ADVERTISING: Advertorial — JONATHAN M. SASSER: Diverticulitis and colitis: Answers are out there
Diverticulitis. Ulcerative colitis (UC). They almost sound like big words I invented just to impress you with my vocabulary, but they are serious digestive conditions. Many patients with these diagnoses feel hopeless about the reality of getting better, sometimes being told there is no solution to their condition or that medications like immuno-suppressants are their only hope. Sure, there are people that are so far down this road that they need the powerful intervention of immunosuppressant drugs, but in my opinion, they should be reserved as the last resort. We have achieved remarkable successes with these and similar chronic digestive conditions by investigating and addressing the underlying cause(s) of the digestive dysfunction.
Digestive dysfunction varies in severity and can show up as a wide range of symptoms, many of them being quite subtle, even thought of as normal. Bloating, cramping, gas, belching, constipation, diarrhea, loose stools, or anything apart from an uneventful transit from point A to B, are all indicators of digestive insufficiency. Stress, poor diet, poor eating habits and many other factors can lead to digestive dysfunction. Addressing the symptoms early is critical in preventing the collateral damage from becoming something much more nefarious like diverticulitis or ulcerative colitis.
I often hear probiotics recommended for digestive health, but probiotics are just scratching the surface of the overall digestive picture, and most probiotics and probiotic foods in the store don’t contain any or enough of the most important strains, or they simply break down in the acidic environment of the stomach. Hydrochloric acid (HCI) is one of the most critical components to healthy digestion, it drives much of the digestive process by activating enzymes and signaling the release of other digestive enzymes. HCl also helps to balance the digestive environment to allow for proper colonization of gut flora by stimulating that release of digestive enzymes. These are two vital aspects to optimizing gut health, but we work with powerful whole food supplements that have versatility that I haven’t seen anywhere else in the field of health care.
Diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis are two especially tenuous conditions. Nutrition needs to be managed meticulously due to the nature of the conditions and because they very often coincide with food allergies or sensitivities. One of my favorite and most unique assets in initiating the healing process for digestive conditions like these is a product containing digestive enzymes and a mucilaginous ingredient that protects the lining of the digestive tract. While dietary management and digestive support allow us to initiate the healing process, the one thing that speeds it along the most, is combining acupuncture with powerful whole food nutrition. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce pain, inflammation and stress to further encourage optimal gut health. By integrating acupuncture with nutrition, we allow both modalities to be more effective in working for you.
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Jonathan M. Sasser holds a Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine, is a Licensed Acupuncturist and is board certified in Oriental Medicine by the NCCAOM. He has more than 3,000 hours of training in acupuncture, classical Oriental Medicine, herbal medicine and nutrition.
Additionally, Jon also holds a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine. Jon is a “Health Detective.” He looks beyond your symptom picture and investigates WHY you are experiencing your symptoms in the first place. Jonathan is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements at Vital Health in Coeur d’Alene.
Visit our website at www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about Jonathan, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Jonathan can be reached at 208-765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.