I am not a doctor, nor would I want to be. The information I provide is for educational use and is not meant to replace proper medical treatment by your physician or health care provider. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that doctors have their place; those being emergencies and life and death situations…A doctor or hospital would be the first place I would recommend going, but in everyday health matters, your body knows all it needs to know in order to stay healthy and cultivating your ability to read your body is part of what "Natural Health " is all about. If self-treatment is something you decide to try, then by all means do so, but please do so with the full knowledge of your doctor or health care provider.

And one other thing in this line of thinking; unless you explicitly trust the person you are getting information from, whether it be a Doctor or an Alternative Medicine Practitioner, ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK THE INFORMATION YOU RECEIVE. Those people that give you information won’t mind you second guessing them if they are truly interested in your health and well being. Go out and buy yourself a copy of The PDR Pocket Guide to Prescription Drugs. It will only cost you about $8.00, but the information it provides is priceless when it comes to your health. Go out and buy yourself a book on Herbs and Supplements. They can range anywhere from $2.00-3.00 or less in used condition, up to $30.00 $40.00 new and hardback. Here I will include some links to a couple of sites that sell used books.
The Pegasus Book Orphanage
This is a site in Australia for those of you in that part of the world. The owner of this site is very helpful and if she doesn’t have the book you are looking for, she can probably direct you in the right direction. There is nothing in it for me, but let her know I sent you anyway.

If you are in the United States, here is are a couple of places that also carry lots of used books.
Abebooks

This information can be copied or used in any way that you see fit as long as you agree to keep it in its original form and format. Please feel free to forward it to friends or relatives that you feel may benefit from the information contained herein.

CONTENTS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Interesting Facts

Spleen Activator

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Does your stomach sound like a percolator soon after every meal? Do you often have problems with chronic diarrhea, constipation or both? How about pain, gas, cramps or bloating perhaps accompanied by secretion of mucus or blood in the stool? If so, you may be suffering from one of the most common ailments involving the colon called Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

The Merck Manual of Medical Information (Home Edition) defines IBS in this way. Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of motility of the entire gastrointestinal tract that produces abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea.

When people suffer from chronic bowel problems, especially when they see blood in the feces (which could, but doesn't always indicate bowel cancer), they usually go to a doctor to get a Sigmoidoscopy (which is basically a hose that has a tiny camera on the end which is inserted into the rectum up the intestinal canal. {not a way I would want to spend an afternoon}.

When the doctors are unable to determine a structural condition responsible for the symptoms, it is usually classified as IBS, which is a catchall phrase that entails conditions known as colitis or spastic bowel as well.

IBS is labeled a functional condition because the bowel appears to be physically healthy. Despite the fact that there is no physical abnormality of the bowel, it often has violent or irregular and uncoordinated contractions and spasms. There are many theories on what causes IBS. Most people believe that it is a nervous condition because an attack often appears to be triggered by stress, but the fact is, no one knows for sure.

There are many factors that can contribute to proper bowel function. The health of the Medulla Oblongata, combined with nerve stimulus, mucous lining, hormones and electrical activity. This are of the brain controls such bodily functions as respiration, heart and vasomotor center, survival, and many vital body functions. It may be wise to explore all of these links to decide which may cause your personal condition.

If it is caused by the medulla, exploring other symptoms of a weakened medulla may be helpful. Problems with swallowing, hiccuping, drooling, shallow breathing or irregular heart beat can all point to a weakened medulla. The two main herbs used to nourish the medulla are mullein and lady's slipper.

Nerve stimulus would be probably one of the two most common origins of IBS.

Symptoms of this could include: stress, difficulty in falling asleep, inability to tolerate noise and commotion, not dreaming nightly or if you notice that stress triggers your condition.

You may want to take either RE-X, STR-C or STR-J along with spirulina to help soothe and strengthen the health of the nervous system. These products are all marketed by Nature’s Sunshine. If anyone needs more information on these combinations, please email me and I will be glad to send it to you immediately. I will include brief descriptions of each later in the article.

The health of the mucous membrane which lines the whole digestive track is dependent on the organic sodium levels within the body. Tannic acid from coffee, tea, chocolate and most sodas destroys this mucous lining. As do other acids. While slippery elm, combinations such as Intestinal/ Soothe & Build (formerly UC3-J), CLT-X and UC-C all helps restore its health.

The last cause of IBS is a lack of electrical activity. Unless someone has brain, spine or nerve damage the only other major contributor to poor electrical activity would be a mineral imbalance. Because minerals have their own electrical charge, they are needed by the nervous system to keep the momentum of the impulses going.

It is amazing to realize that most people are totally unaware of how the bowel should function. I, personally, had no idea until I started studying natural health. Doctors are usually also in the dark when it comes to bowel health and even bowel movements.

There are two basic types of IBS. The spastic colon type, which is commonly triggered by eating. This type usually involves periodic constipation or diarrhea with pain accompanying it. Sometimes the constipation and diarrhea alternate. Mucus is often found in the stool. The pain associated with this type IBS may come in bouts of continuous dull aching or cramps and they usually occur in the region of the lower abdomen. Some things a person may experience with this type of IBS include bloating, gas, nausea, headaches, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. A bowel movement often relieves the pain.

The second type of IBS usually only produces painless diarrhea or mild and relatively painless constipation. If diarrhea occurs, it is usually very sudden and a great sense of urgency often accompanies it. In most cases, the diarrhea hits you shortly after a meal. It has been known to occur immediately upon waking also. Occasionally the urgency is so strong; the person can lose control and not get to a restroom in time. This type of diarrhea rarely occurs at night and in some cases bloating and constipation are experienced with very little pain.

Basic Bowel Facts

Keeping the bowel healthy is also important, common sense tells us that fiber needs to be present for the muscles of the bowels to push against. Good sources of fiber are fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, bananas, cabbage, beans, psyllium and wild rice.

Chewing food should encourage the body to prepare for defecation (elimination of feces). You should get an urge to move your bowels approx. 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. The food you eliminate should be from 18 to 24 hours previous. To test transit time, corn is an excellent choice in which to measure the transit time of your meals.

Some Natural Health Practitioners say, "death begins in the colon". Personally, I believe that sounds too negative. I prefer to think that health begins in the colon. The colon is something that can not be replaced artificially. As a matter of fact bowel transplants are not readily offered to those who need a colostomy.

Doctors are not taught to understand or respect the natural ability and process of the human body; therefore, they don't work with the body or try to support the body's function.

Dietary Connection

Many people report that foods and chemicals aggravate their condition. The worst offenders seem to be: fried foods, fats, dairy products (including milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream), spicy foods, seeds, nuts, sugar, chocolate, caffeine, red meats, coffee, tea, soft drinks, citrus, wheat, corn and alcohol. A diet specifically geared toward candida has shown to be helpful in a majority of cases.

It has also been proven that medication; especially anti-inflammatories, steroids, ibuprofen and aspirin may trigger IBS.

IBS effects 10 to 15% of all adults. Although not considered a disease, people that have Irritable Bowel Syndrome know that it can be quite disruptive. As a matter of fact, it can be close to debilitating for some.

The good news is that there are countless people who, after nourishing and cleansing their systems, are now members of the silent bowel majority. It takes a lot of trial and error, but in the long run it will be very well worth it.

Supplements and Herbs that could be helpful to IBS Sufferers:

Herbs:

Mullein – has expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties and is useful for clearing mucous from the body.

Lady’s Slipper – an excellent herb for the nervous system, but this herb is endangered

Una De Gato (cat’s claw) – used by Peruvian Indian tribes for intestinal ailments as well as to strengthen the immune system and yeast infections.

Slippery Elm - Supports healthy digestion, soothes the digestive tract, helps maintain normal elimination.

Spirulina – a highly nutritious fresh water blue-green algae that contains 25 times the calcium of milk. Calcium is a natural muscle relaxant.

Vitamins & Minerals:

Skeletal Strength or Herbal CA (Nature’s Sunshine Products) – will help with a nervous stomach.

Charcoal – for gas and bloating. 5 capsules on an empty stomach.

Herbal Combinations: (Nature’s Sunshine Products)

Intestinal/ Soothe & Build – 2 with each meal. Its name describes it rather well.

High Lipase – an enzyme supplement that helps with fat digestion which has been shown by research to be a major problem with IBS.

Stress J – an herbal tranquilizer that relieves nervous stress anywhere in the body, but especially in the colon.

Stress Relief – a Chinese herbal combination that helps to regulate the body’s response to stress where there may be excitability, anxiety, or emotional instability.

CLT-X – another Dr. Christopher formula designed to help with spasms.

Spleen Activator – another Chinese herbal formula designed to be a tonic to strengthen a weakened digestive system and to soothe digestive irritations including hiatal hernia.

In addition to the physical causes and symptoms there may be emotional or mental problems or issues that need to be dealt with. In problems with the colon, there is a good chance that there may be events from the past that have not been dealt with and let go of, and it may be this fear of letting go, or "holding on to the past" that needs to be dealt with, as well as taking care of the physical symptoms.

An affirmation that could be used to change this "holding on" thought pattern would be "I easily release that which I no longer need. The past is over and I am free."*

Sources:
The Herb Book by John Lust, N.D., DBM (Bantam Books; New York, NY, 1974).
The Merck Manual of Medical Information (Home Edition) (Pocket Books division of Simon & Schuster Inc, New York, NY, 1997).
The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, CA, ND, (Pocket Books division of Simon & Schuster Inc, New York, NY; 1990)
Mary’s Herbs by Mary Reed (Patton, Pa; 1997)
*Heal your Body by Louise L. Hay (Hay House Inc., Carlsbad, Ca; 1988).

INTERESTING FACTS

The oil of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) contains two compounds that are natural insect repellents. Best results can be obtained using a 2% solution neem oil spray.

Watermelon and tomatoes are Nature’s richest source of lycopene, a red pigment that has been found to protect against cancer, especially of the prostate.

To treat cuts and scrapes, use ordinary white sugar to draw out fluid and help kill bacteria. Build up a little wall around the edges of the wound with petroleum jelly, sprinkle sugar on the wound, and cover with a dressing.

Scrubbing the skin of melons and other fruits with water and a brush before cutting will prevent the transfer of pathogens from the rind to the flesh.

Running a gas powered lawn mower for an hour produces as much air pollution as driving a car for 350 miles. Mowing the lawn with a push mower provides an excellent workout while giving the environment a break.

"Did You Know" from Health and Healing Tomorrow’s Medicine Today by Julian Whittaker, MD; July, 2000, Vol. 10, No. 7.

Spleen Activator (formerly UC-C)
Ulcers/Colitis

Chinese Name: Wen Zhong

Chinese Translation: Enhance Earth Warm the Center

Constitutional Type: Earth Weakened

Wen Zhong (Earth Weakened)

Ginseng & Licorice Eighteen Formula;

Panax ginseng root, Astragalus root, Atractylodes rhizome, Hoelen plant, Dioscorea root, Lotus seed, Galanga rhizome, Pinellia rhizome, Chaenomeles fruit, Magnolia bark, Saussurea root, Dang Gui root, Citrus peel, Dolichos seed, Licorice root, Ginger rhizome, Zanthoxylum fruit, Cardamon fruit.

Bodily Influence: Adaptogen, Anti-inflammatory, Antiseptic, Carminitive, Demulcent, Immuno-stimulant, Stimulant, Stomachic, and Tonic-digestive.

Specific Conditions: Abdomen (inflammation of), Aches, Anorexia, Appetite (poor), Arthritis, Assimilation of foods (improves), Chills, Circulation (poor), Cold Limbs, Colitis, Cramps (stomach), Depression, Diarrhea, Digestion, Edema, Fatigue, Flu, Hemorrhoids, Hernias, Hiatal hernia, Hunger (unusual), Indigestion, Leg Cramps, Menstrual Cramps, Skin (dry), Skin (sallow), Ulcers, Uterus (prolapsed), Worry (excessive).

This is a combination for poor digestion, being an overall strengthening formulation that works as a nutritional support for the digestive and circulatory systems. It works as a general tonic whose function is to rejuvenate the body, enhance the production of digestive fluids and enzymes, helping to increase blood circulation and boost immune response. The herbs are antiseptic and work to reduce inflammation. This formulation stimulates digestion, is a blood builder, and an infection fighter. It relieves inflammation and infection in the intestinal tract, helps with poor muscle tone, and cramping in the legs.

Source: