itchy anus | Good Health Begins In The Gut

There is a law of the universe that goes something like this…

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

This law is immutable, constant and true. It affects the physical universe, the biological universe, and, I would argue, the spiritual universe too.

In examining the impact of this law one can take two differing approaches – a reductionist approach or a holistic approach.

In physics, the reductionist approach often works well in explaining our universe. Complex systems can be broken down into a simpler systems and result in insightful tools like Work = Force X Distance.

In biology however, systems are complex. Proteins are gathered together with other molecules and communicate with each other via chemical messages. Individual cells react in stunningly complex ways with a nearly incomprehensible number of other cells who react in different ways. When systems get this complex, it is foolhardy to rely too heavily on a reductionist approach to explaining the system.

This is a problem with the way our modern society approaches medicine – we try to reduce everything down to simple terms. It seems to me the result of this approach over time has not been the development of healthcare system, but instead a “diseasecare” system. Each time a patient visits a doctor with a problem, the goal is to put that patient’s issue into a neat little box – defined as a disease or a set of symptoms. Modern medicine has put on a collective set of blinders that drive it to seek “bandage” approaches to healing. Is healing even the right word for this?

Let’s examine the concept of healing for a moment. Healing is defined as the act or process of regaining health. Yet, today so many of our medical protocols simply mask symptoms rather than reestablishing true health in a patient. For example, if a person sees a doctor for a persistent itching anus, he or she is likely to receive a topical lotion or medicated pad to alleviate symptoms at the site of the discomfort. This does not address the fact that the patient very likely has a yeast overgrowth issue in his or her digestive tract most likely caused by a poor diet that has resulted, over the course of months perhaps years, in a yeast overgrowth. This overgrowth causes the irritation.

Our diseasecare system is driven by dollars. Doctors don’t get paid unless they diagnose a disease or set of symptoms. These diagnoses are listed on the patients billing statement in the form of a diagnostic code. This code is necessary for the doctor to receive payment from the insurance company. No code – no compensation for services rendered. Additionally, this code (diagnosis) then dictates, more often than not, the approach the doctor must take to address it. The result is often a “bandage” on a symptom instead of addressing the root cause of the health issue.

Human biology is a very complex system. To reduce a situation like itching anus down to simply the site of the irritation is to look at a very narrow region of the issue.

Issue: Itching anus

Bandage approach: Topical ointment or medicated pad

Result of bandage approach: Continued problem (now covered up) that continues to cause other detrimental health effects over time.

Root cause approach: Change to a diet that promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and reduces the number of pathogenic yeasts in the gut, such as a low sugar, low carbohydrate diet that incorporates fermented foods and probiotics.

Results of root cause approach: Addresses true health issue and stops further degradation of overall health.

The root cause approach is more often than not a natural way to address health issues. In other situations the bandage approach may not only mask symptoms, but may also come with side effects of its own that cause other health issues over time. Example:

Issue: Shoulder injury

Bandage approach: High dose NSAID protocol (i.e. 600mg ibuprofen four times daily for two weeks)

Result of bandage approach: Swelling reduced at site of irritation and pain is relieved, but underlying injury may not be changed. Additionally, NSAID destroys beneficial microflora in the G.I. tract and causes a degradation in immune function as well as possible harm to intestinal tract lining.

Root cause approach: Avoid injury by encouraging strength maintenance (regular exercise). If injury still occurs, recommend anti inflammatory diet, supplementation, yoga with modifications or perhaps pilates.

Results of root cause approach: Addresses true health issue before it starts (are doctors honest enough with patients and do patients listen well enough?). In case of injury, a natural approach to healing takes more time, but ultimately results in a healthier stronger body.

The other facet of this situation needing close examination is the role of the patient. What role does he or she play? Who is ultimately responsible for his or her health? Many people don’t want to take on the responsibility of changing diet or exercising more – or both. They might argue that a quick visit to the doctor for a prescription topical ointment is cheaper than eating healthy nutritious foods. After all, nutritious foods are more expensive.

But if we simply put a bandage on the situation and allow a larger underlying health issue to fester, ultimately we will incur much higher costs when we develop further, more serious consequences. It takes a certain amount of financial resources to be healthy (another big issue our society needs to address). We pay it one way or another. Wouldn’t most of us choose to spend those dollars at a natural foods grocery than at a hospital? Today that is not the case. So who has the blinders on – the doctors or us? Who are the reductionists – the doctors? No, they are smarter than that. We are the reductionists here and the doctors work in a system that needs to satisfy our desires (or they don’t get paid).

We have to ask ourselves if we want true health and, if so, we need to commit to it and take responsibility for our health (and our children’s since their health is in our hands). If you haven’t already figured it out, the financial responsibility of our healthcare is being shifted back to us, the individual. It always belonged there anyway and, as I outlined in the previous paragraph, never really left us. We can pay it at the grocery store or we can pay it in the form of medical premiums, deductibles, and “patient responsibility” charges.