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DIGESTIVE TRACT DISORDERS

"He, who knows how to listen, hears wisdom.
He, who does not know how to listen, hears only noise."
Chinese saying.

Hippocrates is credited with the saying “death sits in our bowels”, or something to that effect. Other translations of the quote are “death begins in the bowels, we are what we eat and bad digestion is the root of all evil”.  Most physicians would agree that one must have a healthy digestive system before healing can begin. Did you know that chemicals, such as chlorine etc, being added to kill harmful bacteria in our municipal water supplies, are also killing millions of the friendly bacteria in your digestive tract and are a major factor in digestive disorders?

The digestive system is basically a long tube that begins with the mouth and ends with the anus. It is critical to maintaining good health.  The food and drink we consume is processed by the digestive system and the nutrients are transported to all parts of the body by the circulatory system.  Waste materials are then ejected by the body.  

 The Associated Press released a report that in 2003 Americans spent 8 Billion 900 Million dollars on the 3 most popular medications for heartburn and acid reflux disease.  Care to guess on what was spent on the less popular drugs and the drugs that were needed to offset the side effects of the original drugs? 

Why is so much money being spent? People are buying these medications and OTC products to get temporary relief but their condition is not being cured. A friend Ken has had acid reflux for years and has been on the purple pill for as long as it has been available. His Doctor now fears he may be prone to throat cancer so he has to go in for screening every 6 months. Another acquaintance, Terry, has also had a reflux problem for a long time. His esophagus is in such bad shape the Doctor described it as "eaten up" and prognosis is not good.

Being stupid, isn't not knowing much, nor is it not wanting to know much.
Being stupid, is believing you know enough.
A.J. Daniel-novelist

It’s no wonder there are so many digestive disorders since Americans have been clogging up their digestive and circulatory systems for years.  American adults consume about 5 pounds of chemical additives each year that the food industry puts in our food to preserve it, make it look prettier, taste better etc etc.  Also there is the chemically altered fats problem.  We know what we like and we want it fast and we want it year round. 

Medicine cures three tenths, diet cures seven tenths.
From China

The very idea of drinking tea to relieve digestive disorders probably doesn't make sense to a lot of people. It does work, however, and if you personally or a loved one has a digestive disorder and traditional medical treatment is not providing the cure you desire then take the 5 or 10 minutes needed to read this web page and then you can make a well informed decision regarding Kombucha, fermented tea.

Here is where you need a little patience since this page is a little long. You have to understand a disorder before steps can be taken to correct or relieve the condition. We have listed the most common digestive tract disorders in alphabetical order. That way, if you are pressed for time now, you can skip down to the condition that you are most interested in. Infants, baby and toddler conditions are covered near the end.

Acid indigestion aka as ACID REFLUX, is caused when acid backs up into the lower esophagus. This may cause inflammation and in severe cases ulceration of the esophagus. Symptoms are a painful burning sensation in your upper abdomen and heartburn. It takes 2 hours for food to move thru your stomach after you eat. Avoid lying down or bending over for the first 2 hours after a meal and don't overeat. A hiatal hernia may also be part of your problem.

A chronic acid reflux condition sometimes leads to cancer of the esophagus.

Ulcerative COLITIS is a long term condition in which raw, inflamed areas develop in the lining of the large intestine. The cause is unknown and in some cases it mimics Crohn's disease. Sometimes referred to as inflammatory bowel disease, the symptoms can keep recurring for a number of years. It is more common in women and young adults.

Symptoms include hemorrhaging without warning, small amounts of rectal bleeding or bloody stools. If an infection develops, you may have fever, chills or sweats. Cramping and diarrhea is also a possibility. Maintain a diet log and avoid those things that bring on an attack or aggravates the symptoms.

CONSTIPATION usually is indicated if you have the following symptoms: irregular or infrequent hard, dry movements. It can be brought on by overuse of laxatives. Also some people become irregular because they are too "busy" for the bathroom. Chronic constipation may be caused by a low roughage diet, use of medications, severe depression or even hemorrhoids or an anal fissure or even pregnancy.

Eliminate the underlying causes and you are on track to cure your constipation naturally.

CROHN'S DISEASE is a chronic and long term recurring inflammation of part of the digestive tract. Most commonly it is in the final section of the small intestine and the cause is unknown.

Symptoms include: cramps, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss. Attacks usually begin in your 20's and can continue for the rest of your life.

Keep a diet log and avoid foods that bring on an attack or aggravates your symptoms. Your Doctor might also put you on analgesics, antispasmodics, antidiarrheals, supplements and drugs to reduce inflammation.

DIARRHEA is an infection of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract. It occurs when certain viruses or bacteria multiply rapidly in your stomach and or intestines.

Symptoms are loose and watery bowel movements and may include vomiting. Chronic diarrhea is often an indication of unhealthy intestinal flora.

GASTRITIS literally means inflammation of the stomach lining (mucous membrane). It can be a bacterial or viral infection or caused by medicines or OTC (over the counter) products such as aspirin, ibuprofen or even alcohol.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and discomfort in the upper abdomen. Chronic gastritis can be an indication of an ulcer, cancer or be a gastritic erosion.

The symptom of HEARTBURN is a burning sensation in the upper abdomen that may result from muscle spasms. It is one of the main symptoms of reflux esophagitis (acid reflux). The most common treatment is OTC anti-acid products which can provide temporary relief but do not address the causes.

It affects a lot of overweight people and big eaters. A simple home remedy would be to get the pounds off and eat several smaller meals instead of 2 or 3 heavy meals. Do not wear tight belts or girdles. Avoid stooping, bending over or lying down for at least 2 hours after a meal. If you have chronic heartburn, eliminate from your diet liquers, sweet drinks, syrups or honey and stop smoking all of which aggravate the condition.

Prescription medication may include drugs to block formation of stomach acids and or a medication to increase the speed with which food passes thru your stomach and into the intestines.

Another home remedy to avoid acid reflux and or heartburn at night is to raise the head of your bed 4 to 6 inches by putting books or bricks under the legs of the bed.

INDIGESTION is a term to describe any discomfort in the upper abdomen. Symptoms are; discomfort or distension in your abdomen, or a sharp dull or gnawing pain in your lower chest. You may complain of heartburn, nausea or the sour taste of acid fluid in your mouth. You may need to belch frequently or have butterflies in your stomach. Frequent indigestion brought on by certain foods may be referred to as a nervous stomach.

The chemicals of the stomach are very strong and overproduction or faulty production of them can cause damage to the mucous membrane that lines the stomach and duodenum. Foods such as cabbage, beans, onions or cucumbers or even eating highly seasoned or fried foods may need to be avoided.

The symptoms of IRRITABLE BOWEL (Colon) SYNDROME may resemble those of any other gastrointestinal disorder. You may also have nausea, cramping abdominal pain, abdominal distention, rumbling and gurgling, excess passage of gas, or a sensation that the rectum is never completely emptied.

Traditional treatment is difficult because it is not clear what causes the disorder and as a result there is no complete cure for it. Travel, changes in your occupation and diet all can cause the symptoms to be worse. For many, cabbage, beans, pork and fried or highly seasoned foods aggravate the condition. Liquors, carbonated beverages and smoking are also contributing factors for many and need to be eliminated.

A Doctor might also recommend a high fiber diet and plenty of liquids such as water, skim milk or prune juice daily. Glycerine suppositories are sometimes used.

NAUSEA and VOMITING is usually a symptom of a more severe condition including an injury, pregnancy, some of the above conditions and a host of diseases and other medical conditions. Most episodes of vomiting are of a temporary nature and will be over in a day or two. Since you are losing body fluids, dehydration is a real concern.

ULCERS of the digestive tract are commonly PEPTIC ULCERS and is a disruption in the lining (mucous membrane) of the lower esophagus, the stomach or the duodenum but rarely in the small intestine. The areas involved are bathed by acid and digestive enzymes.

The main types of peptic ulcers are duodenal and gastric ulcers. Ulcers may penetrate or even perforate the wall of the stomach.

In recent years helicobacter pyloric bacteria is believed to damage the protective mucous covering of the stomach and duodenum. With the protection gone, the acids and enzymes are free to attack the lining resulting in ulcers. More research is still needed.

Symptoms can include a burning or gnawing pain usually in the uppermost part of the abdomen, nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Smokers, heavy drinkers and people who consume large amounts of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs and products are more prone to ulcers.

Eliminate aspirin and alcohol from your diet. Stop smoking if you have the habit. Your Doctor will probably prescribe drugs to reduce the production of stomach acids or something to coat the ulcer with a protective layer.

INFANTS, BABIES and TODDLERS suffer from many of the same digestive disorders as adults do. The causes of their distress, however, is usually brought on by underdevelopment of their digestive tract rather than food, smoking, alcohol, medications and dietary abuse. A child at birth to some degree still has a digestive system that is not fully capable of properly digesting dead, factory produced formula. They can suffer from acid reflux, diarrhea and gas. Constipation can be caused by a lack of roughage in their diet or inactive intestinal flora.

We have a certain responsibility to keep our bodies in good health,
as far as it lies within our power to do so…as a loan from God.

So what can we do to balance our eating lifestyle with maintaining a healthy digestive system and overall good health? 
 

Our NATURAL & ALTERNATIVE HEALING RESOURCE DIRECTORY provides information on great products and where to buy them that specifically target many of the conditions that affect "modern man" today.  Drinking Kombucha on a regular basis also may very well be the most important thing you can do to regain and maintain good health.

This ain't yo mama's tea

I call Kombucha an ancient remedy for modern man’s ills.  It is an Oriental fermented tea remedy and can be traced back to 400 B.C. where it originated in an area we know today as  Korea.  One story has it that in 221 A.D. the Japanese Emperor Inkyo was reported to be suffering from severe digestive troubles and summoned a physician from Korea.  This doctor Kombu is believed to have brought the divine tea to Japan.  Cha in several oriental languages is “tea”. 

It is perfectly safe (without side effects) and has been used by Emperors, Czars and even an American President.  In the 1980s our President was being treated for Cancer and metastases (spreading of cancer cells) developed.  A culture was brought in from Japan and Kombucha was incorporated into his treatment.  He survived and lived well into his nineties. 

So what can Kombucha do for those with digestive disorders: 

One might think of Kombucha as a microbiological digestive aid. Dr. Rudolph Sklenar of Germany was a G.P. and did extensive research on kombucha. In the 1960s his works were published in scientific journals and the general press thus raising the general awareness of this ancient remedy in his country. He used kombucha successfully in his practice in treating all types of digestive problems, stomach and bowel illnesses, rheumatism and gout.

He is further quoted as follows: "Every chronic disease including cancer is preceded by a general ailment of that organism, resulting mainly from a metabolic malfunction. This triggers an increasing accumulation of waste material in the body and creates the ideal environment where a virus can develop. In light of these facts it is not surprising, that a common saying is: no cancer patient has a healthy digestive tract."

Dr. Maxim Bing found Kombucha a "very effective means of combating hardening of the arteries, gout and sluggishness of the bowels."

Dr. E. Arauner confirmed that Kombucha is the "most effective natural folk remedy for fatigue, nervous tension, incipient signs of old age, hardening of the arteries, sluggishness of the bowels, gout, rheumatism, hemorrhoids and diabetes."

Prof. Wilhelm Henneberg refers to Kombucha as "a means of combating all kinds of illnesses, especially constipation."

G. F. Barbancik in his book published in 1954 wrote that Kombucha was an important remedy for: tonsillitis, diseases of the inner organs, reducing inflammation, gastroenteritis, inflammation of the small and large intestines, dysentery, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, sclerosis, etc.

Some European studies of Kombucha are really old. Bacinskaya established in 1914 the Kombucha beverage was effective in regulating the activity of the intestinal tract.

In 1916 Prof. Lakowitz discovered that the mushroom tea quickly removed many gastric illnesses, nervous headaches as well as digestive disorders.

In 1917 Prof. B. Linder noted its use as a regulator of intestinal activity and as a cure for hemorrhoids.

In 1928 Prof. Lokowitz confirmed Kombucha effective for digestive upsets.

In 1944 Dr. H. Irion ran a college for chemists. He recommended Kombucha's use for all aging problems and intestinal disorders.

Kombucha seems to be the biological equivalent of STP gas treatment, carburetor cleaner and radiator flush all rolled into one.  It works at the cellular and molecular level pulling the toxins out.  Glucuronic acid (GA) then binds toxins in the liver which are then eliminated via your urine.  Toxins bound by GA cannot be reabsorbed by the intestines or the urinary system.  This detoxification and flushing promotes a healthier bladder, liver and pancreas. 

Properly fermented tea is also the same pH as the stomach fluids are supposed to be.  It therefore helps balance stomach juices so they are not too acidic or too alkaline.  This should relieve conditions such as heartburn, gastritis, indigestion and acid reflux. 

Several important acids are in properly fermented Kombucha which coupled with balanced pH create a hostile environment for pathogens. If pathogens can't thrive and multiply there is less chance of infections.

Kombucha is a living tea containing friendly bacteria and beneficial yeasts (not to be confused with the candida variety).  It is very beneficial in nourishing intestinal flora and should relieve many conditions involving the colon.  It also contains lactic acid and acetic acid which deter the growth of harmful bacteria. Acetic acid is also effective in slowing the growth of salmonella, the most common bacteria responsible for food poisoning.

The fermentation process produces a variety of substances from acetylcholine, which benefits the body’s nervous system to choline, which normalizes blood pressure and prevents hypertension. 

Since it aids healthy digestion, the nutrients in food and drink are more readily available for the rest of the body to utilize in performing the body’s normal functions, hence more energy.  

Kombucha sometimes enhances the effectiveness of other medications and it is important to keep your health provider informed so dosage can be adjusted accordingly. 

Here is what some Kombucha drinkers say about their Kombucha experience: 

Mary of AZ says:  I can’t believe how great the tea is.  I have had a stomach malady for 20 years.  After 3 days of Kombucha I am feeling better already.  And what an appetite…yeah. 

So where does the extra energy come from?  From your food.  Better digestion moves the nutrients into your bloodstream so nutrients reach all parts of your body.  Also, as more and more toxins are removed your body doesn’t have to keep fighting them and can put the nutrients to other uses such as helping you stay active longer. 

Two years ago I had a complete hysterectomy due to cancer of the womb.  Four months later a further operation was necessary followed by 30 radiation treatments.  This resulted in up to 8 bowel movements a day.  I read about Kombucha and started on it and Colibiogen.  The bowel movements returned to normal.  My last 2 cancer smear tests were negative and my Doctor and the hospital staff were amazed.  Hopefully my story will help other women.  Frau H.S. from A. 

Pauline in MI adds:  I had suffered from severe indigestion for at least 25 years.  A friend helped me start Kombucha 3 months ago.  After 6 weeks on the tea I was able to forget about the Tums, etc. 

Some people who suffered for years without improvement are now cured thru using Kombucha.  Intestinal complaints, high blood pressure and rheumatic pains, all healed.  Frau R. W. the Netherlands 

A number of people have mentioned that drinking a few ounces of Kombucha tea after meals takes away that “full” feeling and eliminates the need for antacids. 

Jane of IL reports:  I have recurrent interstitial cystitis.  Since drinking Kombucha tea my cystitis has calmed down to almost nothing.  It’s going to be a lifetime drink for me. 

Kenneth of AR is a believer:  At age 44 he had spent 10 years on disability from his job of driving a truck.  His medical infirmities have included a bad heart, enlarged prostate, high blood pressure, bad digestion, diabetes and depression.  Since then, it’s just like I’m a little kid again, Sikorsky said.  He still has heart problems but his other ailments seem to have vanished. 

Mr. G from Stade: After a short time I noticed that Kombucha can heal gastritis.

Mrs. R: I suffered for years from intestinal troubles and could not “go” without laxatives. I started to drink Kombucha and after 6 months I no longer need laxatives.

Mrs. H: I suffer a lot from constipation but it has improved a lot since drinking the tea.

Mrs. K: I have had intestinal complaints and constant strong flatulences for a long time. Since I have been taking the Kombucha my problems have disappeared and I eat anything I want to.

Mrs. L: After my operation for intestinal cancer I started drinking Kombucha. I believe it has helped me considerably. I feel well and I no longer take any medicines. Even the rheumatism in my fingers has improved.

Mrs. R. I had a carcinoma of the uterus and underwent radiation therapy. I was in a bad state of health and suffered greatly from intestinal troubles. Since I have been taking Kombucha tea I feel better every day. My blood count improves every week and my movements have normalized.

……Have recently been introduced to the miraculous Kombucha. I am ecstatic with the results to date regarding constipation and stomach pain which no longer haunt my days.

I benefit greatly from Kombucha. Even after only a week I’m feeling much better. Regular bowel movements, more energy, sleeping well.

For myself, I am greatly impressed with this tea (Kombucha). I am 77 and my digestion is much better and I have far more energy.

From an Australian Doctor: I personally have only been using Kombucha for the last 6 months and now have 50 families using the tea. The main results so far include energy increase, weight loss, regular bowel movements, (one patient with outstanding stomach problems is now 100%, good results with sinus and mucus elimination.

Prostate problems are estimated to affect 50% of men over 50.  Apparently drinking Kombucha tea regularly decreases bladder inflammation and therefore alleviates prostate inflammation as well. 

Kombucha tea can help heal so many illnesses of the stomach and the bowels, that I could write a whole book about it states writer, lecturer and holistic health consultant Klaus Kaufmann.  He goes on to say the tea shows good results in clearing up stomach and bowel problems by balancing the pH and the intestinal flora.  Healing follows automatically once all the body’s systems are in good working order.