Celiac Disease

It is estimated that 83% of Americans who have celiac disease are misdiagnosed with other conditions or undiagnosed completely. Celiac disease can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, reduced bone density, neurological disorders, some cancers, and other autoimmune diseases.

Celiac disease is an immune system disease which affects the digestive system. Patients must limit their intake of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten can also be found in many other products such as medicines, lip balms, and even the glue on stamps and envelopes. Upon ingestion of foods containing gluten, the immune system responds by damaging the small intestine.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

This disorder affects everyone differently. Certain patients may have diarrhea and abdominal pain while others may become depressed or irritable. Irritability is one of the most common symptoms in children while digestive discomfort is more notable in adults. Some people have no immediate or observable painful symptoms but may exhibit signs of food intolerances.

Medical Treatment

Medically, celiac disease is often classified as genetic with little attention given to long-term gluten intake or effective dietary modifications. Blood tests or tissue biopsies often assist in medical diagnoses. Prescribed medical treatment is usually to avoid gluten, but its inclusion in nearly every food available leaves many patients unable to free themselves from symptoms without adopting a completely restrictive diet.

Modern medicine prescribes numerous medications to mask the often-associated symptoms of acid reflux and indigestion. Some of the most popular and expensive drugs are Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium, and Tagamet. These drugs suppress virtually all stomach acid secretion and cause absorption and malnutrition issues by inhibiting proper digestion. Surgical removal (aka bowel resection) is becoming an increasingly common treatment for some digestive disorders. There is no medical or pharmaceutical answer for celiac disease, and the only perceived treatment is complete avoidance of gluten.

How We Can Help

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is often referred to as the second brain. The small intestine alone has as many nerve cells as the spinal cord. There are more nerve cells in the gut than the entire remainder of the peripheral nervous system. Nearly every chemical that appears in the brain can also be found in the gut, including neurotransmitters and hormones. For these reasons, the importance of the digestive system cannot be overstated.

The brain communicates with the gut like networks of computers. A single pathway delivers sensory signals from the gut to the brain and returns motor signals from the brain to the gut. Every transmission travels through the spinal cord. Interference with these signals can often be the result of nerve pathology caused by misalignment of the vertebrae that house and protect these delicate nerves.

Chiropractic treatments have been solidly proven to help alleviate digestive issues. Correcting underlying dysfunction with chiropractic adjustments has often reduced or eliminated these problems by restoring vital communication between the brain and the gut. Along with proper dietary education, cold laser therapy, detoxification, and nutritional supplementation, many digestive disorders effortlessly resolve through the methods employed by Divine Design Natural Health.