Leaky Gut & The Herbs To Restore It

A strong gut lining is crucial for good digestive health. When our gut lining is intact, it's a barrier to stop particles of food and toxins from making their way into the bloodstream. When our gut is in dysbiosis and our digestive system is compromised our intestines start to weaken and lose integrity. This leads to our gut lining deteriorating and harmful particles including foodstuff and toxins permeate through the intestinal lining and enter into our bloodstream. 

This causes the whole body to become unbalanced. Since a good portion of our immune system resides in the gut, and there's intestinal permeability and leakage, this can lead to the immune system creating antibodies for the nutrients that you should be benefitting from, causing your food to make you feel ill and many other autoimmune issues. 

The following herbs can be used to help soothe and restore a leaky gut, prevent further digestive distress, modulate the immune system, replace harmful bacteria and provide some deep healing.   

Calendula: This has traditionally been used topically as an astringent and vulnerary, a plant that mends wounds. Calendula works by tightening and sealing and can seal up holes in the mucous membranes of the intestines. Calendula cools and calms inflammation through the GI tract while protecting it too. Calendula inhibits unwanted bacteria and has anti-fungal properties, so it's great for balancing intestinal flora, and this rebuilds dysbiosis and restores the integrity of the gut lining. Calendula can help with moving of lymphatic fluid balancing the immune system, all of which circles back to preventing toxic build-up.

Cannabis: This has been studied as a potent anti-inflammatory. Receptors of the Endocannabinoid System are found within the gut and studies have been conducted to show the role of the ECS(Endocannabinoid System) in gastrointestinal functions. These found that it plays a part in gut-brain-mediated fat intake and hunger signaling, permeability, interactions with gut microbiota, and many more physiological systems. The research suggests, "dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system might play a role in intestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, as well as obesity."

Cannabis/Hemp comes in many forms and can be taken orally, topically, or through inhalation. A tincture of CBDa oil is a great place to start working with this plant. Tinctures can be applied directly under the tongue or added to food and beverages.

Slippery Elm: Improves I.B.S, constipation, bloating and diarrhea, the mucilage in Slippery Elm coats and soothes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines, making it a very useful treatment of IBS, Chron's disease, diverticulitis, diarrhea, and leaky gut.

Plantain: Plantain contains a substance called allantoin, a chemical that stimulates cell growth and tissue regeneration, which can help restore a damaged intestinal lining, as well as treat ulcers and gastritis and leaky gut is basically a series of wounds in the gut lining. Plantain helps to patch those up, which helps to seal and tighten the gut wall. Plantain eliminates pathogens and acts as a mild antibiotic, which corrects dysbiosis and encourages the gut to restore itself. Plantain also contains mucilage, which coats the GI tract in an anti-inflammatory substance that both soothes the digestive tract while preventing further damage.

There are many plants that can be worked with to help our digestive processes function efficiently. Remember that plants are complex and have a spectrum of dynamics, therefore all of the herbs mentioned above go far beyond offering merely digestive support.