Digestive Health

A Functional Medicine Approach to Digestive Health

The most common “diagnosis” of digestive dysfunction is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS can present itself in many ways and disrupt your quality of life and affect your day-to-day functioning. You’ve probably heard about a wide range of treatments for IBS, but dietary changes can especially make a big difference for patients with this condition. Medications that slow down bowel movements (for diarrhea) or speed them up (for constipation) can also be really helpful. And when it comes to reducing life stress, it’s not always easy to do, but it can definitely have a positive effect on your digestive symptoms. To find out more, talk to one of our London digestive health experts today. Conventional medicine takes a narrow view of digestive and gut issues. Their approach is to focus on symptom management and medicate problems as a band-aid instead of looking at the underlying issues that lead to gut dysfunction. There has been a failure to recognize how extensive the influence of the gut can be on overall health and especially symptoms unrelated to the digestive system such as headaches, fatigue, and mental health disorders.

Causes

Digestive health disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal pain, Barrett’s esophagus, inflammatory bowel disease, and Crohn’s disease can be caused by a number of factors including gut infections which can include

In addition, what will affect it is  how  we eat (being mindful), what we eat when we eat and medications (particularly antibiotic use). A lot of the time  gastrointestinal disorders can be traced back to a period in your life when you were under significant stress physically or emotionally which acts as a trigger that leads to the development of symptoms associated with poor digestive health.

Common Symptoms

Treatment

As well as using a functional medicine approach,  our treatment protocols vary with each patient based on their symptoms, history, and lifestyle. We aim to identify the root cause of gut dysfunction and the core imbalances that are interfering with your body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients. We see a lot of patients improve immeasurably with some simple changes to diet and lifestyle alone, however, chronic conditions will warrant a lot more investigations including gut testing which can include microbiome testing and the SIBO breath test.

Our highly experienced team is committed to helping you treat your digestive system and digestive health issues. Our expert practitioners focus on approaches beyond symptomatic relief and concentrate on causative factors. At the London Centre for Functional Medicine, we provide life-changing solutions that will assist you in achieving your health goals and the best treatment plan for you.

Our Approach

Optimal Nutrition and Absorption

Imbalances to our digestive system contribute to a wide variety of symptoms and conditions. We are what we eat and what we absorb. Any dysfunction can lead to a sub-optimal functioning body and immune system

Supplement Support

Depending on the condition, your practitioner can recommend some targeted supplements to help support the body, reduce deficiencies, overcome infections and balance the microbiome.

Testing

We work on the motto of testing rather than guessing which can be quicker and cheaper in the long run. Our functional medicine doctors and practitioners who work can recommend specific gut testing related to gastrointestinal health, such as the SIBO breath, candida test, and parasite testing to look at what is causing your issues.

Targeted Treatments

Our practitioners can recommendations additional treatment or lifestyle interventions that have proven effects to help you overcome a specific digestive condition.

Our Client's Feedback

Cormac Whelan

2023-03-26

Rob has helped me through a gut health conditon that no other GP was able or willing to figure out. There was no guess work involved. He got to the root of my issues through knowledge, testing and investigation. I would highly recommend the London Centre for Functional Medicine

Roger Hassan

2023-03-26

I can’t say enough good things about my experience at the London Centre for Functional Medicine. After 3 years of misdiagnosis and living with IBS I finally felt I was able to heal. I’m truly grateful to Rob for his expertise in SIBO. I have to keep things in check but I feel so much better. I would highly recommend them.

G Monkee

2023-03-22

For those seeking an alternative viewpoint to their chronic conditions, I would recommend the London Centre for Functional Medicine to others. They were helpful and mindful of my financial restrictions. Thank you.

Martin Beaumont

2023-03-21

Working with the London Centre for Functional Medicine team has been a great experience. I have had big improvements with digestion issues and now live pain free! Having the support of Rob was very useful when questions or issues arose during the program and was particularly impressed with not going overboard with the supplement regime. Highly recommended!

Sean Hayden

2023-02-20

I'm currently going through treatment with Rob and just wanted to acknowledge the individualised and personalised care that has been provided. From when I started Rob has looked at my health issues without judgement and was able to help me in many areas that weren't optimal. Notably, Rob has helped me overcome gut issues and other niggling issues that I didn't were related but seemingly are. Rob is also great at explaining the body systems and related things which has been great. I can highly recommend the London Centre for Functional Medicine

K Kelly

2023-02-18

"What I appreciate about Rob at the London Centre for Functional Medicine is that he seeks to educate rather than just give supplements and instructions. He makes you understand both the action needed to take as well the underlying physiological processes driving the underlying issues. Highly recommended."

Aaron Robson

2023-02-18

If you're dealing with health challenges that conventional medicine hasn't resolved, I strongly suggest you visit the London Centre for Functional Medicine. They make a real effort to comprehend symptoms and worked with me to develop a plan for exploring treatment possibilities. Thanks to my practitioner, I now have answers to health questions that had eluded me for years, and I couldn't be more grateful. My practitioner (rob) uses a data-driven approach to identify the underlying cause. I've already recommended him to friends, and they have had success with his care as well.

Tracy Thomas

2023-02-12

Rather than going to a GP when you are sick I entered the Functional Medicine journey before things got out of hand. It’s a route everyone should consider as it does prevent illness and can reverse it! I learned a lot about how my body works and how to become healthier. London CFM walked me through the things I needed to know by educating me about how the digestive system works and healing my SIBO. Thank you!

Lindsay Jones

2023-01-08

I sought help from the London Centre for Functional Medicine for a problem I have had for most of my life, terrible digestive issues. Rob has worked with me to get back normal function of my digestive function. It has taken some time but the result have been great so far.

T Webster

2022-07-16

I was originally referred to Mr Staunton by a nutritional therapist who felt that his particular expertise was required for my specific needs. After meeting him and explaining the situation, he conducted some lab tests which had to be shipped to Germany.. In the 3 months that I’ve been treated by Mr Staunton, I’ve seen a significant improvement in my symptoms and I’m feeling optimistic about my continued good health. I highly recommend the Clinic and working with Mr Staunton has been a very professional and pleasant experience. He’s extremely knowledgeable about both nutrition and how the body works.

Support

Once you reach out to us, the team will guide you through the collaborative process with a practitioner, We will gather the information we need to understand you better and help support and motivate you along your health journey.

Experience

We take the complex and try to make it simple. Many patients have gone to multiple doctors before they reach us. By taking a functional medicine approach, we can focus on the core imbalance and what needs to be addressed to improve your health picture.

Custom Approach

There is no one size fits approach as each patient is unique. Thus, no plan or protocol is the same. Everything about you including symptoms, lifestyle, diet, genetics and capacity to heal is different and will require a personalized approach.

london center for functional medicine