Diarrhea
The most common cause of
diarrhea is irritable bowel syndrome or a spastic colon. This can be
triggered by a gastro-intestinal disorder, such as regional enteritis,
excessive mucus congestion, malabsorption syndrome (celiac disease), food
allergy, gastroenteritis, drug induced emotional distress, or amoebic
dysentery. Parasitic infection can be caused by Amoebas and Girardia.
Bacteria such as Shigella and Salmonella can also be responsible for food
poisoning.
The main
cause of diarrhea is stagnant waste in the large intestine (colon). Other
causes include: Intestinal
infections – inflammatory disease or cancer, food poisoning, dysentery,
staphococcal infections, antibiotics, fecal impactions Pancreatic
disease – tumor of pancreatitis or pancreatic insufficiency Cholesterol
syndromes – blocked bile excretion Neurological
disease – syphilis affecting the spinal cord or diabetic neuropathy Metabolic
disease – excessive secretion of thyroid Malnutrition
– affects infants from 6-18 months old Dietary
factors – a sudden change in diet. Insufficient
hydrochloric acid can help trigger mucus colitis and abdominal distention.
Diarrhea can also be due to a vitamin deficiency. Also
responsible for this condition are fecal impactions, prescription drugs,
laxatives, overeating, expansion of large intestine, excessive liquid, over
acidity, spoiled food. Dietetic
chewing gum is also known to cause diarrhea, due to the sugar alcohol
sorbitol. Each stick may contain 1.7 grams. Over 20 grams can trigger
diarrhea. Continual
diarrhea and use of laxatives will eventually break down the protective
mucal lining of the colon. This will then allow by-products of putrefaction
and fermentation to enter the blood stream and cause further complications. If
overeating is a problem, diarrhea or vomiting may occur due to lack of enzymes
and an over-abundance of bad bacteria. This will occur in twelve to fifteen
hours after the meal. Diarrhea is the body’s way of cleansing itself but
this can get out of control.
How
Diarrhea Makes You Feel:
Headache,
general malaise, abdominal pain, anus is chafed, reduced urine, weak heart. With
diarrhea, very little food is absorbed and more water is being lost than
what was taken into the body. Dehydration may occur if this condition
continues. If diarrhea is accompanied by gastroenteritis (vomiting),
dehydration is sure to develop. During
diarrhea, there is a loss of minerals and all salts, especially potassium
salts. Lack of potassium salts will make you tired, listless, and weak.
Potassium controls smooth muscle function and severe potassium loss could
cause the heart to stop. Potassium
and sodium along with other body salts are called electrolytes. When the
salts dissolve in water, they release atoms (called ions), which carry an
electric charge. Electrolytes can have an acid or an alkaline base. Alkaline
pH is lost during diarrhea and this creates a condition called acidosis. The three
major complications of diarrhea are:
Loss
of water Loss
of potassium, and Upset
of acid-alkali (pH)
balance.
Chronic
diarrhea can take 1 to 15 years off your life. Remember that a normal colon
is NEVER empty!!
What To Do
For Diarrhea: Allow
the diarrhea to run seven days, as blood and mucosal wall will be
detoxifying. Chronic…sub acute…acute=healing crisis. If severe, the
diarrhea needs to be stopped. Take two tablespoons of flour and one glass of
water. Survival
rate among people with diarrhea is not as high as those with constipation.
This is because people with constipation at least have a full bowel. People
with diarrhea have a tendency to have a collapsed bowel, poor assimilation,
and an electrolyte imbalance. Diarrhea is nothing to fool with. Prolonged
diarrhea will kill. If chronic diarrhea persists as long as fifteen to
twenty-one days, it can become life threatening. If diarrhea is part of your
life… get the facts… get well.
Nature’s
Remedies Bananas
are rich in pectin, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, and Vitamin A. They
have the highest source of potassium (555 mg). Whole
grains, black strap molasses, leafy green vegetables, almonds, and potatoes
are also rich in potassium. Brown
rice is ideal for slowing down diarrhea. Vegetables:
Cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, lettuce, celery, broccoli, cucumber, corn,
turnips, and onions must be avoided in severe cases. Any
vegetables eaten must be steamed, cooked or blended to a fine texture. When
cooking, use little water and do not cook longer than five minutes on low
heat. Fruits:
When apples are eaten, they should be sweet apples, cooked and with no peel.
Fruit must be cooked or blended to mush. Protein:
Tofu, Organic Spirulina,
enzymatic soy protein, some fish, and very little chicken. Avoid frying.
Protein may be seasoned with lemon or vegetable broth. Nuts
and seeds may be used if blended and strained for the juice. Olive Oil, code
live oil may be used. Wheat germ cooked for five minutes with a little crude
black strap molasses makes an ideal breakfast. The only really safe
carbohydrate to eat is cooked fruit and vegetables, low in starch. Cheese:
Cottage cheese only (therapeutic use only).. Eggs:
Can be poached or soft boiled. Drinks:
Lemon and water, vegetable broth, Wellness
Water, and crude black strap molasses, Asparagus
Extract, tea, and vegetable juice.
Avoid:
Popcorn,
high fiber foods, spices, over-the-counter drugs, candy, syrup, sugar,
pastries, chocolate, pickles, creamed gravies and sauces, carbonate, soft or
sweetened drinks, alcohol must be avoided. No raw fruits to be eaten except
bananas. (Ripe bananas have brown spots on them). Avoid citrus and dried
fruit, psyllium hulls, niacin flush, and lower bowel laxatives. Nutrients
Diet must be
rich in Vitamin B (especially Pantothenate) and C. Vitamin C must be in a
powdered form, buffered with calcium. Vitamin C strengthens and connective
tissue. Vitamin B regulates proper digestion and elimination. Vitamin A
heals mucus membrane. Coral
Calcium and magnesium are needed to bring down colonic spasm.
Other nutrients include iron, zinc, and potassium. Royal
Flora SBOs, flax seed gel, pectin, and bananas are very effective
in this condition.
Infant Diarrhea
A hole that is too small
in the nipple of a bottle can cause the baby to take in air. Too large a
hole in the nipple of a bottle can cause diarrhea because the baby gets too
much formula at once. In
the case of diarrhea, a 2-ounce water loss in a 7-pound baby is equal to a
2-quart loss in a 170-pount adult. Bottle fed babies are more prone to
diarrhea than breast fed babies due to the lack of bacterial antibodies. If
the infant produces a green stool, this is a sign that the intestinal
contents have come through too quickly for the bile to do its work. If baby
develops enteritis (bacterial diarrhea), he may have rings around his eyes,
pale colored skin, hands and fingers may be white in color. Overfeeding can
bring on diarrhea, and too much fat in the diet can make stool flat and
create a foul odor. Excessive starch and sugar will cause a sour smell to
stool. It will also have a frothy look to it.
An
ounce of prevention is worth a point of cure! Restoration of SBOs
is essential.
Dysentery
Dysentery is a disease
involving the inflammation of the lining of the large intestines. The
inflammation causes stomach pains and diarrhea. Some cases involve vomiting
and fever. The bacteria enters the body through the mouth in food or water,
and also by human feces and contact with infected people. The diarrhea
causes people suffering from dysentery to lose important salts and fluids
from the body. This can be fatal if the body dehydrates. After
five days of dysentery, diarrhea and stomach problems will develop and feces
will become liquid and contain blood. Amoebic and bacillic dysentery are
said to be caused by unclean food but, as in a cold, a healthy body should
be able to repel bacteria and amoebas without any problem. A fast is advised
until diarrhea subsides. For relief, apply a ginger compress on the abdomen. After
five days of high fever, stomachache and diarrhea will develop, although
sometimes there is no high fever. Feces become liquid. Dysentery is a
disease of the digestive organs. Ingestion of pectin and bananas and brown
rice may be found helpful. A pinch of salt three times a day may also be
beneficial. Amebic
Dysentery is a specific entity involving the entire colon, characterized by
discrete ulcers separated by normal mucosa. Examination of fresh biopsy
cells of an ulcer will usually identify Entamoeba Histolytisa (a.k.a. E.
Coli). The ulcers disappear quickly with appropriate treatment.
Mucus
The most common causes of
excessive mucus production are:
The mucus
membrane is a natural lubricant in the gastro-intestinal tract. When
excessive mucus production occurs, problems arise and the bowel becomes
hyperactive. The main reason for this is a spastic bowel. In cases of severe
mucus colitis, as much as a half pint of mucus can be eliminated. When
mucus is passed in the stools, they form jelly-like masses that could appear
as thin or thick membranes, shreds, strings or ropes, that show that there
is some type of irritation along the colon wall. The color of mucus may
range from being colorless to all shades of white, opaque white, gray, cream
colored, brown fecal colored, or blood tainted. The odor of the mucus can be
putrefactive or smell like sour pickles or stale fish. The main difference
between mucus colitis and spastic colitis is that in mucus colitis, the
consistency of mucus is a lot greater.
Mucus is secreted in the
large intestine to serve as a protector to the delicate lining of the
digestive canal. It lubricates to allow for an easier evacuation of waste
material and coats the feces so that they will slide out smoother. It serves
to stop putrefaction, and to protect the canal and the system from allowing
toxins to re-enter into the blood circulation. Lack
of roughage in the intestine inhibits transit time for foodstuffs causing
adverse effects on the walls of the mucus membranes of the bowel. The waste
hardens and adheres itself to the mucus membrane, causing constipation and
irritation to the wall leading to colitis. This irritation leads to an
excessive mucus buildup and once this condition has taken hold, the mucus
membranes are involved. Proper treatment must be done immediately to prevent
further destruction. The
major part of digestion takes place in the small intestine, but due to
colitis, the food is pushed through too quickly. The undigested carbohydrate
ferments in the colon, causing excessive amounts of gas and further
irritation to the mucal lining of the intestine. Inflamed
and/or bleeding bowel, excessive mucus, and even ulcers characterize
colitis. A person with colitis has a good chance of having parasites as
well. Women have been found more prone to colitis than men. Food
allergies should always be considered when colitis is involved due to
hypersensitivity of mucus membranes in the digestive tract. Once the
irritating food is determined and eliminated, the problem can be dealt with
and healing can take place. Colitis
can be caused by improper eating, alcohol, spices, oil, spoiled food, milk,
fats, gluten, overeating, eating under stress, hurried eating, modern foods,
indigestible food, and laxatives.
Improper
Diet = Constipation = Irritation = Inflammation = Colitis
Also, let us
not forget about detergents (absorbed through the skin and ingested). If
they can burn and irritate the outside of the body, what do you think they
can do to the inside? Milk is known to be
a main cause of colitis as it may be contaminated with penicillin. Hormones
and chemicals in meat and chicken may also be a factor. Colitis
can be caused by anemia due to bleeding, intestinal infections,
malabsorption, pancreatic disease, colistatis syndromes (when the bile
excretion stops), neurological disease (which could be syphilis or
diabetic), emotional (very rare), metabolic disease, excessive secretion of
the thyroid glands, malnutrition (usually with children about 18 months
old), or food allergies. Dietary factors (changes from having meat to a
nutritional diet of raw foods and juices too quickly) could bring it on, or
it could be drug induced. Starchy, sugary foods must be avoided because they
reduce the oxygen flow in the body thus weakening the nutritional blood
supply. Colitis
triggers from three to twenty-four bowel movements a day. All roughage, raw
and fresh, should be avoided (if not blended). When these foods are taken
whole with fluid, it intensifies the harmful effects of the colitis. Sugar
weakens the intestines and should be avoided. Food should be chewed very
thoroughly and properly prepared grains, fruits and vegetables should be
eaten primarily at this stage. Rice and buckwheat cereals are very good.
Miso soup is recommended. Colitis
usually occurs between twenty to forty years of age. It can be found in a
multiple of regions in the colon and can be repeated ulcerations, which lead
to a thickening of the wall of the colon. Scar tissue develops but then
becomes ulcerated again. It is a very sensitive problem. Symptoms of colitis
are: loss of appetite, anemia, pernicious anemia, fever, weight loss, mild
abdominal tenderness, lower abdominal cramps, several movements a day, or
diarrhea one day and constipation the next. Usually, sharp knife-like pains
will occur. Other symptoms of colitis are excessive perspiration, insomnia,
headaches, excessive belching, nausea, gas, and abdominal stress, hard dry
stools covered with mucus. If
colitis is left to run its course it can set up arthritis in the joints and
muscles and if it becomes ulcerative, it may cause side effects such as
ulcers in the mouth and eye disorders. Most
spasticity occurs in the descending colon and sigmoid region. Its side
effects can be polyps, Pruritis, prolapses ani, prolapses recti, cancer
and/or hemorrhoids. Clients
must understand that we must think in months, not weeks, for healing to take
place. This is a chronic problem. Re-education is not an easy process. Self-help
and self-care are of major importance as this condition is a disease of
lifestyle. Recovery involves the whole body, along with changes in
life-style and environment. Many
professionals believe this is more of a nervous system disorder but I
believe it is the physical that wears down the mental, creating the vicious
circle. Labeling one afflicted with colitis as neurotic, is, in my opinion,
a misdiagnosis.
One
must never try to separate the mental from the physical for they are one.
This is not to say stress and strains do not play a major role, for they do
deplete the nervous system. This, in turn, will weaken the body causing a
breakdown in its weakest point. Also, colitis inhibits the absorption of
nutrients and thus brain cells may suffer from various metabolic imbalances. Colitis
sufferers must set aside a half hour twice a day to practice relaxation,
preferably upon arising and retiring. A quite, warm, noise-free spot with no
glaring lights is best. A hot bath with BathDetox
is recommended whenever the client is uptight and just before bed for a more
peaceful rest.
Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
Clinical studes show that
50 per cent of all patients complaining of digestive disorders show evidence
of colitis, irrespective of what other conditions may coexist. One-third of
adults between 20 and 50 suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. Colitis
sufferers must not let stresses take control. They must learn to enjoy life.
A 3 to 7 day vegetable juice fast (carrot, beet, spinach) is extremely
important. However, be aware that not everyone is capable of handling a
fast. The client must have faith in the therapist and this program. What
To Do: Because
green juices have powerful healing properties, they should be taken whenever
desired. If a juicer is not available, blend vegetables with ionized water,
strain, and drink the juice. Grains:
If grains are eaten, the best are brown rice, millet, buckwheat, and bulgar.
All grains should be well soaked, fluffy, and full of water, and all food
must be chewed to a liquid or healing will not take place. Soups:
Kombu, miso, vegetable broth, homemade vegetable soup from scratch. Soups
should be room temperature, neither hot nor cold. Drinks:
Rice can be blended with distilled water to make rice milk. Avoid:
If
gas and distention are a problem, drink through a straw to avoid swallowing
air. Sugar and sweeteners, starchy and sugary foods, cereals, bread, corn,
vegetable and fruit skins (potato skins), tapioca, beans, bran, prunes,
cakes, ice cream, spaghetti or any flour products, sauces, salt, mustard and
pickles must be avoided. Tap water must also be avoided. Eliminate
gluten-containing foods. Eliminate all milk
products and sugar. Nutrients: Vitamin
A, B complex, folic acid, calcium, and potassium.
Don't Overlook the
Importance of Proper Breathing!!
No diet, however
balanced, can be fully effective if breathing is shallow. Deep relaxation
breathing is an essential part of the treatment to relieve emotional stress
and tension. The body needs oxygen to heal. Through deep breathing,
relaxation can be achieved which will aid against emotional stress. It also
massages the internal organs, which, in turn, helps to promote and restore
proper rhythm and tone to the intestines. It is best to eat no more than two
foods at one meal (proper food combining),
never eat when stressed, and practice deep breathing before eating.
When dealing
with these chronic digestive conditions, proper support is the key to
success. I would highly recommend a consultation
and reading the two on-line booklets:
Spoiled
Rotten.
Your digestive tract is
the highway to vibrant health or constant pain. Become an educated
caretaker, ask questions, and get on track. Please do not hesitate to call. Yours
in health and understanding,
The Wolfe Clinic
If you want to reach vital health, call
The Wolfe Clinic at 1-800-592-9653 (toll free)
to book your
nutritional
telephone consultation
and together, we will create
a personalized health program
tailored to “your” specific needs.
If
our 1-800 number
is
not available from your area,
please
call us at 250-765-1824
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