For my most challenging cases I use blood work to determine a patient’s food sensitivities and then give the patient a 6 phase diet of using the least reactive foods then adding the more reactive foods as we go on. The patients that benefit the most are the ones that have some digestive issues with either non-hormonal migraines, fibromyalgia or IBD/IBS. I have little doubt that many physical symptoms people present with are caused by digestive distress. So many times I’ve seen that when the digestive distress is cleared then the energy improves, skin improves, muscle aches disappear, arthritis is reduced, depression disappears, memory improves etc.
Another research study was just released proving what many clinicians have known for decades. That the digestive system is often the root of many symptoms. In fact Ayurvedic medicine which is thousands of years old has long declared that “all disease begins in the gut”!
In this headache prevalence was higher in people with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as nausea, acid reflux, diarrhea, and constipation, than in people who don’t have these bothersome symptoms. Makes sense, yes?
The researchers note that both headaches and GI symptoms are common in the general population and eat up substantial healthcare dollars. But it is amazing that our medical system has not made the connection that digestion and diet play an enormous role in disease. (All one has to do is look at hospital food!)
In this study there were 43,732 participants who were asked information about GI symptoms and headache. After adjusting for gender, age, depression, anxiety and other factors that might influence the results, the research team noted a significantly higher prevalence of headache among participants with reflux, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea, compared to those without such complaints. What is amazing is that so much of the headhache medicine no only masks the cause but also causes further GI upset! It is much better to treat the cause and remove the gasoline from the fire. So clean up the diet with wholesome foods, use supplements to support digestion and possibly if the headaches are severe enough one should be tested for potential food sensitivities. Good nutrition is often the best medicine.
In Health,
George Mandler
Licensed Acupuncturist
Licensed Dietitian
Acupuncture, Herbal & Nutrition services.