REVERSING CROHN’S AND ULCERATIVE COLITIS NATURALLY
A recent issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology (May 1998;93:697-701) reports that people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are more likely to use complementary medical therapies if they have had the disease for over 10 years or if they had been repeatedly hospitalized. The major reasons cited for this were the adverse side effects (diabetes, osteoporosis, cataracts and depression amongst many others) associated with and the lack of effectiveness of mainstream medical treatments.
Since IBD can cause life impairing symptoms and even death, it is treated aggressively with powerful drugs by gastroenterologists (gut specialists). The major interventions in use today against IBD are corticosteroids like Prednisone, antibiotics like Flagyl, aminosalicylates like Sulfasalazine, Asacol and Pentasa, immunosuppressive drugs Imuran and Cyclosporin and/or surgery to remove the diseased bowel. Unfortunately, the ultimate fate of some victims of ulcerative colitis is a total colectomy which is supposedly curative but leaves the patient with an ileostomy (an artificial abdominal opening with a disposable bag for stool collection). Special diets, nutritional supplements and herbs are rarely, if ever, prescribed for those who suffer from these gut disorders despite numerous reports of clinical successes using less toxic natural approaches.
A variety of factors have been implicated in the causation of IBD including heredity but it is generally believed to be an autoimmune disorder, one in which the person's immune system makes antibodies against his or her own gastrointestinal tract cells. Recent epidemiological studies indicate that users of the birth control pill as well as other oral female hormones may be at twice the risk of developing Crohn' s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Both diseases involve bowel inflammation as well as inflammation of tissues outside the gut. There are differences between the two types of IBD but there is also some degree of overlap with respect to signs and symptoms.2
Crohn’s disease (a.k.a. granulomatous ileitis or ileocolitis) is primarily a disease of white adults between the ages of twenty and forty although it can occur in both children and the elderly. Its main signs and symptoms include an abdominal pain or mass, diarrhea, fever, weight loss, rectal bleeding, anal fissures, abscesses and arthritis. In a minority of cases there may be inflammation of the liver, kidney and skin. The disease process involves the small bowel only in 30% of patients, the colon only in 15% and both the small bowel and colon in 55%. The diagnosis is usually made by x-rays or a biopsy.
Symptoms may include:
an increased urgency to defecate: up to 10-20 times/day bloody, watery, pus and mucous bowel movements normal or dry stools ( constipation) if the disease is limited to the rectosigmoidal area fever, general malaise, anorexia, weight loss, dehydration, joint pain, skin changes, liver disease and eye problems
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that deteriorates the lining of the large bowel. It shows up primarily in the twenty to forty age group and effects predominantly females. Most often, the inflammation begins at the rectum and extends up through the colon. The inflammation can progress until ulcerations and abscesses develop. In some patients, the disease can be mild and localized or excruciatingly painful with perforations of the colon. In others, arthritis and uveitis can develop as extracolonic manifestations. There is usually diarrhea with blood and mucus in the stool. Sudden attacks followed by periods of remission are typical.
Ulcerative colitis tends to recur in families and there is a high incidence of eczema, hay fever, arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis coexisting with the bowel disorder. There is a school of thought which believes that inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis is the result of an allergy or hypersensitivity reaction to certain foods by the colon. Some practitioners have observed an association between Crohn's disease and dental amalgam mercury sensitivity while others like Dr. Andrew Wakefield have recently associated Crohn’s with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.
Salicylate (e.g. aspirin) sensitivity can be shown in a some patients with ulcerative colitis. Some researchers have shown the existence of circulating antibodies against cow’s milk and other foods, especially wheat and other grains. The commonest offending foods triggering ulcerative colitis are milk, wheat and yeast containing foods. IBD has been reported to be directly connected to a high junk food intake consisting of foods high in sugar, white flour products, corn, processed foods, fried foods, high fat snacks, pop, etc.
Common to both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis is the fact that the antifungal medications like colchicine, nystatin and ketoconazole have been documented to reverse the inflammatory process in some cases. This and the many positive reports of disease reversal through the use of natural antifungal therapies support the theory that both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have a strong connection to chronic fungal infection.
Another theory is based on studies showing that IBD is a form of exaggerated allergic response to the presence of intestinal bugs that healthier individuals who are genetically less susceptible tolerate without difficulty. Allergy desensitization techniques, nutritional programs designed to repair a “leaky gut”, the use of natural antibiotics, digestive enzymes, antifungals and immune system modulators may all play a role in reversing IBD naturally.
WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF
Conventional medical treatments for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis often ignore the value of diet despite a large amount of published medical literature that emphasizes its importance. Your garden variety gut specialist will neither prescribe a diet nor advise IBD sufferers to avoid therapeutic diets. In the minds of most conventional doctors, the word “diet” is equated to weight loss, which, in IBD cases, can worsen the general state of health. The well documented book by Elaine Gottschall: Breaking The Vicious Cycle. Intestinal Health Through Diet. (Kirkton, Ont.:The Kirkton Press, 1994) outlines how the Specific Carbohydrate Diet can reverse Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. It is the first and most important book to read for anyone suffering from IBD. If used as directed and if total caloric intake is not restricted, then weight loss is not an issue, a fact which can soothe the anxieties of mainstream medical professionals.
Many victims of inflammatory bowel disease can control their symptoms simply by eliminating lactose (milk sugar), starches, grains, yeast and refined carbohydrates from the diet. Gottschall’s book contains menus, recipes and other self-help information. Some need only follow these diets for six months while others must follow them for years before being able to eat the disallowed foods without symptoms.
If you suffer from IBD, do not go off your prescribed medications when you start the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. As the gut symptoms improve, discuss tapering the drugs with your doctor while following the diet strictly. Eventually, the inflammatory process resolves enough to reverse the bowel lesions.
WHEN TO CONSULT NATURAL HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS
More difficult cases that do not respond within a few months to Gottschall’s Specific Carbohydrate Diet require help from a natural health care practitioner (naturopath or holistic medical doctor) for diagnosis and treatment of hidden food allergies, candida (yeast) infections, bacterial flora imbalances and parasite infestations. This usually involves the use of lab tests such as comprehensive digestive and stool analysis, comprehensive parasitology tests, livecell microscopy, food allergy testing and other blood, urine and hair mineral analysis tests. Diet therapy and nutritional and/or herbal supplements can then be more accurately prescribed.
Severe nutritional imbalances and deficiencies can make it difficult for even the best of diets to reverse IBD. These are frequently seen in sufferers of Crohn’s because of malabsorption but are quite common in ulcerative colitis cases as well. Zinc, B complex vitamins, especially vitamin B12 and folic acid, vitamin A and vitamin D are probably the commonest nutrients requiring supplementation. The following supplements have been reported to help most cases of IBD. Dosages depend on individual needs and tolerances as determined by trial therapies as well as objective biochemical tests.
Vitamin A 50,000-75,000 I.U. daily Zinc picolinate 30 mg daily Magnesium 100 - 400 mg daily (may aggravate some cases of diarrhea) Folic acid 20-30 mg daily Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils) 6-9 g daily Vitamin E 800 I.U. daily Vitamin B12 IM 1000 mcg. once or twice weekly Vitamin C 1 g daily (may aggravate some cases of diarrhea) Lactobacillus acidophilus, bifido bacteria or sacchromyces boulardii - 1 tsp. (3 capsules) daily Quercetin 500-1000 mg 15 minutes before meals Bovine colostrum - 2000 mg twice daily
Herbs which could benefit inflammatory bowel disease include chamomile, ginger, comfrey, licorice root and a combination of slippery elm, Turkish rhubarb, burdock and sheep sorrel. This same combination of herbs can be used in the complementary treatment of many gastrointestinal problems including hemorrhoids, constipation, ulcers, diverticulitis, obesity, adult onset diabetes and hypoglycemia. Side effects are negligible.
Aloe vera juice is soothing for practically all gastrointestinal inflammations but may aggravate diarrhea in some cases of IBD. Garlic and probiotics like lactobacillus acidophilus (dairy and grain-free) may be helpful in normalizing the population of gut bacteria. Natural antimicrobials like grapefruit seed extract, goldenseal, gentian, wild mountain oregano oil, bovine colostrum and others are also effective at normalizing the gut ecology. Quercetin and other bioflavonoids found in garlic and onions minimize food reactions in IBD because they stabilize the mast cell membranes preventing histamine release when taken 15 - 30 minutes before meals. None of these natural treatments interfere with conventional medical treatments. In fact, it’s quite possible that they will help make medical therapy work better. For best results, work with your doctors to integrate diet, food supplements with prescription medications.
Supplements Dr. Rona has recommended to his patients
CYTO INFLAMMATRIX INTEGRA INFLAM-FX THORNE RESEARCH DIPAN 9 CYTOMATRIX OMEGA MATRIX CYTOMATRIX MULTISTRAIN
REFERENCES
Boyko, E.J. et al., Increased Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Associated with Oral Contraceptive Use. American Journal of Epidemiology, 140:268-278, 1994. Gottschall, Elaine. Breaking The Vicious Cycle. Intestinal Health Through Diet. Kirkton, Ont.:The Kirkton Press, 1994.
Martin, Jeanne Marie and Rona, Zoltan P. The Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook. Rocklin, California:Prima Books, 1996. Rona, Zoltan P. and Martin, Jeanne Marie. Return to the Joy of Health, Vancouver: Alive Books, 1995.
FABULOUS SEX LIFE NATURALLY
“To succeed with the opposite sex, tell her you're impotent. She can't wait to disprove it.”
--Cary Grant
You may have noticed the ads in American health magazines for various combination formulas promising the user fabulous sex for life. Some of the claims being made for one product aimed at women include increased intensity and ease of achieving orgasm, improved clitoral sensitivity, enhanced intensity of pelvic sensation during sex and decreased time needed for vaginal lubrication.
For men, equivalent products are said to intensify orgasm, firm up erections, prolong erections during sexual activity and reduce the time needed to produce a subsequent erection. Sound too good to be true?
While published studies have not verified that certain brand name products create the results advertised, research has indeed confirmed the effectiveness of several components of these supplements in boosting the sex lives of both men and women. If you know the ingredients of these formulas it’s easy to understand how they might work to create such results.
The Formula
It may surprise readers to know that the key ingredients for fabulous sex are virtually identical for men and women. Look for formulas containing L- arginine, folic acid, choline and pantothenic acid. These are the major nutrients working to produce the results promoted by the American magazine ads. Also present, as supportive components in some of the formulas are zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E and niacin.
How and Why It Works
To successfully stimulate the genital area, a naturally produced chemical is needed to relax a part of the anatomy called the corpus cavernosum, a spongy bundle of tiny nerves, surrounded and filled with blood vessels. The corpus cavernosum is located in the penis and clitoris. It becomes active when it engorges with blood during periods of sexual excitement. This activation isdependent on the relaxation of genital muscles during sexual arousal. On a biochemical level, what induces this is something called nitric oxide (NO).
About a decade ago, nitric oxide was thought of as little more than a simple, potentially toxic substance found in cigarette smoke and automobile-exhaust fumes, associated with acid rain, ozone depletion and possibly cancer. Research, however, has shown that nitric oxide is manufactured naturally throughout the body and plays a crucial role in regulating the function of virtually every organ. It operates in the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, uterus, and eyes. It helps regulate blood pressure, digestion, and even the behavior of erectile tissue.
Therapeutic uses of nitric oxide are probably many years off but one simple, natural thing you can do to raise blood levels is to eat a diet high in nuts (walnuts, filberts, pecans, Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts) that are high in arginine, the amino acid the body converts directly into nitric oxide. Other high arginine foods are sesame and sunflower seeds, coconut, gelatin, buckwheat, barley, chicken, chocolate, corn, cinnamon, dairy products, meats and oats. This may be one of the reasons why some of the fabulous sex formulas contain extracts of cocoa and cinnamon.
L-Arginine supplementation (6000 – 12,000 mgs. daily) promotes natural body production of nitric oxide much like the drug, Viagra. What nitric oxide does is to dilate (open up wider) the arteries to the genitals. Unlike Viagra, arginine is inexpensive, has never caused any deaths and has a very low toxicity potential. Arginine has been shown to be effective in wound healing after surgery, low sperm counts and male infertility. Contraindications for its use include kidney disease and herpes simplex, both of which can be made worse by high arginine, low lysine foods like chocolate and nuts.
Women will also welcome arginine supplementation for enhancing their libido levels. Nitric oxide produced thanks to arginine improves vaginal circulation and stimulates the perivascular nerves in the genital area involved in sexual arousal. The best way of taking arginine supplements is to take between 6 and 12 grams an hour before an anticipated sexual encounter. People who cannot take large amounts of this amino acid in capsule form at one sitting can get almost as good results on sexual performance by taking the arginine in divided doses, 3 or 4 times during the day. Alternatively, arginine comes in a powdered form and can be mixed with fruit juice.
L-arginine is an essential amino acid, which can be very effective oral therapy for erectile dysfunction, producing harder and longer lasting erections and increasing libido. Aside from its effects on boosting nitric oxide levels, L- arginine is a stimulator of growth hormone release, another hormone involved in enhancing libido. Growth hormone release helps increase muscle mass while decreasing the amount of body fat. L-arginine also plays an important role in post-injury problems such as weight changes, nitrogen balance, fatigue and tissue healing. It increases collagen, the main supportive fibrous protein found in bone, cartilage and other connective tissue, stimulates the immune system and increases the production of sperm (spermatogenesis). L-arginine can be used in the treatment of liver disorders because it promotes the detoxification of ammonia which is poisonous to living cells.
Folic acid is another one of the B complex vitamins whose claim to fame has been its ability to prevent neural tube defects in the developing fetus. Folic acid is also important in the prevention of heart disease because it is able to keep the levels of the amino acid, homocysteine in check. Homocysteine has a negative impact on the production of nitric oxide, the molecule considered to be important for both an optimal cardiovascular disease as well as a very healthy sex life. Folic acid supplements of 5 – 10 mgs. daily help optimize nitric oxide levels.
Choline is an essential nutrient vital to building and maintaining cell membranes. It is derived in the diet from soybeans and eggs and its use as a supplement is primarily for memory enhancement. Choline (1200 mgs. 3 times daily) and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) (1000 mgs. 3 times daily) are used by the body in the production of acetylocholine, a neurotransmitter important for healthy memory as well as a signal for the release of the enzyme nitrous oxide synthase (NOS). In the presence of L-arginine, this enzyme helps produce nitric oxide. The combination of choline, vitamin B5 and L- arginine are thus needed to produce the nitric oxide for release into the bloodstream so erection can occur.
B complex (50 – 100 mgs. daily) should be taken to balance the individual B vitamins taken in higher dosages. While there are no significant side effects to taking high dose folic acid, choline and pantothenic acid, theoretically one can create relative deficiencies in the other B complex vitamins.
What to Do
Well, there you have it. As long as you use the combination of L-arginine, folic acid, choline and pantothenic acid in the dosages recommended above, you should be able to achieve greater sexual fulfillment. Prepackaged formulas may be more convenient but purchasing the individual ingredients is significantly less expensive.
With the exception of L-arginine, these natural health products are easily available in Canada. L-arginine is available by mail order from many American supplement manufacturers for personal use. Either that or one can readily obtain this amino acid by driving across the border and picking it up from a health food store. Enjoy and tell everyone you read about it here.
Products Dr. Rona has recommended to his patients
Testostrogain Argenine
REFERENCES
Brann DW, Mahesh VB. Excitatory amino acids: evidence for a role in the control of reproduction and anterior pituitary hormone secretion. Endocr.Rev. 1997;18:678-700.
Anderson-Hunt M, Dennerstein L. Increased female sexual response after oxytocin. BMJ.1994;309:929
Choi, Y.D., et al, The distribution of nitric oxide synthase in human corpus cavernosum on various impotent patients, Yonsei.Med.J., 38 (1997) 125-132.
Burnett, A.L., Role of nitric oxide in the physiology of erection, Biol.Reprod., 52 (1995) 485-489.
NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR HIVES
Dr. Zoltan Rona MD MSc
Hives (urticaria) is the name given to a skin eruption characterized by outbreaks of red, itchy, occasionally swollen welts on the skin associated with histamine release. They are most often treated by conventional doctors with antihistamines or corticosteroids. Hives can be the result of anxiety, viral infections, chemical exposure or hidden food allergies.
Food allergies can develop because of heredity or some specific injury to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. This injury can be caused by non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), antibiotics, chemicals in food or water, steroids like the birth control pill and other drugs. Another possible direct cause of hives is parasitic infection. Yet another possibility is candida (yeast) infection. In many cases of hives, low stomach acidity is present as well. If stomach acidity is adequate, parasites and fungi like candida cannot get past the acid barrier of the stomach and infestation cannot take place.
If the cause of the hives is unknown, it is harmless to try some natural remedies that reduce inflammation without the deleterious side effects of antihistamines. This can be done while one is being investigated for food and chemical allergies or various infections by a health care practitioner. For most adults this means taking the following nutritional supplements on at least a temporary basis:
1)Vitamin C - 1000 mgs. 3 times daily and increased daily by 1000 mgs. until bowel tolerance (loose bowel movements) is reached.
2)Quercetin - 1000 mgs. 3 times daily; quercetin is a bioflavonoid that stabilizes the mast cell membrane; the mast cell is where histamine is manufactured.
3)Pycnogenol - 300 mgs. daily until hives gone, then 150 mgs. daily thereafter
Low stomach acidity prevents a person from completely digesting foods, especially the high protein foods. As a result, partially digested foods can get absorbed into the blood eliciting an allergic/inflammatory reaction. In essence, the food which is partially digested behaves as if it were an allergen that needs to be attacked by the immune system.Even so-called “healthy” foods can turn into allergies when hydrochloric acid is inadequate. Rashes like acne and hives can result.
Once the cause of hives has been established, treatment can be directed at the source of the problem. A health care practitioner should be consulted for testing and treatment tailored to individual needs.
How I Treat Diabetes
Many health professionals maintain that juvenile diabetes can only be treated by insulin injections and will not respond to the natural approach. I used to believe this, too, until one young man who consulted me about five years ago changed my thinking.
John B. was a 15-year-old newly diagnosed diabetic who rejected the prescribed insulin needles. He self-treated his problem successfully, using a diet determined by food allergy testing combined with several of the nutritional and herbal supplements described below. Five years later, John has had no relapse in his condition. His blood sugar levels remain normal – without drugs or insulin injections.
If you’re among the two million Canadians with diabetes, rest assured that it is indeed possible to live happily with this condition. Most diabetics who consult me are already taking oral medication or insulin injections, and are looking for ways to control their blood sugar levels more naturally. This is certainly possible and well worth the effort, regardless of whether you have Type I or Type II diabetes (see sidebar bottom of page for definitions). In some cases, oral hypoglycemic agents and even insulin shots can be eliminated.
Controlling Blood Sugar with Diet
Lifestyle and dietary factors have a tremendous influence on your blood sugar levels. The first, most critical step is to quit smoking. Cigarettes contain added sugar and are contaminated by fungi and their toxins. They must be eliminated because they can make blood sugar control by diet and nutritional supplements virtually impossible.
Next, avoid all sources of simple carbohydrate. Follow a low glycemic index diet (check the book Enter the Zone by Dr. Barry Sears). Arrange testing for food allergies because troublesome foods can play havoc with your blood sugar. The highest glycemic index foods are breads, cereals, pastas, starches and dairy products. These also happen to be the most common unsuspected food allergies.Eating allergenic or high glycemic index foods will rapidly induce insulin. They will make blood sugar control worse, increase cravings for sweets, and lead to greater weight gain, higher triglycerides and higher cholesterol.
In addition to allergy testing, I highly recommend blood, urine and hair mineral analysis to assess the levels of both essential nutrients and toxins such as lead, cadmium, mercury and aluminum. Blood and saliva tests for hormones (thyroid, DHEA, testosterone, cortisol, progesterone, estrogen and others) are also helpful because blood sugar can be greatly affected by one’s hormone levels .
Special Therapeutic Foods
I encourage you to include one or several of the following special therapeutic foods in your daily diet. They can dramatically lower your insulin requirements:
* Brewer’s yeast – 1 tbsp. (15 mL) twice daily provides a rich source of the mineral chromium, which helps normalize glucose tolerance.
* Soybeans and other legumes – 1 cup (250 mL) or more daily of kidney beans, lentils, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, soybeans or lima beans retards the absorption rate of carbohydrate into the bloodstream.
* Onions and garlic – half a clove of garlic or half a medium sized onion twice daily normalizes blood sugar regulation by decreasing the rate of insulin elimination by the liver.
* Aloe vera gel – 1⁄2 tsp. (2 mL) twice a day stimulates the increased synthesis of insulin by the pancreas.
* Fenugreek seeds – 1⁄2 oz. (12 mL) twice daily reduces fasting and postprandial (after a meal) blood sugar levels in both juvenile and adult-onset diabetics by improving cell sensitivity to insulin.
* Blueberry (bilberry) leaf tea – 2 cups per day reduces high blood sugar levels through the action of the active component, myrtillin.
* Bitter melon (balsam pear) – a tropical fruit widely cultivated in Asia, Africa and South America. Its juice contains several compounds with strong blood sugar lowering action (drink 2 oz/50 mL per day).
* Jerusalem artichoke and asparagus (1-2 cups/250-500 mL daily) – contain inulin, a soluble fibre that stabilizes blood glucose levels, preventing both hyper (high) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Other excellent sources of inulin include chicory, the dahlia plant, dandelion, burdock, garlic and onions.
Top Five Supplements
The following are the five most important nutritional supplements for better blood sugar control. The doses should be adjusted according to biochemical tests and other individual needs. Monitor your blood sugar levels with a glucometer regularly, and adjust drug, insulin and supplement dosages accordingly.
* Gymnema sylvestre – an herb that lowers blood sugar by increasing insulin levels gradually. Recommended dosage: 2000 mg. 3 times daily.
* Chromium picolinate – an essential mineral that is an active ingredient of GTF (glucose tolerance factor). Chromium corrects both high and low blood sugar levels. Dosage: 1,000 mcg daily.
* B-complex vitamins – especially B1, B3, B6, B12, biotin and folic acid because they are involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates by the body. Dosage: 100 mg or more daily.
* Multi trace mineral supplement – especially magnesium, vanadium, manganese, zinc, copper, selenium, potassium and silicon for their effects on the pancreas and numerous hormones that regulate blood sugar levels. Dosage: 3 to 6 capsules daily.
* Antioxidant supplement – containing beta carotene, vitamins A, C, E, grape seed extract, alpha lipoic acid and bioflavonoids. These nutrients will help prevent high blood sugar levels, as well as some of the complications of diabetes like peripheral neuropathy and retinal problems. Dosage: 3 to 6 capsules daily.
Ideally, consult a natural health care practitioner and get properly tested for nutritional deficiencies, toxicities and food allergies. Improvement in your blood sugar levels, as well as your general health, is just a few weeks or months away.
– ZR
Supplements that Dr. Rona has recommended to his patients
DB MATRIX GLUCOBALANCE CINAMAX AGARICUS BLAZEI SALACIA
SIDEBAR #1 Basic Definitions
Type I (juvenile) or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) occurs most often in children and adolescents. It is an autoimmune disease thought by some researchers to be linked to an allergy to cow’s milk or other unsuspected foods. Others have connected it with childhood vaccinations, especially the hepatitis B vaccine.
Type II (adult) or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) usually develops in people 40 years or older. It is generally related to being overweight. Most cases of Type II diabetes are thought to be controllable almost entirely by diet.
SIDEBAR #2
In addition to those foods described in this article, the following natural foods will also help to control your blood sugar levels:
* Berries * Celery * Cucumber * Green leafy vegetables * Sprouts * String beans * Parsley * Psyllium * Flaxseed * Lemons * Oat bran * Radishes * Sauerkraut * Sunflower seeds * Squash * Watercress
SEASONAL ALLERGY RELIEF NATURALLY
Spring and fall are the least popular seasons for most allergy sufferers. The usual disturbing symptoms of environmental (inhalant) allergies are often severe enough to interfere with productivity. Allergies to grasses, trees, molds, pollens, dust and other environmental pollutants can cause chronic sinus congestion, runny nose, postnasal drip, headaches, earaches, itching, eye irritation and infection, wheezing and sneezing, all with variable degrees of severity. Despite a greater awareness of natural ways to both prevent and treat seasonal allergies, most of the North American public is still resorting to the use of symptom suppressing drugs like antihistamines, decongestants and corticosteroids.
Antihistamines are used for hay fever and seasonal allergy relief. Derived from tranquilizers, they can cause drowsiness, depression, weight gain and serious cardiac complications when combined with antibiotics or other drugs. A recent editorial published in The Canadian Medical Association Journal (July 1, 1997; 157(1)) concluded that certain antihistamines can cause death due to serious cardiac arrythmias (heart beat irregularities). Other negative reports on the long term side effects of antihistamines (weight gain), decongestants (strokes) and steroids (ulcers) have prompted many with environmental allergies to seek safer, more natural alternatives.
Clean Up the Diet
To begin with, several good studies have shown a positive correlation between sugar consumption and allergic symptoms. Eliminating refined sugar and foods containing chemical additives from the diet is a good place for most allergy sufferers to start. Seasonal allergic symptoms are often diminished by eating more foods like garlic, onions, horseradish, citrus, carrots, greens, cayenne or other hot peppers as tolerated, provided you are not allergic to them.
The diagnosis and elimination of unsuspected food allergies(usually to dairy and wheat products, yeast, corn, chocolate and eggs) can also have a significant beneficial effect for environmental allergies. Several studies show that people allergic to grass pollens also reacted totomatoes, peanuts, wheat, apple, carrot, celery, peach, melon, eggs and pork.
To find out which foods aggravate symptoms of seasonal allergies, an elimination diet can be done. This involves the removal of suspected foods from the diet for at least two weeks followed by systematic re-introduction of these foods, noting reactions. An increasingly popular alternative to this elimination- provocation technique is blood tests called RAST or ELISA that measure the levels of antibodies directed against various foods.
Although one does not necessarily notice any specific allergic reactions on an immediate basis after consuming certain foods, there may be delayed reactions, the net effect of which cause an abnormal immune response in the form of chronic sinus congestion, runny nose, wheezing and sneezing. Dark circles and swelling around the eyes are common signs of unsuspected delayed food allergies, especially in children.
Clean up the Environment
The use of HEPA air filters, humidifiers or dehumidifiers in the home can often make a big difference in preventing allergic symptoms. So can water filters that remove chlorine and other chemicals from both drinking and bathing water. Ionizers and other types of air cleaners in the car are also a good idea, especially if one spends over half an hour each day in the car.
If you are allergic to pollen, wear sunglasses to keep pollen from getting into your eyes. Never rub your eyes while you are outdoors as this could lead to swelling around the eyes. Always change your clothes, shower and wash your hair to remove pollen. Washing your hair before going to bed is important to avoid bringing pollen into bed with you to inhale.
Nasal douching with a warm saline solution (a 1/4 teaspoon of salt to one cup of warm water) several times daily rinses pollen grains, mold, airborne pollutants and other irritants off nasal tissues and soothes irritated mucous membranes.
Correct Nutritional Deficiencies
Environmental allergies can also be lessened by correcting nutritional deficiencies, especially to zinc, selenium, carotenoids, vitamin C and vitamin E. Studies on vitamin C have shown that in very high doses, it has antihistaminic effects but without the weight gain and the adverse cardiac consequences. High dose vitamin C often also increases energy and enhances muscle strength. The only side effect of vitamin C is loose bowel movements or diarrhea if the dose taken is too high for the given individual.
Deficiencies in essential fatty acids (omega-3 from fish oils and omega-6 from evening primrose oil) can aggravate most allergic conditions as well as cause dry skin, eczema or, in women, worsening premenstrual syndrome.
Use Nutritional Supplements
Several other food supplements may be of help to chronic allergy sufferers: vitamin A, pantothenic acid (vitamin B 5), vitamin B 6, and the bioflavonoids, especially quercetin, grape seed extract or pycnogenol. Bicarbonate powder (calcium, magnesium and potassium bicarbonate mixture) is another drug alternative that can be used to neutralize acute allergic reactions in many individuals.
Quercetin stabilizes mast cell membranes and prevents histamine release (500 to 1,000 mg at least three times a day). Pycnogenol (pine bark extract) or grape seed extract is another useful natural antihistamine. I suggest 300 mg per day until symptoms clear, then half that dose thereafter for several months. When taking quercetin, adding 250 – 500 mg. Of the pineapple enzyme, bromelain, is a very good idea since bromelain improves the absorption of quercetin from the gastrointestinal tract.
Rutin, hesperidin and catechin are other bioflavonoids that are effective for some individuals; dosages range from 1000 to 3000 mgs. daily as needed. These can be used along with quercetin for more serious cases.
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), helps form adrenal hormones that deflect stress and allergic reactions. Try 500 mg three or more times daily. Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine. Take it to bowel tolerance levels (6,000 mg or more in divided doses throughout the day).
New findings suggest that for each additional milligram (mg) of vitamin E consumed in the diet there is an allergy antibody lowering effect of over 5 per cent. The higher the blood concentrations of vitamin E, the lower the level of an antibody family called IgE, a marker for the degree of allergy in the body. Asthma and numerous diseases associated with allergy may therefore directly benefit from vitamin E supplementation (400 IU – 3200 IU daily). (The Lancet, November 4, 2000).
Many doctors who have prescribed vitamin E for decades have noted anecdotally that people who suffer from various conditions benefit from high doses of vitamin E. These ailments include seasonal allergies, hay fever, asthma, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis, lupus and many other types of immune system disorders. In my practice I have consistently seen IgE and other high antibody levels return to normal with daily doses of 3,200 IU of vitamin E combined with high-dose essential fatty acids (fish oils, evening primrose oil, hempseed oil).
Use Herbal Remedies
To reduce mucous and nasal congestion, try the herb stinging nettles, one to two capsules (500 mg.) every four hours as needed.
Curcumin, an extract of tumeric, has been shown to be as effective an anti-inflammatory remedy as prescription cortisone. Unlike steroids, curcumin has virtually no side effects. In selected cases, treatment of bacterial overgrowth, parasites or a chronic candida (“yeast syndrome”) infection improves allergies.
Other herbs with an anti-inflammatory or anti-allergy effect are licorice root, ephedra (controversial these days), lobelia, eyebright, cayenne, horehound, fenugreek and mullein.
Use Immune Modulating Supplements
The use of natural remedies in the form of herbs and other food extracts has become an increasingly popular way of both up- regulating a sluggish immune system or down-regulating an overactive one. Aside from vitamin E discussed earlier, there is a long list of immune modulating supplements. The most notable of these include astragalus, bovine colostrum, echinacea, larch arabinogalactan, medicinal mushrooms (reishi, maitaki, shitake), mild silver protein, oil of oregano, probiotics (e.g. lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria), sterols and sterolins (beta-sitosterol) and transfer factor. One or a combination of these can make a dramatic impact on optimizing immunity.
Use Other Alternatives
Homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic and massage are other therapies that have been reported to help those with seasonal allergies. The choice is yours but it’s always wise to discuss any drug alternatives with your health care provider.
For more information on all these remedies and the natural approach to illness in general, see the Encyclopedia of Natural Healing (Alive Books, 1998; medical editor: Zoltan P. Rona, M.D., M.Sc.; 1-800-661-0303).
Other References
Boccafogli A, Vicentini L, Camerani A, Cogliati P, D'Ambrosi A, Scolozzi R. Adverse food reactions in patients with grass pollen allergic respiratory disease. Annals of Allergy 1994; 73:301-8.
de Martino M, Novembre E, Cozza G, de Marco A, Bonazza P, Vierucci A. Sensitivity to tomato and peanut allergens in children monosensitized to grass pollen. Allergy 1988;43:206- 13.
de Blay F, Pauli G, Bessot JC. Cross-reactions between respiratory and food allergens. Allergy Proceedings1991;12:313- 7
Mittman P. Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Med 1990; 56(1):44-7.
Curing the Constipation Blues
“When I got up this morning I took 2 Ex-Lax in addition to my Prozac. I can't get off the john, but I feel good about it.” Anonymous
A 45-year-old patient recently told me that her family doctor and gastroenterologist both believed there was nothing wrong with her having only one bowel movement each week. In the doctors’ own words: “This is normal for you.”
Believe it or not, this small-stool philosophy is promoted by many conventional medical groups, including the National Institute on Aging. Here’s a direct quote from their Web site (http://www.nih.gov/nia/): “Do not expect to have a bowel movement every day or even every other day.”
Dr. Dennis Burkitt, MD, famous for his scientific research on bowel health, would definitely not agree with this waste-holding attitude. Neither would the authors of over 40 books on the subject. Dr. Burkitt and many other experts have noted the inverse relationship between the frequency and size of bowel movements and good health.
The doctor found that citizens of those cultures which had larger, softer and more frequent bowel movements were also the healthiest. Furthermore, these groups had the smallest and fewest hospitals. They ate a primarily vegetarian diet, with animal products used only as flavourings or for an occasional feast. Individuals also had a bowel movement following each meal.
Naturopaths have often said that “death begins in the colon.” I agree. Waste material which is not eliminated in a timely, efficient fashion can potentially poison healthy cells and organs far removed from the large bowel. Common ailments in the “civilized” world resulting indirectly and directly from constipation are virtually unknown in rural Africa and India. These include colon cancer, obesity, diverticulitis, diabetes, heart disease, appendicitis and varicose veins.
Causes of Sluggish Bowels
A healthy colon eliminates waste in 12 to 18 hours with a frequency of one bowel movement per meal per day. That’s three bm’s daily if one has three meals each day, four bm’s for four meals, etc. Anything slower is just a varying degree of constipation, a problem shared by at least 60 per cent of North Americans.
The commonest cause of sluggish bowels is a lack of fibre and water in the diet. Other possibilities include a low thyroid condition, neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis, and the use of drugs that affect motility (opiates, diuretics, antidepressants and muscle relaxants).
Antacid and laxative abuse can also lead to chronic constipation. Chemical laxatives and frequent enemas can encourage dependency creating weaker bowel muscle and nerve function leading to worse constipation than before their use. In fact, it may take some people hooked on laxatives months before bowel function returns to normal through the use of natural remedies.
Constipation may be a feature of irritable bowel syndrome, unsuspected food allergy, high dose calcium and iron salts supplementation, fungal (candida overgrowth) or parasitic infestation, diverticulosis, other types of abdominal infection, dehydration, bowel obstruction, long periods of immobility, stress and depression.
Parasites like Giardia lamblia, Blastocystis hominis and Entamoeba histolytica are often overlooked causes of colon troubles. One can easily pick these up from travels to third world countries, day care centres, contaminated fruits, vegetables, animal products and household pets.
Another less recognized cause of constipation is magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is the central element of chlorophyll and is found in all greens. Folic acid and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) deficiency can also lead to lazy bowels.
The spiritual view of constipation sees it as refusing to release old ideas, being stuck in the past and expressing stinginess or inflexibility. Psychoanalysis theory believes that defecation is an act of giving and
generosity, while constipation is an expression of a desire to hang onto things too tightly, usually material things. Constipation may represent an attempt to keep unconscious, repressed emotions locked up within ourselves.
Eliminate Constipating Foods
“Success consists of doing the common things of life uncommonly well.” Anonymous
If you are otherwise healthy, the first step needed to cure constipation is to increase water intake to more than eight large glasses of spring water per day. Avoid coffee and regular tea. Dilute fruit juices are fine. Eat more high fibre foods such as whole grains, legumes, fruits, seeds and nuts, provided you tolerate these foods. Dairy products are frequent causes of sluggish bowels and are best avoided.
It’s also very important to eliminate constipating refined carbohydrate foods such as sweets, chocolates, cakes, all white flour products, white rice and other processed foods. Wheat bran, apple pectin and psyllium seed husks may not only help move your bowels better but will also decrease cravings for sweets.
The average healthy adult requires at least 40 grams of fibre per day for optimal bowel function. Some people may not be able to tolerate such high levels initially, but can easily get used to the higher roughage over a period of weeks to months.
Two foods that are very effective at stimulating the bowels are bran and prunes. It’s best to start with half a cup (125 mL) of bran cereal per day, preferably organic and unsweetened. Over a two-week period, increase this amount gradually to two cups (500 mL). With prunes, one needs to eat at least 8 ounces (227 g) daily for healthy evacuation.
Increasing physical activity also plays an important role. Exercise optimizes circulation to the bowel and improves its performance.
Many natural remedies have worked well for a stubborn colon. Examples are whole leaf aloe vera juice, digestive enzyme supplements, bromelain, B- complex vitamins, especially B5 (pantothenic acid) and folic acid, vitamin C, magnesium citrate or oxide, liquid chlorophyll, flaxseed oil, Lactobacillus acidophilus and fiber supplements.
The occasional use of Swedish bitters, cascara sagrada, comfrey, goldenseal and senna leaf may be an effective approach for some people.
Seeking Professional Help
If chronic constipation doesn’t respond to natural approaches – or there is a coexisting medical condition – seek professional help. Each case needs individual assessment, and special medical or nutritional tests may be necessary.
One such test is the comprehensive digestive and stool analysis. The CDSA is a battery of 24 screening tests of gastrointestinal status. It assesses how well a person digests and assimilates food, and it can detect bacterial flora imbalances, hidden infections with candida, fungi or parasites, or digestive enzyme insufficiencies. Check with your naturopath or holistic medical doctor for such testing and personalized treatments.
Remember, you needn’t move through life singing the constipation blues, when nature offers a smorgasbord of safe and gentle solutions.
SIDEBAR:
The Constipation Quick Fix
If changing your diet and lifestyle is beyond your present capabilities, there’s a relatively safe and effective quick fix for constipation. It entails using high doses of vitamin C and/or pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). Much safer than taking laxatives or drugs, the only significant side effect of taking too much of either vitamin is diarrhea. Once one finds the optimal amount that yields more efficient bowel clearing, this bowel tolerance dose can be safely continued as needed.
With both vitamins, start at 1,000 mgs three times daily. Increase by increments of 1,000 mgs each day until the bowels are functioning as desired. Some people respond better to one vitamin than the other. It’s simply a matter of trial and error to see what works best for you. If gas develops, this means the dose is too low – just increase it until the gas clears.
