3-18-2000

Dear Readers,

   I trust that your St. Patrick's Day was enjoyable. This edition of the Herbagram is going to deal with what most people think of as the major organ for digestion, that being the stomach. It certainly is one that we think about almost on a daily basis, because it lets us know when it is empty and it also has a way of letting us know when something is wrong with it. We will also be discussing an herb that from talking to different people, seems to have been forgotten by most. We will talk about Dandelion.

   The stomach is an organ in the digestive system that is shaped like half a valentine's heart. It is approximately 6-8 inches long and 3-4 inches wide and expands to accept whatever you eat. It lies just beneath the diaphragm under the ribs and behind the navel. Its primary function is that of breaking food down into smaller particles for further digestion. One of the other, lesser-known functions of the acid in the stomach is to protect the body from bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

   Things that you can do to improve the function of your stomach include chewing your food thoroughly before you swallow. This makes it much easier to digest as the chewing action mixes the food particles with saliva and digestive enzymes that actually start the digestive process before the food reaches the stomach. Try not to drink anything 1 hour before your meal and for 1 hour after your meal. If your chewing your food properly you won't need to anyway as drinking dilutes the hydrochloric acid (HCL) in the stomach and digestion becomes less efficient. Eating smaller meals will help ensure that your HCL action is more efficient and digestion will improve. Proper food combining will also help dramatically in the digestive process.

These are the 5 points of Digestion:

Mouth (the first step and one of the most important)

The stomach and HCL

Pancreatic Enzymes

Enzymes from the duodenum

Bile salts and enzymes from the liver

If any one of the five points is not working correctly, the other points encounter strain as they try to make up for the one that isn't functioning properly.

Symptoms or possible health conditions arising from the stomach include:
Chronic Dyspepsia, which is long term indigestion.

Acute Gastritis - which is inflammation of the stomach lining due to bacteria, virus, chemical, or spoiled food.

Pyloric Stenosis - obstruction of the stomach in newborns.

Nausea and vomiting - these conditions can begin from any number of other conditions.

Acid Reflux - the mucosa of the stomach and esophagus becomes too thin and doesn't allow the opening of the stomach to close properly. This allows acid to shoot up the esophagus when it is churning.

Hyperactive (Overactive) Conditions:
Peptic Ulcer - this is an ulceration in the area of the lower esophagus to the upper stomach.

Duodenal Ulcer - an ulcer that forms in the area between the lower stomach to the upper small intestine. This condition can be caused by a natural sodium deficiency.

Heartburn - this is caused by a defective cardiac sphincter muscle (it pinches close at the top of the stomach where the esophagus enters). Most doctors associate heartburn with an overacid stomach, but in Iridology it will routinely appear as an underacid stomach and the supplementation of HCL will usually take care of the problem.

Hypoactive (Underactive) Conditions:
Cancer of the stomach is more apt to grow if the stomach is underacidic.

Heartburn - (this was covered above)

Belching or gassiness is often associated with food that is improperly digested and is fermenting and rotting.

Other information you might be interested in knowing about the stomach;

The stomach is a sodium organ. This means that it needs organic sodium in order to form the stomach lining. Organic sodium cannot be obtained from table salt or sea salt. Sodium deficiencies are rare in our day and time, but they can occur. Some foods that contain organic sodium include celery, spinach, Swiss chard, romaine lettuce, red beets, collards, strawberries, squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, figs, and lemons. These are listed in their order of sodium content, celery being the highest and lemons being the lowest. Diets high in sodium foods will also help to prevent old age stones, tumor growths, arthritis, and all hardening processes.

Some stomach ulcers are caused by bacteria. Most bacteria are destroyed if the pH level of the HCL in the stomach is balanced at 2.0.

The stomach is supposed to be acidic. Antacids neutralize the acid in the stomach. Anything you eat after ingesting an antacid remains undigested.

A slightly enlarged upper lip can indicate a bad stomach.

Location of the Stomach in different Alternative Modalities:

Kinesiology:
Hiatus hernia - to the left of the bottom breast bone in the soft area.
Stomach point is 3 inches below that point.

Iridology:
The stomach appears in the first zone outside the pupil. If the stomach is in perfect health it should not be visible. If in this zone there is a dark ring, the stomach is overacid. A light ring usually indicates underacid. Some of the symptoms of poor digestion can guide an Iridologist as well, such as belching, which would indicate a need for HCL, or gassiness would show a need for enzymes.

Reflexology:
The stomach is located in both feet, down from the big toe just before the instep.

Supplements, Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs used for the Stomach:

Minerals:
Chlorine, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, sulfur.

Vitamins:
A, B1, B2, niacin (B3), folic acid (B9), C, and D.

Herbs:
Alfalfa - this herb helps to build the lining of the stomach.

Aloe Vera - heals, builds, and soothes the stomach lining.

Dandelion - high in organic sodium, also a liver and kidney tonic.

Ginger - helps with morning sickness, motion sickness, and upset stomach.

Liquid Chlorophyll - builds, nourishes, and soothes the stomach.

Papaya - stabilizes instead of neutralizing stomach acid. Could be considered Nature's rolaids.

Safflowers - stimulates HCL production.

Slippery Elm - soothes and heals inflamed tissues (ulcers). Helps to rebuild mucous lining in the entire digestive tract.

Herbal Combinations: (These combinations are all marketed by Nature's Sunshine Products)
Catnip and Fennel - will relax the digestive system, help digestion, and colic.

Food Enzymes - adds HCL and enzymes to the stomach.

Hi Lipase - aids in the digestion of fats and oils.

Gastro-Health Concentrate - fights bacteria.

Intestinal/Soothe & Build - for ulcers, celiacs, crohns, and colitis.

PDA - help the digestive process with heavy proteins.

Proactazyme - full spectrum enzyme product.

Stomach Comfort - used for heartburn and acid reflux.

Sources:
Health Ministries Inc. 1991
Lust, John B. The Herb Book: New York, New York, Bantam Books 1974
Mindell, Earl, Earl Mindell's Herb Bible: New York, New York, Simon & Schuster/Fireside; 1992.
Mary's Herbs

CANCER AND CHLOROPHYLL In October of 1997 Anne Frahm, the author of the book A Cancer Battle Plan, was interviewed on the Laura Lee show. The interview was entitled, Beating Cancer With Nutrition. Anne Frahm said. 'I also took a green drink every day. I wanted to make sure I was getting lots of chlorophyll and my nutritionist had me start with that Kyo green because I could mix it with my juice and it was rich in wheat grass, barley green, all these good kinds of chlorella and chlorophyll which actually have an anti-tumor effect again, so these things were actually helping my body fight the cancer.'

The normal line of thinking is that vitamin K is only found in green leafy vegetables since it takes chlorophyll to be synthesized in plants. Plants also store vitamin K in their fruits and seeds as well. Fermented products, including some cheeses, also contain vitamin K; their bacteria synthesize the vitamin. Spinach contains a special form of vitamin K that hasn't been found in other vegetables. Cholesterol reducing drugs, low-fat diets, Olestra, and anything else that interferes with fat reduces vitamin K in your system
Life Extension Magazine: February, 2000 issue pp36.

Common Name: Dandelion. This word from the French means "teeth of the lion" and refers to the shape of the plants leaves.

Description and Habitat: The dandelion is a short member of the sunflower or composite family. It's flower ranges in color from bright golden to a bilious yellow and is surrounded by dark green, deeply incised leaves. When the flower has matured, it develops into a white, puffy ball that children love to pick and blow. Incidentally, it is this puff ball that holds the dandelion seeds.

The dandelion can be found worldwide in Northern temperate climate zones and is one of the first wild edibles to appear in the Spring. This herb grows in pastures, fields, lawns, gardens, and in general where it is least wanted.

Of all the unappreciated herbs known in American culture, the dandelion is definitely a contender for the top of the unwanted list. During Spring and Summer, great efforts are made to attempt to eliminate these cheery blossoms from yards and gardens. Though virtually unrecognized for the benefits they provide, these hearty and enduring herbs actually provide a number of excellent benefits for mankind.

Traditional Uses: The major benefits of this weed are exerted on the liver. Everyday, three pints of blood are circulated through the liver to filter out unneeded hormones, chemicals, contaminants, toxins, and ammonia from the blood. Dandelion root has the capacity to clear obstructions and stimulate (often irritate) the liver to detoxify all of these poisons. Hence, it is a marvelous and effective blood purifier and the key herb of many kidney and pancreas formulas. The root is also used as a laxative, tonic, and diuretic and has been used to treat liver and spleen ailments, eczema, gout, rheumatism, and heartburn.

Another benefit of dandelions is their effect on the kidneys. This edible herb is rich in both sodium and potassium. These are natural nutritive salts that our bodies need to purify and destroy acids in the blood and maintain fluid balance in the body. The herb is a trusted diuretic and much to be favored over chemical diuretics, which tend to deplete the body of potassium. It increases mobility and decreases stiffness.

Rich in vitamins and minerals, dandelion contains 25 times more vitamin A than tomato juice and 50 times more vitamin A than asparagus. The young leaves are delicious in green salads, but as the season wears on, it would be best to boil the leaves to remove the bitter taste. Roasted dandelion roots have been used as a coffee substitute (like chicory), the crowns have been steamed and eaten and the flowers have been used to make wine.

The plant is considered to be alterative, bitter, cholagogue (increase bile flow), diuretic, stomachic, and tonic. As a flower essence, it helps people who are tense from over organizing and overextending themselves. The flower essence also relaxes the solar plexus and helps to bring down a hiatal hernia.

Many also consider the dandelion to be a great herb for the stomach and for stabilizing blood sugar levels. It has also been used for anemia.

Some of the illnesses this versatile herb has been used to treat include (the most common in capitals): abscesses, acne, age spots, ANEMIA, appetite (lack of), ARTHRITIS, boils, diabetes, ECZEMA, GALLSTONES, GOUT, HEPATITIS, hiatal hernia, hypoglycemia, infection (kidney and bladder), JAUNDICE, LIVER PROBLEMS, obesity, poisoning, rheumatism, stones, and WATER RETENTION.

Typical dosage is two or three capsules with meals two or three times daily.

Sources:
Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss, 1975
Global Herb Database, by Steve Blake.
Magic and Medicine of Plants, by The Reader's Digest, 1990.
Nutritional Herbology, by Mark Pederson, 1987

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY:
This handout was prepared by Nature's Field
P.O. Box 425, Springville, UT 84663
It may be copied and distributed provided
It is not altered in any way.