“All disease begins in the gut,” - Hippocrates
Although this quote may or may not hold true with the growing complexity of modern illnesses and diseases today...it is a strong reminder of how large and foundational a role our gut health plays in our overall health picture! Leaky Gut Syndrome and other chronic gut issues are becoming more and more of a common issue. While adjusting our diets and overall nutrition is vitally important here, there are many herbal therapeutics which can help mitigate symptoms and heal the gut too. Read on to discover some of my favorite go-to herbal therapeutics for Leaky Gut Syndrome.
Herbal Gut Tea
Incorporating a simple and nourishing herbal gut tea is one of the first herbal therapeutics I turn to with Leaky Gut Syndrome and many gut issues in general. Classic gut-healing herbs tend to be gentle on the system, making them easy to incorporate with the other therapeutics you might already be using.
Drinking a daily nourishing herbal gut tea can help promote tissue healing inside the gut, nourish irritated and inflamed tissues throughout the GI, and promote healthy gut motility. Some of my favorite herbs to incorporate in herbal gut tea formulas are plantain (Plantago major), marshmallow root (Althea officinalis), peppermint (Mentha piperita), Calendula (Calendula officinalis), and chamomile (Matricaria recutita).
Knowing & Addressing Your Triggers
This is one of the most important steps in truly understanding and addressing your Leaky Gut Syndrome symptoms from the root. Through taking time to reflect on what pieces of your lifestyle or diet trigger your symptoms to worsen and what could have triggered them to start in the first place is essential to removing the “thorns” that are hindering your gut from healing again.
Depending on what triggers you uncover in your health picture with Leaky Gut Syndrome, different herbal therapeutics can be employed. For instance, if stress is a trigger for you, you could incorporate herbs that promote stress resilience like tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), and Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea). Or if high exposure to environmental pollutants and toxins is a trigger, utilizing herbs that promote gentle detoxification like burdock root (Arctium lappa), dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale), and milk thistle (Silybum marianum) would be indicated. There are many potential triggers that could be involved which can vary from person to person so stay reflexive as you uncover these for yourself.
Nourishing Your Gut Ecology
Oftentimes, when the inner “ecology” of your gut is thrown off balance, Leaky Gut Syndrome symptoms can flare up or suddenly “appear” out of nowhere. Depending on the severity of this change in ecology, sometimes simply “crowding out” the “bad” bacteria with the “good” bacteria (while utilizing other simple, natural therapeutics like the ones we talked about above), is enough to recalibrate your gut health again.
Eating probiotic-rich foods or taking probiotic supplements is fabulous, but only if you are feeding them prebiotics at the same time! Prebiotics can be found in select dietary sources as well as some essential herbs. Chicory root (Cichorium intybus) is my go-to prebiotic rich herb to take alongside all of the probiotics.
Boost Your Immunity
Did you know we have more immune cells in our gut than anywhere else in the body?! The gut plays a vital role in stabilizing our immune system function so when things are thrown off balance in Leaky Gut Syndrome and other gut disorders, oftentimes our basic immune response also suffers.
Utilizing herbal therapeutics that help boost our immune system function and prevent chronic viruses from proliferating is crucial while you are working to heal your Leaky Gut. Some wonderful immune-regulating herbs you can draw from include astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa).
A Complex Case
Know that addressing issues in the gut can be quite complex and take some time to figure out. Remember to be patient with yourself and your unique health picture, understanding that not every therapeutic that works for other people may work for you in the same way.
This article is here to provide a few helpful herbal options for you to consider as you address and work with Leaky Gut Syndrome. When in doubt, always consult your certified healthcare practitioner and reach out to a clinical herbalist if you need assistance in formulating herbal dosage strategies, or a more in-depth and personalized protocol around your unique health issues.
Have you worked with any of the herbal therapeutics I mentioned above? What stories would you like to share on your path with Leaky Gut Syndrome? Share with me in the comments below!
