The GI-MAP™ in Clinical Practice
Last summer, two different boys, a ten-year-old and a seventeen-year-old, presented to my clinic with similar GI complaints. The families were unrelated and located in different areas, but both boys had symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and heartburn that were accompanied by poor reactions to certain foods.
Case Histories
Ten-Year-Old Boy
The ten-year-old boy experienced a two-year period of deteriorating health. His hair was not growing well, and his nails had deep ridges that were almost deformed. His performance at school suffered so severely that he was pulled out of the regular classroom and instead received one-on-one education by tutors. While he’d once shined athletically, he was now so fatigued that running around the playground was difficult.
I performed a thorough patient history and discovered that his gastrointestinal symptoms had started immediately after a church picnic, where he’d eaten what may have been tainted potato salad. Other people who’d attended the picnic had also become sick, and his parents were able to date stamp his downward health spiral to the weekend of the picnic.
Seventeen-Year-Old Boy
Before his illness, the seventeen-year-old boy was an active teenager who played quarterback for his high school’s football team. He presented with symptoms of reoccurring nausea, very painful heartburn, and occasional vomiting in the morning. His gastrointestinal complaints were so severe that he began avoiding food for fear that even his favorite foods would cause him pain.
He had become too ill to play football. That loss was catastrophic for him; he felt like the world was crashing down around him.
GI-MAP Stool Testing Identified the Pathogen
I ordered a GI-MAP for both patients. In this instance and to my surprise, the test results showed that both boys were positive for the same pathogen - H. pylori.
When I shared the test results with the parents, both were amazed they finally had answers. They wanted to know why it had taken so long for a doctor to reach a diagnosis and why their regular pediatricians had not run a test like the GI-MAP.
Personalized Treatment Protocols and Follow-Up Results
I personalized treatment for each patient. One boy’s parents opted for prescription treatment followed by GI repair protocols. The others chose to use the herbal treatment for H. pylori which I’ve recommended for years – Mastica, at a high dose for two months.
Both patients recovered dramatically within 60 days of treatment. The ten-year old’s mom was crying when she told me that he would return to his regular classroom in the Fall. His focus and concentration were back, and his hair and nails were growing normally. His stomach pain was gone entirely.
The seventeen-year-old quarterback had an even faster recovery - weeks not months. His only residual complaint was occasional heartburn after eating junk food or dairy.
Final Thoughts
I find it particularly satisfying to resolve health complaints for children. It’s been quite rewarding to get to know these two boys and their families. In both cases, other family members have come in for functional medicine testing.
The GI MAP’s ability to test using PRC technology gives me a clinical advantage when facing challenging cases. Practicing good quality functional medicine provides emotional rewards for me and my patients. Also, positive outcomes generate referrals, allowing me to grow my practice, and help those in need. To learn more about incorporating functional medicine in clinical practice, join me for my 1-Year Mentorship Program that educates clinicians about functional medicine and the value of functional testing.
Author Dan Kalish, DC
Dr. Daniel Kalish is dedicated to teaching doctors Functional Medicine philosophy and practices. He has trained over 1,000 practitioners worldwide in The Kalish Method, which solves patient challenges with a proven lab based approach through the Kalish Institute’s educational programs.
In May 2016, a research study published by two Mayo Clinic researchers confirmed the efficacy of The Kalish Method showing significant improvements in GI health, and quality of life in the study participants. The study was based on Dr. Kalish’s model of Functional Medicine based on 25 years of successful clinical results. Graduates of The Kalish Institute include practitioners ranging from Dr. Mercola’s medical staff, to Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic physicians.