Diarrhoea is a common digestive complaint, causing loose, frequent bowel movements. Diarrhoea can range from mild to severe, with most cases being short-lived. For others diarrhoea is a constant occurrence, causing a disruption of quality of life due to the frequency or urgency of bowel movements.

Diarrhoea can be caused by a number of things, with the most common causes being:

• Food intolerances
• Lactose intolerance
• Coeliac disease (gluten intolerance)
• Infection – gastritis, bacteria
• Food poisoning
• Gut dysbiosis
• IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Liver dysfunction
• Diverticulitis
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Anxiety

Lactose intolerance usually causes diarrhoea soon after dairy consumption, whereas a food intolerance may lead to generalised loose bowel movements, usually with bloating or indigestion.

Acute infection of the digestive tract or food poisoning can lead to severe diarhhoea if not treated promptly. Severe diarrhoea which is watery and frequent can lead to dehydration and fluid and electrolyte imbalance so should be treated promptly.

Severe diarrhoea is usually due to an infection from a bacteria, parasite or virus. These infections lead to a disruption in our digestive balance, which can continue to cause problems down the track if not treated correctly.

Diarrhoea from any source has great treatment options using naturopathy. Katherine uses herbs and dietary advice to help you control your diarrhoea. Changes are usually noticed within days of treatment.

Prolonged diarrhoea can lead to severe nutrient deficiencies, causing fatigue, immune dysfunction and weakness. Katherine can identify if you have any deficiencies and correct them to get you feeling better in no time.

Remember that if you have diarrhoea then you will be losing extra fluid from the body, so ensure to drink plenty of water, and have electrolyte drinks if diarrhoea is prolonged.

Constipation is the irregular or infrequent movement of the bowels. A lot of people are surprised to learn that it is healthy to pass 2-3 bowel movements per day and that less than once a day is very detrimental to your health. This is because the bowel acts as an organ of elimination, removing waste and toxins from our body.

Constipation makes us feel sluggish, causing fatigue, headaches, and weakness. By treating constipation with herbs and nutrients which support healthy bowel function, you can often feel the difference within the first few days.

Constipation can be caused by many factors, with the most common being:

• Low water intake (less than 1.5 litres a day)
• Low fibre intake
• Poor dietary choices
• Past high use of laxatives
• Food intolerances
• Liver dysfunction
• Medication side effects (e.g. codeine)
• Nervous system dysfunction
• Lack of exercise
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Hypothyroidism

Naturopathic treatment of constipation aims at improving digestive function by improving bile output by the liver, pancreatic enzymes, and stomach acid production. By using herbs to do this, symptoms such as bloating, cramping, indigestion and headaches will resolve along with your constipation.

In cases of chronic constipation, the bowel will need to be retrained to get it back to functioning correctly. Katherine avoids using laxative herbs for long periods, instead of encouraging the body to restore digestive balance.