Gut Repair

What is the Gut Microbiome?

The gut microbiome is the community of trillions of bacteria, fungi, and microbes that live in your digestive tract.  These organisms help break down food, support digestion, regulate immunity, and even influence mood and hormones through the gut–brain connection. A balanced microbiome promotes energy, clear skin, stable mood, and healthy digestion, while an imbalanced one can contribute to inflammation, anxiety, and chronic symptoms.  

What are common Gut conditions?

 

Symptoms of an unhealthy gut microbiome can show up in different ways.  Most conditions are correlated to poor microbiome (gut flora), parasites, poor gut environment, hormonal dis-regulation and sometimes food sensitivities.   

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Common gut conditions include: 

• Bloating: characterized by the presence of pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and sometimes cysts or nodules. 

• Cramping: causes redness, itching, and inflammation. The most common type is atopic dermatitis, which often appears as dry, itchy patches on the skin.

• Heart Burn:  a chronic autoimmune condition that leads to the rapid buildup of skin cells, resulting in thick, red, scaly patches on the skin. 

• Gas: causes redness and visible blood vessels on the face, along with pimple-like bumps and skin thickening. It often affects the central face, including the cheeks, nose, and forehead.

• Inflammatory conditions:  (skin, immune, joint pain)an allergic or irritant reaction that occurs when the skin comes into contact with substances that trigger inflammation, such as certain cosmetics, soaps, or plants like poison ivy.

• Mood dis-regulation: Anger, sadness, fatigue, apathy all are correlated to poor gut microbiome.   Bad gut flora means hormones cannot bind as easlily or are poorly made due to malabsorption of nutrients. 

What testing is used for Gut Microbiome?

Common testing I use is a GI MAP Stool test which can tell us the composition of your microbiome,  parasites, bacteria or viral overgrowth.  I also use an Organic acids test (OAT test) to tell us about fungal overgrowth.  An IgG food test may be needed to address food issues.

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How I approach Gut Conditions...

I commonly find the gut microbiome to be the root cause of many imbalances in the body. It has its own nervous system and communicates directly with the brain through the gut-brain axis. When the gut is inflamed, the brain becomes inflamed too.  This affects mood, focus, skin, and overall wellbeing.

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First, we focus on reducing inflammation through supportive dietary changes. I don’t believe in highly restrictive diets as they’re not sustainable long term. Instead, we create realistic shifts and, when needed, short-term protocols to help your body reset. This is also where we explore food sensitivities through testing or a gentle elimination diet.  Evidence-based supplements and herbs support digestion and help repair the gut lining.

Then I use Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis to understand your constitution and identify patterns in the body such as dryness, dampness, heat, or cold. From there, I integrate modalities such as emotionally focused acupuncture and homeopathy to help reset the microbiome terrain and support deeper organ system balance.

I also help you learn how to rewire your inner monologue and beliefs. These patterns directly influence the gut by changing the environment along the gut lining. For example, a stressed state decreases blood flow to the digestive system and redirects it to the extremities. This leads to reduced absorption, less nutrient exchange, and weaker growth of beneficial bacteria in the microbiome. I love using hypnotherapy, breathwork, and cognitive restructuring to create deep and lasting change.