Alternative Medicine

[TheaT]

Has anyone had experiences for digestive problems by seeing a naturopathic doctor?

[TheaT]

Thank you for your great suggestions.  I will get a probiotic with bifidus and hopefully the store can tell me just how much to take at a time and how often.  I didn't realize that they could actually clear up IBS!  Now that would be wonderful!

[Paxiled]

Definitely whenever you take an antibiotic you need to replenish the good guys.  Again, the one most associated with digestive health is bifidus, so whatever one you buy needs to have that.  Healthy Trinity by Natren is the industry standard, but it's way overpriced.  How long to take it is unknown.  Theoretically, once they've reestablished residency on the walls of the intestinal tract you can't use any more of them, they'll just pass on through.  But if I had IBS diagnosed, I'd probably take it for a good long while, at least six months, especially given you were on antibiotics.  Of course, if the IBS disappears, that's a good sign you don't need it at least for awhile, but really, no good answer to this question.  

[TheaT]

Thank you again for your comments and suggestions.  When taking probiotics, do you take them for a certain amount of time and how does one know how much to take?  I have seen them in jars in the refrigerated section of health food stores.  Being I took an antibiotic in June or July, for almost 2 weeks, that could be part of my problem.  I need to get the good bacteria back!

[Paxiled]

DGL stands for deglycyrrhizinated licorice (don't quote me on spelling here).  It removes the part of licorice, long known for its antibiotic properties but also for repairing the colon lining, that can elevate blood pressure in susceptible individuals.  It's usually sold in chewed tablets, which is how I would take it.  The pharmaceutical products for IBS as well as for most digestive problems tend to work at first but then produce a rebound effect.  This is because the stomach must produce acid to digest protein, and so it just starts producing more and more as medication tries to decrease it as part of decreasing spasms or reflux or whatever.  The natural remedies don't do that, as they don't repress acid but instead work on the mucousal lining of the colon.  There are a host of natural remedies that help get digestion regularized.  I just mentioned a couple, but there's also cayenne, provided it doesn't bother you, slippery elm, and bifidus bacteria, the probiotic most important to proper digestion.  A naturopath, of course, can help you with the trial and error part and avoid those remedies which aren't appropriate for IBS.  For example, a good remedy for some digestive problems is peppermint oil enteric coated capsules, but for some things they aren't recommended.  A holistic nutritionist can also be of help because a lot of times food intolerances are the problem, particularly wheat and dairy but for some corn, soy, nuts, whatever -- we all have sensitivities particularly given the odd substances we drink, inhale, and ingest every day in a modern industrial society.  I won't go into detail on the above post -- Gymdandee likes to quote the encyclopedia on things (not literally the encyclopedia), but many things he recommends don't work well in practice for some individuals, so it's trial and error, and some of that stuff can actually make you feel worse if you don' know how and when to take it.  Circumin, for example, like cayenne, is a very hot herb, and while it's good for just about everything that ails a person, if you can't handle the heat because you don't know when to take it, it could be a problem (circumin is one active ingredient in the herb turmeric).  Vitamin C, similarly, can actually irritate some people, and it must be buffered and taken with meals.  Oregano oil is also very hot, and while it's quite good for fungal infections, if you don't have one, it won't do much for you.  That's why it's good to have a good old neighborhood herbalist or naturopath or nutritionist to consult, at least at first, so you can know if you get a bad reaction what's causing it.  And this Theralac stuff is just his favorite probiotic; it isn't better than others and probably worse than many.  They all have special encapsulations because they have to get past the stomach acid to the intestinal tract.  We all have our favorites.  Good luck.

[gymdandee]

Most people have heard of this growing problem one that can produce chronic inflammation,bowel spasms, cramping, gas and diarrhea. While medical science is still unsure about what causes the condition, we do know that it often develops after a severe intestinal infection, particularly one treated with antibiotics.While antibiotics are wonderful medical tools, when used indiscriminately, they can easily cause more harm than good because they kill the good intestinal bacteria along with the bad. There is growing evidence that the loss of these good guys plays a major role in the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In fact, a number of people who got well once their good bacteria were replaced. These good bacteria do a lot of things for us: supply vitamin B12, detoxify estrogen and other carcinogens, prevent an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi and aid in the digestion of fiber. Basically, they keep the “house” in order.
But when there is a shortage or complete absence of good bacteria, the bowel can become inflamed and hypersensitive to a number of chemicals that cause bowel irritability, such as histamine, acetylcholine and glutamate (MSG). Carrageenan, a common food additive made from seaweed, is known to produce intense inflammation, even in small doses. You will see it in baked goods, ice cream and breads. It tends to worsen all bowel
conditions, including IBS, and in fact it can dramatically stimulate cancer growth.
MSG and similar food additives can powerfully stimulate the bowel muscles, resulting in diarrhea and cramping. And sensitivity to MSG is heightened when the bowel is inflamed due to irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Special cells in the walls of the intestines (known as mast cells) have been shown to play a major role
in intestinal diseases. Glutamate (MSG, etc.) stimulates these cells to release histamine,
intensifying bowel inflammation and damage. You can soothe the irritation and inflammation by maintaining healthy gut bacteria, avoiding irritating foods, food additives and chemicals and by suppressing histamine release using nutrients like quercetin and vitamin C. Most sufferers know that certain items irritate the bowel, aggravating their condition — things like high-fat foods, coffee (even decaffeinated),
carbonated drinks and alcohol. Quercetin, curcumin and hesperdin all suppress
the mast cells’ histamine release, thereby reducing the symptoms. Curcumin also relaxes bowel muscles and reduces the risk of colon cancer. As for keeping the intestinal bacteria healthy, bacteria-friendly “probiotic” foods and supplements are helpful. One of the better probiotic formulas is Theralac. It features a unique capsule design, ensuring that a maximum number of the most beneficial organisms are delivered to the colon, where they are needed. Flax fiber is also very effective because it enhances the growth of beneficial bacteria. Peppermint and caraway oils are among other very useful supplements, as they reduce spasms in the intestine and colon. They should be entericcoated, or covered with a material that permits transit through the stomach to the small intestine before the medication is released. Some of these organisms are acid-resistant. Life Extension Corporation has a product called Regimint which is used to treat irritable bowel
syndrome. Its combination of peppermint and oregano oil has shown impressive results.
These supplements are taken three times a day another good product is  Konsyl Original Fiber.

[TheaT]

I have IBS.  Right now I am having several BM's but with some straining.  I also have pain on the top of last right rib, just off center.  Our regular doctor gave me Prevacid to try for a couple of monhs.  The nausea and always feeling like I need to vomit (but don't) and feeling like I need to have another BM, about drives me crazy.  I meds also take meds for anxiety and depression and HBP.  I'm tired of all of the prescription meds., but realize I just can't stop taking them either.

Can you tell me what DGL stands for?  You have given me some super tips and I am eager to try them.  Not sure about the bitters, as our doc seems to think I have acid reflux...therefore the Prevacid.

I am new to this community, so hope this message gets back to you Paxiled!

[Paxiled]

No, but I've worked with them when I managed health food stores -- what kind of digestive problems?  My guess is, yes, they would be good for this, unless it's some disease state natural medicine can't touch.  It's amazing what some digestive enzymes, DGL and aloe juice can do for people, or chamomile for relaxing the stomach.  Or just chewing more slowly, which I'm unable to do but which can work wonders.  Or some bitters to help get the digestive juices flowing.  This is a good area for natural medicine.