Gastrointestinal System Tests

The gastrointestinal system refers to the group of organs that work together in the body to absorb nutrients and convert food into energy for the body’s growth and function. It also acts as a barrier and keeps harmful antigens and microorganisms from entering the blood.

Do you know that there are more than 500 species of bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract? When the balance between good and bad bacteria is thrown out of balance, ill-health can easily occur.

Some of the symptoms and conditions associated with abnormal gastrointestinal functioning are:

• Abdominal pain
• Bad breath
• Coeliac disease
• Depression
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Ulcers
• Autism
• Food intolerances
• Anemia

What gastrointestinal tests do we do at East West Natural Medicine Group?

• Complete Digestive Stool Analysis
• Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
• Leaky Gut
• IgG & IgA Food Intolerance Profile

Complete Digestive Stool Analysis

The Complete Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) gives a complete view of your gut health and digestive function. The analysis examines your metabolism, pancreatic function, and your balance of gut bacteria and other pathological bacteria. It also identifies parasites and yeasts that might be in your gut and digestive system.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

The small intestine is responsible for digesting and absorbing nutrients. It also makes up an important part of your immune system and provides a barrier between the absorption of good and bad bacteria in your body.

The Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) test detects any bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine.

Bacterial concentration in the small intestine is usually minimal. However, if the bacterial concentration increases, it can damage your intestinal wall, prevent nutrient absorption, and can lead to serious health problems.

Some common symptoms and conditions of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth are:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Unexplained abdominal symptoms
• Gas and bloating
• The inability to tolerate sweet or starchy foods, fibre, or friendly flora supplements

Sometimes, bacterial overgrowth can occur without any noticeable clinical signs. This is why we recommend you undergo the test. This is especially important if you have a history of chronic constipation, hypochlorhydria, or maldigestion.

The Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth test is done via a breath analysis.

Once bacterial overgrowth is detected, our Natural Medicine Practitioners can begin a treatment plan that involves dietary changes, probiotics, antimicrobials, and other digestive support medicines to treat your condition.

Treating bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine reduces bloating, gas, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Leaky Gut Test

If your intestinal wall gets damaged, toxic molecules can easily get through it and enter your bloodstream and poison your body. As a result, this can lead to conditions and symptoms like:

• Fatigue
• Food allergies and food intolerances
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, Coeliac disease)

The Leaky Gut Test (also known as the Lactulose/Mannitol Intestinal Permeability Test) assesses intestinal absorption and is done via a urine sample.

The test is based on how the small intestine functions. Small molecules (i.e. mannitol) are easily and readily absorbed by the intestine’s villi, while larger molecules (i.e. lactulose) are not.

After the lactulose and mannitol enters your intestinal tract, they are excreted into your urine.

Under normal circumstances, the ratio of mannitol to lactulose in your urine will be high, because mannitol has been absorbed by the small intestine. When Leaky Gut is present, lactulose penetrates the intestine. As a result, the ratio of lactulose to mannitol will be high.

The Leaky Gut Test can also be used to help diagnose nutrient malabsorption. If a low level of mannitol is observed during the test, it may indicate that your intestine is not absorbing important nutrients.

Do you suffer from unexplained abdominal symptoms, food intolerance, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Your gastrointestinal system may be out of balance. Our Natural Medicine Practitioners are available to answer any questions you may have about our gastrointestinal tests and natural medicine treatment plans.