It is that time again and we are going to continue our journey through the digestive tract. Today we will be visiting the Large Intestine. As an Iridologist, the intestinal tract is one of the first areas that usually catches my eye in my clients. Most of them are totally caught up in the processed and fast food diets that Americans are so used to that the intestinal tract is the first thing to catch my eye when viewing their eye pictures.

We will also look into the herb, cascara sagrada, which is a mild laxative type herb with many good qualities when it comes to the Large Intestine. So I hope you will stay with us on this journey. There are two places in which I consider most diseases to start. The first being the intestinal tract and the second being the blood. We will go into the blood some other time, because it, in my opinion is also tied to the intestinal tract.

Those of you who read this information are probably tired of the same old requests and warnings, but these must be in place because of the laws in the USA, especially the warnings. If you know of anyone that can benefit from the information in this letter, please feel free to copy it or even post it, but please leave it in it's original form. Also, this information is not intended to replace proper medical attention, but it is intended to give a historical look at the use of herbs and some alternatives to the modern approach to healing. If you choose to self-treat yourself, it is recommended that you do so with the full knowledge of your physician or health care provider.

CONTENTS

Large Intestine

Interesting Facts

Cascara Sagrada

Large Intestine

     The large intestine is part of the digestive system. It is long and hose-like and is composed of three sections. The ascending colon, which rises up the right side of the body. The transverse colon, which moves across the body from the right side to the left side where it starts down the left side of the body in what is commonly referred to as the descending colon. The places in which the large intestine bend to become another part of the colon are called the hepatic fixture (the bend from the ascending colon to the transverse colon) and the splenic fixture (the bend from the transverse colon to the descending colon). The large intestine is approximately five feet in length and about two and one half inches in diameter. At the end of the large intestine is the anus. The final stop before leaving the body in the digestive process.

     The major function of the large intestine is to absorb the liquid sent to it from the small intestine and then to eliminate the fecal material that remains. The body uses up to about two gallons of water daily and if there is not enough fresh water in the body, this is the area in which recycling occurs. This in combination with non-soluble fiber, adequate amounts of magnesium, and exercise help to keep the large intestine working properly. The use of laxatives, overuse of enemas, colemas, and colonics over long periods of time can make the colon lazy or weak. This is not to say that enemas, colemas, and colonics do not have a place, but they should not be overused as with anything else. Sluggish bowel movements have been known to cause ulcerations or cancer as can a lack of bulk (this is where the non-soluble fiber comes in). Antibiotics not only can, but do kill of the friendly bacteria or flora that grow and help keep other bacteria in check, such as candida albicans. Acidophilus and lacto bacillus are two of the "friendly" type bacteria that should be in the intestinal tract.

Signs of a Hyperactive (Overactive) large intestine can include:

Ileitis - an inflammation of the lower third of the small intestine.

Dysentery - this is a condition that is usually seen when traveling from so called "developed" countries into "lesser developed" countries in which irritation and inflammation of the intestine occurs. It is usually caused by bacteria or parasites.

Spastic colitis - This is a condition usually caused by excessive acid and causes inflammation in the colon.

Irritable bowel - This is a disorder of motility of the entire gastrointestinal tract that produces abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea. It is usually due to acid or toxicity.

Gastroenteritis - This condition is usually caused by poor bowel elimination. It is an inflammation of the small intestine.

Diarrhea - This is a condition in which the stool becomes very watery. It may be the bodies way of ridding itself of impurities, bacteria, etc. It has also been said that diarrhea is the worst form of constipation.

Signs of a Hypoactive (Underactive) can include:

Autointoxication - This is a condition in which poisons or toxic material are created in the body are absorbed due to a lack of movement in the elimination system. Things such as sore muscles, headaches, and arthritis may be attributed to this condition, although not the only cause.

Constipation - If you are not having at least one bowel movement for every meal that you eat, there is a good possibility that you are constipated. Constipation can be caused by many things and it is estimated that at least 85% of all Americans are constipated. It can be caused by poor dietary habits, such as too many processed foods and not enough fiber. Too much red meat, a magnesium deficiency, poor digestion, not enough water, and even a sluggish liver can cause constipation.

Location of the Large Intestine in different Alternative Modalities:

Reflexology - Starting in the middle of the right foot along the outside edge going up to the top of the instep, then across the foot to the left foot across the same line you followed across the right foot only to the outside of the left foot and then down along the outside edge of the left foot to about the beginning of the heel.

Kinesiology - Slightly to the front and inner side of the pelvic bone with five fingers.

Iridology - The large intestine appears in both eyes. It begins in zone two, just outside the stomach, which is located next to the iris. It goes up the outside of the stomach then makes a bend (hepatic fixture) to the right to go across the pupil. It then shows up where it left off in the left eye, crosses the pupil and then makes a bend (splenic fixture) going down in the left eye. The large intestine is actually outlined by the Autonomic Nerve Wreath.

Additional Information:

Everyone should have at least one bowel movement for each meal that they consume.

Fecal material consistency should be that of mashed potatoes and should have no foul odor.

If the fecal material floats it is an indication that it contains ample amounts of bulk.

Long periods spent sitting on the toilet can be stressful on the sigmoid colon. (this is the section of the colon just before the anus and just after the descending colon)

Some terms used in reference to the Large intestine:

Ballooning - This is when the colon has been over stretched for a long period of time and some of it elasticity has been lost and it needs toning.

Friendly Flora - This is the term used for live bacteria that is necessary for a healthy intestinal tract. This bacteria is also essential in the production of the B vitamins and yeast control.

Hemorrhoids/piles - This condition is basically a varicose vein at the anus. (vitamin E and white oak bark have been used to temporarily ease discomfort) Changing the diet to include more water and fiber to make the passing of stools easier would do more to help this condition.

Polyps - This is a growth inside the intestine. (usually non-cancerous) Bayberry has been used to help rid the intestinal tract of polyps. Modern medicine will go up inside the colon and remove them.

Prolapse - This is a sagging of the transverse colon.

Spastic Bowel - These are sudden and involuntary contractions of the colon.

Stricture - This is a condition in which a part of the colon is constricted. Usually introducing water and bulk into the system slowly will help this problem.

 

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:

Do you have less than 3 bowel movements daily? If you answered yes, you should add more raw vegetables and fruit to your diet.

Do you have less than 1 bowel movement daily? If you answered yes, you should do the above as well as consider taking a mild herbal laxative that adds bulk to your diet as well. An excellent product is called LBS-II by Nature's Sunshine.

Do you have less than 1 bowel movement in 2 days? If you answered yes, you should add more veggies and fruit to your diet and consider taking something a little stronger like cascara sagrada until your body becomes accustomed to eliminating more often.

Supplements, Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs useful in the colon:

Vitamins: Thiamin (B-10), Niacin (B-3), Pantothenic Acid (B-5), Inositol, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D.

Minerals: Calcium, Magnesium, and Sodium for the lining of the intestinal tract.

Herbs:

Cascara Sagrada - This herb is a bowel irritant and a natural laxative. It heals the villi and tones the bowel, but does not weaken it. It may cause griping or cramps when used alone. If this happens adding ginger to it should alleviate this problem.

Psyllium - This herb adds bulk to the diet and works sort of like a broom in the intestinal tract.

Aloe Vera - This herb has so many uses, but in the intestinal tract it soothes, moistens, and builds the mucous membranes up.

Liquid Chlorophyll - Cleanses, deodorizes, and builds as well as draws out some toxic metals.

Slippery Elm - Builds and soothes the bowels. (excellent herb for the digestive tract overall and is very nutritious.)

Senna - This herb is a very strong laxative or purgative. Not recommended for long term use. May be addictive.

Herbal Combinations: (Nature's Sunshine Products)

LBS-II - this is a combination that helps stimulate peristalsis, thus moves the fecal material along.

Nature's Three - This combination furnishes three different sources of natural bulk.

CLT-X - this combination is used by many for colitis.

Tiao He Cleanse - This is a mild cleanse that uses Chinese herbs and is a great thing to do before starting any herbal regimen.

Para-Cleanse - This is a 10 day program to help rid the body of parasites. It also uses some Chinese herbs.

Intestinal/Soothe and Build (formerly UC3-J) - This combination is used to help nourish the bowel if ulcers, crohn's disease, IBS, Colitis, or Celiacs are present.

Other Nutritional Supplements:

Fiber - for bowel health, evacuation, and cleansing.

Flora Force - this supplement will help reintroduce friendly flora into the intestinal tract. (acidophilus and lacto bacillus)

Hydrated Bentonite Clay - This is an excellent way to help remove old fecal matter from the bowel. CAUTION: THIS SHOULD NOT BE USED IF THE BOWEL MOVEMENTS ARE SLUGGISH OR WITHOUT SUPERVISION.

An excellent book to read would be Bowel Management by Dr. Bernard Jensen.

INTERESTING FACTS

1) A study indicates that both alpha- and gamma-tocopherol (vitamin E): 1) decrease blood platelet aggregation, thereby delaying blood clot formation in arteries (perhaps by an increase in endogenous antioxidant activity), 2) decrease superoxide free radical generation in arteries, lipid peroxidation, and LDL oxidation, and 3) increase naturally produced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (a free radical scavenger). Gamma-tocopherol is significantly more potent than alpha-tocopherol in these effects.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 1999, vol 34, Iss 4, pp 1208-1215

2) A mutation of the human enzyme, telomerase results in the blocking of telomerase activity, reduction in telomere length and death of tumor cells. A study showed that the action of this mutant form of telomerase eliminated the growth of tumors in the body. Telomerase is an enzyme (in cell nucleus) that maintains the protective structures at the end of the chromosomes (chromosomes divide during cell division), called telomeres.
     In most normal human cells, the action of telomerase is repressed, and consequently telomeres shorten progressively with each cell division, a process recently thought to be a factor in the present human maximum life span. In contrast, most human tumors utilize telomerase, resulting in more stable telomere length. Thus, for tumor cells to proliferate, they must maintain the telomeres. The disruption of telomere maintenance limits cellular life span in human cancer cells. This makes the human telomerase reverse transcriptase enzyme an important target for the development of anti-cancer therapies.
Nature Medicine, 1999, Vol 5, Iss 10, pp 1164-1170

3) Conjugated Linoleic Acid's (CLA) powerful anti-cancer effects are in the news again. The December 1999 issue of the Journal of Nutrition, a paper was published showing significant preventing properties when CLA was added to the diet. This study revealed CLA to be a "potent cancer preventative agent in animal models." Specifically, it was determined that feeding female rats CLA while they were young and still developing conferred life-long protection against breast cancer. This action was achieved by adding only enough CLA to the animals diet to equal 0.8% of the animal's total diet. This is comparable to the 1,000 mg 3 times daily that the Life Extension Foundation recommends be added to the human diet, which is approximately 1% of the average human diet.
Life Extension Magazine, April, 2000 iss, pp 69

 

CASCARA SAGRADA
(Rhamnus purshiana)
A Dependable Laxative

    The abundant growth of cascara sagrada, termed "sacred bark" by the Spanish settlers, stretches all the way from California to Alaska. When Spanish padres came to the new land they were forced to become very alert to the healing arts of the Indians. These padres were often asked to treat sick parishioners and were regularly rewarded as doctors by the natives. As the padres learned about the plants and the effects these plants had on the sick, they wrote to friends and relatives in Mexico and Spain. Word of healing plants such as cascara sagrada spread quickly and the treatments gained in popularity. Early settlers in the West used the bark of this small tree as a tonic and boiled the fresh bark for several hours in order to use it as a laxative.

In 1877 a Detroit physician noted the mild quality of the bark in his home medical guide. This observation prompted a pharmaceutical firm named Parke, Davis & Co. to market it. Ever since, cascara sagrada has been one of the most popular herbal medicines used in the world. Today it is found as an ingredient in many over the counter laxatives. In fact, physicians write out over 2.5 million prescriptions per year for products containing it.

Cascara sagrada is milder than senna or aloes and is less likely to cause nausea, vomiting, or intestinal cramping. This makes it more suitable for the elderly or persons with a more delicate constitution. However, the herb is still a strong laxative and may cause some intestinal discomfort in persons with a spastic colon. This can be reduced by using cascara in combination with other herbs.

Cascara sagrada has a cathartic effect on the body and stimulates action of the large intestine in six to eight hours. The constituents of the herb are absorbed from the small intestine and they then act on the nerves of the large intestine. This action stimulates motor propulsion in the colon. As a result of this process, the laxative effect can be transmitted to infants of nursing mothers who take cascara sagrada.

Cascara sagrada does have a downward moving emphasis, which is why there will be an increased urine output while taking it. Also, it should not be taken for extended periods of time. It is best used in treating lazy or atonic colon where a person has regular, but infrequent bowel eliminations. It is generally counter-indicated when a person has a spastic colon (irregular movements or constipation alternating with diarrhea). In these persons it will aggravate the underlying cause of the constipation and cause dependence.

Because the properties of this laxative herb stimulate secretions of the entire digestive system, cascara is useful in treating liver complaints, colitis, hemorrhoids due to poor bowel function, gas in the stomach, indigestion, and poor appetite. It can also stimulate flow of bile from the liver, which helps to detoxify the liver. It is also helpful in expelling parasites when used in combination with other herbs.

Cascara has been used in Appalachian folk medicine to treat cancer. The herb does contain aloe-emodin, which has been shown to have anti-leukemia action in labs. Much research is needed however, before it can be used to treat leukemia.

It is generally best to take one or two capsules of cascara prior to bedtime or first thing in the morning. If intestinal cramping or diarrhea is experienced, discontinue use. If you find you are dependent on stimulant laxatives for elimination, try magnesium, nervine herbs, bitter herbs for the liver, water, fiber and/or exercise to normalize bowel function.

Sources:

California Herbal Remedies by LoLo Westrich (Houston, TX: Gulf Publishing Co., 1989).
Nutritional Herbology by Mark Pederson (Warsaw, IN: Wendell W. Whitman Co., 1994).
The Energetics of Western Herbs by Peter Holmes (Boulder, CO: Artemis Press, 1989).
The Healing Herbs by Michael Castleman (Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1991).
The Herbs of Life by Lesley Tierra, L. Ac., Herbalist (Freedom, CA: The Crossing Press, 1992).

For Educational Purposes Only
This handout was prepared by Nature's Field
P.O. Box 425, Springville, UT 84663
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