An integrative medical practitioner approaches leaky gut syndrome (also known as intestinal permeability) by addressing its underlying causes and supporting gut health through a combination of conventional and complementary therapies. Here’s how they might typically treat this condition:

1. Dietary Modifications: Integrative practitioners often start by recommending dietary changes to reduce inflammation and support gut healing. This may include eliminating inflammatory foods such as processed sugars, refined carbohydrates, and certain allergens (like gluten and dairy) that can contribute to gut irritation.
2. Nutritional Supplements: To support gut repair, practitioners may prescribe supplements such as probiotics (to restore healthy gut flora), prebiotics (to feed beneficial bacteria), digestive enzymes (to aid digestion), and amino acids (like glutamine, which supports gut lining integrity).
3. Stress Management: Chronic stress can exacerbate gut issues. Integrative practitioners may recommend stress reduction techniques such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, or biofeedback to help manage stress levels, which in turn can support gut healing.
4. Herbal Medicine: Certain herbs and botanicals have been traditionally used to support gut health and reduce inflammation. Examples include licorice root, slippery elm, aloe vera, and marshmallow root, which may be prescribed in various forms (capsules, teas, tinctures) depending on the individual’s needs.
5. Lifestyle Modifications: Encouraging regular exercise, adequate sleep, and maintaining a healthy weight can also support overall gut health and immune function.
6. Identifying and Managing Food Sensitivities: Integrative practitioners may recommend testing for food sensitivities or allergies and then assist in implementing an elimination diet to identify and remove trigger foods that contribute to gut inflammation.
7. Conventional Medical Support: Depending on the severity of symptoms and individual health history, integrative practitioners may collaborate with conventional medical professionals to manage symptoms with medications if necessary, while still focusing on addressing underlying causes and supporting overall gut health.
8. Follow-up and Monitoring: Regular follow-up visits allow the practitioner to assess progress, adjust treatment plans as needed, and provide ongoing support and education to empower patients in managing their condition long-term.

Integrative medicine emphasizes a holistic approach to treating leaky gut syndrome, aiming to not only alleviate symptoms but also promote long-term gut health and overall well-being through personalized, evidence-based care. If you would  you would like to get an integrative opinion please don’t hesitate to call our clinic to book an appointment or click here.  We have multiple integrative medical practitioners at Reclaim Health including Dr Matthew Daly is an experienced GP with over 30 years of medical experience. He graduated in 1986 from University of Melbourne with honors and has had extensive experience over the years in general practices. He has developed a passionate interest over the years in Integrative Medicine. Click here to book an appointment!