Digestive Problems: Common Causes and Natural Medicine Solutions

For gastrointestinal complaints, the true cause is unfortunately often not found through diagnostic methods. As a result, the cause often cannot be treated and cured. People with such intesti...

For gastrointestinal complaints, the true cause is unfortunately often not found through diagnostic methods. As a result, the cause often cannot be treated and cured. People with such intestinal problems must therefore be content with symptomatic treatment. If conventional German medicine has not been able to help you, we would like to suggest possible natural healing approaches here. Perhaps you will discover a method that can finally provide you with relief. It is important that you always maintain a balanced diet and avoid certain foods that you do not tolerate; if you pay attention to a healthy diet over a longer period, this will benefit your overall well-being.

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Intestinal problems: The cause often remains unclear

Patients who visit a doctor due to intestinal complaints, abdominal cramps, or digestive problems too often receive no satisfactory diagnosis. Often, one of the following conditions is identified or considered likely:

Irritable bowel syndrome: Manifests through frequent lower abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea. Numerous other symptoms are possible. The causes of the disease remain unclear in detail, and there is no cure.
Functional dyspepsia: Also known as irritable stomach. A disorder of the upper digestive tract causing recurring pain and other complaints in the upper abdomen. The cause is unclear, and no structural changes are present.
Functional constipation: Chronic constipation without a recognizable organic cause. The large intestine’s function is impaired, but no cause can be identified or treated accordingly.
Functional diarrhea: Diarrhea without detectable organic cause, essentially the opposite of functional constipation.
Irritable bladder: Frequent urge to urinate and possibly incontinence without a recognizable organic cause.
Functional abdominal pain in children: Children often suffer from abdominal pain without an identifiable cause. Food intolerances can be the cause here, for example. Food intolerances such as gluten intolerance often play a significant role.

If you think you suffer from one of these complaints, please consult a doctor. After examining your intestinal activity, the doctor must first determine that there is indeed no organic cause for your symptoms. Possible intestinal diseases, such as colon cancer or ulcers, should ideally be detected by your doctor. Often, initial insights can be gained through an examination of your stool. Such a stool test can give you clues about possible gastrointestinal diseases in the digestive tract, for example, caused by salmonella. If you are lucky, the doctor will find a cause that can be treated. Alternatively, your doctor will help you to contain the symptoms as successfully as possible.

Helping with intestinal complaints through natural medicine

Intestinal complaints can range from constipation or diarrhea to cramps with pain. Such diarrheal diseases can have a variety of causes. A healthy intestine is therefore essential.

Conventional treatment methods can and should be discussed with your doctor. For example, if you frequently suffer from nausea, your doctor can prescribe an antiemetic that can effectively suppress your nausea. However, many people with intestinal complaints or a feeling of fullness do not want to take chemical medications every day, which is why they prefer to use well-tolerated and natural naturopathy. We present typical naturopathic treatment methods here.

It is important to note that the following suggestions lack a scientific basis. They are mostly allowed only because their use is considered traditional. These remedies have been used for several decades without known harmful effects. There is no medical evidence for their effectiveness.

The following remedies and approaches are known in naturopathy against gastrointestinal problems:

Medicinal plants and herbs: Certain medicinal plants could calm your digestive system or reduce inflammation. Phytotherapists recommend chamomile for inflammation and digestive unrest. Fennel, anise, caraway, and peppermint are other herbs that could help as teas or dietary supplements.
Probiotics: Probiotics are living microorganisms. They are usually taken in capsule form and are supposed to settle in your gut flora. A disturbed gut flora could trigger symptoms like intestinal complaints. Kimchi, kefir, yogurt, and sauerkraut naturally contain probiotics.
Prebiotics: Not to be confused with probiotics. Prebiotics are indigestible fibers that can be metabolized by the gut flora. This way, you could essentially feed gut-friendly bacteria to help them spread. Prebiotics are found in garlic, onions, and artichokes.
Fiber: Fiber consists of indigestible carbohydrates. They contribute to gut health by, for example, reducing constipation and stimulating intestinal peristalsis. Higher amounts of fiber are found in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts.
Hydration: Too little fluid can harden stool or make digestion difficult. Drink more water if you might be lacking fluids.
Relaxation techniques: It was often said in the past that stomach ulcers occur due to stress. Relaxation can help, for example through yoga, meditation, or a stress-free daily routine.
Light exercise: A little movement can help get your intestines going. A light walk is sufficient.

The gut flora as a weak point

Many naturopathic approaches see a disturbed gut flora as responsible for the symptoms. It has been shown that harmful gut bacteria can trigger symptoms because their metabolic products are harmful to our gut health. A disturbed gut flora could affect the psyche by, for example, influencing our cravings for certain foods. Although clear evidence is still lacking, this possibility is very interesting.

Intestinal problems: Frequently asked questions

What to do for gastrointestinal complaints?

You should first consult a doctor. They will go through the usual diagnostic methods with you and determine whether there is an organic basis for your complaints. Since many causes can lead to intestinal upset or stomach pain, diagnosis is often quite lengthy.

Typically, blood tests, examinations of the intestinal mucosa, ultrasounds, colonoscopy, examinations of the intestinal wall and rectum, and gastroscopy are performed. If your doctor finds no organic cause in the gastrointestinal tract, they will discuss this with you. Then, for example, irritable bowel or irritable stomach may be present, and your doctor will discuss appropriate treatment options with you. It is important to have these examinations done first to ensure that your complaints are not caused by other pathogens.

What helps with intestinal complaints?

Conventional medicine knows many remedies. There are special medications for heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, and many other symptoms that can occur with intestinal complaints. However, many affected people do not want to take chemical pharmaceuticals every day, which is why they turn to naturopathy. This can be helpful if the disease has no organic cause. If a cause is found, it should of course be treated accordingly.

Intestinal problems: What to do?

See a doctor! They will address the diagnosis and treatment of your intestinal function with you. You can discuss the possibility of naturopathy with your doctor. It is important first to exclude or treat any organic disease. Otherwise, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases often remain undetected. Often, avoiding dairy products for a short time can bring improvement.