[bloopernova]

I am not going to try to debate "gwn7".

Please do your own research while seeing a Gastroenterologist or registered Dietitian. Specifically a specialist you are referred to from your primary care doctor. Do not go looking for a Naturopath or GAPS practitioner!

Please also do look into blogs that have debunked the people mentioned in that comment.

Please, please, please do not blindly follow the advice given by the comment by "gwn7".

Some discussions that I feel you might find informative:

https://medium.com/@ZDoggMD/naturopathy-is-99-9-bull-hit-but...

https://badsciencedebunked.com/2015/09/10/trick-or-tweet-dr-...

https://angry-chef.com/blog/want-to-see-something-really-sca...

https://www.naturopathicdiaries.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Mercola

https://www.theringer.com/2017/1/5/16041098/dr-joseph-mercol...

https://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/mercola.html

https://owndoc.com/diet/gaps-scam/

I wish you luck in finding the correct medical treatments for your daughters' conditions.

[seagoat]

It's very surprising how much diet affects health. Very few members of the medical community have much knowledge of nutrition and a lot of the medical journal information is flat out misleading.

For example, I've had two bowel resections (first at age 12) and have been living with Crohn's and Colitis for over 20 years. Without those resources you've listed, I'd be stuck on monthly cyanocobalamin injections due to a terminal ileum resection. With those resources advice, I tried methylcobalamin and was able to absorb B12 orally. One less monthly injection for me.

I've also discovered a link between copper and angular cheilitis and many others. Most medical journals will point you in the direction of pharmaceuticals, which definitely have their place but also don't always work. I've been on many strong immunosuppressive medications most of my life and they do work.

[gwn7]

Your points are fair. I just want to say that I'm completely aware of these criticisms on naturopathy, gaps, and Joe Mercola in particular.

And I can agree with the argument that many who identify themselves as "alternative practitioners" are scammers or just ignorant.

But.

1. Just because there are scammers among naturopaths or gaps practitioners it doesn't mean that those practices are completely worthless. A "real" naturopath's or gaps practitioner's approach to chronic disease can be immensely helpful, arguably much more than an ordinary hospital doctor.

2. If you don't trust naturopaths or gaps practitioners that's completely fine because the concerns you raised are fair. That's why I recommended a "functional medicine practitioner" before them, so check that out.

3. Mainstream medicine has its own share of problems, which in turn pushes people like me to naturopaths and gaps practitioners because they were the ones that helped me greatly. (the right ones) Mainstream medicine especially fails in diagnosing and curing chronic diseases, like food allergies.

Alternative medicine is in dangerous waters; while I argue that it has great value, one should be armed with proper knowledge in order to tell right from wrong, scammers from real practitioners, thus get the benefit.

If you are in doubt, check out "functional medicine" which was the first thing I mentioned. It is an approach that combines the good parts of both mainstream and alternative medicine as far as I understand.