Page 24 - Summer2018

To diagnose the words we use. Stress causes us to rush our tive wellbeing. For this, I rely on a test known

GERD meals, lose sleep, hardly take the time to chew as a Complete Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA).
our food (certainly another factor in and of itself There are many labs that now offer some varia-
properly and since chewing signals the stomach to increase tion of this test. I use Genova Diagnostics’ GI
to treat it gastric juices) and eat on the run instead of sit- Effects Stool Profile, which offers a look at
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naturally, we ting down with our families to enjoy our meal what the company calls the four functional pil-
and our time together. Having patients work lars of gastrointestinal health: infection, inflam-
must start by on stress reduction using meditation and other mation, insufficiency and imbalance. Although
taking a techniques can be very helpful in eliminating a detailed discussion of the test is beyond the
thorough this contributing factor. I also encourage all of scope of this article, I would like to highlight
my patients to take time to sit down for at least the main factors that this particular test allows
history, one thirty minutes and enjoy each meal in a peace- us to assess.

that includes ful, calm environment. First, and perhaps most importantly, it gives
a patient’s DIAGNOSING GERD us the opportunity to screen for dysbiosis using a
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) DNA analysis
habits. To diagnose GERD properly and treat it of the microbiome. We can then evaluate some
naturally, we must start by taking a thorough of the major flora that constitute a healthy gas-
history, one that includes a patient’s habits. Does trointestinal tract, like the different lactobacillus
she smoke? Drink alcohol? Rest adequately? Eat and bifidobacterial species. Conversely, it also
on the run? Eat fast food often? Take medica- allows us to test for common pathogens as well
tions? Getting a complete history of the indi- as more nefarious critters like clostridia or H.
vidual’s symptoms and habits can go a long way pylori. From here, we get a glimpse of whether
in identifying her particular causative factors or not a condition of dysbiosis is present. The
with regard to GERD. For some, stress will be test also affords the opportunity to see drug and
a big factor, while for others, medication or diet botanical resistance based on any pathogens
may be the main culprits. More often than not, present so as to customize our natural antibiotic
it is a combination of these and other factors. approach using the most potent botanicals for
Secondly, we must examine overall diges- that particular pathogen. We can also assess the

FIGURE 2: Manual adjustment for hiatal hernia patients: hand positioning

22 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2018