Constipation, Drugs That Make You Crazy and Antifreeze

Constipation can cause many unpleasant symptoms that can make you, let's say, irritable.  I recently became aware from the FDA that a prescription and over-the-counter drug used to treat constipation can make you crazy.  The FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) shows that Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 3350) has caused "neuropsychiatric events".  This refers to neurological symptoms of the brain and nervous system.  Such disorders may include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple sclerosis, ADD, schizophrenia, depression, autism, and dementia.  I would speculate that PEG interferes with the absorption of nutrients.  Another consideration is that the gut acts as a second brain.  There is a huge gut/brain connection.  We should have seen this one coming.

 

As a side note the same AERS reported problems with commonly prescribed gabapentin and antiacids known as proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole, Dexilant, Nexium, Protonix).

Miralax (PEG 3350) is made by attaching molecules of ethylene glycol as a chain.  Ethylene glycol is better known as antifreeze for the automotive industry.  It disrupts hydrogen bonds to change the freezing point of water.  As a laxative it increases water in the bowel. PEG, also known as Carbowax is used in an impressive array of commercial products for just about anything imaginable.

Last year(June 2012) the Empire State Consumer Commission filed a Citizens Petition with the FDA calling for:

 "An immediate recall of PEG 3350 laxatives for addition of a black box warning against use in children and warning of potential adverse events associated with PEG 3350 laxative products. Adverse events reported in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System include, but are not limited to:  gastrointestinal, renal, urological, hematological, neurological, neuropsychiatric, dermatological, and at least 3 child fatalities. Adverse events are also outlined by the FDA Drug Safety Oversight"

 The ability to have daily, yes daily, bowel movements is imperative to good health.  Good hydration will aid in this endeavor.  Consider a good probiotic such as Enterobiotic SBO to soften the stool and create a healthy bacterial environment.  Fiber is important to add bulk and absorb bowel toxins and bile.  Consider psyllium (Metamucil), psyllium and ground flax seed (Fiber PF), or bamboo cellulose (EZ Fiber).  Homeopathics include Constipation CP for children and Constipation Drops for adults. Severe cases may require enemas.  For a better position in the relief consider the Squatty Potty.

Stay Well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doctor....You want do WHAT?

The most talked about new therapy, the fecal transplant, is a bit disturbing.  Can you imagine the physician explaining that he/she wants to share someone’s healthy stuff with you?  The concept is to take the feces of a healthy individual and put it in the colon of the recipient to re-inoculate the bowel with healthy bacteria.  Is it the answer for individuals with severely disrupted bowel bacteria suffering from Clostridium difficile (C.diff) infection?  C. diff is usually created by the use or overuse of antibiotics that destroyed the natural bacteria or flora of the intestine.  The result is life threatening diarrhea (not at the top of my list) and inflammation of the colon.  The C. diff is actually part of your normal bacteria and the standard treatment is more antibiotics.

Probiotics are becoming more mainstream.  At the same time, many hospitals do not routinely give probiotics to their antibiotic patients, nor are they generally recommended in the community.  How about an ounce of prevention?  If you take an antibiotic, always, always, always take a probiotic.

As a side note, there are over 100 species of Clostridium including C. botulism, C. tetani (tetanus), and C. perfringens (food poisoning and gangrene).  The effects of these bacteria are due to the toxins they excrete.

The New England Journal of Medicine (January 2013) reported a 81% cure rate of pseudomembranous colitis caused by C. Diff using fecal implants.  The use of fecal bacteria is not new.  Dr. Anthony Bassler wrote of Intestinal Toxemia in 1874.  Dr. Edward Bach (Bach Flower Remedies) isolated, studied and treated patients homeopathically with his seven bowel nosodes in the 1920’s.  In World War I, a strain of Escherichia coli was isolated from the stool of a soldier who survived an outbreak of shigellosis without developing entercholitis.  This strain was successfully used to treat acute infectious intestinal disease.  And Dr. John Paterson detailed the role of bowel flora in chronic disease in 1948.

The bacterial environment of the intestines includes over 400 species of bacteria and yeast that can weigh as much as 6 pounds.  This is no doubt a complex ecosystem that is a part of our immune system.  Other killers of our good bacteria include cortisone, birth control pills, stress, and the consumption of chlorine treated water. 

A more common, persistent problem is the overgrowth of yeast after antibiotics.  This may require a good probiotic for an extended period of time.  My favorite probiotic is Enterobiotic SBO.  It contains 13 strains of the good bacteria, Saccharomyces boulardii (a beneficial) yeast, soil based organisms, and FOS to support friendly bacteria.  Soil based organisms are naturally occurring bacteria that release powerful enzymes.

Stay Well!

Head Cold Les Mise'rables

I had forgotten how miserable a head cold could be.  There was so much mucous I started to wonder if it was coming from my brain.  The simultaneous stinging and pressure inside the sinuses on my forehead was amazing.  I knew it would eventually pass as my throbbing head abated any possibility of sleep.  Since my wife is sensitive to the sound of a long rolling snork (and the slurping of soup), I elected to sleep in the other bedroom, which prevented a 911 call.

It may sound strange but it is normal to get sick.  You come in contact with a virus that enters your body through your eyes, nose, or mouth.  Sometimes you get sick and sometimes you don’t.  What if you never get sick or if you get sick too often?  This may indicate a problem with an under or over acting immune system.  What if you get sick and just cannot shake a cold.  Antibiotics are of no value if you have a virus.  However, may times a viral infection such as the cold or flu may turn into a bacterial “infection”. 

A great example of this is “Strep Throat”.  You get a viral infection, your tonsils (part of your lymphatic system) excretes fluid in an attempt to detoxify which is like opening the grocery store for the normal Streptococcus bacteria in your body.  Yes, Strep is part of your normal bacterial flora.  If you take an antibiotic the strep will be killed OR if your body is able to clear the problem, the secretions are minimized, the grocery store closes and the bacterial count naturally diminishes. 

Any stressor can make you more susceptible for a virus.  Stressors include anything that puts you out of balance.  This includes the lack of good water, food, exercise and rest.  It may also include any toxic load (see detoxification blog 1 thru 5) or emotional upset.  This is where a proactive approach to wellness is so important.  TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST!

The helpful remedies for a cold include lots of water, homemade chicken soup, and rest.  I take Influenzium 1M monthly as a viral preventative.  You can also take Colostrum to boost immune function.  Probiotics such as Enterobiotic SBO can be helpful.  Homeopathic Sinus HP is great for head congestion.  Vitamin C can also be helpful.

Stay Well!

Detoxification & Terrain Part Three

Once you have taken care of Part One and Part Two then you can move on to other areas.  A parasite cleanse may be the next step if you are at risk.  Parasites can rob you of nutritional resources and add to your toxic load.  Please see the blog on parasites. 

The next concept in wellness is terrain.  Terrain is simply the overall environment.  Terrain can be internal or external.  It can be physical but can also be emotional or mental.  If you normalize the terrain or create an environment for wellness then health will follow.

If you spray herbicide around a spring or branch you not only kill the vegetation but you also alter the entire environment.  This includes a complex ecosystem of animal, reptile, insect, and microorganisms that live there.  With such a change different organisms that may be unwanted could thrive.  If you remove the herbicide residue then plant life will eventually return along with the ecosystem.  While we view this as external, it is an example of what can happen internally. 

Internal terrain could be any part of the body such as the intestinal environment.  Taking antibiotics alters the bacterial terrain, creating imbalance and allowing yeast or unfriendly bacteria to grow.  Keep in mind that an imbalance such as yeast can create waste products that can be detrimental to your health.  Maintaining the good intestinal bacteria is vital to your overall health.  Taking a probiotic such as Enterobiotic SBOis a positive step in gastrointestinal health.

While cleanliness is important, avoid antibacterial soaps that alter bacteria on the skin.  A good vegetable based soap such as Dr. Bronner's Castile soap is adequate. Brushing the skin while bathing aids in lymphatic flow and exfoliation of dead cells.  

Another example of external terrain may include a clean hygienic space.  This may also include a spiritually healthy space that is supportive, friendly and happy.  Such an external environment is supportive of emotional health, which impacts your internal environment.  Negative emotions can increase blood pressure, decrease respirations, and cause hormone disruption.  While this is a sidelight to physical detoxification, there is such a thing as emotional detoxification.

Stay Well!

Natural Bacteria

The weeds next to the creek were thought to be unsightly.  The home owner sprayed the offending plants which left a barren brown area.  The plants were gone as were the insects and other life that used them for shelter and food.  This diverse ecosystem is now different as is the terrain.  The use of the spray indiscriminately killed other associated life that was not considered.  No matter?

Your body is covered with micro organisms collectively known as flora.  You are the host for such bacteria and yeast on your skin, in your gastrointestinal system, and in a woman’s vagina.  These bacteria’s function is quite diverse and likely beyond our complete understanding.  They protect us, serve as a barrier, aid in digestion, and make vitamins that we need.  An infant gets its natural bacteria from vaginal birth.  The Lactobacillus bacteria the baby receives from vaginal birth aids in the digestion of milk.  For this reason, C-sections babies may have problems digesting milk and are at an early risk for other infections.  Also, interesting is that a pregnant woman’s vaginal flora is different than one that is not pregnant, which suggest the hormone progesterone has influence on the bacterial environment.

The National Institute of Health’s Human Microbiome Project examined the bacteria found on humans for two years.  The scientists sequenced the genetic material of bacteria recovered from 15 or more sites on their subjects, recovering more than five million genes.  Women’s milk had up to 600 species of bacteria.  And there may be more than 5,000 species of bacteria in the human mouth. 

Does a bacterium cause disease?  The advent of antibiotics, defined as against life, has been a mainstay of modern drug therapy.  And yet, we use such a therapy without the full understanding of the consequences.  How about the fact that Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, E. coli, Candida, and many more are all part of our normal bacteria?  It was once said that if bacteria causes disease, then there would not be one dog left on the planet. 

There appears to be a general fear of these small organisms.  While good hygiene is important, trying to kill every possible bacterium is not only impossible but may harm your health.  So should we use all these antibacterial soaps and gels?  How about the antibacterial mouthwashes?  It is better to use a basic soap such as the castile soap made of vegetable oils (Dr. Bronner's Soap.  Over-washing the body with anti-bacterial soaps can compromise the protection offered by your normal bacteria.  Incidentally, body odor can come from an intestinal tract that was over treated with antibiotics and/or a poor diet.

Certainly taking an antibiotic if you have a virus is useless.  Sometimes we are told that an antibiotic will prevent a secondary infection after a virus.  We are also told to continue to take the antibiotic for a full course to prevent the bacteria from changing into another form.  Amazing!  Antibiotics will kill bacteria but they will always be altered or change into another form.  This is well known in the treatment of Lyme’s Disease.  It is like chasing something you can not catch.  It is also well known that the hospital environment with all the need to maintain sanitation creates the worst possible bacteria organisms.  A hospital acquired infection is far worse than one from the community.

There are certainly times for antibiotic use; the trick is knowing when.  Many children with recurrent ear infections have dairy allergies.  Mucous forms as a protective mechanism for the allergy and becomes the food for bacteria such as “strep”. Children who take high levels of antibiotics may be at greater risk of developing allergies and asthma.  Probiotics are extremely useful when taking an antibiotic.  Probiotics (pro life) may aid in digestion, decrease yeast infections, protect the gut, and soften bowel movements.  My favorite is Enterobiotic SBO which has 14 strains of good bacteria and some soil based organisms.  Keep your immune system strong by practicing a daily wellness approach to life that pays attention to your diet.  If you start to get sick, consider taking colostrum to boost your immune system.

Stay Well

Got Fiber?

There are many health problems that are created by dehydration and constipation.  Have you ever heard someone say that it is normal to not have daily bowel movements?  Perhaps this is common but not normal.  A good standard for bowel function is at least one bowel movement per day.  If hydration is the number one health goal then a daily bowel movement is the second.  This is one major avenue of the body’s normal detoxification process.  Dehydration is a major cause of constipation.  Every time you eat there is peristaltic movement in your gut.  This means that you should have more than one bowel movement per day. 

Eating food low in fiber contributes to constipation.  In kindergarten we made paste from flour and water.  Get the picture?  Raw vegetables and fruits can help.  While fiber helps bulk up the stool, it also aids in the absorption and elimination of toxins.  This is why fiber is a recommendation for individuals with elevated cholesterol.  The liver breaks down cholesterol, hormones (thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, etc) and other byproducts of metabolism which is excreted in the bile via the gall bladder.  Bile is not only a waste product but aids in the digestion of fats.  Adequate fiber absorbs the waste components for elimination.  Fiber also acts as a broom for the colon to keep it clean.  My favorite fiber product is Fiber PF which is a combination of psyllium and ground flax seed.

For some fiber products can be constipating.  This can happen when antibiotics create an opportunity for yeast or candida to flourish.  This yeast combined with sugar results in fermentation creating gas and alcohol.  Good bacterial flora in the gut is also imperative to good bowel movements.  The bacteria have a normal life cycle of growth and death.  The normal bacterial die off helps soften the stool.  The use of a good probiotic such as Enterobiotic SBO is often helpful.

For some there is an emotional component to constipation.  It can be the holding on of toxins including toxic emotions.  Not being able to “let go”, so to speak.  Suppressed anger from abuse is a perfect example as many of these individuals display constipation.   This illustrates one aspect of how the mental, emotional, and spiritual can impact the physical body.  Much of illness starts on this emotional plane and is magnified in the physical body.  One great principle is if you heal the emotional/spiritual, then the body will, in turn, heal.  The spiritual is usually followed by the physical. 

Other products that are helpful include herbal teas such as Gaia Natural Laxative, homeopathic combination products Constipation or Constipation CP for children by Natural Creations.

Good bowel health is a major health goal.

Stay Well!

Imperative Digestion

Jejunum Cross Section

Small Intestine

Digestion begins with the sense of smell followed by salivation and proper chewing.  The stomach has an acid environment.  Acid is needed to break down protein and liberate minerals.  With proper digestion the stomach empties into the small intestine which is an alkaline environment.  Bile is released to aid in the digestion of fats.  At the same time enzymes from the pancreas aid digestion.  If everything goes well the nutrients are absorbed for utilization in the body.  In the colon, water is re-absorbed to form a stool.

The environment impacts digestion.  Eating in traffic is vastly different than sitting down for a pleasant meal.  Eating while being upset also creates a poor digestive state.  Ideally you should be well hydrated during the day so you can eat a meal with little or no fluid.  Excess water, tea or soft drinks dilute the digestive process.   Throw in a super sized cola with ice inhibits digestion.  Hot tea is much better.  These are just some basics of good digestion.

Is it any wonder that more Americans experience indigestion and require the use of prescription antacids?  Taking such a product on a regular basis is the path for other chronic health issues.  Acid is needed for proper digestion of food.  It is better to solve the problem.  Did you know that neurotransmitter such as serotonin is made in the gut from protein?  A possible example of why depression is a side effect of such a drug.

Food allergies are a major factor for indigestion.  The most common food allergies are dairy and wheat.  Our process grains are not the same as the foods of our parents.  Dairy is highly processed as well.  Raw milk is much better as it contains enzymes and bacteria that aides in digestion.  At the same time, I believe the gut can be compromised with the over use of antibiotics allowing the body to become more sensitive to wheat and dairy.  Any use of antibiotics should be accompanied by a good probiotic.  My favorite is Enterobiotic SBO that contains 15 different types of bacteria and soil based organisms.  A deficit of the good bacteria can contribute to indigestion. Identifying basic food allergies is helpful in solving problems with indigestion.  

Other aids for digestion include a teaspoonful of Braggs Apple Cider vinegar in a little water before a meal.  Enzymes such as Optizyme can be added during a meal to aid in digestion.  Good digestion is imperative for good health!