September 15, 2026
The gastrointestinal tract is connected to far more than digestion. The intestinal barrier, microbiome, liver, immune system, lymphatic system, and nervous system all interact, making gut health an important part of understanding whole-body function.
In this Zelenko Memorial Grand Rounds, Wendy McPhail Lynch, Functional Health Consultant and Advanced Level Colon Hydrotherapist, draws from 23 years of clinical experience and her own complex health journey to share her functional approach to gut health. She explores what may happen when elimination is impaired, how microbial byproducts can interact with the body, and why she believes restoring bowel function deserves greater attention when addressing chronic health concerns.
Wendy begins by examining lipopolysaccharides, or LPS, components associated with certain bacteria that can contribute to inflammatory signaling when they enter circulation.
She discusses this in the context of gut dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, bacterial and fungal overgrowth, and what can occur when the body is dealing with a high microbial burden.
The presentation explores secretory IgA (SIgA), an antibody that plays an important role in mucosal immune defense. Wendy discusses how SIgA levels may be considered alongside other findings when evaluating what is happening within the gastrointestinal environment.
She uses this framework to illustrate why persistent gut problems can involve more than a single food, organism, or symptom and why she favors looking at the broader clinical picture.
A central theme of Wendy’s presentation is the importance of bowel transit and regular elimination. She describes how prolonged stool transit may alter the environment within the colon and discusses her perspective on how this may contribute to fermentation, microbial imbalance, and recirculation of compounds intended for elimination.
Rather than continually adding new interventions, she encourages practitioners and patients to consider whether the body is effectively eliminating what it no longer needs.
Wendy also explores the anatomical relationship between the gastrointestinal tract and liver through the portal circulation.
She discusses enterohepatic circulation, the process through which substances travel between the liver and intestines, and explains why bowel function and bile flow are important considerations within her approach to gut and metabolic health.
The colon does not function in isolation. Wendy reviews its relationship with circulation, lymphatic drainage, and the nervous system, including the two-way communication between the gut and brain through the vagus nerve.
These connections provide a broader framework for understanding why gastrointestinal health may be considered alongside immune, metabolic, and neurological function.
Drawing from thousands of clinical sessions, Wendy explains how she incorporates colon hydrotherapy as an adjunctive, rather than stand-alone, approach within her practice.
She describes the procedure, discusses bowel function during periods of increased microbial die-off or other interventions, and shares observations from her clinical experience. She also addresses questions about the microbiome and her view that colon hydrotherapy should be one component of a broader strategy rather than a substitute for nutrition, clinical evaluation, or individualized care.
Wendy closes by sharing the different pieces she believes contributed to her own recovery, including changes in diet, attention to bowel function, nutritional and microbial support, genetic considerations, and ozone therapies.
Her larger message is to look beyond isolated symptoms and consider how gut function, elimination, microbial balance, nutrition, and individual health history may interact when approaching complex health concerns.
