The GAPS Diet as outlined in the bestselling book by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD is one of the most effective ways to heal and seal the gut wall in order to reverse a variety of autoimmune conditions. It is based on the 100-year-old, science-backed Specific Carbohydrate Diet.
Conditions resolved by GAPS include eczema, psoriasis, ADD/ADHD, autism, Celiac disease, allergies, asthma, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, diabetes, cancer, and the list goes on. This book is a must-read for those who suffer from any sort of autoimmune disease, mild or severe.
Dr. Campbell-McBride says that, on average, it takes a child 6-18 months on the GAPS diet for the gut to heal, while an adult may take longer possibly up to three years.
While the good news is that the GAPS Diet is only a temporary diet to heal the gut, the bad news is that the diet is highly restrictive with the elimination of many foods that cannot be consumed until symptoms of autoimmune illness have completely subsided and the gut is sufficiently healed. These foods include:
- All grains and any food that contains them. This includes wheat, rye, rice, corn, oats, amaranth, Kamut, spelt, barley, millet, buckwheat, teff, triticale, bulgur, tapioca, quinoa, and any others.
- Starchy vegetables like white and sweet potatoes, parsnip, arrowroot, cassava, and taro. Even those that contain beneficial resistant starch must be avoided temporarily.
- Regular and soaked beans and legumes must also be avoided which includes pretty much all of them with the exception of green peas and navy beans.
- All sugars including the lactose in milk and cream must be avoided. Honey and very ripe fruit would be the only sweets allowed. Fermented dairy like yogurt and kefir as well as butter and store-bought or homemade ghee are permitted unless the GAPS condition is severe.
While many folks desperately want to heal their autoimmune illness using GAPS, the restrictive nature of the diet is off-putting, to say the least even if it must only be followed temporarily.
As a result, giving people the means to heal as quickly as possible while on GAPS is very important so that the diet can be used for as short a time as possible.
If you are already on GAPS or considering using it to put your autoimmune disease behind you for good, here are four techniques suggested by the clinic Biodynamic Wellness in San Diego to facilitate rapid healing. Â If using these methods reduces your time on GAPS by even 6 months, it will no doubt be well worth the effort!
Methods to Supercharge Gut Healing While on GAPS
Castor Oil Packs
The castor bean (Oleum ricini) is known principally for its laxative effects. A pack placed over the abdomen, usually with heat applied, allows the oil to be absorbed into the lymphatic circulation to provide a soothing, cleansing, and nutritive treatment.
The castor oil pack works well to speed the healing of many disorders specifically those involving the digestive system. It is not to be used during pregnancy, heavy menstrual flow or the presence of internal bleeding. This article contains detailed instructions on how to prepare and use a castor oil pack to speed healing and shorten your GAPS journey.
Okra Pepsin E3
Okra Pepsin E3 is a supplement that supports intestinal mucosal tissue, bowel function, and cleansing. Agricultural experts call okra a “powerhouse of nutrients” with much of its nutritive value found in soluble fiber gums and pectins which greatly promote gastrointestinal health. This supplement is particularly helpful for alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation which plague many people suffering from autoimmune illness.
Okra Pepsin E3 also promotes phagocytosis, the biological process which removes debris and harmful microorganisms from the body. Â In addition, immune function is stimulated and the mucilage from the okra coats and provides intestinal lubrication that acts as a cooling agent, easing gastrointestinal discomfort.
Fecal Transplants
This new technique which has gained popularity over the past few years has been clinically shown to be safe and 100% effective and is nothing short of astounding in helping children and adults regain normal digestive function very rapidly.
The effects of a clinic or DIY fecal transplant cannot be replicated with any other technique. It can best be described as “probiotic treatment on steroids”.  Some holistic doctors around the country are quietly performing the procedure for their patients, but the good news is that people can easily do it safely at home with a $10 enema bag. No insurance companies to haggle with and no expense/travel long distances to find a doctor who will do it for you.
Just be sure to select a healthy donor. According to Biodynamic Wellness, exclusively breastfed, vaginally delivered babies from Moms who follow the principles of Traditional Diet would be ideal donors along with an older sibling or adult with the same background.
Drainage Remedies
Drainage remedies like those from UNDA, Heel, Pekana, and Guna are also extremely helpful (and easy to administer) in healing the mucosal lining of the gut and respiratory tracts.
You can locate a classical homeopath in your area to prepare these remedies for you, or alternatively, you can contact Biodynamic Wellness who can make them for you as needed without the need for a long or expensive consultation. A brief health history including age, weight and gut condition over the phone (takes about 2 minutes) is necessary to prepare the remedies appropriately. This helps determine the ideal dosage.
These remedies can also be found online but it might be difficult to determine proper dosages.
More Information on the GAPS Diet
GAPS or Autoimmune Paleo for Healing the Gut
GAPS Diet: Heal Your Autoimmune Disease Now
Overwhelmed by the GAPS Diet? Â Help Has Arrived
The Five Most Common GAPS Diet Mistakes
GAPS Diet Heals Ulcerative Colitis
Hannah’s Story: 2 Years on GAPS Diet Heals Autism
Chronic Stomach Pain and Bloating Gone!
Berberine and then olive leaf were what allowed me to ditch the gaps diet which was a good thing because while it helps the gut systems it tanks the adrenals because it is too low carb. Berberine in days allowed me to go from diarrhea to perfectly formed stool eating just about anything. It is a mucus membrane alternative or tonic. It is adaptagenic on mucus membranes normalizing immunity immunoglobulins and immune cell function and mucus secretion. It comes from herbs like goldenseal and others. I used herbs and berberine extract. Had to start with 1/3 cap and work up to avoid severe die off. Almost two years later I’m doing well on perfect health diet which I highly recommend.
Hi – I’m not sure if this goes to Lisa Truitt or not, but if so–Lisa, did you go to LAHS many years ago also? I knew a girl with your name back then. Your message is very interesting, as I have one son with serious gut problems whom I’ve been trying to heal for a long time. He’s on full GAPS and I’m gathering the energy to go to Stage 1 (he’s 15 and 5’10” and I need to pack him school snacks/lunch, so it’s challenging), plus no fruit for 4 weeks, per our local GAPS nutritionist. So I’d love to solve this with Berberine. What is the dosage you used, please? I haven’t tried it yet for him. Also, he and I both take olive leaf extract, just one cap a day, not sure if it’s enough. Do you know the dosage for what worked for you for that one too? Also, I’d appreciate details about the other herbs you used, please (goldenseal?). Thank you so much,
Cate (a.k.a. “Katie Read” back at LAHS)
Cate,
Did you receive a reply?
Hi Cate
I thought i’d reply as I’ve also been told by my naturopath to take Berberine. He had me start out with one 500mg capsule of the thorne research berberine in the am with food and another in the evening with food as well. He had me increase this up to four capsules twice a day. For a 15 year old, I’d probably only go up to 2 twice a day myself. It’s worked wonders though so I thought I’d share. Gaps is rough for a growing body! Carbs are a bit hard to come by and anything that can shorten it will be a boon.
Hey Sarah,
I’ve been on the GAPS diet for over a year now; but I made a few mistakes and so I consider this past January to be when I was “officially” on the diet. I take the probiotics, I drink the broth and I’m eating cultured foods all daily; yet I’m having two issues that makes me feel like I’m going to be on GAPS forever.
Though I eat nothing but beef, sauerkraut (made from a blend of vegetables), raw goat yogurt and OCCASIONALLY a glass of fermented soda (mostly ones that I make myself from a bug or kefir water; but SOMETIMES Dr. D’s probiotic soda; and I’ll only have one in a day and I tend to go a few weeks without any) somehow, my white tongue (Candida) seems to keep coming back once in a while. It’s not as bad as before and it goes away, but it’s not after I eat anything in particular though. For example, I could eat nothing but beef, sauerkraut and yogurt all week and it’ll just come out of nowhere; it’ll often go away quickly which is good. I also discovered marshmallow root, slippery elm bark and chicken ALL bring the Candida back (even organic chicken) so I had to cut out all of those including chicken out of my diet (I did it last January, hence my “do over”). I think it’s mostly the way chicken is raised and not so much chicken itself.
This leads me to my second issue. I’m thinking part of my first problem is because I’m not ingesting enough animal fats. I’m sooo trying to increase my animal fats, but my doctor says I’m allergic to eggs (even duck eggs) and other than my homemade raw goat yogurt, she doesn’t want me eating dairy. I JUST found out that ghee seems to agree with me, so that is a victory, YAY! It’s impossible (as I’m sure you’ll know without even checking online) to find unsweetened 100% grass fed organic beef bacon which I would eat almost daily if I could find it. Lamb is just expensive, but if I could find organic grass fed lamb I’ll buy it! I just started buying sockeye salmon which is awesome because now I have something other than beef to eat. But that’s it! I’m thinking maybe I could eat white fish? As long as it’s not farm raised and fed corn and garbage, I think I’ll do okay with fish like I did with the sockeye salmon.
Please help Sarah! I love that I feel better on GAPS, but I’m ready to move on already! It’s been four months that I’ve been on the final stages on introductory GAPS. I feel fine, my doctor says that I’m doing GREAT, but she said that I tested positive for another Candida overgrowth last week. What am I doing wrong?
CC Elms
have you looked into incorporating saccharomyces boulardii? I found it really helpful!
CC Elms, thanks for your comment. I too think I have candida and only doing the “Full” GAPS as I’m nursing. So chicken might contribute to candida, huh? I have psorasis on my hand and whenever I pull the meat off the chicken, it burns my hand but I assumed it’s because of the butter or skin just inflamed. So for broth, do you drink only beef broth instead of chicken broth? Do you have a good website that makes good beef broth especially one that gels? Have you learn anything else that contributes to candida? I’m taking the saccharomyces boulardii like the guy responded. Has that helped you? Thanks!
Hi CC Elms,
Your comment was posted months ago and I have no idea if you will get this reply. Have you ever looked into heavy metal toxicity and its relationship to Candida? You should look it up if you still haven’t found any answers. Good luck!
Lauren Marie thought this might interest you
great article, learned alot, thanks!
Tracy Irwin thought of your mom
Yes, he was/is on a magnesium supplement and we did/do juice. We will keep working on it.
Christina have heard great things about the gaps diet getting rid of execma and other ailments. Love you
We started December 2013, and ADHD issues were fixed within days. Digestive issues are starting to straighten out, and we’re waiting until the throes of allergy season for the final verdict. My vote is zero allergies, based on the progress we’ve seen so far!
It is so hard to find a DR. Who does UNDA or any seroyal products.
Fecal transplant…..