Like most of my colleagues, I feel that the state of a
person's colon is an indication of their overall health. It stands to reason,
therefore, that many people, before they actually become seriously sick,
initially experience problems in their bowels. The problem may manifest itself
at first in subtle ways - a little gas, occasional constipation, the odd feeling
that one's food is just sitting there - but these are warning signals, and
should be taken seriously as an indication that some changes need to be made.
In 1972 or so, the most commonly prescribed medication was
valium. Now, prescriptions for digestive problems far outnumber it, and the
commonest complaint of all is Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Once relatively
rare, IBS now affects 20 to 30% of Americans.
The strangest thing about IBS is that there are no actual
pathological, or tissue, changes that confirm its presence, therefore it is more
a case of first eliminating other diseases that resemble it. When a person
suffers from IBS, the normally regular and rhythmic movements of the colon
become spasmodic and uncoordinated, slowing down the passage of waste matter,
sometimes causing actual blockages, and always resulting in bloating and
distention of the abdomen. The slower transit time of wastes leads to toxins
being reabsorbed and recirculated, which can often cause accompanying
inflammatory problems, such as lower back pain and other joint flare-ups. The
sufferer actually fears to eat, because the consequences can be so immediate and
so unpleasant.
A small percentage of people with this disorder would be
advised to check and see whether they are infected with a protozoan called Blastocystis
Hominis. This nasty critter can be ingested with contaminated food and
water, and causes symptoms identical to IBS, i.e. cramps, vomiting, gas,
weight loss and nausea. It appears to be an opportunistic beastie, perhaps
able only to wreak maximum havoc in the absence of friendly bowel bacteria.
Otherwise, the causes of this disorder appear to be, either
all together, separately, or in any combination:
poor diet, lack of fiber
Candida overgrowth/ bacterial imbalance
deficiency of certain nutrients, (e.g. folic
acid, essential fatty acids, digestive enzymes)
Possibly an intolerance to Fructose may be
involved
poor combinations of foods (e.g. protein,
starch and sugar together, as in cheesecake)
stress, probably an underestimated cause - see
my article at right, and the book The Second Brain
and possibly bacteria and/or viruses
One three year study showed (surprise!) that
over-consumption of sugar (more than 55 grams per day) and
frequent eating at fast food restaurants play
a part in this disease.
These causes make it the most common bowel complaint of the
modern age. An interesting study recently found that people who had been
abused as children were at high risk for this problem.
This provides further proof of the presence of
neurotransmitters in the colon! I recommend a very interesting book called
"The Second Brain" which details the overwhelming scientific
evidence for a second independent nervous system in the gut. (See RESOURCES) Those of you who read our newsletters and articles regularly may
remember that I have made passing reference to this theory on a few occasions,
but now: it is no longer a theory but a proven and generally accepted fact not
only that there are neurotransmitters in the digestive tract, but that the
system is ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT of the brain! Why am I interpolating this
here? Because the main neurotransmitter of this independent system turns
out to be Serotonin. I am now recommending 5HTP
to many of my clients with IBS, and other bowel problems, and they are
experiencing truly phenomenal results. Try it!
Obviously there is an intimate connection between stress, its
effect on the enteric nervous system of the bowel, and consequent serotonin
deficiency.
If further proof of the connection between IBS and the nervous
system were needed, the recent success (up to a 70% improvement rate) of
treating IBS with hypnosis would provide it. In this therapy, patients are
counseled to view their digestive system as a river, and given instruction on
how to envisage it as flowing smoothly. For more on the study, check RESOURCES.
Might
it be Celiac Disease? http://celiac.com/
It is apparent that the first two of the reasons listed above
are closely related: if one is not eating properly, one will not get the
nutrients one needs. I normally recommend for the sufferer a two to three day
cleansing fast, usually accompanied by an antihelmitic combination, just in case
parasites are a factor. Renewlife's CleanseSmart and Paragone
are excellent for this. I follow with a careful elimination/rotation diet
to identify any possible allergens. (See RESOURCES)
I strongly advocate the
use of fresh juices, particularly a carrot/ apple combination, with a
little celery and fresh ginger. Plenty of steamed, rather than raw,
vegetables are helpful, and fish should be added to the diet regularly.
During a flare-up, even steamed vegetables may be a problem: consider
sieving them, and approach with caution.
I suggest plain yogurt
or kefir (see RESOURCES) on a daily basis (as well as acidophilus capsules) flavored
with a little vanilla and/or maple syrup, and the eating of nourishing
homemade vegetable and potato soups. I ask sufferers to avoid refined
carbohydrates and prepackaged convenience foods. Drinking of pops and caffeine
is not recommended, but 6 to 8 glasses of pure water daily is essential. A
strategy some of my clients have found useful is to put a little herbal bitters
or a little lemon juice in their premeasured amount of daily water .
I usually recommend a digestive enzyme, too, since
problems in the bowel may start in the stomach. There is quite a bit of evidence
that pancreatic insufficiency is a factor in this disease, and many of my
clients benefit from adding pancreatic
enzymes to their regimen. Often, Candidiasis plays a role
and I frequently send off for testing to check that possibility. (See Below and
RESOURCES for test kit) . We recommend cautiously adding fiber to the diet
not only by improving it, but by using a source of pure fiber as a supplement,
checking to make sure it contains no sugars. Ground flax seed is an
excellent choice.
The combination of allergy avoidance, pancreatin, acidophilus
and fiber, together with a Renewlife's Intestinew to encourage healing in
the intestines has a very high success rate. You
will find an interesting bit of reporting on Fructose intolerance in the
RESOURCES at right - a suggestion that many sufferers from IBS may
be sensitive to fructose.
Lactose intolerance is well researched, and
widely recognized. What is less well-known is that it often forms part of a
triumvirate: wheat, corn and dairy. Fructose generally
comes from - what else? CORN!
Fish
Liver Oil is also an important
supplement for this problem: a source of Omega 3s, it is known to
help repair the bowel. About the only positive fact about
IBS is that the cells in the bowel are among the fastest reproducing in the
body, and once healing has started it is possible to stimulate their
reproduction and achieve a much healthier bowel. Consider also a predigested
Fish Protein supplement, such as SeaCure: a study performed by Dr.
Carol Englender, M.D., found considerable benefit in an outcome-based study,
where 12 of 13 participants found the supplement effective at mediating IBS
symptoms after 60 days.
The other supplements we emphasize for this problem are: Enzymes
(both between meals to fight the inflammation, and with meals to help
digestion), high potency B vitamins to help the nerves, with chamomile
and Kava Kava, N-Acetyl-Glucosamine, Zinc, Essential Fatty
Acids, Buffered Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Liquid Chlorophyll, and a good Green
Food with Chlorella. A study in Europe found that enteric coated (so they do
not release in the stomach) capsules of peppermint oil were a safe and
effective method of inhibiting internal spasms and controlling gas. Acidophilus
capsules are essential. There are also a number of herbal teas that relieve the
discomfort - look for teas containing peppermint, chamomile, and fennel.
Saccharomyces Boulardii is a little known but
helpful adjunct for bowel problems, and gastro-intestinal problems
generally, since it not only appears to have effect against bad bacteria, but
also helps defend against bacterial infections. I have seen good results
against colon irritation resulting from clostridium difficile, a nasty
organism very hard to defeat, and also recommend its use if antibiotics have
caused diarrhea.
Another study, from Penn State, finds both that animals
suffering from Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis were deficient in Vitamin
D, and that adding Vitamin D to their diet improved their conditions.
(Reported at the Experimental Biology 2000 conference) See RESOURCES
at right for another approach to Crohn's disease.
A 2001 study
published in Phytother. Res., (15:58-61) reviewed results for
Artichoke Extract with dyspeptic individuals, and found that in a
sub-group of patients who also suffered from IBS, 96% reported
better results using the Artichoke extract than any previous
therapy they had used for IBS.
A November 1998 study published in the Journal of the
American Medical Association found a Traditional Chinese Medical remedy
to be very effective in treating this problem. This was a double-blind, placebo
controlled trial that found TCM effective. The name of the product in question
is Intestinal Bowel Soother, by Renewlife, and you can find it in RESOURCES.
An Ayurvedic remedy called Boswellia
Serrata has also been shown to be effective for ulcerative colitis: in
one study, sufferers were given 550mg of the herb or a drug three times daily
for 6 weeks, and approximately 82% of the patients on the herb and 75% of those
on the drug went in to remission. Interestingly, a recent study of patients
suffering from Crohn's disease, a related inflammatory disorder of the digestive
tract, found that after twelve weeks of low intensity exercise there was
definite improvement of both their physical and psychological symptoms.
Certainly there are gentle Yoga exercises which are designed to improve
digestion and elimination, so exercise would also be a beneficial lifestyle
change. (Am. J of Gastroenterology, quoted in Better Nutrition June 1999)
This is a deep-seated and painful condition, and one that it
is not easy to correct because of the many contributing factors. However, if a
sufferer is prepared to go to some effort to correct their diet and lifestyle,
success is possible and with success comes not only victory over the IBS but
also an overall improvement in health, as nutritional status always improves
with better digestion and elimination.
Common Virus Linked With Severe Bowel Disease
A common virus may be the cause of many hard-to-treat cases
of inflammatory bowel disease, researchers in Italy report. More than one
third of patients in a new study who had colitis that did not respond to
steroids were infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV), the investigators
found.
A form of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative
colitis causes the large intestine to become inflamed and ulcerated, leading
to bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Colitis can also occur in
patients with Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammation of the intestinal
wall.
More than half of the population is infected with CMV, a type of
herpes virus. The virus rarely causes problems in adults with healthy immune
systems, although it can cause symptoms in people with weakened immune
systems, such as those infected with HIV--the virus that causes AIDS.
Just to give an idea of how seriously an allergy can affect
the bowel, there is a link an article from Dr. Mercola's web site, www.mercola.com
, in my RESOURCES which lays it out
for you!
Eating
Wheat Can Double Risk of Death
Celiac disease, a form of wheat allergy, doubles your risk of death.
The risks are particularly severe if you are diagnosed late in the
disease or do not adhere to a strict diet free of gluten, a protein
found in wheat and other grains.
Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue or 'gluten intolerance'
is a genetic disorder that causes bowel disorders, diarrhea or
weight loss because of an insensitivity to gluten. It affects
approximately one in 30 people. Patients often develop cancers of
the intestines, which is thought to lead to a higher death rate.
Among 1,072 patients diagnosed with celiac disease in Italy from
1962 to 1994, researchers found 53 deaths, compared with an expected
26 deaths in the general population. The leading cause of death was
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Relatives of patients with celiac disease did not have a higher than
average risk of death, nor did patients who lived three years
following diagnosis.
According to the authors, "Prompt and strict dietary treatment
decreases mortality in celiac patients."
The Lancet, August 4, 2001; 358:
356-361
DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: (www.mercola.com
)
"Leave it to the Italians to find yet another complication of
wheat ingestion - an increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Wheat has already been associated with: Infertility
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Heart Disease
Developmental Delay in Children
Most all of us do not benefit from eating wheat - yes even whole
wheat. I know this is hard to hear for many of you.
But just remember, I was once fooled enough so that when I was in
medical school nearly 25 years ago my nickname was "Dr.
Fiber", as I was always preaching the benefits of whole grains.
Little did I know that wheat, and nearly all other grains, rapidly
convert to sugar and rapidly accelerate aging and chronic illness in
most, although certainly not all of us.
Unless you are seriously underweight, most of us would best be
served by limiting or avoiding wheat altogether. I was well over 40
years old before I realized this kernel of truth and I probably
chopped a good 20 years off the end of the limit of my life span by
not applying it earlier.
Hopefully, many of you will realize this truth and apply this
challenging discipline so you will reap the fruits of a good and
long healthy life for you and your family."
Lastly, a note of caution: nuts and
seeds can be really dangerous in any case of advanced colon irritation.
You would be wise to avoid them completely until you feel you are no
longer at risk.
YOU MAY SUSPECT, BUT DO YOU KNOW? There is a simple test that can be done to determine whether you have
a Parasite or Candida problem: we have the kits here. The cost of
the kit is $15.96 plus shipping, and you then send a stool sample off to the
lab. You are personally responsible for the lab fee of $80.00.
The results are sent directly to the Health Care Provider you select. Order
the UroKeep
Test Kit for Candidiasis and parasites:
Keywords: irritable
bowel health overall, causes irritable bowel, natural help ibs,
enzymes help ibs, cleansing irritable bowel, probiotics ibs, colon
flora ibs, the vitamin lady writes about natural help for ibs
More
information about the role of gluten in inflammatory disorders - http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-09/sumc-srf092402.php
The
connection between gut imbalance, asthma and allergies - http://my.webmd.com/content/article/98/104957.htm
How
hypnotherapy can help with IBS - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3341093.stm
Study
suggests IBS may be linked to fructose intolerance.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-10/acog-dmp100703.php
More
Information about Blastocystis
Hominis - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/blastocystishominis/factsht_blastocystis_hominis.htm
Interpreting
the
appearance
of your stool - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8270/8528/189142.html?d=dmtContent#stool
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