Case Study: Eczema and Leaky Gut Syndrome
Priya came to see Dr. Bhandari wanting relief with ongoing skin issues caused by dry skin and eczema. She wonder if her recent weight gain had anything to do with her skin issues.
What is eczema?
Eczema presents with symptoms such as dry, cracked, bumped, or scaly patches of skin. It is a medical condition linked to an autoimmune response to an irritant and associated with internal inflammation. Eczema can be aggravated by dehydration, consuming foods which are dehydrating and acidic in nature (ie.., animal protein, GMO crops wheat, corn, soy; fried food, processed foods, refined sugars (ie., corn syrup, agave, maple syrup, honey), and excessive salt. Eczema outbreaks often occur during times of stress, illness, or injury when the immune system is overactivated. Eczema can be placed into remission through dietary and lifestyle changes.
What Dr. Bhandari Discovered
A diagnostic analysis of Priya’s blood revealed very high cholesterol stemming from overeating at the wrong time of day and excess snacking. It also stemmed from consuming too many nuts, sugar, bread, fish, processed food, and animal protein which were directly damaging her liver and kidneys. The high cholesterol was damaging Priya’s cells and preventing adequate energy production. Her cells were instead producing too many free radicals which were not being neutralized by antioxidants and instead damaging cells. The cell damage was causing the gut lining to become porous allowing toxins and antibodies to leak out into the bloodstream (aka., leaky gut syndrome).
Leaky gut syndrome occurs when toxins, poorly digested food antigens, and antibodies cross the gut lining. Once through, they are identified as foreign invaders, triggering an immune response. Priya’s leaky gut led to a constant stress signal between the gut to the brain measured as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) especially since the cells were unable to maintain their normal physiologic function. Thyroid specific antibodies were leaking out of the gut into the bloodstream and now attacking normal thyroid tissue as foreign. This phenomenon is called Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s disease is directly related to a poorly hydrated and dysfunctional digestive system where the blood becomes acidic and prevents adequate healing.
Dr. Bhandari’s Personalized Treatment Plan
A treatment plan tailored for Priya recommended reducing sugar consumption and maximizing bitter vegetable and water consumption. She was also asked to readjust her eating and sleep schedule along with starting the daily supplements Integrative Therapeutics’ KPAX Mitonutrients multi-vitamin, turmeric, Ashwagandha, and Magnesium citrate.
By following the recommended treatment regimen, Priya’s cholesterol panel and inflammation markers normalized. Priya began applying coconut oil to her skin before and after showering and stopped using most other skin care products. Her skin integrity began to dramatically improve within a few months and Priya was shifting back to her normal weight.
After six months Priya began gradually reverted back to a few of her old dietary habits: eating sugary snacks, sleeping and waking late, and no longer drinking fresh green juice. She was then referred to integrative nutrition health coach Katie Schmidt at Advanced Health to help Priya stop her food cravings and yo-yo dieting. A plan was developed to help Priya improve her mind-body connection and ultimately, her diet and lifestyle.
Optimal results take time to realize, but practice makes perfect, and mistakes are part of the path to the healing process.
AUTHOR
Dr. Payal Bhandari M.D. is one of U.S.'s top leading integrative functional medical physicians and the founder of SF Advanced Health. She combines the best in Eastern and Western Medicine to understand the root causes of diseases and provide patients with personalized treatment plans that quickly deliver effective results. Dr. Bhandari specializes in cell function to understand how the whole body works. Dr. Bhandari received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology in 1997 and Doctor of Medicine degree in 2001 from West Virginia University. She the completed her Family Medicine residency in 2004 from the University of Massachusetts and joined a family medicine practice in 2005 which was eventually nationally recognized as San Francisco’s 1st patient-centered medical home. To learn more, go to www.sfadvancedhealth.com.