In Chinese Medicine, we believe the digestive system powers the entire body.

If there is any problem with the body’s ability to metabolise food, disease can manifest. The role of the digestive system is to receive food and transform it into nutrients and waste. The nutrients are then transported throughout the entire body and the waste is sent through the intestinal tract and later out of the bowel as faecal matter.

What is Leaky Gut Syndrome and how does it occur?

An overgrowth of Candida Albicans can lead to a yeast infection. This change in micro-organisms in the gastrointestinal tract impacts the integrity of the lining of the intestinal tract making it easier for toxins to enter the blood stream. Additionally a poor diet, poor lifestyle choices such as excessive drinking, and excessive emotional stress will compromise the digestive system leading to the development of Leaky Gut Syndrome.

How Does Leaky Gut Syndrome Affect Psoriasis?

The increased permeability along the digestive tract lining allows waste and toxins to enter the blood stream. These toxins are then transported throughout the entire body together with the nutrients. The body recognises the presence of toxins and so aims to eliminate them through the skin. This process often results in, or exacerbates, lesions on the skin. For this reason it is essential to look after your digestive system.

Symptoms experienced include:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Flatulence
• Irregular bowel motions such as constipation and loose stools
• Emotional issues such as anxiety, irritability and stress
• Sleep irregularities
• Food allergies and sensitivities
• Muscular cramps
• Skin irritations such as psoriasis and eczema

  What’s the Solution?

Restore the integrity of the digestive system to minimise toxins entering the blood stream. Ginger is beneficial for digestive issues, however some people with psoriasis would react badly as it is too warm and would increase the inflammation in those that have lesions that are hot and irritated.

In others it may help, especially those with lesions that don’t seem to heal over a long period of time.

Other herbs that benefit include peppermint, dandelion, sweet orange peel, magnolia bark, lotus leaf and fennel to name a few.

The Salubre Herbal Tea Range has a tea to promote digestion called Digest Abili-tea. More information on this tea log onto www.salubre.com.au

Alternatively, a herbalist will be able to rectify any digestive weakness by assessing your condition and prescribing suitable herbal medicine for your symptoms.

For psoriasis sufferers, you must stick to your anti-inflammatory diet as this will help with restoring a healthy digestive system as well as preventing leaky gut syndrome from returning