In my earliest days as a homeopath I started noticing a link between constipation and neurological issues. Patients with autism, depression, multiple sclerosis and even nightmares all seemed to have issues with their bowels. Likewise people coming to me with constipation, diarrhoea or both were often troubled with anxiety or sleeplessness from night worries. The problem seemed to go deeper than merely adding fibre.
This set me on the long path of investigation into gut health.
On examining the link between gut health, fibre and neurological conditions; I started looking at ways to improve health using prebiotics. I found myself discussing this with anyone who would listen and it transpired that at the same time a friend of mine, Alyssa Reid from Stirling was developing a drink which contained fibre.
Her journey had started in 2019 when on talking to some friends challenged with health issues such as poor sleep, fluctuating mood, IBS, digestive health issues and weight they had also come to the same realisation - it all boiled down to gut health. Through their research they discovered chicory root fibre is the best source of prebiotics with over 4,000 research studies showing its positive impact on gut health. Within a few short weeks of using chicory root fibre they found noticeable improvements in their health and wellness.
After saying ‘This is so great, we should bottle it.’ they did just that and iófibrewater was launched in May, 2022. Because of my interest, they invited me to enrol a number of patients to take part in their initial trials and it was exciting to see the difference it made across all age groups and for different issues. It has become a really useful tool for me when I come across someone who is struggling with constipation. As a homeopath, I am always looking for the root cause of a problem but sometimes this is not obvious. My goal is always to remove discomfort as fast as I can and have a toolkit of supplements, essences and other therapists I recommend who can help me help you.
What this water has done for everyone I've recommended it to so far, is regulate their bowels immediately. If they are loose or constipated it helps to create a healthy comfortable stool. Bloating, cramping and wind ease too. When the immediate drama is taken out of the body, this allows the homeopathic remedies to do what they do best and let the body find its new calmer homeostasis. I am particularly excited about how this can help the elderly, young and patients with severe neurological issues. Most of us will adjust our diets if it is a medical recommendation but it is very hard to persuade an adamant 2 year-old, or someone gripped by the sweet tooth of dementia to include more fibre in their diet. As a result these souls can end up on a never-ending roller-coaster of antidiarrheals and laxatives.
By changing the content of the gut with this fruity water, alongside homeopathic tissue salts to help repair the elasticity and reduce inflammation, it quickly settles down allowing the remedy I have selected to address what lies behind the issue to get to work restoring overall balance.
An interesting pilot study by the Homeopathic Research Institute showed "patients receiving homeopathy in addition to conventional care improved more than patients receiving ‘supportive listening’, suggesting that improvements seen in the homeopathic group cannot be attributed entirely to the therapeutic effects of the ‘time and attention’ given to the patient during the consultation". If these issues apply to you, you won't need me to tell you - when your bowels are out of balance it can rule your life. People daren't leave the house for fear of needing the loo, the anxiety when they do contributes to abdominal tension further aggravating the issue. I love it when patients tell me they have got their lives back. A settled bowel is then able to tolerate a greater range of food and maintaining it with a variety of colours and flavours and some fermented products becomes a way of life.
This is a path I feel I will be on for life. I am working my way through learning how to make various probiotic foods. I tried making them all at once but I'm having much more success gradually building one after another into my routine as each 'child' needs a different type of mothering! For more information, look out for upcoming blogs where I will share information about some of the fascinating courses I have been on looking at the links between gut health and Parkinsons, psoriasis, eczema, autism, glandular fever, ME, adhd, long covid, arthritis and many more. When I find useful research I will post this on my facebook page. Also - have a look out for iófibrewater in your local ASDA. I'm not the only person thinks they're on to something! I'm so excited for these guys. 🎉👏👏👏
PS - if you click on their name above - it links to the website and if you use the code OAK20 you'll get a 20% discount.
