Disorders of the lower digestive tract include inflammatory bowel conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis. These conditions result from inflammation and an overzealous immune system. Inflammatory Bowel Disorders e.g. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in essence are examples of the same process. The difference is that these two conditions occur in different areas of the bowels. Crohn’s disease usually occur in the small intestines but can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Only about 10-20% of people with Crohn’s disease have colon involvement.
Ulcerative colitis occurs in the colon or the rectum, and is common in the older person. There are two main triggers of Ulcerative colitis namely, diet and stress. The symptoms of Ulcerative colitis include: diarrhoea, mucus, blood, and Tenesmus. Tenesmus is a feeling of always wanting to empty the bowels, tiredness, and anorexia, which is an eating disorder linked to suppressed emotions.
Crohn’s disease favours the younger person but can affect anyone at any age, given the right conditions. The symptoms of Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis are similar but with Crohn’s the most frequent symptom is abdominal pain on the right side. More severe symptoms are: weight loss, fever and anemia. Crohn’s disease is the more serious of the two because of there is a greater degree and depth of inflammation. Generally, Ulcerative colitis involves the mucus linings.
Crohn’s disease affects all three layers of the intestinal tract – the top, middle and deep lying linings. Fistulas can form. These are channels that develop, allowing stool to pass into areas where it shouldn’t be – the vagina, bladder and abdomen.
Other complications of Inflammatory Bowel Disorder include:
? A skin rash or a dark discoloration over the shinbone
? Arthritic swelling, redness, heat & pain in a single joint
? Blurred vision with pain and redness
? Possible jaundice and pain in the right side of the abdomen
? Fever, weight loss &/or diarrhoea
? Swelling and tenderness in the calf muscle, the big muscle at the back of the leg
? A colicky type abdominal pain
? A change in bowel habits and bleeding, to name a few.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome also known as spastic colon, another of the Inflammatory Bowel Disorders is more common in women ages 20 – 40. There is abdominal pain, but no evidence to indicate physical or structural damage. This condition is linked to the emotions. The symptoms of IBS include:
? Pain in the lower abdomen, sometimes experienced on the left or right side, increases after a meal and eases upon defecation.
? There is mucus in the stool and can alternate between diarrhoea and constipation.
? The stool may appear thin and ribbon-like.
? The stomach is distended
? Episodes of an attack can at times be severe
? Emotional upset compounds the problem.
Another of the Inflammatory Bowel Disorders is Diverticular disease. This condition occurs in the colon. When the walls of the colon become weak, small pockets form in the walls of the colon. Waste matter and toxins get trapped in these pockets, where they remain and interact with the tissues causing inflammation. Diverticulitis, usually occurs in the mid to late ages, and is more common in men. The condition can also trigger cancerous growths or an autoimmune condition. Symptoms of Diverticulitis include:
? Tenderness and pain on the left side of the abdomen
? Diarrhoea and/or constipation
? Rectal bleeding, although not always
? A mass may develop and interfere with normal bowel function
Don’t be fooled into thinking there is only one way to address any health issue. There are many alternative approaches from which you can choose…to relieve symptoms caused by disorders of the lower digestive tract. These include therapies that generally work well for all of these conditions. Adding reflexology therapy, a 3-day vegetable juice detox/fast and adopting a more wholesome low fat, fibre-rich diet will go a long way in resolving and preventing such conditions.
Here are are some Naturopathic recommendations:
For Colitis:
? Cabbage, papaya and carrot juice
? Aloe juice
? Freshly squeezed lime/lemon juice in a glass of lukewarm water to start the morning; Follow up with a glass of carrot, beet and cucumber juice.
For IBS and Crohn’s disease:
? Constitutional hydrotherapy, which is hot and cold applications to the upper body for 10-15 minutes
? Carrot, celery and parsley juice
? Barley soup and water
For Diverticulitis:
? Rub the abdomen with a mixture of essential cinnamon oil and olive oil.
? Carrot, celery, beet and cabbage juice
? Green juices
? Papaya, pineapple, lemon and apple juice
Tips for the day:
Eliminate processed and refined foods from your diet. Check that, allergies, infections, and a leaky gut, are not involved. Re-balance your friendly gut bacteria and engage in regular exercise. When we are constipated, we tend to force and hold the breath, which make the muscles tense. Tense muscles are unable to relax thus causing more difficulty. Try to exhale as you try to relieve yourself. This helps the muscles to relax making the whole process easier.
To contact Dr. Stan Horne:
1-264-582-7045
1-784-531-1150
Email: naturopathyplus@yahoo.co.uk
