Get Your Gut Right!

Naturally, to enjoy life, we need to enjoy great wellbeing. As a Naturopath, my focus is on addressing our wellbeing from a natural and holistic perspective. In this special summer ‘new-year’ edition article the emphaises is on ‘gut health’ and how this can help to enhance our overall wellbeing.

We really need to appreciate just how crucial good digestion really is. Quiet simply, if our digestion is not working well, we cant enjoy optimal wellness. This is the ideal season to take extra special care of our gut and improve our digestion. We may look at gut health from both a modern scientific and traditional eastern perspectives. I love integrating both, tuning into the ancient wisdom of the east as well as the latest advances in modern science. In Traditional Oriental Medicine, summer relates to the element of ‘fire’, which corresponds to the ‘small intestine’. Let’s discuss this in some more detail.

Gut Issues

In clinic most days, I’ve found that so many people have gut issues. I see the likes of abdominal pain, with upset stomach, heartburn, IBS, constipation, diarrhea and so on. Interestingly, so many overeat yet are undernourished. So typically gut issues are seen as complex, yet we may also simplify them. Remember, essentially, our gut is a long tube. We may say, in simple terms, that it’s basically a a channel, a conduit or pipeline. As such we may look at the simple issues of flow, with absorption and excretion. Let’s look at what may influence this.

The Engine Room

The digestive system may also be referred to as the engine room. As well as the physical, altered gut function aspects, such as ‘leaky gut’, ‘altered microbiome’, and so on, we may need to also look at mind and emotional aspects as well. We may see the various individual components of the digestive system as the necessary parts for the car engine to work well. Also, we may also look at it as the circuit board of a computer. Basically, we need it to be well attuned, connected and integrated to get a clear image on the screen. However there often may issues that may block this smooth functioning.

Other major issues of the intestines that’s certainly worthwhile looking at is ‘infections’ and ‘sensitivities’. And then, how these can adversely affect our blood, and then other body parts, such as joints and so on. From this, there can often be a ‘vicious cycle’ with many spiraling cause and effect signs and symptoms. In simplicity, we may say that poor digestion makes poor blood. This in turn can adversely affect our immune system. As an example, we may look at how our secretions of bile from the gallbladder into the duodenum can affect our digestion. Whilst, typically most practitioners just focus on the physical aspects, such as to help our mucosa, reduce harmful bacteria, reduce gut inflammation, with increasing short chain fatty acid production, and so on, I’m suggesting there’s also many other important considerations that also beyond the gut.

Our Gut-Brain

In the previous article we discussed the gut brain. Basically we may say that our gut brain is mostly concerned with self-preservation. It’s about how the world can support us, how we can receive sustenance from mother earth.

Modern neuroscience tells us that we have three brains. Our ‘gut brain is also called the ‘enteric’ brain. So often, to function better, we need to enhance our gut brain communication. From a modern neuroscience perspective we need to get our head, heart and gut brains aligned. However, all too often, for various reasons these three different brains are on different tangents.

It seems that each of our three brains have a different mind. It’s like each brain is sort-of programmed in it’s own, individual and different way. Each has different perspectives, hence experiences, memories, priorities and ways of functioning. In simple terms, the gut brain is concerned with how the world can support it and the heart is more about how it can support the world. Whilst our head brain, ideally should be thinking of ways of integrating this, it’s however often so caught up with other distractions. Hence, all too often, the three different brains are in conflict, pushing and pulling in different directions.

Our Heart Brain

Summer is known as the climax of the year. This is also, especially the time to listen more to our heart. Our heart receives it’s inspiration from the heavens. From ancient wisdom, it’s said that it’s guided by ‘spirit’. In Traditional Oriental Medicine it’s called ‘shen’. When someone has great ‘shen’ we may see it reflected in their eyes, in their facial complexion and we can experience it from their genuine warmth and generosity. Our heart ideally functions very spontaneously. It’s like, in heartbeat, anything could happen next. 

Known as the ’emperor’ in Traditional Oriental Medicine, our heart has the wisdom to guide us in the best direction. Summer, being the highlight of the year, is especially the time to follow our heart. Our heart is our gateway to experiencing the joy of life. The heart is the leader. However, all too often the heart is not supported by the gut and head brains. By the time our heart is suffering, there’s been far too many disharmonies throughout our body and mind connection.

According to the wisdom of Traditional Oriental Medicine, the level of joy that we experience is dependent on how well our heart is supported in its mission. Ask yourself, how much joy do you have in your life? We need to think of ways of integrating our gut and heart.

Musculoskeletal Correlations

It’s known in Traditional Oriental Medicine that different organs have specific muscle correlations. This knowledge from ancient wisdom is practiced in various modern-day modalities. basically, if we’re experiencing disharmony in any organ or system, then we’re more likely to also experience tension in those related muscle groups. Moreso than just the muscle, we also need to consider the related fascia, tendons, ligaments,  nerves, circulation, skin and so on. In other words, our body is like an interconnected web. We may say, it’s like an internet of experiences, memories, reactions and so on. As any one part of us is affected, so too are other related aspects. We may experience this as some restriction of movement, maybe poor posture, maybe discomfort or pain. 

The wisdom of Traditional Oriental Medicine, looks at specific ‘acupoints’ along ‘meridians’ as like ‘telephone numbers’ to help different aspects of our mind and body to reconnect. These ‘acupoints’ which are often located at specific locations on muscles may also be activated with specific pressure, stretches, and so on. The idea is that by skillfully applying specific techniques on these ‘acupoints’ it may be possible to assist with enhanced mind-body integration.     

So many people suffer symptoms of joint pain, muscle tenderness, stiffness, restricted range of motion, poor posture and so on. From a ‘holistic’ perspective we need to get our gut realigned to serve our heart better. As we nourish our heart through good digestion we can enjoy an increased level of passion, joy,  and feel more ‘spirited’. In general terms, we may say that ‘spirit’ is similar to ‘chi’. Essentially, it’s what lifts us up, moves us and makes us alive.   

Your Next Step

Find out more, about how to get your gut right and how aligning mind-body with head, gut and head brain integration can help you. There’s many options available. A suggested first step is to complete a simple assessment. Throughout January only, I’m offering a limited number of free 15 minute private consultations. In this private consultation, we can formulate an individual step by step path to help you with enhancing your wellbeing and enjoying a better life. From there, you may become a member with access to your online ‘tool-kit’ with extra resources.  

Learn more about the special new-year ‘Get Your Gut Right’ offer for January 2024 only – click here –