Nutritional information for ulcers and Colitis

Stomach irritation can become so pronounced that it goes beyond indigestion. In fact, ten percent of all admissions to general hospitals concern serious stomach and intestinal disorders, such as ulcers and lower bowel disease. For the most part, food and stress are at the root of these problems.

What we eat has an intimate relationship with the gastrointestinal tract. The stomach can be abused by overloading, eating unnatural foods, and eating food containing irritating substances, such as additives, colorings and chemical preservatives. At the same time, no system of the body is as immediately sensitive to emotional stress as the digestive tract. According to one group of specialists (called gastroenterologists), of the five most common disorders they treat - irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, gall bladder problems, inflammation of the esophagus, and heartburn - only the gall bladder ailments do not seem related to stress. A nutritional detective could probably find a stress relationship there as well.

Of course, if we are not eating correctly to help the body to deal with stress and we are under emotional stress simultaneously we will, no doubt, soon have our "bowels in an uproar."

The gastro-intestinal system is some thirty feet long from gullet, or esophagus, to the anal canal at the end of the large intestine. The food we eat goes through the chemical changes needed for our bodies to use it. When the nutrients have been extracted and absorbed into the blood for distribution throughout the body, the residue is expelled. This process continues unceasingly throughout our lifetimes with very little effort on our parts.

The exact causes are known for only a few of the G-1 tract ailments. One of the more familiar of these problems is gastric ulcers. It is estimated that at least 4000 persons develop ulcers everyday and of these about 10 thousand die each year of ulcer complications. Stomach inflammation will not necessarily cause an ulcer to occur, but it may damage the lining just enough to make it overly sensitive to stomach acid. Even though these ulcers may be caused by acid reaction, the people who get them do not necessarily generate a significant excess of the fluid. In fact, as long as the stomach wall is healthy, even a surplus of acid will not harm it. This acid is strong enough to dissolve mortar, so why doesn't it bun a hole in the stomach lining., why not digest the stomach itself? The cells of the stomach lining also secret ammonia, a powerful neutralizing alkali, and mucin, a slimy substance which also acts as a buffer.

Antacid tablets also act as a neutralizing buffer. However, they can do more harm than good. Although there is initial relief, the stomach responds by producing even more acid. This is because of the problem of acid production has not been dealth with. As has been discussed, the amount of acid produced is usually not the initial cause of peptic, or gastric, ulcers. They occur because the stomach has become vulnerable to the acid. Duodenal ulcers, which occur in the upper part of the small intestine, the duodenum, are a result of too much acid. Excess acid from the stomach , goes into the duodenum, which is not equipped against the acid invasion like the stomach.

The large intestine is particularly sensitive to emotional stress. The is the most common cause of irritable bowel syndrome, also called spastic colon. This causes abdominal pain and either constipation or, less often, diarrhea. Many people suffer from this problem, to the extent that it causes as much time lost from work as the common cold.

Diverticulistis is a more serious physical problem. Food residue or gas puts pressure on the colon. Weak spots give way and form little pouch like miniature hernias. These are called diverticula. They become infected and inflamed, ergo, diverticulitis. This disease will not only thicken the intestinal wall but may cause it to close altogether. We are not talking of a rare disorder here. It is not the most common disorder of the colon in the western world.

In its attempt to heal itself, one body needs a great many nutrients. At the same time, these problems, of the gastrointestinal tract can seriously interfere with absorption. In these cases, nutritional supplementation becomes particularly important. Following is a formula specifically designed to support the gastro-intestinal system:

This formulation contains crude licorice extract and derivatives with an organically bound allantoin (comfrey) - methionine complex, acidophilus, and aloe Vera.

Comfrey is the traditional herbal treatment for gastric inflammation. The comfrey root is healing and soothing to the gastric mucosa. It is very rich in mucilage, and works as an anti-inflammatory agent. Comfrey is also rich in calcium and generally good for genital-urinary cellular regeneration.

Pepsin is the dominant stomach enzyme. It is potent digestive agent for meat and other proteins, breaking them down into usable amino acids. Pepsin is included here as a digestive aid, to cover any shortage of pepsin and to insure the smooth working of the digestive system.

Pacreatin is a pancreatic digestive enzyme. It is produced in the small intestine where it serves to help digest fats, proteins and starches. It is included in this formula not only because it is crucial to the digestion of all types of food but also because of the increasingly common problem of insufficient pancreas activity where the pancreas itself does not produce sufficient pancreatic enzyme.

L-methionine is an essential sulphur containing amino acid. It reacts with other substances in the body to detoxify harmful compounds which can harm the G-1 tract. IT works to reduce inflammation and increases the effectiveness of B6.

Mucin is used here in the same way as the raw tissues. It supports the mucin of the stomach and intestinal lining and stimulates the production of mucous tissue. Iodine is used in the formula as an internal antiseptic to help detoxify the digestive system.

The licorice in the base is used specifically for the treatment of gastric ulcers. It is one of the best natural anti-ulcer medications. It also has a detergent effect on mucous accumulations. Allantoin is a unique chemical that occurs in both comfrey and aloe Vera. It is said to have no equal as a stimulator of cell and tissue regeneration. Its unique property is its ability to rid the body of foreign matter and devitalized tissue. This property is accentuated by the inclusion of methionine in the complex.