Natural treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

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Natural Treatment for IBS, Leaky GutJoAnn GuestDec 22, 2003 12:30 PST--Q.What is a good natural treatment for the Leaky Gut, irritable bowelsyndrome? A.First of all, let me define the Leaky Gut, irritable bowelsyndrome . It is a disorder of the large intestine that ischaracterized by some combination of:(1) abdominal pain, (2) altered bowel function,constipation, or diarrhea, (3) increased secretion of colonic mucus,(4) dyspeptic symptoms (flatulence, nausea, anorexia), and (5)varying degrees of anxiety or depression.IBS, Leaky Gut and Crohn's has been referred to in the past asnervous indigestion, spastic colitis, mucous colitis, and intestinalneurosis.There appears to be four major natural treatments:(1) increasing dietary fiber, (2) eliminating allergic/intolerantfoods, (3) controlling

psychological components, and (4) using aspecial preparation of peppermint oil that is "enteric coated."Enteric coating involves coating the capsule in a manner that willnot allow the capsule to break down until after it has passedthrough the stomach and into the small intestine.Enteric coating is necessary, as menthol (the major constituent ofpeppermint oil) and other volatile compounds in peppermint oil wouldcause relaxation of the sphincter separating the esophagus and the stomach.Without enteric coating, a significant amount of heartburn can beproduced. Several double-blind studies have shown enteric-coated peppermintoil capsules to be a very effective treatment of the irritable bowelsyndrome.Roughly eight out of people gain benefit from their IBSsymptoms. The typical recommendation for enteric-coated peppermintoil is (0.2 ml) three to four times daily, 15-30 minutes beforemeals, for one

month.http://www.doctormurray.com/Qarchive/bowel.htm--Subject: Enteric-coated Peppermint Oil:Beneficial for IBS, Leaky Gut, Crohn's & Gallstones---Peppermint and other MintsKey Uses of Peppermint and other Mints:Oral:GallstonesIrritable Bowel SyndromeCommon ColdTopical:Musculoskeletal painGeneral description-Peppermint is a natural hybrid of garden spearmint (Mentha spicata)and water mint (Mentha aquatica). First described in England in1696, peppermint and other members of the mint family grow almosteverywhere. The two most popular varieties are white peppermint andblack peppermint. Both are typical members of the mint family, thatis, herbs with square stems,

horizontal rhizomes and lanceolatedleaves with a serrated edge.Both varieties produce purple flowers during the summer months. For medicinal effects, the aerial portion of the plant is themost widely used.Chemical composition-The major medicinal component of peppermint is the volatile oils,which can be found in concentrations of up to 1.5 percent in theherb, but is usually present in the 0.3 to 0.4 range.The principal components of the oil are menthol 29-28 percent, menthone 20-31percent, and menthyl acetate, although analysis of peppermint oilwill typically show more than forty different compounds. Most of thevolatile oil components are terpenoids.The proportion of menthol relative to other components in peppermint oil depends on climate and latitude, as well as the maturity of the plant.Pharmaceutical-grade peppermint oil is produced by distilling thefresh aerial parts of the plant harvested at the very

beginning ofthe flowering cycle.The oil is standardized to contain not less than 44 percent freementhol and a minimum of 5 percent esters calculated as menthylacetate.The ketene component (calculated as menthone) usually ranges from 15to 30 percent, with the remainder of the oil being composed ofvarious terpenoids.Other components of peppermint that may contribute to its medicinaleffects include polymerized polyphenols (19 percent of dry weight),flavonoids (12 percent), tocopherols, carotenes, betaine, andcholine.Pharmacology-The pharmacology of peppermint focuses almost entirely on itsmenthol components. Peppermint and menthol possess carminative,antispasmodic, and choleretic properties, and are also used as anexternal analgesic and nasal decongestant.Carminative effectsCarminatives promote the elimination of intestinal gas. Peppermintand peppermint oil are well accepted carminatives.

Although theexact mechanism of action has not been determined, one proposedmechanism is by relaxation of the esophageal sphincter, leading toreleased gas pressure in the stomach.Antispasmodic effects-The mechanism behind peppermint oil's antispasmodic effects hasrecently been determined. Researchers believe that peppermint oil'sinhibition of isolated smooth muscle contractions occurs viablockage of calcium influx into the muscle cells.Researchers hypothesize that the clinical effectiveness ofpeppermint oil in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome resultsfrom inhibition of the hypercontractility of intestinal smoothmuscle, thereby returning the muscle to its proper tone.Choleretic effects-Choleretics stimulate the flow of bile. Menthol and related terpenesexert a choleretic effect as well as improve the solubility of thebile.External analgesic effects-The external analgesic and

counterirritant effects of menthol arewell accepted. When applied to the skin, peppermint oil or mentholstimulates the nerves that perceive cold, while simultaneouslydepressing those for pain. The initial cooling effect is followed bya period of warmth.Clinical Applications-Peppermint oil is the most extensively used of all the volatileoils.Pharmaceutical preparations often utilize peppermint oil or mentholfor its therapeutic and flavoring properties. For example, it isused extensively in antacid products and irritant laxatives both forits flavor and its therapeutic effects. The same is true for itsinclusion in mouth wash preparations and after dinner mints.The pharmacological effects of peppermint and peppermint oil areuseful in a number of clinical situations; the most notable includeirritable bowel syndrome, intestinal colic, gallstones,musculoskeletal pain, and the common cold.Irritable Bowel

Syndrome-Peppermint oil has been used to treat irritable bowel syndrome formany years. Irritable bowel syndrome can include a combination ofany of the following symptoms. Abdominal pain and distension, morefrequent bowel movements with pain, or relief of pain with bowelmovements; constipation or diarrhea; excessive production of mucusin the colon; symptoms of indigestion such as flatulence, nauseas,or anorexia; and varying degrees of anxiety or depression.Hypercontractility of intestinal smooth muscle is one of the centralfindings in irritable bowel syndrome. As described above, peppermintoil inhibits the hypercontractility of intestinal smooth muscle,making it useful in cases of irritable bowel syndrome as well asintestinal colic.The preferred delivery of peppermint oil is the treatment ofirritable bowel syndrome is via enteric-coated preparations, whichprevent the oil from being released in the stomach.

Without entericcoating, peppermint oil tends to produce heartburn, with thecoating, the peppermint oil travels to the small and largeintestines, where it relaxes intestinal muscles. Several clinicalstudies have demonstrated that enteric-coated peppermint oil isquite effective in reducing the abdominal symptoms of irritablebowel d\syndrome.Gallstones-A formula containing menthol and related terpenes (menthone, pinene,borneol, cineole, and camphene) helps dissolve gallstones, as shownin several studies.This nonsurgical approach to gallstone removal offers an effectivealternative to surgery and ahs been shown to be safe even whenconsumed for prolonged periods of time (up to 4 years). Terpenes,like menthol. Help dissolve gallstones by reducing bile cholesterollevels while increasing bile acid and lecithin levels in the gallbladder. As menthol is the major component of this formula,peppermint oil,

especially if enteric-coated, may offer similarbenefits.External analgesic-Menthol and related substances can be used as counterirritants inthe treatment of arthritis, fibromyositis, tendonitis, and otherinflammatory conditions involving the musculoskeletal system.DosagePeppermint is most widely used as a tea (diffusion), on its own orin combination with other herbs. The infusion is usually preparedwith 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried leaves per 8 ounces of water.The dosage of peppermint oil administered in an enteric-coatedcapsule for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome is 1-2capsules (0.2 milliliter per capsule) three times daily betweenmeals. This dosage is also appropriate in the treatment ofgallstones.Menthol as an external analgesic should be applied as a cream orointment (containing 1.26-1`6 percent menthol) to the affected areano more than three or four times daily.Excerpted

from"The Healing Power of Herbs"by Michael T. Murray, N.D.Co-author of "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine"Peristalsis is the normal rhythmic muscular action of the intestineto push food down and outward, out of the body.Mucoid plaque is formed as the intestine keeps producing mucous as anormal response to an irritant: undigested food. Food is notsupposed to just sit there and rot. We're only supposed to storethree meals (Jensen.)But most Americans store nine, twelve, or even more meals beforeone comes out. This increased transit time isirritating to the intestinal lining.Mucous is not powerful enough to move the toxic, enzymeless sludgeof Taco Supremes and Curlie Fried Onion Rings with ketchup.But the body keeps on valiantly trying, and more and more mucous isconstantly being produced.Eventually the mucous becomes matrixed with the most indigestibleelements, like trans fatty

acids from the Barbecue and Sour Creamchips.And it goes on day after day, week after week, month aftermonth, etc. And the layers get thicker and harder and the colongrows in diameter.And we absorb less and less nutrients and we lose more and morewater and minerals.Want to discover your own transit time? Try this simple test: eatsomething you usually don't eat that will be easily identifiablewhen it comes out.Frozen corn, peanuts, and pistachios are some good examples. Simplynote the time from when you eat the markers tothe time when you see them leaving. That's your transit time, atleast of the matter that is not cemented to the colon walls.The intestinal walls contain long muscles whose job it is to keepthings moving along. These muscles gradually become overstretchedand weakened by the pressure of too much waste pushing against them,expanding outward, like blowing up a long thin balloon.Thus

peristalsis - the normal wavelike muscular motion of thecolon - is further inhibited and blockage is again promoted.Mucoid plaque blocks inflow and outflow, resulting in lack ofnutrient, water, and electrolyte absorption, as well as retention oftoxic putrefaction in balloon-like blocked outpocketings of theintestine.In addition, pathogenic bacteria, parasites, and Candidathrive in the mucoid plaque layer and are actually protected by itfrom prescription or natural herbal remedies and efforts to removethem. Researchers refer to the mucoid plaque as a "culture medium"for these organisms. (Forstner)Mucoid plaque is described as a natural response to an unnaturalstimulus. It is a necessary protection the body produces to try andshield itself from poisons.Mucoid plaque is a product of the constant production of mucous bythe glycocalyx lining cells,brought on by the modern American diet of fake,

empty, processed,chemical-laden, hormone-laced, antibiotic-soaked foods.Many doctors have noted that when the plaque can be removed by a*cleanse*, remission from virtually any disease may result.Simple cause and effect.Mucoid plaque has been definitely linked to gastric cancer by thesimple mutation of the lining cells - metaplasia. (Sipponen, Filipe)No big surprise here - cell damage is caused by inflow/outflowblockage, and after a certain time, mutation occurs.Another mechanism is that the constant secretion of mucous capturesthetoxins, but since normal transit is blocked, the toxins becomelocked in one location, often for years, resulting in irritation andeventual cell mutation.The cells steep in their own wastes, month after month.In a lecture in San Jose California on 26 Sep 98, Dr. RichardAnderson told the story of one of his patients who underwent thecleanse in Hawaii

a few years ago.The patient was passing long strands of the rubbery mucoid plaque,someover 20 feet in length!Fascinated, the patient hung the strands over his clothesline in theback yard. He then took a length of the plaque, and packaged it in abox to send to the mainland to prove what happened to him. He mailedthe package at the local post office in Hawaii.A few days later, two serious-looking officials in ATF windbreakersknocked on the patient's door and asked him if he had sent such andsuch a package to such and such an address.The patient said yes, and asked what was the problem. They answeredthat the post office has dogs that sniff out all packages mailed off the island, and thatone of them had become very excited about this package.The patient asked what were the dogs trained to detect.Only two things, came the answer: drugs and explosives. Which dogwas it? The one for

explosives.The patient was incredulous, especially when he recalledthat he had worked with munitions some 25 years ago, and his job wasto handle explosives!He explained the detox cleanse to the two agents and they weresatisfied. This story illustrates the power of such an intestinalcleanse: the body had retained these strong toxins in the mucoid plaquelining of the colon, stored in a concentration powerful enough to be detected by dogs through the layers of wrapping of a sealed package some 25 years later!Of course it's anecdotal, but Anderson has been doing this for 15years and has cleansed several thousand patients.He has amassed a ton of clinical data, but not through double blindstudies. (Only drugs require double blind studies.)The rubbery mucoid plaque layer seals in toxins and preventsabsorption of water and nutrients.Toxic sludge promotes proliferation of pathological bacteria

andyeasts, like Candida.Now for the bad news.There's another separate demon at work in the blocked colon. Hisname isAUTOINTOXICATIONHere's how he works: The sludge that's stopping up the works isundigested food.Undigested means rotting: putrefying, fermenting, going rancid.Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, respectively.Want to see what that looks like? Leave some meat, some frenchfries, and some bread out on the counter for a week.A blocked colon can be even worse, because of the time frameinvolved: in many people the sludge sits in the colon for weeks oreven longer.The colon walls are normally very well sealed in order to protectthe body against reabsorbing the waste that is about to beeliminated.It's a sophisticated design, set up to allow water andelectrolytes back into the body, but no toxic poisons.Stay with me now. In long-term buildup of

undigested food in thecolon, eventually a situation emerges thatdoctors call "Leaky Gut Syndrome".Essentially what's happening is that the sludge has built up so muchblockage that the inner membranes of the colon develop leaks.Some of the toxic debris is forced through the walls of the colon,along with the water and electrolytes,back into the bloodstream.Hence, the name autointoxication: you're poisoning yourself.Once in the bloodstream, the undigested debris, now a foreignirritant, can take up residence in any organ or tissue it finds room.Chronic inflammation begins, and gradually, degeneration ofthat organ.Here are some of the diseases that such a sequence can cause:Chronic AllergiesJaundiceKidney diseaseAcneHepatitisPsoriasisBlinding headachesAIDSArthritisPancreatitisChronic fatigue

syndromeDepressionInfectionsFibromyalgiaSepticemiaMultiple Joint Pain SyndromeDermatitisAutoimmune DisordersCandida albicansCancerto name just a few.This list is taken from an article by Leo Garland, MD who has doneextensive research in this area of hyperpermeability, as illustrated by the list of over 150 references at the end of the article.It's funny, when people with average intelligence first hear aboutLeaky Gut Syndrome, they usually understand it right away because itseems logical.Very often, it is the nutritionists, dieticians, and doctors whoseem more apt to question the existence of*hyperpermeability*, or Leaky Gut Syndrome.Even though there has been years of copious research in the bestmedical journals thoroughly documenting its characteristics andnature, Leaky Gut Syndrome is not commonly taught as part of the medicalcurriculum, or the abbreviated curriculum

presented to nutritionists anddieticians.Many of these people therefore conclude that since they got theirdegrees without hearing about hyperpermeability or Leaky GutSyndrome, it must not exist!Very curious.Dr. Garland suffers from no such illusion. He traces the physiologyof how large molecules of the "toxic/antigenic load" (undigestedsludge) work their way through the intestinal walls and are firstintroduced into the liver before they are available to thebloodstream.Dr. Garland describes the "high cost" of the liver's detox work:creation of free radicals and other "reactive intermediaries" whichthemselves may be passed into the bloodstream if the toxic burdenbecomes too great for the liver's defenses.Here we see the particulars of autointoxication, not just some NewAge literary theory. Dr. Garland points out the wide range of pathological conditions,listed above, which may

come about exactlythrough this mechanism.Very sophisticated markers have been devised which can measure thetoxins that "leak" into the body. (S. Martin)Jensen has an axiom that the disease is named by where the toxinsfinally settle.Candida albicans, the opportunistic yeast, can be both a cause and aresult of "Leaky Gut Syndrome".Once Candida gets a foothold in the gut, it puts down "roots"through the gut wall, causing openings through which large moleculesand toxins can leak.Candida cells can themselves be introduced into the bloodstream inthis same fashion. (Simon Martin)Sherry Rogers MD, implicates "Leaky Gut Syndrome" as a *primary*cause for autoimmune diseaseslike multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus.She says such conditions can be theresult of the "formation of auto-antibodies due to leaking of bodytissue look- alike antigens..."TRANSIT

TIMELet's talk propulsion for a minute. Normal elimination involvesrhythmic contraction of the muscles in the colon wall, to push thewaste outward. Again, this natural, wavelike motion is calledperistalsis.It is normal to eliminate two or more times per day. Transit time:how much time between food in and waste out.Normal transit time is less than 24 hours. This means that only twoor three meals should be in transit throughout the digestive tract at atime.Today's breakfast IN pushes yesterday's breakfast or lunch OUT.Toxic fecal matter is supposed to totally leave the body in one day,not hang around to toxify. That's the design. Many people you know havebeen brought up to think that it is normal to eliminate only once everytwo or three days. Or even longer.That means they are storing NINE meals or more in the tract at alltimes. The waste from nine meals or more is always inside

them.Want to track your transit time? Use a marker; corn perhaps.Time it.The problem is that the longer the food is in the colon, the more itbegins to rot and toxify the body.Modern soft foods and empty junk foods have greatly increasedtransit time, for two reasons:1. They are indigestible2. They lack fiberThe colon thus becomes a breeding ground for pathological bacteriawhose toxic byproducts further add to the totality of biochemicalpoisons.All this yuk is then available to be reabsorbed into thebloodstream, because of Leaky Gut Syndrome.From the chapter on Allergies (www.thedoctorwithin.com), you'llremember that means hyperpermeability of the gut wall: stuff getsthrough into the bloodstream which shouldn't get through, because of the destructionof the cells of the colon's lining.Large molecules of rotting fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, whichalso may drag

along with them the toxic wastes of the pathologicalbacteria that have been breeding in the putrid sludge, all this canleak through into the bloodstream.http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/FreeRadicals.html_________________JoAnn Guestmrsjo-http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/AIM.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/FreeRadicals.html "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." - Aurobindo.

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