*News flash* Look out for my new book, The Vitamin Cure for Digestive Problems, coming in about a year from Basic Health Publications USA.
(Dr Downing has been actively involved in this area for many years.)
Impaired digestion is at the root of many chronic complaints and can have many causes.
Our investigations into patients’ problems always start with a careful history and examination, backed up by a detailed patient questionnaire.
We then usually run our standard blood test, a BBB1 Haematology and Biochemistry panel. This is a more detailed panel than the routine one (it has 30 biochemistry parameters plus the 15 haematology ones). It is re-analysed in detail to derive complex and sensitive markers of your physiological state. A less technical version of the report is provided to you, which includes a 7-day diet and recommendations for supplements and lifestyle. A more technical report goes to your physician – in this case me.
One of the key pieces of information to come from this is about the state of health of your liver and biliary system. As the main organ of detoxification in the body this comes under considerable stress at times, and problems there often do affect digestion.
We also use tests for gut permeability (Leaky Gut Syndrome) and dysbiosis (Candida, yeast infection, small bowel overgrowth), and where appropriate also test for and treat Helicobacter Pylori, Coeliac (celiac) disease, parasitic infestations of the bowel (Giardia, Blastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis etc), lactose intolerance and other carbohydrate intolerances.
