Did you know a disruption of the human microbiome is the root cause of or at least a contributor to many different health conditions? The following is not an exhaustive list but are some of the more common conditions we see in day-to-day clinical practice.
- Chronic sinus: Usually the result of a fungal overgrowth started from an imbalance in the microbiome.
- Acid reflux (GERD): Often starts from an imbalance in the bacteria in the stomach.
- Irritable bowel syndrome: Usually an overgrowth of bacteria that has infiltrated the small intestine from the large intestine.
- Chronic bladder or urinary tract infections: Usually from too many antibiotics and the subsequent imbalance in the microbiome.
- Chronic prostatitis: Usually from too many antibiotics from an acute infection then it turns chronic.
- Skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, acne, etc.: These all have at least some contributions from the gut or skin microbiome being disrupted.
- Toenail fungus: The infection starts in the gut from a yeast/fungal overgrowth and spreads to other moist areas.
- Allergies: A disrupted microbiome in the gut causes an immune system imbalance.
If you have any of these conditions, it is likely the root cause has never been addressed. Testing the microbiome through a test called GI 360 Profile is a great starting point. Functional medicine is all about finding the root cause and not just taking pills to suppress symptoms.