All patients who suffer from chronic health conditions today have digestive dysfunctions that are a major contributing factor to their conditions. Chronic conditions including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn's Disease, Dysbiosis, Candidiasis, SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth), and Intestinal Hyperpermeability ("Leaky Gut Syndrome") are at the root of every health disorder for which patients are seeking help from Functional Medicine specialists. The 3 main causes of all modern day illness: Stress, Deficiencies (from poor diets), and Toxicities greatly and relentlessly contribute to an eroding, unhealthy gut.

When a person is under prolonged stress, the increased Cortisol levels seen in Stage I Adrenal Exhaustion are very destructive to the GI and immune systems. This period of time when Cortisol is very high directly causes a breakdown in the SigA (Secretory Immunoglobulin A) mucosal barrier lining of the small intestine. 80% of a person’s immune system is in this (SigA) antibody layer. This mucosal barrier is similar to a walled fortress with gates guarded by soldiers. A healthy gut wall allows for the proper breakdown and absorption of nutrients from the foods we eat into the gut wall and into the bloodstream to be used by the body for building up and keeping tissue healthy.

When this mucosal barrier becomes destroyed by the high levels of Cortisol, two negative reactions occur. First, there is an incomplete breakdown of nutrients such as proteins. As undigested protein particles pass through the broken-down barrier, they pass directly into the bloodstream and migrate to areas of the body creating inflammation (joints, cardiovascular tissue, etc.). this is known as “Leaky Gut Syndrome”. The weakened, broken-down gut lining is also not efficient at absorbing other nutrients like vitamins and minerals from the foods we eat. The other negative reaction that happens when the gut wall has deteriorated is now the mucosal barrier is not strong enough to fight off and destroy a variety of pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These pathogens now can invade the gut and cause such things as GERD/ Reflux, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, etc., and other more serious health conditions. Leaky Gut is usually always a major contributing factor in all autoimmune diseases.

Another common occurrence following mucosal barrier breakdown is a food sensitivity or food intolerance condition. The doctor will determine which foods the patient has developed sensitivities to based on blood antibody testing (IgE/IgG). For Food Sensitivity/Food Allergy Testing, we have used Alletess Medical Laboratory for several years for their superiority in accurate testing results compared to many other labs. This testing can not only determine what foods are creating inflammation and autoimmune responses, but also reveal the severity of the patient's "leaky Gut" status. Most people report marked improvement in their overall health when they complete our Gut Pathogen Eradication/Gut Regeneration Program.

If the doctor determines that you have other severe GI issues beyond "Leaky Gut" (parasites, etc.), then a GI lab test (stool testing) kit will be supplied to the patient and the patient will send in the kit, with samples, to Genova Diagnostics Lab https://www.gdx.net for evaluation. Most of the time pathogens are detected in these lab tests because of the high accuracy of the unique 3-day sample detection methods used by Genova Diagnostics. Pathogens that are commonly found include bacteria, parasites, and yeast overgrowth (Candida Albicans). Depending on what kind of pathogen is found, the patient is put on a natural antibiotic program for usually 2 months to kill the pathogens. Occasionally, a prescription antibiotic drug may need to be prescribed for certain parasitic pathogens. We also use Genova Diagnostics when it is suspected that a patient has SIBO.

Testimonials

For several years I had been taking Prilosec that was prescribed by my primary care doctor for a long term acid reflux condition. Over the last 5 years I have been increasingly experiencing various symptoms that have become very concerning to me. I became aware through discussions with other people and my own research online that my symptoms may have been side effects from my being on Prilosec for so long. The symptoms that I attributed to the drug's side effects (I didn't have before starting the drug) were: diarrhea, a lot of gas and bloating, nausea, skin rashes, headaches, and hair loss. Another symptom that progressed and became the scariest one of all to me was my increasingly diminished brain function. I had no idea that this symptom was also from the PPI drug until Dr. Ramsey mentioned it as being a common side effect from long-term use of this drug. My doctor made me fearful by telling me that if I didn't stay on the drug, I would have a high risk for developing esophageal cancer. That fear enslaved me to stay on the drug, even though I knew that the side effects would continue to cause increasing damaging affects to my health. I consulted with Dr. Ramsey after I found out about him from a family member. He convinced me that Acid Reflux conditions could be healed with natural medicines without side effects. He immediately put me on a nutritional supplement program that allowed me to start a very gradual weaning off schedule for the PPI drug. After 4 months on his program, I felt better than I had in many years and I was able to get completely off Prilosec. This literally could have been life-saving for me! Eric B.

I had severe digestive problems for several years that continued to get worse over time. I also developed severe anemia. The doctors kept giving me more and more tests to determine the source of the anemia. Their concern for my worsening blood condition made me very concerned, as you can imagine. I met Dr. Ramsey at one of his health classes that he presented. It was very enlightening to me regarding how Functional Medicine doctors approach chronic health conditions quite differently than traditional allopathic doctors. It made so much sense to me regarding the different methods Functional Medicine doctors use to diagnose as well as treat many health conditions. After consulting with Dr. Ramsey in his office, he decided to test my digestive system using Genova Diagnostics Labs, even though I had already had GI testing through a local lab that didn't find anything. He explained that Genova Labs requires 3 days of GI samples as well as DNA testing which has a much higher success rate for detecting parasites and other pathogens that can easily be missed by many other labs. The lab results came back showing that I was infected by Hookworm, a parasite that causes severe anemia. Dr. Ramsey had me return to my primary care doctor with the test results and to get an anti-parasitic drug prescription. It was very disappointing that the M.D. had such a smug attitude that a non-M.D. found the answer, but he (reluctantly, I might add) wrote me the prescription which ended up completely curing me of both my severe GI issues AND my severe anemia condition as well! Thank you Dr. Ramsey! Janine S.