About Digestive Conditions & Issues

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, we define terminology related to common digestive issues.

Objective

Become familiar with common digestive issues.

Description

Define “hyper” and “hypo” in the naming of conditions. Name seven anatomical areas related to categorizing digestive conditions. Define constipation. Describe acid reflux, GERD, IBS, leaky gut syndrome, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Introduction

In Yoga for Wellness, Gary Kraftsow explains that the yogic perspective of imbalance includes categorizing issues as conditions of excess or deficiency. In the case of digestive issues, they are either “hyper functioning” associated with a digestive fire that is too strong or “hypo functioning” when it is too weak. Kraftsow explains further:

• Hyper conditions include such conditions as stress-based excessive acid secretion, ulcers, heartburn, diarrhea, IBS and IBD conditions such as Crohn’s disease.
• Hypo conditions include such conditions as lack of digestive enzyme, hypochlorhydria and constipation.

In Yoga Therapy, Mark Stephens categorizes digestive condition by anatomical area:

1. Oral disease such as dental and periodontal infections, and oral cancers
2. Esophageal disease such as GERD
3. Stomach disease such as gastristis
4. Intestinal disease such as IBS, celiac disease and Crohn’s disease
5. Liver disease such as hepatitis
6. Pancreatic disease such as pancreatitis
7. Gallbladder issue such as gallstones