These are some other disorders and issues that may occur in the GI tract, and some suggestions about how to address them:
Anorexia
is a broad classification of a complex that simply means the loss of appetite and typically the loss of body weight. For the purposes of this newsletter, we will not be touching on anorexia nervosa, which is a psychological disorder, except to mention that it creates a lot of nutrient deficiencies due to decreased caloric intake, especially a zinc deficiency, which is highly problematic in Arizona.
An ulcer is an irritation that has reached the point of forming a blister or pocket along the esophagus, stomach or small intestine. Typically they happen in the stomach or the duodenum, where the hydrochloric acid level is the highest. Allopathic medicine has medications called proton pump inhibitors for this condition (like Nexium, for example), and these are designed to stop the production of HCL so your body isn't pouring acid over an open, ulcerated wound. The problem with this treatment is that it doesn't treat the underlying cause, and patients are unfortunately left on these medications for weeks, months or even years, which is not how the medication was intended to be used.
The irritation that creates the ulcer can be caused by stress hormones, irritating food or drinks or nutrient deficiency, but most likely it is caused by hydrochloric acid production being too low, not too high (which is counter-intuitive). It's easy to test HCL levels, but this should not to be done when there is an active ulcer. To stop the active ulcer, it's important to eliminate the most common food aggressors, like spicy, sour, acidic and nightshade foods like tomato, eggplant, peppers, etc. Plants like aloe vera juice, slippery elm, and marshmallow root can be used to soothe and coat the area and help "put out the fire."
Once the original aggravation has calmed down you can test HCL levels by taking two bites of food at the beginning of a meal, swallowing one tablet of hydrochloric acid, then finishing your meal. If you have a warming sensation or burning in your left upper gastric area then you may be one of the few people who actually have a high hydrochloric acid level. If this happens, you will want to see me, as there are homeopathic protocols that can teach the gastrin cells of your stomach to produce proper levels of HCL. If you don't have this warming sensation or any other indication that your hydrochloric acid levels are low, then during the next meal repeat the test. If after six meals you still do not have a warming sensation, and perhaps you even feel a little better, increase the dose to two capsules. We have a handout in Nature's Medicinary called "The Hydrochloric Acid Challenge" that describes the procedure in detail. If you still do not have a warming sensation after two capsules, come by and pick up this handout and follow the instructions.
Gallstones
are another potential issue with the digestive system. Bile is continuously dripped from the liver into the duodenum. (Remember that bile is the soap molecule made from cholesterol.) A small amount is stored in the gallbladder and held for digestion of a high-fat meal, like when you eat a piece of meat or a cheese enchilada. When higher amounts of fat are consumed, the gallbladder will squeeze and empty its contents into the duodenum through the bile duct, and the soap molecule of the bile will surround the fat. When the soap is made inappropriately with a higher amount of cholesterol and a higher amount of mineral salts, the solution can bond into mineral balls and form stones.
One of the symptoms of a gallbladder attack is a massive amount of pain in the right upper abdominal cavity which can radiate up to the right shoulder and even to the jaw. This can happen when the membrane around the gallbladder or the ductwork becomes inflamed, stones become lodged in the gallbladder duct or the common bile duct from the liver, or just from irritation. It is estimated that 64% of the population have gallstones and most of us don't even know it.
If you take a dose of bile in tablet form when you have a fatty meal, it can decrease the production of cholesterol in the bile and eliminate this pain. There are also homeopathic protocols which can be used to teach the liver to make the bile more appropriately and to dissolve the stones from the gallbladder. However, if a stone becomes lodged and the pain is excruciating, surgical intervention is the only answer.
Another potential digestive issue is SIBO, or small intestine bacterial overgrowth. within the duodenum and upper small intestine. One of these organisms that we have known about for a long time is helical bacteria pylori. Things that can throw off the upper GI flora are aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, coffee, alcohol, other stimulants, antibiotics, and allergic reactions to certain foods.
The periodic replacement of good human probiotics or good flora can be very helpful. Increasing the amount of plant fiber in the diet is also very helpful because it slows the emptying of the contents of the stomach. Healthy essential fatty acids are also important, like fish oil, flax, evening primrose, borage oil, and chia seed oil, to name just a few.
Next week we will discuss other digestive issues that can occur further down the digestive tract.
