St. George, Utah · Functional Medicine & Acupuncture

Your Gut Is the Root of Everything
And It Can Be Healed

Leaky gut and chronic digestive issues don't just cause stomach problems — they drive autoimmune disease, hormone imbalances, brain fog, and chronic pain. Dr. Lane finds the source and heals it.

12+ Years Clinical Experience Functional Medicine & Acupuncture St. George, Utah Free Initial Consultation

Signs Your Gut Is Driving Your Symptoms

These symptoms can seem completely unrelated — but they are often connected by a single root cause: a compromised gut lining and imbalanced gut microbiome.

Bloating & gas
Diarrhea or constipation
Abdominal pain & cramping
Food sensitivities
Brain fog & poor focus
Chronic fatigue
Skin rashes or eczema
Joint pain & inflammation
Autoimmune flares
Mood disorders & anxiety
Nutrient deficiencies
Unexplained weight changes

How Leaky Gut Connects to Everything Else

The gut houses 70% of your immune system, produces 90% of your serotonin, and directly regulates inflammation throughout the body. When it breaks down, everything is affected.

Autoimmune Disease

Foreign particles entering the bloodstream trigger immune responses that cause the immune system to attack the body's own tissues — the mechanism behind Hashimoto's, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Hormone Imbalance

The gut microbiome regulates estrogen through the estrobolome. Dysbiosis causes estrogen to recirculate rather than be excreted, contributing to PCOS, endometriosis, and perimenopause symptoms.

Brain Fog & Mental Health

Gut inflammation elevates inflammatory cytokines that cross the blood-brain barrier, causing depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment through the gut-brain axis.

Thyroid Dysfunction

Gut inflammation impairs thyroid hormone conversion from T4 to active T3. A compromised gut microbiome is a major driver of both hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's.

Chronic Pain

Systemic inflammation from leaky gut can manifest as joint pain, fibromyalgia, headaches, and widespread musculoskeletal discomfort that doesn't respond to conventional treatment.

Skin Conditions

Eczema, psoriasis, acne, and rosacea frequently improve significantly when gut health is restored — because their root cause is internal inflammation, not just a surface problem.

The 5R Protocol — How We Heal Your Gut

Functional medicine uses a systematic, evidence-based framework to restore gut health from the inside out.

R1

Remove

Eliminate inflammatory foods, pathogens, parasites, and environmental triggers identified through comprehensive testing.

R2

Replace

Restore digestive enzymes, stomach acid, and bile acids needed for proper digestion and nutrient absorption.

R3

Reinoculate

Repopulate the gut with beneficial bacteria through targeted probiotics and prebiotic foods specific to your microbiome.

R4

Repair

Heal the intestinal lining with targeted nutrients — L-glutamine, zinc, collagen, and anti-inflammatory herbs.

R5

Rebalance

Address lifestyle factors — stress, sleep, and movement — that maintain long-term gut health and prevent recurrence.

Before coming to see Dr. Lane, I was diagnosed with collagenous colitis as a result of my autoimmune disorder. I did not want to rely on drugs to treat my symptoms. It took a while, but I started to feel better. Dr. Justin Lane is excellent at what he does and works very hard to pinpoint what is causing symptoms and explains everything in detail.
— Carol M., Patient at Elemental Natural Medicine

Meet Dr. Justin Lane

Over 12 years of clinical experience using functional medicine to resolve complex gut and autoimmune conditions naturally.

Dr. Justin Lane DACM — gut health specialist St. George Utah

Dr. Justin Lane

DACM · L.Ac. · Dipl. OM · NCCAOM Certified

Dr. Lane holds a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and has helped thousands of patients resolve digestive disorders, autoimmune conditions, and chronic illness by addressing gut health at its root. He uses comprehensive stool analysis, intestinal permeability testing, and food sensitivity panels to build a clear picture of what's driving each patient's symptoms — then designs a personalized protocol to fix it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Leaky gut occurs when the tight junctions of the intestinal lining break down, allowing bacteria, toxins, and undigested food particles to enter the bloodstream — triggering chronic immune activation and systemic inflammation that can drive autoimmune disease, hormonal imbalance, and chronic conditions.
Approximately 70% of the immune system resides in the gut. When the intestinal lining is compromised, foreign particles enter the bloodstream and trigger immune responses that can lead to molecular mimicry — where the immune system begins attacking the body's own tissues, as seen in Hashimoto's and rheumatoid arthritis.
Functional medicine uses comprehensive stool testing (GI-MAP or similar), zonulin levels (a direct marker of intestinal permeability), organic acids testing, and food sensitivity panels — going far beyond standard gastroenterology testing.
Yes. The gut lining is one of the most regenerative tissues in the body. With the right protocol — removing inflammatory triggers, restoring beneficial bacteria, repairing the gut lining, and addressing root causes — significant healing is achievable using our 5R Protocol.
Dr. Justin Lane at Elemental Natural Medicine, 285 W Tabernacle St Suite 202, St. George, UT 84770. Call (435) 246-7642 or book a free consultation at elementalnaturalmedicine.com.

Heal Your Gut. Heal Everything.

Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Lane to discover how your gut health may be driving your chronic symptoms — and what to do about it.

Book Your Free Consultation Or call us: (435) 246-7642

285 W Tabernacle St Suite 202 · St. George, UT 84770