My digestive detoxification program is based on the principle of "weed, seed and feed".  Our digestive system is host to about one and a half kilograms of living bacteria.  Some of these are "good" bacteria and offer a significant health benefit to us.  Other bacteria are "bad" bacteria and are a considerable source of toxins for the body.  Problems with your digestive bacteria (also galled gut flora) are similar to problems with gardening. 

Anyone who has done even the slightest amount of gardening will know what a problem weeds are.  As soon as a patch of ground is cleared up come the weeds, and the weeds always grow quicker than those expensive new plants you are trying to cultivate.  Left unattended you end up with a patch of healthy weeds with a few flowers struggling to survive.  Just planting more flowers will not solve the problem.  For a good garden you need to:

	First - pull out the weeds
	Second - plant new flowers
	Third - nourish and fertilize the new plants
	Fourth - look after the garden

In the digestive system a similar approach using herbs and nutrients to weed, good bacteria to plant, and specific nutrients to encourage the "garden" to healthy growth.  When it comes to good bacteria, there are many different types and recent research has shown that some bacteria can be especially helpful for specific conditions.  For example Irritable Bowel Syndrome and inflammatory conditions can be helped with Plantarum L299 and the immune system can be enhanced by other specific strains of bacteria.  All of these are available at St George Naturopathic Clinic.

The digestive system is a major source of toxins in the body.  All these toxins go straight to the liver to be processed, placing a significantly increased work load on the liver.  Once digestive toxins have been reduced, the liver can work more efficiently.

A simple urine test called the Indican test is used at St George Naturopathic Clinic to monitor progress of digestive detoxification.  The Indican test measures indole sulphate in the urine.  This is a chemical produced in the body when there is digestive putrefaction of protein by bacteria.

The digestive system can become damaged by poor diet, stress and a bad balance of bacteria.  Part of the detoxification program is also aimed at repairing the delicate lining of the digestive tract.

For more information see the side bar menu "Detoxification" and "Digestive Disorders"