Digestive system

The digestive system breaks down food into nutrients, ensuring energy and essential molecules are available for growth and repair. It consists of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, and accessory organs, all coordinating digestion, absorption, and waste elimination. This system also defends against ingested pathogens through gastrointestinal immunity. Gastrointestinal conditions include reflux, ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, or gallstones, all of which can significantly impact overall health and wellbeing. The digestive tract illustrates the remarkable balance between mechanical processes, chemical breakdown, and most importantly microbial contributions, which have especially captured the interest of recent clinical research, demonstrating the monumental impact of the gut microbiota on human health.

Explore our digestive system articles to learn of the signs, symptoms, risk factors, and disease mechanisms of digestive conditions, as well as herbal and holistic approaches to treatments.