How to Treat an Inflamed Gut: Natural and Medical Options

Symptoms of an Inflamed Gut

Inflammation of the gut refers to irritation and swelling of the intestines. Common symptoms caused by an inflamed gut include:

Digestive Symptoms

An inflamed and irritated gut affects the digestive system, leading to symptoms like:

• Stomach aches and cramps.
• Diarrhoea or constipation.
• Abdominal bloating.
• Gas.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Urgency to pass stools.

Systemic Symptoms

Sometimes, the effects of gut inflammation are seen outside the digestive system and affect the entire body:

• Weight loss.
• Weakness or fatigue.
• Anemia.
• Skin-related issues like rashes or eczema.

Severe Symptoms

Gut inflammation in advanced stages may disrupt the normal functioning of the digestive system and cause severe symptoms which require immediate medical attention, such as:

• Persistent fever.
• Blood mixed stools.
• Severe and persistent abdominal pain.

Causes of Gut Inflammation

Causes of gut inflammation can vary widely and range from minor irritations caused by foods to long-standing autoimmune conditions. Understanding the cause of your gut inflammation is the first step towards treating it.

1. Dietary Causes

Certain foods can irritate the lining of your gut and lead to inflammation. High-sugar, oily, processed foods, spicy foods, alcohol, a low-fibre diet, and food allergies or intolerances (dairy or gluten) can lead to gut inflammation.

2. Chronic Stress

Stress primarily affects your mind but also impacts your gut through the gut-brain axis. Chronic stress disturbs the natural balance of the gut microbes and triggers immune system dysfunction, which causes gut inflammation.

3. Autoimmune Conditions

Autoimmune conditions occur when your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, are autoimmune conditions that affect the tissues of the bowel, cause inflammation, and damage the affected area of your gastrointestinal tract.

4. Gut Dysbiosis

Trillions of microbes live inside your gut and form the gut microbiota, which works in harmony to aid digestion, absorb nutrients, and maintain immunity. An imbalance in gut microbiota, where harmful microbes outnumber the beneficial ones, is called gut dysbiosis, which causes gut inflammation.

Read more – Gut Microbiome and Chronic Inflammation: A Complete Guide.

5. Infections

Bacterial, viral or parasitic infections of the gut can irritate the intestinal lining and cause inflammation.

6. Medications

Prolonged use of pain relief medications like NSAIDs and use of antibiotics can cause an imbalance in the gut microflora, causing inflammation of the gut.

Natural Options for Treating Gut Inflammation

In recent years, there has been a growing shift towards natural treatment options, as they offer safe and effective alternatives to conventional methods. Here are some ways to manage gut inflammation effectively right from the comfort of your home:

1. Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Gut Health

Including certain foods that relieve inflammation and avoiding foods that can trigger gut irritation can improve your health and quality of life. Here’s a list of foods you should include in your diet and what you should avoid.

Foods to Eat:

• Include fresh fruits, like berries; leafy greens, such as spinach and kale; and veggies, like carrots, broccoli, and beets. These foods are rich in antioxidants and polyphenols (plant metabolites that have anti-inflammatory properties), which help reduce inflammation in the gut.
• Eat healthy fats like avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines. Omega-3 fatty acids in these foods reduce inflammation.
• Include probiotic-rich fermented foods like yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi in your diet. These foods contain healthy microbes, which improves the gut microbial population and reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (molecules that promote inflammation in the body).
• Including digestion-promoting herbs and spices, such as turmeric, ginger, and garlic, in your diet or while preparing your meals can help reduce gut inflammation significantly. Polyphenols found in these spices, like curcumin (in turmeric), gingerol (in ginger), and sulfur-containing compounds in garlic, are known for their potent anti-inflammatory effect.
• Bone broth is also beneficial for reducing gut inflammation. Nutrients found in bone broth, like collagen, and amino acids like glutamine and glycine, can soothe gut irritation and strengthen and heal the gut lining.

Foods to Avoid:

• Limit the intake of processed foods, as well as foods that contain artificial additives like sweeteners, preservatives, and flavours.
• Avoid excessively sugary and deep-fried foods and snacks.
• Limit the use of refined sugar and alcohol.
• If you have food allergies or intolerances, avoid foods that might cause gastric discomfort, like dairy and gluten.

2. Probiotics and Prebiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms which provide you with health benefits when consumed. Fermented foods like yoghurt, kefir, miso, or tempeh that are labelled ‘live or active cultures’ contain probiotics. These foods can help restore the balance of the gut microbiota. Look for foods containing microbial strains like lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. 

What does the bacteria in your gut feed on? Prebiotics are non-digestible plant fibres, which are fermented by your gut bacteria and act as food for the healthy microbes in your gut. Some prebiotic-rich foods are apples, bananas, asparagus, onions, and garlic.

3. Natural Supplements

Some natural supplements that can help soothe an irritated gut and heal the gut lining are:

a) L-Glutamine:

• L-glutamine is an amino acid that supports your body’s immune and digestive systems. When taken as a supplement, it helps repair the gut lining and treat gut inflammation.

b)Aloe Vera Juice:

• Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce gut inflammation.

c) Slippery Elm and Marshmallow Root:

• These are demulcent herbs – they form a mucilaginous protective film over the gut lining and relieve pain and inflammation.

d) Zinc Carnosine:

• Zinc carnosine is a health supplement that stabilises the integrity of the intestines and stimulates gut repair processes.

4. Hydration and Herbal Teas

Water is essential for all body functions, including digestion, regular bowel movements, and to prevent constipation. Inadequate water intake can lead to dehydration, which can disrupt the normal functioning of the gut.

Herbal teas made by brewing digestion-supporting and relaxant herbs like chamomile, peppermint, and liquorice root can soothe the gut lining, reduce irritation, and relieve inflammation.

5. Stress Management

We have already seen how chronic stress affects your gut through the gut-brain axis. Stress-relieving techniques, like yoga, breathing exercises, or meditation, can calm your mind and, in turn, reduce gut inflammation.

Medical Options for Treating Gut Inflammation

Minor gut inflammation can be managed with natural home remedies or lifestyle adjustments, but sometimes, medical treatments become necessary.

1. Medications 

a) Anti-Inflammatories:

• This is the first step in the treatment of gut inflammation. Commonly used medications for inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis include mesalamine or sulfasalazine.

b) Corticosteroids:

• Corticosteroids are synthetic medicines that are similar to the hormone cortisol produced by the body. Corticosteroid medicines like prednisone, hydrocortisone, and budesonide are used short-term in case of severe gut inflammation.

c) Immunosuppressants:

These medicines treat gut inflammation by reducing the activity of your immune system. Azathioprine and methotrexate are commonly used immunosuppressants in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

d) Biologics:

• Biologics are a class of medicines made from purified cultures of microorganisms or isolated from human blood or plasma. Moderate to severe cases of inflammatory bowel disease are treated using biologics, such as infliximab or adalimumab.

e) Antibiotics:

• If your gut inflammation is a result of bacterial infections, antibiotics such as metronidazole or ciprofloxacin are used to treat it.

2. Diagnostic Tests

Diagnostic tests are essential for identifying gut inflammation, enabling healthcare providers to plan timely and effective treatment. The common diagnostic tests done to confirm gut inflammation are:

• Endoscopy or colonoscopy (procedures that use a flexible tube with a camera to examine the insides of your body) allows direct visualisation of the gastrointestinal tract, helping your healthcare provider assess the extent of inflammation and identify other abnormalities like ulcers.
• Blood tests may be done to check for infections or markers of inflammation like C-reactive protein (CRP).
• You might also need to get your stool tested to identify any infections or imbalances in the gut microflora. 

Lifestyle Changes to Support Gut Healing

Ready to improve your gut health and get rid of gut inflammation with simple and effective lifestyle changes? Consider trying these to improve your gut health naturally:

• Moderate physical exercise, when done regularly, can reduce inflammation and intestinal permeability and improve the gut microbiota composition. Adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week.
• Adequate sleep of 7-9 hours every night supports your overall health and promotes the healing of an inflamed gut.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol intake, as both of these can exacerbate gut inflammation and slow down recovery.

When to Seek Medical Help

Symptoms of an inflamed gut can range from mild abdominal discomfort or bloating to more severe issues such as infections, fever, or blood in the stool. Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms like:

• Worsening abdominal pain or cramps.
• Faeces mixed with blood or mucus.
• Fever and chills.
• Symptoms that last more than a week, even with dietary and lifestyle changes.
• Sudden weight loss.

Wrapping Up

Why battle with gut inflammation when you can fix it with ease? Get your gut back on track with a combination of natural remedies, dietary and lifestyle changes, and medications if necessary. 

Need help to tame your gut health issues? Reach out to our doctors now for expert and personalised solutions!