Digestive Concerns

When Every Meal Feels Like a Gamble

You've eliminated gluten, dairy, and a dozen other foods. You've tried every probiotic on the shelf. Yet you're still dealing with painful bloating that makes you look months pregnant, unpredictable bathroom urgency, and the constant fear of eating out or being far from a restroom.

Maybe you've been told it's "just IBS" and to manage your stress. Or perhaps you've been living with these symptoms for years, convinced this is just how your body works now.

At Oak Clinic, we know that digestive issues are rarely that simple. Chronic bloating, irregular bowel movements, reflux, and abdominal discomfort often have identifiable root causes—and when we find them, we can treat them effectively.

Whether you're just starting to seek answers or you've been through multiple specialists without relief, we offer evidence-informed care that digs deeper to understand what's actually going on in your gut.

Conditions We Treat

Our naturopathic doctors and registered acupuncturist work with patients experiencing:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – chronic bloating, gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or constipation
• Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) – bacterial imbalance causing severe bloating, indigestion, and irregular bowel movements
• Dysbiosis – imbalanced gut bacteria affecting digestion, immunity, and overall health
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis support alongside conventional treatment
• Acid Reflux & GERD – heartburn, regurgitation, and esophageal discomfort
• Constipation & Diarrhea – chronic or alternating bowel irregularities
• Food Sensitivities – identifying and managing problematic foods
• Bile Acid Malabsorption – diarrhea caused by improper bile acid regulation
• H. Pylori Infection – stomach pain, ulcers, and chronic gastritis

Many patients come to us with an IBS diagnosis, only to discover through testing that they actually have SIBO, dysbiosis, or other treatable underlying conditions. Getting the right diagnosis is often the first step toward real relief.

Your Gut Affects More Than Digestion

Digestive health isn't just about what happens after you eat. Your gut plays a central role in:

• Immune function – approximately 70% of your immune system resides in your gut
• Mood and mental health – the gut-brain connection influences anxiety, depression, and cognitive function
• Hormonal balance – gut bacteria help metabolize and regulate hormones
• Skin health – conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea often have gut-related triggers
• Nutrient absorption – even a healthy diet can't help if your body isn't absorbing what it needs

When we address digestive dysfunction, patients often notice improvements in areas they didn't expect—clearer skin, better energy, more stable moods, and reduced inflammation throughout the body.

How We Approach Digestive Health

Comprehensive Assessment

Digestive issues don't exist in isolation. During your initial naturopathic consultation, we take the time to understand your complete health picture: your symptoms, eating patterns, stress levels, medication history, previous testing, and how your digestion impacts your daily life.

From there, we develop an evidence-informed plan tailored to your specific needs—because what works for one person's IBS may not work for another's.

Specialized Testing When Needed

While some digestive concerns can be treated based on symptoms and history alone, testing often provides crucial information that changes the treatment approach entirely. We offer diagnostic tools that go beyond standard scopes and bloodwork:

Specialized Digestive Testing:

• SIBO Breath Testing – measures hydrogen and methane gases to diagnose small intestine bacterial overgrowth
• Comprehensive Stool Analysis – assesses beneficial and pathogenic bacteria (including antibiotic and herbal resistance patterns), parasites, yeast overgrowth, and markers of inflammation and digestive function
• Food Sensitivity Testing – identifies immune reactions to specific foods
• H. Pylori Urea Breath Testing – detects active H. pylori infection

Standard Laboratory Testing:

• Celiac disease screening – blood tests for celiac antibodies
• Lactose intolerance testing – to confirm dairy-related digestive symptoms
• Inflammatory markers – including C-reactive protein (CRP), ESR, and fecal calprotectin to assess gut inflammation
• Comprehensive bloodwork – checking for anemia, nutrient deficiencies, liver function, and other factors affecting digestion

Testing is individualized. Not every patient requires extensive labs, but when the right test can clarify your diagnosis and guide more effective treatment, we have those tools available.

When scopes (gastroscopies or colonoscopies) are needed to rule out serious pathology or monitor inflammatory bowel disease, we coordinate referrals and work alongside your gastroenterologist.

See More Here: https://oakclinic.ca/services/lab-testing

Treatment Approaches

We combine the best of natural and conventional medicine, tailoring treatment to what your body needs. Approximately 80% of our digestive treatment plans rely on natural therapies, with prescription medications used when clinically indicated.

Treatment options include:

• Herbal medicine – antimicrobial herbs for SIBO and dysbiosis, soothing botanicals for inflammation, and digestive support formulas
• Nutritional therapy – targeted dietary modifications and high-quality supplements to support gut healing and optimal function
• Probiotics and prebiotics – strain-specific formulations chosen based on your condition, not one-size-fits-all products
• Prescription medications – when appropriate, we can prescribe pharmaceuticals including proton pump inhibitors, prokinetics, and other GI medications
• Acupuncture – research-backed support for digestive function, inflammation, and symptom relief (see below)
• Lifestyle and stress management – because the gut-brain axis means your nervous system directly impacts digestion

We're also expanding our nutrition support options in the coming months to provide even more comprehensive dietary guidance.

Acupuncture for Digestive Health

Acupuncture has a strong evidence base for treating digestive disorders, and it's an important part of our integrative approach at Oak Clinic.

Research shows that acupuncture can:

• Regulate gut motility – helping to normalize peristalsis in both constipation and diarrhea
• Reduce inflammation – modulating immune responses in the digestive tract
• Relieve bloating and cramping – by influencing the enteric nervous system and reducing muscle spasms
• Improve gastric emptying – beneficial for reflux, nausea, and functional dyspepsia
• Support the gut-brain axis – reducing stress and anxiety that exacerbate digestive symptoms
• Enhance overall digestive function – by promoting better blood flow and neural signaling to the GI tract

Acupuncture is particularly effective for functional digestive disorders like IBS, where the gut is structurally healthy but not functioning optimally. By strategically stimulating specific acupuncture points, we can influence the complex neural and biochemical pathways that regulate digestion.

Many digestive patients benefit from combining naturopathic treatment with regular acupuncture sessions, especially during the initial healing phase when symptoms are most active.

Massage Therapy for Digestive Support

While less commonly used for digestive concerns, massage therapy can offer benefits for certain patients. Our massage therapists understands the connection between muscular tension, stress, and digestive function. Abdominal massage techniques can help with constipation, bloating, and stress-related digestive issues by promoting relaxation, improving circulation, and supporting parasympathetic nervous system activation—the "rest and digest" state.

For patients whose digestive symptoms are closely tied to chronic stress or tension, massage can be a helpful complementary therapy.

What to Expect

Digestive healing doesn't happen overnight, but most patients begin noticing improvements within the first few weeks of treatment. Full resolution or significant symptom reduction typically takes several months, depending on the complexity and chronicity of your condition.

We work with you throughout the process, adjusting your treatment plan as your body responds and your symptoms evolve. For patients with inflammatory bowel disease or other chronic conditions, we're happy to collaborate with your gastroenterologist to ensure coordinated, comprehensive care.

Why Choose Oak Clinic for Digestive Care?

Comprehensive testing options. We offer both specialized functional testing (like SIBO breath tests and comprehensive stool analysis) and standard laboratory work to help identify the underlying causes of your digestive symptoms.

Root cause focus. While we can help manage symptoms, our primary goal is understanding why your digestion isn't working properly and addressing those underlying factors.

Natural and pharmaceutical options. The majority of our digestive protocols use natural therapies, though we can prescribe medications when clinically appropriate.

Whole-person care. We recognize that digestion influences your immune system, hormones, mood, skin, and energy levels—and we address these connections in your treatment plan.

Integrative approach. Our naturopathic doctors work alongside our registered acupuncturist to provide comprehensive digestive support.

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