Presenter: Corina Dunlap, ND, MS

Original Date: October 19, 2019

There is an important link between gastrointestinal function, brain, hormones, and health. Why do some women feel bloated or have stool changes with fluctuations in their menstrual cycle? What about PMS, including symptoms such as anxiety and depression, all coinciding with gastrointestinal health? In the past decade, there have been huge advancements in the research on this topic. Now we see a relationship between the gut microbiome, our mood, and our memory. We see a higher percentage of people with IBS or other bowel problems suffering from depression and anxiety. We see gut inflammation impacting a whole range of issues from pain, sleep, and libido to mental health. We see probiotic therapy used in place of some anti-depressants with equal success. We've found evidence of direct communication from gut to brain, a type of neural superhighway.

This presentation attempts to connect some of these dots in order to shed light on how this intersection may impact our approach to case management.

1.25 General CEUs approved by OBNM