Characterized by pain, diarrhea, bloating, discomfort, and constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can produce extreme discomfort that profoundly interferes with functionality and quality of life. Currently, the etiology of IBS remains unknown, and there is no therapy guaranteed to address the underlying pathology of the syndrome. Thus, all therapeutic options for IBS are currently intended to address symptoms rather than cure the condition. Although a variety of conventional therapies exist, their efficacy and tolerability vary, leaving many to seek out alternative and complementary options.

For patients who suffer from allergies, it can often feel like the therapeutic options are severely limited. The most commonly used pharmacological therapies—including antihistamines, corticosteroids, mast cell stabilizers, and decongestants—are not effective for all patients, and they can often result in side effects that disrupt everyday quality of life. After years of frustration with oral antihistamines, nasal sprays, eye drops, inhaled corticosteroids, and other over-the-counter and prescription drugs, many patients are ready to explore alternative therapies to pharmacologics.

What if a stellar therapeutic benefit for Crohn’s disease has been sitting under doctors’ noses for even longer than they’ve known about the disease? What if patients could supplement their diets with a natural compound that could could help maintain a normal inflammatory response in their gut? In light of an abundance of research investigating the therapeutic value of derivatives of the turmeric plant, these hypotheticals are more likely than previously realized.

For parents of autistic children, there are few symptoms that can cause as much day-to-day concern as stimming. Stimming—which is more formally discussed in scientific circles as self-stimulation or stereotypic, repetitive behavior—can be frustrating and concerning for parents who find themselves unable to get through to a child who is rocking, flapping, spinning, or repeating the same sets of words, over and over

For patients with gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nutritional supplementation can often make an important difference in quality of life. A growing body of evidence is now showing these therapies can address the underlying pathophysiology of these disorders, provide nutritional support for gastrointestinal symptoms, or address the indirect effects of the disorders on other body systems.

Systemic inflammation is detrimental to many of the body’s tissues and is implicated in countless diseases and health conditions ranging from the common flu to cancer. Emerging research is even linking systemic inflammation to unlikely conditions such as mood disorders and mild anxiety, expanding our understanding of the dangers posed by this circumstance.

As rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis continue to rise, the investigation into the potential causes of autism has intensified within the scientific community. As a result of these investigations, autism is currently understood to result from complex interactions between genetic and environmental variables. Now, research indicating that ASD might be caused by propionic acidemia (PA), an uncommon metabolic disorder, might give us even greater etiological insight.

Updated on February 8, 2023 For a growing proportion of Americans, liver damage is a frightening prospect. The liver plays an important role in metabolism and detoxification, and patients with liver damage face debilitating symptoms and a significantly higher risk of death from liver failure. The increasing prevalence of liver damage is driven in part […]

Updated on February 2, 2023 Nearly one million U.S. adults suffer from ulcerative colitis (UC) and experience a host of symptoms that can significantly diminish quality of life. In severe cases, UC can even be life-threatening. With no known cure and an unclear etiology, UC presents major challenges, and many patients struggle to find durable […]

Updated on February 2, 2023 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most challenging gastrointestinal disorders to effectively manage because there is no single, clear cause that applies to every patient. Often, it is a “diagnosis of last resort,” when a physician simply cannot find another cause to explain the patient’s symptoms. These symptoms […]