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"All disease begins in the gut." Hippocrates

What does fibromyalgia, sleep disorders, tmj, sinus issues, headaches, irritable bowel, skin issues, gastritis, and anxiety disorders have in common?  While they may seem like separate symptoms, they often occur together in one individual.  After many years of seeing patient after patient presenting with the same constellation of signs and symptoms, I have come to see that these symptoms are holding areas for inflammation.  The body is intelligent, so it will put the inflammation into the head, the connective tissue, the joints, the  mucous membranes of the sinuses and the skin.  What causes the inflammation?  In flammation is an immune response.  Where is this inflammation from?  Often, it is coming from fighting lingering viruses, fungus, bacterian and /or parasites.  All these organisms can change the integrity of the intestinal epithelium.  The function of this epithelium or internal skin is protection.  This intestinal skin is a barrier because the gastrointestinal tract is open at both ends.  When it does not do its job of protection, undigested food proteins can be reabsorbed and set up an immune allergic response.  Note the increasing prevalence of food allergies-gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs, soy and corn sensitivities.  Cholesterol, estrogens and toxins can be reabsorbed into the blood stream through this "leaky gut" barrier and create an immune inflammatory response.  Treating these symptoms involve removing the pathogenic load, and repairing the intestinal epithelium.  Using medications to treat the symptoms separately will not improve the health of the patient.  In fact there are 5 classes of medications that contribute to this "leaky gut" syndrome_birth control, non steroidal antiinflammatories such as aspirin, ibuprofin, antacids, antibiotics, and steroids.  These medications upset the internal flora of the gut whose function is to control the pathogenic load.   Non steroidal antiinflammatories will thin the gut lining, and allow reabsorbtion of undesirable substances.  Antacids will prevent complete digestion of foods, and adversely effect the function of stomach acid to kill viruses, bacteria, and parasites.  Anxiety disorders, and insomnia often accompany the other symptoms as well.  About 95% of serotonin, the feel good neurotransmitter is made in the gut.  Many vitamins and immune factors are also made here.  Nutrients are assimilated in the small inntestine, so nutritional deficiencies can be part of the picture.  Good health is dependent on a good gastrointestinal system.  Through Chinese medecine, and functional lab testing the symptoms can be dealt with from a causal level.