Start Here: Your Guide to Understanding & Reversing Crohn's and Colitis
If you're living with Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis, or unexplained chronic gut symptoms, you're in the right place. This IBD Resource Library is designed to help you understand why your symptoms are happening and what can be done to restore long-term stability—without guesswork, fear, or confusion.
The information here is based on clinical experience with hundreds of IBD clients, functional lab testing, immune system mapping, microbial analysis, bile acid physiology, mitochondrial research, and environmental health science. This is the foundation of my Gut 911 Method™: a structured, root-cause approach designed to rebuild gut function step-by-step.
This page will guide you through everything in the library, in the order that makes the most sense for healing.
What IBD Really Is (Big Picture)
Crohn's and Colitis are not random diseases. They are patterns of immune activation, barrier injury, bile acid disruption, microbial imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and- in many cases - environmental triggers such as mold or chronic stress.
Despite what many people are told, IBD is not your body attacking itself "for no reason." Every flare, every symptom, every pattern is driven by a predictable biological mechanism.
Understanding those mechanisms is the first step toward restoring stability.
Start With the Symptoms & Root Causes
Before diving into treatment options, begin with: 👉 IBD Symptoms & Causes
This page explains how common symptoms—diarrhea, urgency, abdominal pain, bleeding, bloating, fatigue, joint pain—connect to deeper patterns like:
Immune Patterns
TH1, TH2, and TH17 immune dominance
Low regulatory T-cell function
TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23 elevation
Microbial Issues
SIBO or fungal overgrowth
Mold-triggered TLR4 activation
Vagal shutdown due to stress or trauma
Digestive Disruption
Bile acid malabsorption
Histamine overload / mast cell activation
Microbiome collapse
Cellular Function
Mitochondrial dysfunction
Nutrient malabsorption (B12, folate, iron, zinc)
Understanding the pattern behind your symptoms is the foundation of everything else.
→ See the page: "IBD Symptoms & Causes"
Understand the Conditions This Covers
Next, explore the specific diagnoses and overlapping conditions that mimic or worsen IBD:
This includes:
Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
IBD-U
Bile Acid Malabsorption (BAM)
SIBO
Fungal Overgrowth
Histamine Intolerance
Mold-triggered gut inflammation
Chronic diarrhea
Chronic bloating
Post-antibiotic gut instability
Food intolerance & immune dysregulation
Many people diagnosed with IBS, "functional diarrhea," or "unexplained inflammation" are actually dealing with one of the above mechanisms.
→ See the page: "Conditions We Help"
Learn Which Tests Actually Matter
Most people with IBD are given basic bloodwork and a colonoscopy - but these do NOT tell you why you're flaring.
Real answers come from functional testing:
This includes:
Bile acid markers (BAM patterns)
sIgA, calprotectin
Histamine and DAO patterns
SIBO testing
Mitochondrial and detox markers
These tests show the why behind immune activation and chronic symptoms.
→ See the page: "Lab Testing for IBD"
Understand Natural Treatment Strategies
Once you understand symptoms and testing, explore:
This page walks through targeted strategies for:
This is where the Gut Health Solution Methond comes in (Remove → Replenish → Rebuild → Repair → Rejuvenate).
→ See the page: "Natural Treatments"
If You Suspect Mold or Environmental Triggers
Many "mysterious" flare patterns are driven by mold exposure or environmental toxins.
This page explains:
how mycotoxins activate TLR4
how mold disrupts bile acids and microbiome function
how mold triggers histamine overload
how mold injures mitochondria and worsens diarrhea
how mold mimics or intensifies IBD flares
the tests that show mold-related inflammation
the detox steps that restore gut stability
→ See the page: "Mold & IBD"
Visit the FAQs for Quick Answers
If you want simple explanations for common questions:
👉 FAQs
Including:
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Many people can achieve long-term remission by correcting the biological imbalances that drive inflammation. IBD isn’t random, and flare-ups don’t happen “out of nowhere.” When we identify and fix the root causes, the body stabilizes.
Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis can enter deep, lasting remission when the underlying drivers are addressed. Most clients improve once we correct:Immune pathway imbalance (TH1/TH2/TH17 dominance, low Tregs)
Bile acid dysfunction (bile acid malabsorption, impaired flow)
Microbiome collapse (loss of keystone species, fungal overgrowth, SIBO)
Mold and mycotoxin toxicity (TLR4 activation, mitochondrial suppression)
Chronic histamine overload (mast-cell activation, impaired DAO function)
Nutrient deficiencies (zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, minerals)
Stress physiology & vagus nerve shutdown
IBD symptoms make sense when we address these mechanisms—and remission becomes achievable.
👉 Check out: Treatments and Conditions We Help
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Biologics only target one immune pathway, but most IBD cases involve multiple pathways. Over time, untreated pathways continue driving inflammation.
Biologics often stop working because Crohn’s and Colitis rarely involve a single immune mechanism. IBD typically includes:
TH1 dominance (deep tissue inflammation)
TH2 histamine activation
TH17 overexpression (auto-inflammatory cycles)
Regulatory T-cell suppression (loss of immune braking system)
A biologic may block TNF-α, IL-23, or IL-12, but if TH17, histamine pathways, or Treg suppression remain unaddressed, inflammation shifts to another lane.
This is why treating the entire immune pattern, not one cytokine, produces better long-term outcomes.
👉 Check out: Immune Pathways Blog/Page, Start Here Page
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Yes. Mold exposure and mycotoxins can trigger or worsen Crohn’s and Colitis by disrupting immune balance, damaging mitochondria, weakening the gut lining, and increasing inflammation.
Mold is one of the most overlooked root causes of IBD flares. Mycotoxins can:Activate TLR4 (a major inflammatory pathway tied to gut permeability)
Suppress Treg cells (raising auto-inflammatory activity)
Increase histamine and mast-cell activation
Damage mitochondria (slowing healing and repair)
Disrupt bile acids (triggering diarrhea and fat malabsorption)
Drive fungal overgrowth (Candida, Aspergillus-related symptoms)
For many clients, addressing mold toxicity is what finally stabilizes the gut.
Check out: Mold & IBD Page, and Testing & Labs Page
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There is no universal IBD diet. The best diet depends on immune dominance, bile acid status, histamine patterns, and microbial balance.
Choosing the right diet requires understanding your biology. Diet should be based on:Your Immune Pattern
TH1-dominant → lower lectins, avoid immune triggers
TH2/histamine-dominant → lower histamine diet
TH17 dominant → anti-inflammatory + polyphenol support
Your Bile Acid Status
Bile acid malabsorption → lower fat, bile acid binders, bile support
Low bile flow → bitters, TUDCA, phosphatidylcholine
Microbiome Patterns
Fungal overgrowth → lower sugar
SIBO → lower fermentable carbs
Dysbiosis → phase-specific prebiotics
General principles for IBD stability:
Simple whole foods
Low-inflammatory proteins
Easily digestible fruits/vegetables
Avoiding emulsifiers, seed oils, gums
Matching foods to digestive capacity
Diet works when it matches your physiology—not when it follows generic rules.
👉 Check out: Start Here Page, Natural Treatments Page
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The best supplements support bile flow, immune balance, mitochondria, and microbial repair—NOT just symptom relief.
Different people need different formulas, but the most clinically relevant categories for IBD include:
Immune Modulation
Treg support
Mast-cell stabilizers (quercetin, luteolin, perilla extract)
TH1/TH17 balancing nutrients (vitamin D, zinc, omega-3s)
Bile & Digestion
Bile acids (ox bile, TUDCA)
Digestive enzymes
Phosphatidylcholine
Microbiome Rebuilding
Spore probiotics (DE111, HU36/HU58)
Phage-based prebiotics (PreforPro)
Butyrate
Mitochondria & Repair
NAC
CoQ10
Electrolytes & trace minerals
Glutamine (only when fungal markers are low)
Mold detox (when relevant)
Binders (charcoal, clay, zeolite, chitosan)
Liver support
Supplements work best inside a structured, root-cause protocol—not randomly.
👉 Check out: Supplements Page, Testing & Labs Page
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The right tests reveal the root causes of inflammation—not just the damage from it.
To understand Crohn’s or Colitis at the root, functional testing is essential. The most informative tests include:
GI & Microbiome
GI-MAP (bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, sIgA, calprotectin)
Calprotectin (inflammation severity)
Secretory IgA (immune depletion or activation)
Metabolic & Mitochondria
Organic Acids Test (OAT)
fungal markers
mitochondrial status
detox pathways
oxalates
Mold & Toxins
Mycotoxin Panel
HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) for detox + mineral patterns
Bile & Digestion
Bile acid testing
Liver enzymes
Markers of fat malabsorption
Immune Patterns
Vitamin D
CRP
ESR
CBC with differential
Each test reveals missing pieces of the IBD puzzle—and together they map your treatment path.
👉 Check out: Testing & Labs Page, Natural Treatments Page, Start Here Page
→ See the page: "IBD FAQs"
If You Want Personalized Help
If you're looking for a structured, root-cause approach based on your symptoms and labs:
👉 Work With Josh (1:1 support, small group, or full protocol guidance available)