H.H. S.I.B.O. S.I.F.O. I.C.V.
Is that enough abbreviations for you? If you have digestion problems, I am sure you’ve become familiar with them. Most likely at least one of them is a root cause of your digestive problems. It doesn’t matter what symptom you have: acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain. You could even have a symptom that you think is unrelated like anxiety, depression, angina, or low back pain.
Hiatal Hernia (H.H.)
Quick anatomy lesson. Your esophagus extends through the diaphragm and connects to the stomach. The diaphragm is a large muscle that sits horizontally in the chest. It is your breathing
muscle, but it’s also important for stabilizing many of the movements we do. Although it is classified as a single muscle, it functions independently from side to side. The right side is bigger, longer, and stronger than the left. Even though it is amazingly designed to be that way, the modern lifestyle often causes the right side to dominate. What does this imbalance have to do with digestion? When the diaphragm is out of balance, the top of the stomach can get sucked up above the diaphragm, creating a hiatal hernia. Symptoms include:
- Heartburn
- Acid Reflux
- Shortness of Breath
- Chest Pain, that can often be mistaken for angina or a heart attack
When severe, (over 30% of the stomach involved) medical doctors may recommend surgery.
However, even a small hiatal hernia can give you symptoms. Many patients are able to stop
taking acid, reducing medication after the diaphragm is balanced properly. This is important
because low acid can create undigested food in the small intestine, which can then lead to the
SIBO and SIFO problems. See below.
Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO)
The microbiome consists of billions of organisms, some helpful, some harmful and some
relatively neutral. Infection of bad bacteria can obviously cause illness. However, bacteria that is
not that bad or relatively neutral can cause lots of problems as well. Subclinical infections are
often overlooked in the traditional medical approach. Symptoms include:
- Skin Problems
- Abdominal Pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Respiratory Symptoms
- Depression
- Anxiety
Treatment involves using herbal antimicrobials along with dietary changes to restore the microbiome. The use of antibiotics is a common cause of imbalance, as well as acid-blocking medications. Water, fruit, and saliva may be sources of contamination.
Small Intestine Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO)
SIFO can be a major disruptor of the microbiome. Almost any symptom can be caused or made
worse by a fungal infection. Symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Brain Fog
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Acid reflux
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Migraines
- Headaches
- Asthma
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Chronic Pain
- Arthritis
- ADHD
Treatment involves using anti-fungal herbs along with other supplements to help reduce ammonia toxicity given off by the fungus. Avoiding antibiotics, Prednisone, and hormone medications, when possible, can prevent infection. Using dehumidifiers and ensuring that there are no water leaks in the home can also be extremely important. Refined carbohydrates and sugar, even fruit, may need to be strictly avoided for a period.
ICV
The ileocecal valve is the valve between the small and large intestines. It is influenced by foods,
infections, and nervous system function. Symptoms can include all of the symptoms we’ve listed
above. Since we’ve talked about infection, I will give examples of how foods and nervous system
functions can affect it. Fats are important for health, but if they are poorly digested, typically from
a poorly functioning gallbladder, the ileocecal valve can put the brakes on digestive motility.
This of course causes constipation, which over time can encourage SIBO and SIFO problems. In
In this case, supplements to enhance gallbladder secretion of bile to breakdown fats could solve the
problem. Too much sugar in the diet tends to cause the ileocecal valve to remain open leading to
diarrhea, which can also cause infection due to the inability of the valve to contain the waste
from moving back into the small intestine.
Treatment that involves cleaning up the diet is necessary here. The most underappreciated cause of a
dysfunctional ileocecal valve is nervous system stress. When your body is in a fight or flight, it
cannot rest and digest. Causes include emotional stress, injuries, hormonal stress, and anything
else that your body views as stress. Lots of detective work is needed to discover the root cause
of this type of problem. Applied Kinesiology is a valuable tool when addressing these problems.
Conclusion
The digestive system absorbs all the nutrients that keep all our bodily systems healthy. It is
important that the digestive system is working properly. I hope this little bit of information helps
you to understand what is happening when you are experiencing some of these symptoms of digestive problems. This is also a great example of how all systems work together, which is why a whole-person approach
is so important.
If you are experiencing digestive problems such as SIBO, SIFO, HH, or ICV, please give us a call or schedule an appointment!