A Doctor’s Guide to Leaky Gut: Root Causes and Natural Treatments

Dr. Stengler: Were you wondering how to heal leaky gut and the gut damage that occurs with it? Leaky gut syndrome is a very common condition that causes all sorts of digestive problems — and it causes problems throughout the rest of the body as well. In this video, I'm going to cover what really causes leaky gut and the best natural ways to heal it.

I'm Dr. Mark Stengler, a naturopathic medical doctor. I've been in practice for over 30 years and have treated thousands of patients with leaky gut syndrome. In this video, I'm going to give you the tips and techniques I use to help patients heal very quickly.

With leaky gut syndrome, you have damage to the small intestine lining. The small intestine is the gatekeeper — it regulates what gets absorbed into the bloodstream and what gets excreted out through the digestive system. Problems in the American diet contribute significantly to this: processed foods, bad fats and oils, high-sugar diets, artificial sweeteners that damage the microbiome, and low-fiber diets that don't feed the good microbiome. These all contribute to leaky gut. In addition, the constant use of pain medications — especially the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and other pain relievers — has been shown in studies to damage the lining of the intestinal tract. Environmental chemicals are also associated with causing leaky gut. Another common cause is poor stress management. Excessive stress elevates stress hormones in the body, which reduces blood flow to the digestive tract and small intestine, so it can't get the nutrients it needs. These are some of the most common causes we see with leaky gut syndrome.

Now let's go through the most important natural healing agents — the things I find help patients feel better in just one to two weeks.

The first is glutamine. Glutamine is an amino acid and the preferred fuel source for the small intestine. It helps with healthy intestinal cell turnover. Like most places in the body, small intestine cells do regenerate and renew, but you have to supply the right nutrition — and glutamine is an essential amino acid for this process.

Next is aloe vera extract. Aloe vera is a very effective anti-inflammatory plant extract that also promotes healing of the gut. I like to use it in powder form — it works very well.

In addition, a form of licorice known as DGL — which stands for deglycyrrhizinated licorice, a type that does not have the potential to elevate blood pressure — is excellent for helping to heal the lining of the small intestine. Studies show it promotes circulation to the small intestine and stomach, and helps maintain the natural mucous layer that protects the intestinal lining.

I also like calming herbs for the digestive system. Slippery elm and marshmallow root have both been historically used for their soothing and anti-inflammatory effects on the gut.

Additionally, I like to use quercetin. High-absorbability quercetin has been shown to reduce the histamine effects that occur within the gut. When you're reacting to many foods, your immune system is dysregulated and releases histamine, which causes further damage to the small intestine lining.

With patients, I'll often use a combination of these ingredients, having them take them before breakfast and dinner on a consistent basis. Most people will feel a difference within one to two weeks. About 80 to 90 percent of patients will notice a substantial improvement in their leaky gut symptoms within one month — less gas, bloating, abdominal cramping, and abdominal pain, along with better bowel movements and more formed stools.

But patients also notice improvements throughout the whole body — because leaky gut affects everything. When absorption is poor, you're absorbing toxins into the bloodstream that you shouldn't be, and that affects your joints, muscles, cognitive function, hormone balance, energy levels, and mood. All of these things typically start to improve as well, usually within two to four weeks.

So there you have it — the techniques I use with patients. Very simple, very safe, and very effective. For more videos on leaky gut syndrome, see the related videos.

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