Gut health Therapy

Although there is an obvious physical distance between the gut and the mind, they are actually very close. This gut/brain health relationship has been extensively studied in recent years and understanding its ins and outs will hopefully help us to better nurture our gut and mind.

The key player in this gut-mind relationship is the community of microbes who live in our gastrointestinal tract. This population of microbes is known as the gut microbiota. Collectively they help to digest food, synthesise vitamins, fight infections, and, as discovered more recently regulate brain health.

The messenger between the gut and the brain is the “happy” chemical serotonin. Serotonin is well known for its role in regulating mood, appetite and sleep. The gut microbiota can affect levels of chemicals (or neurotransmitters – molecules that facilitate neuron communication in the brain). Conversely, alterations in the brain can also affect the gut microbiota, a concept that most of us are familiar with. Who has never had that nerve-wracking job interview that upset our digestive system for days? Sixty percent of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) indicate that stress is the factor triggering either the first onset or the exacerbation of symptoms. There are natural medicine and holistic medicine therapies that can help with supporting better gut health.