09 Jun Can You Treat Gastritis With Functional Medicine?

What is Gastritis?

Gastritis is defined as a set of symptoms caused by inflammation in the lining of the stomach. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, and gastritis can either be acute, lasting a few hours to a few days, or chronic, ongoing for months at a time.

Because of the number of causes and symptoms, there is no specific treatment for gastritis, but instead, a series of things that one can do to minimize symptoms and improve outcomes from episodes.

What Causes Gastritis

Gastritis has several causes; certain ones are more common than others.

• Bacterial infections that irritate and erode the stomach lining are the most common cause, as different harmful bacteria can cause inflammation, nausea, and vomiting.

• Excessive consumption of alcohol is also known to cause inflammation of the stomach lining. This irritation is the reason for many of the symptoms people experience when they have a hangover.
• Certain pain medications, both prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, can cause irregularities with stomach acid and erosion of the stomach lining, which can lead to chronic and severe gastritis.
• Certain immune disorders can cause gastritis, and these may be difficult to treat without addressing the underlying condition. Patients may struggle with symptoms for long periods of time or even go undiagnosed if they do not seek treatment from a doctor.

Gastritis Symptoms

Gastritis can cover a wide range of symptoms or can be symptomless. Most people report problems such as stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

In rare cases, gastritis can cause bleeding in the stomach, severe pain, and/or blood in the stool or vomit.

The exact symptoms a person has will depend on their type of gastritis, the cause of their condition, and underlying health and environmental factors. People can have mild gastritis and then, thanks to things like stress, can develop stomach ulcers and bleeding in the stomach, which can compound with the issues caused by gastritis.

This makes it important to always monitor your symptoms; if they get worse without an explanation, see a doctor immediately.

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is a system of alternative medicine that uses a science-backed, systems-based approach to the treatment of disease. In other words, functional medicine seeks to find and treat the underlying cause of symptoms.

Functional medicine differs from conventional medicine in its approach to treatment. Conventional medicine treats symptoms based on their proximity to a certain body part or in relation to a specific part rather than finding the exact cause. This can be successful but can also lead to incorrect diagnoses.

The principles of functional medicine argue that the body has the power to regulate and maintain itself and that medicine should, by and large, be minimally invasive and should work to support the body’s natural functions.

Functional medicine may approach treating gastritis by taking a look at different factors such as environment and nutrition to try and find the underlying cause of symptoms. This method may look at diet, exercise, environment, genetics, and any other factors that may contribute to isolating the true cause and then treating the issue accordingly.

Treating Gastritis with Functional Medicine

There are a number of different ways that functional medicine can support the healing process and be used to treat a disorder like gastritis; here, we will look at how functional medicine may diagnose and help treat the condition.

Functional Medicine Diagnostic Tools for Gastritis

Because there are many causes for gastritis, functional medicine uses a wide range of diagnostic tools and testing to determine if a person has gastritis, including the direct cause.

This includes lab tests like a comprehensive stool test, testing for allergies and sensitivities, stress testing, and labs to test for immune disease.

Functional Medicine Treatment Options for Gastritis

One of the primary approaches to treat gastritis is to alter the diet and nutrition of the patient to regulate their digestive system and reduce irritation of the stomach. This may mean cutting out certain foods, changing eating habits, or other similar options. 

Lifestyle modification is another course of treatment. This may incorporate techniques to manage stress, exercise, and other health and wellness benefits. In many cases, patients can improve the symptoms of gastritis by losing weight, altering their diet, and managing stress to reduce the chances of ulcers and other complications.

In some instances, treatment may include nutritional supplements to replace key vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that may be lacking. These nutrients can aid in digestion and reduce inflammation. Certain herbs and other remedies may also help treat the causes of gastritis.

Benefits of Treating Gastritis with Functional Medicine

Functional medicine works to address the root cause of gastritis rather than managing the symptoms or just treating stomach-related issues.

This leads to better outcomes and healthier patients overall.

Functional medicine limits using medication that can cause side effects and focuses on a more natural approach, so there are generally fewer side effects than with conventional medicine.

Lastly, functional medicine focuses on the individual patient, not the disease they have. This means treatment is more easily tailored to the specific person, which leads to less use of invasive procedures and a higher focus on relieving their pain and suffering. 

Conclusion

Now that you know what functional medicine is and how it can help treat gastritis, we hope this gives you a new option to explore. With the right balance of nutrition, lifestyle changes, and support, it is possible to see drastic results for your gastritis and overall health.