The Pattern Library

Before we dive in, here's an anatomy check on what's inside the abdomen. After the stomach - where food is churned - food enters the...

Get rid of post-meal bloating once and for all! Today's blog post is all about digestive tonics -- substances that stimulate and soothe the GI tract. One of the most common tonics I turn to in my practice is bitters...yes, the exact kind you put in your cocktails! The original use of bitters is traced back to ancient Egypt and further developed in the Middle Ages. Medicinal herbs were infused in jars of wine or distilled alcohol and were placed on shelves in later-day pharm

SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, is one of my specialties in terms of what I treat. SIBO occurs when there is too much bacteria in the small intestine. Today's post will highligh symptoms of SIBO, Risk Factors for Developing SIBO, and Naturopathic Treatment Options. Bacterial overgrowth can cause symptoms such as: Bloating Gas Abdominal pain Constipation and/or diarrhea Nausea Heartburn SIBO is a common cause of IBS, and they often present with the same sym

I know this isn't the most glamorous topic, but it's an important one and more prevalent that you might think. Candida albicans is fungus...

I hate feeling bloated. It's one of those sensations that just puts me in a bad mood, and I have a feeling I'm not alone in that. Bloating is a common symptom in the GI tract and is caused by one thing... Gas. So let's put on our naturopathic brain and get to the root cause; what causes the gas? Gas typically forms in the colon AKA the large intestine where lots of bacteria live. These bacteria ferment carbohydrates that aren't digested in the small intestine. This is norma

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder. It acts as a catch-all diagnosis for symptoms of abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. IBS is defined by having abdominal pain or discomfort at least 1 day per week for the past 3 months. Symptoms improve after having a bowel movement and are often associated with a change in stool frequency or appearance. Looking at this list of symptoms, its no wonder th

"How was your vacation?" "Oh it was lovely! The beaches were pristine. The sun felt amazing. The only bad thing was that I got sick..." Traveler's diarrhea affects over 25,000 travelers per day. That's 10 million people per year! Traveler's diarrhea, AKA acute gastroenteritis, occurs from eating or drinking contaminated food or water. It most commonly occurs from eating raw fruits and vegetables or drinking tap water, and the most common bacterial culprits are E.coli, Shig

Eat too much during the holidays? Me too. Here are a few yoga poses to get the digestive system moving and relieve some discomfort from fullness. Trikonasana (Triangle pose) -- bring feet twice as wide as the shoulders, point toes of one foot away, bring one hand on to the shin or a block, raise other hand high, keep both legs straight, gaze up or down. This pose improves digestion and stimulates appetite. Paschimottanasana (Forward bending pose) -- keep both legs straigh

Get rid of post-meal bloating once and for all! Today's blog post is all about digestive tonics -- substances that stimulate and soothe the GI tract. One of the most common tonics I turn to in my practice is bitters...yes, the exact kind you put in your cocktails! The original use of bitters is traced back to ancient Egypt and further developed in the Middle Ages. Medicinal herbs were infused in jars of wine or distilled alcohol and were placed on shelves in later-day pharm

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder, likely because it acts as a catch-all diagnosis. Symptoms of IBS can include abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, or both. IBS is defined by having abdominal pain or discomfort at least 1 day per week for the past 3 months. Symptoms improve after having a bowel movement and are often associated with a change in stool frequency or appearance. There are many pos

Choosing foods to eat according to your blood type is one of the many ways to individualize a diet to work best for your body. Dr. Peter D'Adamo wrote an entire book on blood type diets, called "Eat Right for Your Type". The book includes the history of blood types and why they are different, what foods are best and worst for each blood type, sample meal plans, and lifestyle choices that most benefit each blood type. Today's blog post will give a simple overview of the blood