The large intestine is an organ residing in our abdomen. This organ is five feet long and plays an imperative role in the digestive process, including the final absorption of nutrients and excretion of waste products. This article will discuss the large intestine's role in the body and the top health conditions treated with integrative medicine that involve the large intestine. We'll then discuss functional medicine testing and complementary and integrative treatment options, including diet, supplements, and herbs.
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What is The Large Intestine's Role in The Body?
The large intestine is an organ of digestion. This organ comprises one long tube that begins after the small intestine and terminates at the anus. The large intestine has four sections: the cecum, colon, rectum, and anus. The cecum is the entryway for food into the colon. When food enters the cecum, movement is triggered in the colon. As food enters the colon, remaining water and electrolytes get absorbed, so by the time food waste reaches the end of the colon, it is solid. Mucus is released into the food waste for lubrication to aid in its movement. Food stays within the colon for around 24 hours. The microbiome, a collective group of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and yeast, is housed here. These microbes will aid in the last part of the processing of food, metabolizing any last carbohydrates and creating short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and vitamins. SCFAs themselves are metabolically active, entering into the bloodstream and positively affecting the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, integumentary system, and more. When food waste enters the rectum, it is made up of indigestible fibers, dead cells that shed from the inner layers of the large intestine, and a minimal amount of food and water; this food waste is in the shape of and has the consistency of what we would refer to as a stool. As this stool enters the rectum, it causes the person to feel the urge to push. This begins the final descent of the stool out of the body. Stool entering the rectum causes the internal sphincter, which acts as a door of the anus, to relax, letting stool enter. The stool will then exit the body through the external sphincter.
What are the Top Large Intestine Health Issues Treated With Integrative Medicine?
There are many health conditions associated with the large intestine. Here are the top large intestine health conditions treated with integrative medicine.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of irritable bowel disease (IBD). It only affects the large intestine, which differs from the other type of IBD, Crohn's disease. UC affects only the inner layer of the large intestine tissue. Inflammation and ulceration of this inner layer characterize this condition. UC usually begins in the rectum and then advances into the colon. Symptoms of UC include mucus and/or pus-filled diarrhea, rectal bleeding and pain, abdominal pain and cramping, constant urge to have a bowel movement even when bowels are empty (tenesmus), weight loss, fatigue, and fever. Causes of UC include genetics, immune dysfunction, environment, and dysbiosis, which is an imbalance in the good and bad microbes of the gut microbiome. Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a condition where bacteria from the microbiome translocate into the small intestine, has also been implicated as a cause of UC.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is the other type of IBD. Crohn's can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. In Crohn's disease, all layers of the intestinal tissue are involved, and the hallmark "skip lesions" are found; patches of inflamed tissue between healthy tissue. Symptoms include pain in the lower right area of the abdomen, bloating, gas, bloody diarrhea with mucus, lack of appetite, and mouth sores. Symptoms may manifest outside of the GI tract and include joint pain and arthritis, kidney stones and urinary tract infections, skin rashes, and inflammation of the eyes. Causes of Crohn's disease include genetics, environmental factors, lifestyle factors, intestinal permeability, SIBO, and dysbiosis in the gut microbiome.
Diverticular Disease
Diverticular diseases are diseases that have an outpouching of the lining of the intestinal tract, referred to as diverticula. When there are many diverticula that do not cause problems, we refer to this as diverticulosis. When the diverticula becomes inflamed or infected, this is then called diverticulitis. Symptoms of diverticulitis include pain, rectal bleeding, and bowel movement changes. If the diverticula perforate or rupture through the bowel wall, or there is obstruction or blockage in the bowel, or if the intestinal tract connects into another organ, we refer to this as complicated diverticular disease. Causes of diverticular diseases include alcohol consumption and chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, or opioids. Dietary factors, including a lack of fiber in the diet and constipation, can lead to diverticular disease. Gut dysbiosis and SIBO can also increase the risk of diverticular disease. Lastly, those who are obese, over the age of 40, smokers, and males are also at an increased risk for diverticular disease.
Functional Medicine Labs That Can Help Individualize Treatment for Patients with Large Intestine Disorders
Many functional medicine labs can help to assess disorders of the large intestine. The most commonly used tests include:
Comprehensive Stool Test
Comprehensive stool tests assess markers of the gastrointestinal tract that can give insight into digestion, absorption, inflammation, and immune functioning. Additionally, these stool tests often give great insight into the microbiome: a collective group of organisms, including bacteria, viruses, yeasts, parasites, and fungi, that live within our large intestine. The microbiome plays a significant role on our health, as it aids in digestion and absorption, creates certain vitamins, regulates the immune and inflammatory response in the gut, aids in certain hormone metabolism, and more.
Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut bacteria, has been implicated in UC, Crohn's disease, and diverticular diseases. Thus, a test such as GI360 by Doctor's Data would be an excellent choice in these conditions, as this test assesses numerous bacteria, viruses, yeast, and fungi of the microbiome.
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Test
SIBO consists of having larger amounts of bacteria in the small intestine. These bacteria consume food and release gasses and enzymes that cause symptoms such as bloating and gas. SIBO can increase the risk of certain diseases, including IBDs and diverticular diseases. The SIBO tests consist of assessing breath samples after ingestion of a sugar solution, looking for the presence of certain gasses that would be made from the consumption of the sugar solution by bacteria. Most lab companies look for two gasses, but the Triosmart test by Gemelli Biotech assesses three different gasses. Knowing which gas is present can help to identify the type of bacteria and aid in forming the appropriate treatment plan.
Micronutrient Testing
A micronutrient test includes numerous vitamin and mineral levels in one convenient test. Micronutrient deficiencies, including vitamin D, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, folate, and vitamins B6 and B12, have been implicated in Crohn's disease. While iron, vitamins D, A, and E are often low in UC. The Micronutrient Test by SpectraCell Laboratories encompasses 31 essential vitamins and minerals to help practitioners identify and balance deficiencies.
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Complementary and Integrative Medicine Treatment for Large Intestine Disorders
Complementary and integrative medicine treatments for the large intestine include nutrition, supplements, and herbs. Let's take a look at some of the most commonly prescribed therapies.
Best Nutrition for Large Intestine Health
Determining the most appropriate diet for these conditions involving the large intestine may be difficult. Here are some of the most recommended diets for specific conditions based on evidence that can help ensure patients are meeting their body's nutritional requirements.
Nutrition for Ulcerative Colitis
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) may be an option for those with UC. The SCD eliminates grains, sugars, processed foods, milk, many dairy products, and certain carbohydrates, including tubers such as potatoes and turnips. This diet can be incredibly restrictive and should be utilized under the care of a professional. For UC, studies have shown that the SCD can help the patient into remission in as little as two months and keep them in remission for up to two years.
Nutrition for Crohn's Disease
The elemental diet may be a good choice for Crohn's disease. The elemental diet consists of replacing meals with a nutritional and caloric-dense, hypoallergenic, predigested formula, thus lessening the workload of the GI and allowing the GI to rest. The elemental diet is considered a first-line therapy for Crohn's disease due to the amount of research supporting its efficacy.
Nutrition for Diverticular Diseases
To prevent diverticulosis, an anti-inflammatory diet may be the best option. The Mediterranean diet is an anti-inflammatory diet consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, fatty fish, olive oil, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, and minimally processed whole grains. It places an emphasis on eating seasonally and locally for the highest amount of nutrients in the food. The avoidance of processed foods and sugars, refined grains, and refined seed oils is recommended.
Top Supplements and Herbs for Patients with Large Intestine Disorders
There are many supplements and herbs that may be utilized in the treatment of large intestine disorders. Here are some of the most common:
Probiotics for Disorders of the Large Intestine
Probiotics are supplements that contain strains of microbes with the aim of helping the microbiome. The strains found in the probiotics will vary from supplement to supplement and can depend on what condition is being treated. Probiotics can be beneficial for UC both in the disease stage and in order to keep a patient in remission. For UC, probiotics seem to regulate the immune response and curb the chronic inflammation found in this condition. Probiotics also reduce the risk of developing diverticular diseases.
Dose: Will be dependent upon what condition is being treated
Duration: Will depend on symptoms and lab markers
Magnesium for Diverticular Diseases
Magnesium is used in over 300 different reactions in our body. Thus, magnesium can be helpful for many conditions, including diverticular diseases. Magnesium has been shown to lessen the number of intestinal spasms and cramping in diverticular diseases and can help prevent constipation.
Dose: Up to 350 mg/day
Duration: Until symptoms improve or lab markers regulate
Vitamin D for IBD
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin important for many physiological functions in the body. It may be helpful in the treatment of IBD. Vitamin D deficiency in those who have IBD is more likely to have flares, hospitalizations, and surgeries. They also tend to not respond to pharmaceutical interventions and have a poorer quality of life. For Crohn's disease specifically, vitamin D supplementation has been shown to lower markers of inflammation.
Dose: Dependent upon the testing level
Duration: Will depend on improvements and testing level
Oregano for Diverticular Diseases
Oregano is a commonly known culinary herb, but it also possesses medicinal actions. Oregano has antimicrobial effects and can be useful in the treatment of SIBO and, thus, possibly diverticular disease in cases where SIBO is the underlying cause of the diverticular disease.
Dose: 150-300 mg/day in 2- divided doses
Duration: 6 weeks
Curcumin for IBD
Curcumin is an active component of the culinary herb turmeric. Curcumin is used in the treatment of both UC and Crohn's disease due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulating effects and has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms in these conditions.
Dose: 1,500-8,000 mg/day
Duration: Until symptoms improve or markers stabilize
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Summary
The large intestine plays an essential role in the digestive system, finishing the absorptive process and forming waste products for final excretion. Additionally, the importance of the microbiome, held in the large intestine, cannot be understated. Its effects are far-ranging, and imbalances can have implications for the body. Functional medicine testing can assess the microbiome, as well as other markers of digestion that can affect conditions of the large intestine. Complementary and integrative medicine offers a wide array of treatments to support the patient and eliminate symptoms.
Lab Tests in This Article
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