Getting to the Root of Itchy, Inflamed Skin, Chronic IBS, Eczema, and More!

Congratulations to SAFM student and AFMC-certified practitioner, Diane! We are celebrating her success with a client suffering from persistent inflamed and itchy skin, chronic bloating/constipation, eczema, joint pain, persistent weight gain, and more. A veritable buffet of functional medicine interconnectedness! Remember:  the skin outside the body is usually a reflection of balance (or lack thereof) inside the body.  And especially inside the gut.

Check out the video for clinical pearls in this case and what tools Diane used to help her client find lasting relief. Indeed, MUCH dis-ease in the systemic body begins in the gut. In the case of chronic, systemic inflammation, the point of connection is often enhanced intestinal permeability and immune reactivity, where what happens in the gut does not stay in the gut!   We have shared many details about this dynamic and what can provide resolution. For example, decades of drug use such as oral birth control, NSAIDs, and anti-seizure medication along with low Vitamin D and chronic stress can easily create the perfect storm for enhanced intestinal permeability.  This client’s methane-mediated SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (and associated constipation), only worsened the downstream systemic, inflammatory dynamic.

SAFM students learn to confidently use a rich variety of tools to assess and respond to these complex dynamics.  

Diane did a great job balancing and combining foundational recommendations (like Eating Hygiene; see specifically how to explain it to your own clients) and more clinically-targeted recommendations to address her client’s SIBO (e.g., specific antimicrobials, dysmotility resolution, and targeted hormone support). In this case, regarding the latter, specific adaptogens to raise cortisol and specific nutrients to increase T4 to T3 thyroid hormone conversion were likely essential.

The bottom line?

• Skin flares: gone
• Canker sores: gone
• Constipation: gone
• Chronic GI gas and cramping: gone
• Eczema: gone
• And finally sleeping soundly and feeling much more energetic

A wildly satisfied client, indeed! Are you ready to create similar results for your patients and clients? Learn more about our transformational training program in Applied Functional Medicine here.

Warmly,