dietary strategies. By addressing inflammatory triggers and supporting gut health, we help restore balance and strengthen your gut for optimal well-being.
Personalized Elimination Diets
We guide you through a personalized elimination diet to pinpoint what’s really causing your symptoms, whether it’s gluten, dairy, FODMAPs, or something else entirely. This process puts you back in control, empowering you to build a diet that works for your body.
The Gut-Brain Connection
Ever feel your stomach drop when you’re nervous? That’s the gut-brain axis in action. Stress and anxiety don’t just stay in your head; they can throw your entire digestive system out of sync. We help you quiet the internal noise with targeted stress management techniques, because a calm mind is often the secret ingredient to a happy gut.
Digestive Function Optimization
Digestive issues such as low stomach acid or enzyme deficiencies can often be mistaken for other conditions. We focus on supporting your body’s natural digestion, helping you break down food and absorb nutrients more efficiently for better overall health.
Contact Us for Personalized Paths to Digestive Relief
You don’t have to live with digestive discomfort forever. By addressing the underlying dysfunction and supporting your body’s natural ability to heal, you can experience relief. At St. Louis Functional Medicine, we’re dedicated to partnering with you on this journey toward optimal gut health. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.