Herbals reduce digestive complaints

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Herbals Reduce Digestive Complaints

JoAnn Guest

Jan 11, 2006 09:22 PST

 

--

The number of people who suffer from heartburn is estimated at 100

million. By offering symptomatic relief to sufferers, the antacid

business has become a three billion-dollar industry. Antacid

medications are sold without offering consumers vital

information concerning the 'causes' and complications of heartburn

and other digestive problems.

 

Over 25 million Americans take antacids twice a week. Even more take

prescription drugs on a daily basis to find relief for heartburn and

indigestion.

 

The dangers of antacids -

Using antacids may cause damage to the lining of the esophagus

(e.g., precancerous ulcers).Biochemists report that one of the long-

term side effects of blocking acid production is a compromised

immune system; 'hydrochloric acid' is an essential component in the

complete digestion of food and 'protects' the body from " pathogenic

bacteria " . Calcium-based antacids (e.g., Tums) may damage the

kidneys if taken over a long period of time.

 

Magnesium based products (e.g., Mylanta and Maalox) and aluminum-

based products (e.g., Rolaids) should not be taken by anyone

experiencing kidney problems.

-

Antacids do not heal the tissue that has been inflamed or injured by

stomach acid. Before treating acid reflux and indigestion with

drugs, consumers should ask their health professionals four

questions:

 

What could be causing me to suffer from heartburn and indigestion?

Will the treatment that you are recommending heal my body or will it

simply provide symptomatic relief?

 

Will I experience side effects from the product(s) that you

recommend and will I be in any danger as a result of consuming the

product(s)?

Can you recommend any natural healing therapies that would resolve

my problems safely and effectively?

 

If your health professional is not able to recommend safe and

efficacious ways to treat acid reflux and chronic indigestion, you

may want to begin searching for one who can.

--

What are the causes of acid reflux?

 

The chief cause of digestive problems is a diet high in 'fat' and

low in 'fiber', filled with chemicals, additives, simple sugars and

processed, refined carbohydrates.

Diets with copious amounts of processed foods are lacking in the

enzymes necessary for the digestion of foods. Furthermore, even

minimal processing and heating 'destroys' the enzymes that are vital

for complete digestion. Antacids actually " shut down " digestion. In

order to build health and

avoid digestive problems, we need to 'optimize' digestion and heal

the 'inflammation' caused by acid reflux.

 

Coffee, alcohol, tobacco, carbonated beverages, and chocolate

further aggravate digestive problems. Many people cannot even

tolerate the acid in tomatoes or citrus fruits.

 

---

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH COMMON ANTACIDS:

---

 

CALCIUM CARBONATE & ACID REBOUND

Calcium carbonate works very quickly to diminish stomach acid,

however ithin a few hours, the body overcompensates by producing

that extra " surge " of acid.

 

PROBLEMS WITH SODIUM BICARBONATE:

When used for long periods of time, sodium bicarbonate can cause

'increased' acidity throughout the body.

Highly acidic body chemistries (systemic alkalosis) are involved in

health problems such as arthritis, kidney stones, nausea and mental

confusion.

 

 

ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE AND BONE LOSS:

Antacids containing aluminum can contribute to phosphate deficiency

when used for long periods of time.This is because the 'phosphate'

in food 'reacts' with the 'aluminum' in the antacid to form a solid

material typically passed into the stool.

In order to keep enough phosphorus in the blood, the body will take

it out of bones.Bone " demineralization " is a major problem for the

older people who use these products regularly.

 

 

ALUMINUM AND IMPAIRED MENTAL FUNCTION:

Although the FDA and manufacturers say that " aluminum " in 'antacids'

is not " absorbed', studies since 1986 have shown that it IS,

especially in cases of kidney problems and in the presence of acidic

foods such as citrus fruits or soda pop. There is increasing

evidence that aluminum is involved in Alzheimer's

disease, Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's

disease and some other nervous system problems.

Aluminum in cookware and soft drink cans poses the same problem in

these areas.

 

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Stomach acid is " required " for good digestion. Poor digestion

produces heartburn. People with heart-burn take antacids.

Antacids reduce stomach acid which generates even more heartburn.

 

Stomach acid is required for good mineral absorption, including

calcium & magnesium. Calcium carbonate antacids " neutralize " the

stomach acid needed for their absorption.

 

The stomach's job is to produce and hold digestive acid and enzymes.

When antacids are used regularly, the stomach senses this and, over

time, increases its acid production " rate " set point. Taking

antacids to reduce acid can lead to the production of

*excessive* acid and more discomfort.

-

OTHER SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTACIDS:

Use of antacids can cause bowel irregularities including

constipation, nausea and diarrhea with occasional vomiting.

They can lead to kidney stones, 'demineralization of bones', bone

pain and muscle weakness with cramping.

 

They can be counted on to produce " malabsorption' of' minerals'.

The list of diseases that have been associated with low gastric

acidity include, but are not limited to:

Anemia, arthritis, asthma, autoimmune diseases, celiac disease,

dermatitis, diabetes, eczema, gallbladder problems, hepatitis,

lupus, osteoporosis, psoriasis and problems with over- and under-

active thyroid glands.

 

------------------------------

Various antacids can interfere with the absorption of minerals.

---

Any antacid can " interfere " with the absorption of iron, zinc, and

possibly other minerals by neutralizing stomach acid.Aluminum-

containing antacids bind with phosphorus and interfere

with its absorption, which can lead to calcium loss.

 

Antacids that contain calcium may also compete for absorption with

iron. Calcium antacids may alter the absorption of magnesium.

Calcium-containing antacids, when taken with zinc supplements, might

substantially decrease 'zinc' absorption.Finally, calcium antacids

impair the absorption of manganese and " chromium. " This may be

problematic for diabetics who are typically lacking in sufficient

chromium.

 

 

---

If the pancreas doesn't 'neutralize' the acid coming from the

stomach with " bicarbonates " , the proteolytic enzymes (the ones that

break down food protein) are destroyed.

This can result in incomplete or " foreign " **protein* molecules

being absorbed into the " bloodstream " and circulating throughout the

body. Your body's immune system naturally attacks these molecules.

This series of events is the basis for your " allergic reaction. "

 

-------------------------------

Contrary to what the huge drug companies that make antacids and H2

blocker drugs say, excessive 'acid' production is almost 'never' the

reason for heartburn, acid digestion or ulcers.

 

In fact, it is now estimated that up to one-third of all bleeding

ulcers are 'caused' by taking acid blockers and " NSAID " drugs such

as aspirin and ibuprofen.

Antacids and H2 blockers alleviate symptoms for a short while by

buffering acid and decreasing acid secretion, but can actually

'aggravate' the underlying problem; too " little " acid in the

stomach.

 

With 'chronic use' of these medications, digestion is 'compromised'

and ''decreased' absorption of some vitamins and minerals can

result.

 

--------------------------------

Natural Alternatives to Drugs --

 

Licorice extract (deglycyrrhizinated licorice or DGL) -is a

wonderful herbal healing aid. It increases the production

of " protective mucus " in the stomach. Use between 300 mg four to six

times a day around meals.

 

If you have digestive problems, be sure to eliminate

gastrointestinal irritants, such as tobacco, NSAIDS, coffee

(caffeinated and decaf and alcohol as well.

---

Alternatives to Heartburn Drugs:

Eating a balanced diet of organic unprocessed, whole foods is your

foundation for a healthy stomach. Eat an organic green salad or raw

organic vegetables at least once a day.

 

To help increase stomach acid, drink a glass of room temperature

water a half-hour before eating. If that doesn't help, you can add a

tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. If neither of these solutions

work, try taking a DGL supplement or betaine hydrochloride

supplement (HCI) with your meal.

 

 

Natural heartburn therapies - Deglycyrrhizinated licorice

extract or DGI. one or two 380 mg tablets on an empty stomach,

three to four times a day.

 

A glass of room temperature water, raw cabbage or potato juice

(organic) or herbal teas, (lukewarm, no lemon) can bring quick

relief. Fresh organic apples, papaya or bananas can help as well.

 

If you do need to lower your stomach 'acidity' you can use a form of

organic sulfur called MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) in supplement

form, 1,000 mg daily.

 

Remember, your stomach " acid " is one of your front line defenses

against harmful bacteria. Suppress it and the rest of your systems

have to work " overtime " to protect you.

 

 

Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D

is a best-selling author in the field

of health and nutrition. This excerpt is from his latest book,

 

" Prescription Alternatives " co-authored with Virginia Hopkins.

 

------------------------------

Digestive Cocktail:

-

Every one of the ingredients in this tasty dessert contains

significant amounts of stomach-soothing " anti-ulcer " compounds.

 

 

Raw Pineapple

Blueberries

Ground cinnamon

Ground cloves

Ground ginger

Raw Honey (optional)

Unripe Bananas

 

Cut up the bananas and pineapple, the amount and proportions will

vary depending on how many people you're serving and which fruits

you like the best. Place them in a serving bowl and add the

blueberries. Season to taste with cinnamon, cloves and ginger (try

to be generous) and sweeten with stevia or honey (if using).

 

If you like, you can also make a between meal drink by

blending blueberry juice, pineapple juice, a banana and the spices

listed above. Garnish each serving with a peppermint sprig.

-------------------------------

 

Ginger is well known for its anti-inflammatory activity, but its

considerably less known as an herbal treatment for indigestion.

 

In fact, ginger contains 11 compounds that have demonstrated anti-

ulcer effects. These chemical compounds are a real mouthful, but I

think that you might find it interesting to know just how much

anti-ulcer chemistry can be concentrated in a single humble spice.

 

Here they are in order, from most to least abundant: 6 shogaol, 6

gingerol, 8shogaol,

8 gingerol, 10 gingerol, ar-curcumene, beta-bisalene, 6-gingediol,

betases quiphellan-drene, 6 gingerdione and 6 paradol.

 

Eating ginger root is a pleasant tasting treatment for

ulcers, according to Paul Schulick, New England herbalist.

The combination of honey and ginger in particularly effective. In

addition to the antibacterial compounds, that are

available

from ginger, honey has antibacterial action, and the two together

seem to produce synergistic effect

---

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) –

 

German physicians have always been more open to herbal medicine than

doctors in the United Sates, and they have researched herbal

alternative extensively.

 

Commission E, the body of scientists that advises the German

counterpart of the Food and Drug Administration,

approves licorice as a " digestive aid " .

This recommendation is based on the medical traditions of Asia, the

middle east and Europe, plus literally dozens of scientific studies.

 

Licorice contains several compounds, including glycyrrhizin acid

which benefit digestion. In one good study, DGL was as effective as

the newest class of pharmaceutical drugs Called 'histamine' blocking

agents that were designed to do this.

 

DGL also protects the digestive lining from aspirin's ulcer

" promoting " effects.

If you'd like to take licorice from time to time, as an ulcer

preventive. When you're brewing some other herbal

tea, add a little licorice.

Licorice by itself makes a sweet, pleasant tasting tea, and when

added to other teas, it serves as a sweetener.

 

H. pylori virus is linked to stomach *cancer*, so you must take

these conditions seriously.

 

 

Unripe Banana --

Bananas are an old folk remedy for many gastrointestinal problems

because they sooth the digestive tract. And studies with

experimental animals suggest that bananas do,

in fact, have a soothing effect on the stomach. One

researcher noted that " bananas may beanother useful addition to

such well established anti-ulcer foods as raw cabbage, green tea,

garlic and legumes.

 

Raw Cabbage juice is a hallowed folk remedy for ulcers. It turns out

that cabbage and

its juice contain considerable amounts of two compounds

with anti- ulcer activity,

 

glutamine and S-Methyl-methionine.

 

 

Melvin Werbach, M.D. assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at

the University of California, Los Angeles, school of medicine and

author to the excellent nutritional influences on illness, cites a

study of

people with digestive ailments who were given raw cabbage juice as a

 

treatment.

 

Ninety-two percent showed significant improvement within three weeks

compared with 37 percent of those taking a placebo without cabbage

juice. In studies of just the active compound glutamine, daily doses

of 1,600 mgs proved more effective than conventional antacids in

treating ulcers.

 

The folk recommendations for digestive problems is to drink one

quart

of raw cabbage juice a day.

 

 

Calendula--

 

Calendula, sometimes known as pot marigold, has antibacterial,

antivirus and immune stimulating properties.

Calendula has been shown to

alleviate symptoms of chronic stomach inflammation which doctors

call " hypersecretory gastritis.

Clinical trials in Europe have proven its effectiveness.

You can make a tea with the dried herb or take a tincture. I

personally enjoy a cup or two of tea made with about five teaspoons

of fresh calendula flowers. It is especially good with lemon balm

 

 

It wise to go easy on alcohol if you have an ulcer.

 

Finnish researchers have discovered that alcohol abuse increase the

 

risk of

H. pylori infection by 500 percent. If you have hay fever, however,

you

might want to avoid taking the herb, because people who are allergic

to ragweed may react to calendula as well, if you take it and have a

reaction –itching or any other discomfort—discontinue use.

 

 

Fennel tea would also be fine -- as would anise, chamomile,

coriander

 

or caraway tea. There are other herbs that have a reputation as

 

carminatives for the intestinal tract --

but fennel is the one I recommend most frequently.

 

 

Chamomile—

 

several herbalists I admire recommend chamomile tea,

notably Rudolf Fritz Wiess, M.D. the dean of German medical

herbalists, and author of Herbal Medicine.

 

He writes that`the remedy of choice for digestive ailments is

 

chamomile.

…there can be no other remedy more tailor-made, including all

synthetic

 

products. Widely used as a digestive aid in Europe, chamomile is

 

uniquely suited to treating digestive ailments, including ulcers.

This

 

is because it combines

anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic and stomach soothing

properties.

 

 

Pineapple--

 

Like cabbage, pineapple is fairly well endowed with " glutamine " , a

 

compound useful for digestion. Pineapple also contains bromelain, a

 

most effective digestive aid.

 

Bilberry and blueberry--

 

Both of these fruits contain compounds known as " anthocyanosides " .

In

studies with experimental animals, these compounds have been shown

to

offer significant protection against ulcers and other digestive

problems

They help stimulate the production of mucus that protects the

stomach lining from digestive acids.

 

Meadowsweet--

 

Like willow bark, meadowsweet is a type of " herbal aspirin " . Aspirin

in high doses causes ulcers, so it might seem strange to recommend

it as an ulcer treatment. Many prominent herbalists do, however

among

them

British herbalist David Hoffmann author of several good herbals

including The Herbal Handbook.

 

The active compounds in meadowsweet are " salicylates " .

 

Aspirin, on the other hand,-- is nothing but salicylates,

Hoffmann says that while pure salicylates do indeed *cause* ulcers,

 

Wole Madowsweet

 

helps " prevent " and " treat " them 'despite' its salicyate content.

 

Other chemical compounds in whole meadowsweet, among them tannins,

phenolid glycosides and the herbs essential oil, give it an

antiulcer effect.

 

Hoffmann unflinchingly maintains that meadowsweet is one of the best

digestive herbs and recommends it for ulcers and heartburn.

This makes sense to me.

Several plants with proven anti-ulcer effects, including chamomile,

also contain salicylates.

 

Rhubarb--

 

In a Chinese study of 312 people with bleeding ulcers, rhubarb

helped

improve some 90 percent within a few days., I'd be careful when

using this herb though, as its also a powerful laxative,. If you

experience diarrhea, cut back the amount you're taking or

discontinue

use altogether.

 

Turmeric--

 

This culinary herbs used in Indian and Asian curry dishes, might be

called the poor persons ulcer treatment. In a good study by

physicians in Thailand, turmeric (250 mgs capsules taken three times

a

day) relieved ulcer pain only about half as well as pharmaceutical

antacids after six weeks,

 

 

Red Pepper--

 

Many Americans believe that hot spices cause ulcers. The truth is,

they don't. In fact, they may even protect the stomach and duodenal

lining against them. Capsaicin, he compound that gives red pepper

the heart helping properties, has been shown to reverse the damage

in

experimental animals that were given high, ulcer causing doses of

aspirin,.

 

Gentian—

 

this is one of several 'bitter' herbs traditionally used to aid

digestion. Commission E reports that the 'bitter' compounds in

gentian

stimulate the flow of saliva and stomach secretions.

 

Garlic--

 

Garlic is a potent, broad spectrum antibiotic. Paul Bergner, editor

of Medieval Herbalism suggests that those who are wary of

pharmaceutical antibiotics for ulcer treatment might want to try a

course of garlic therapy.

 

This would involve eating nine raw garlic cloves a day. You can chop

the garlic and mix it with any food that makes it palatable, such as

carrot juice.

Try blending two raw cloves of garlic with one carrot,

for instance, I tried it and the combination tasted better than I

thought it would. It's a painless way to take a couple of cloves of

garlic.

You can also try whipping up an antic-ulcer gazpacho, heavy on the

garlic and red pepper.

 

 

Cabbage soup:

 

You'll have to do a little experimenting to arrive at a flavor that

pleases you. If you try the optional spices, use them sparingly,

they are delicious in cabbage soup.

The flavor is rather exotic.

 

3 cups water

2 cups shredded cabbage

2 cup chopped celery

1 cup diced organic potatoes

½ cup chopped okra

1 cup diced onions

½ cup chopped green pepper

Ground red pepper

Ground ginger

Ground black pepper

Ground cinnamon

Ground clove

Dried licorice root

 

Place the water, cabbage, celery, potatoes, okra, onions, and green

pepper in a soup pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, Reduce the

heat, cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Season to

taste with the red pepper, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon cloves and

licorice.

 

Other Supplements & Herbs:

Fennel (vegetable)

Alfalfa

Celery

Brown rice

Black Walnut

Peppermint oil

Yarrow

Organic Yogurt

Organic Papaya

Proteolytic Enzymes

 

 

 

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

 

How about ginger as an herbal alternative to cimetidine (Tagamet),

ranitidine (Zantac) and famotidine (Pepcid)?

 

 

Camomile (Matricaria recutita).

 

Commission E, the German group of scientists that makes

recommendations

on herbal safety and effectiveness, considers camomile effective for

relieving many gastrointestinal complaints, including indigestion.

 

Andrew Weil, M.D., professor at the University of Arizona College of

Medicine in Tucson and author of Natural Health, Natural Medicine,

says that the best home remedies for upset stomach are chmomile and

peppermint tea.

 

Personally, I prefer peppermint, but both are effective.

While drinking camomile tea is fine, the tincture is probably more

effective.Camomile tea has only 10 to 15 percent of the herb's

carminative essential oil, while tinctures prepared with 100-proof

alcohol have much more.

 

Peppermint (Mentha piperita).

 

Most herbalists, myself included, have a special regard for

peppermint's ability to relieve indigestion. I've needed peppermint

more often since 1990, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

gave me a bad case of indigestion by ruling that peppermint is

ineffective for stomach distress. This does not mean that peppermint

is useless. Frankly, it means that the FDA's evaluation was useless.

 

Commission E endorses peppermint tea for treating indigestion. Given

a choice between an FDA pronouncement and a Commission E

endorsement, I'd go for the German decision.

 

 

Herbs a dash each of angelica, anise, camomile, coriander, fennel,

ginger, rosemary and turmeric with

two dashes of any of the mints, marjoram and peppermint.

Steep these herbs overnight in the refrigerator in a mixture of

alcohol and water (one shot of vodka per cup of spring water). You

can drink this as a tea or add some to pineapple juice.

 

---

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum). coriander helps soothe indigestion:

Its essential oil is carminative, antiseptic, bactericidal,

fungicidal and a muscle relaxant.

 

Traditional herbalists valued coriander, especially to

counteract the stomach-upsetting properties of laxative herbs such

as buckthorn, cascara, rhubarb and senna.

 

papaya (Carica papaya) and pineapple (Ananas comosus).

Both of these fruits contain enzymes (proteolytics) that break down

protein. Naturopaths and people who advocate juicing for health,

among them medical anthropologist John Heinerman, Ph.D., author of

Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Fruits,

Vegetables and Herbs, maintain that papaya and pineapple juice are

good for relieving indigestion.

You

should also get benefits from eating other fruits that contain

proteolytic enzymes, such as kiwifruit or some

figs, after meals.

 

Red pepper (Capsicum, various species).

Americans often believe that hot spices upset the stomach. But much

of the rest of the world knows better--that hot spices like red

pepper help soothe it. Red pepper also stimulates digestion.

 

 

Assorted carminative herbs.

There are more than 500 carminatives, mst are supported by some

research.

 

Also included are agrimony, allspice, apples, basil, bay, beebalm,

buckwheat, burdock, caraway, cardamom, catnip, celery, chervil,

chives, cloves, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, garlic, horehound,

hyssop,

lemon balm (also known as melissa), lemongrass, lovage, marjoram,

nutmeg, onions, oregano, papaya, parsnips, pennyroyal, rosemary,

sage, savory, tarragon, tea, thyme, turmeric, vanilla and yarrow.

Feel free to try any of these herbs to relieve indigestion.

 

Assorted essential oils.

 

Aromatherapists often recommend a few whiffs of a number of

different carminative oils to help digestion

including aniseed, basil, bergamot, camomile, cinnamon, clove,

coriander, fennel, garlic, ginger, hyssop, juniper, lavender, lemon,

lemongrass, onion, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon and

thyme. Do not ingest these oils.They are meant to be used

externally.

 

One way to find a medical doctor who is competent in recommending

natural therapies is by contacting the American College for

Advancement in Medicine www.acam.org.ACAM will provide a list of

licensed medical doctors in your location who have been trained in

prescribing natural therapies. Another source of help is the

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) at

1-206-298-0125. Naturopathic physicians undergo rigorous training in

natural therapies.