Gastrointestinal complaints affect men and women equally and may occur at any age. Conditions can be acute or chronic. Common chronic “disorders” include ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s irritable Bowel Syndrome, celiac disease, and diverticular disease.
Diagnosing gastrointestinal disease is often difficult, and causes are not understood. Current research indicates they may all be caused by an immune reaction. Bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections may contribute. Reactions to medications may result in similar symptoms. Food allergies and hypersensitivities may be at the root of any of these disorders. Nutritional deficiencies are common, particularly zinc, B vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids.
Western medicine has few answers in treating GI disorders, focusing primarily on immunity suppression and anti-inflammatories. Although providing limited relief, these approaches do not offer a “cure” and often significantly harm your body and leave you vulnerable to infections. Current science is finding increased importance in using “alternative” approaches including pro- and probiotics, dietary interventions and nutrient supplementation.
Natural Treatment Approaches
The Western Naturopathic approach is increasingly being adopted by allopaths and is the subject of the most promising GI research. Identification of food allergies and intolerances (especially to milk and gluten), environmental irritants and pathogens loosen the cellular junctions in the GI tract, allowing seemingly innocuous substances to cause inflammation and the varied symptoms of GI disorders. Testing, elimination dieting and use of phytonutrients to control inflammation and pathogens are central to the naturopathic approach, as are lifestyle changes, dietary modification and mind-body interventions. Nutrients known to be blocked by GI irritation are supplemented in order to prevent health decline.
Traditional Chinese Medicine considers GI disorders as arising from constitutional deficiencies, invasion by exterior pathogens or unbalanced diet. Inflammatory bowel diseases are conceptualized as a manifestation of damp heat; spleen deficiency; spleen and kidney deficiencies; and qi and blood stagnation.
Invasion of Damp-Heat in the large intestine may be marked by acute and sudden onset of gastrointestinal symptoms of diarrhea, mucus and blood in the stool, foul-smelling stools, yellow urine, abdominal fullness & pain, defecation with urgency, irritability, thirst, and preference to drinking cold water.
Spleen Deficiency may manifest as compromised ability of the Spleen to transform and transport food. Symptoms include frequent and severe diarrhea, watery stool with undigested food, dull abdominal pain, poor appetite, poor digestion, gastric discomfort after food intake, pale facial complexion, fatigue and lethargy due to chronic malabsorption and malnutrition.
Spleen and Kidney Deficiency may be due to constitutional deficiencies or secondary to the chronic nature of the illness. Symptoms include early morning diarrhea around 5:00 am, abdominal pain increases with cold but decreases with defecation, intolerance to cold, and cold hands & feet.
Qi (energy) and Blood Stagnation resembles an acute phase of Crohn’s disease with severe abdominal pain and fullness with a palpable mass in the right lower abdomen (mimics appendicitis). Other symptoms include diarrhea, lack of appetite, muscle wasting and lethargy.
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Our gastrointestinal system (GI) may react to any invader including foods that we eat. Sometimes the reaction is so weak that we don’t at first notice it, but a physical response may still be taking place. Symptoms may include physical signs such as:
| Fatigue | Sleep problems |
| Headaches | Muscle pain |
| Achiness | Skin rash |
| Respiratory problems | Asthma |
| Bronchitis | Urinary problems |
| Vaginitis | Digestive problems |
| Hypoglycemia | Impotence |
| Menstrual problems and PMS | Hypertension |
| Elevated blood sugar | Abdominal pain |
| Psychological Symptoms may include: | |
| Depression | Anxiety |
| Malaise | Hyperactivity |
| Memory loss | Learning difficulties |
| Short attention | Irritability |
| Mood shifts | Confusion |
Gastrointestinal complaints are very common. They affect men and women equally and may occur at any age. Conditions can be acute or chronic. Common chronic “disorders” include ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, and diverticular disease. GI disorders are often very difficult to diagnose; they may all share the same symptoms and many researchers believe they may share the same causes.
IBD– Inflammatory bowel disease refers to two chronic diseases that cause inflammation of the intestines: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. They affect approximately 500,000 to two million people in the United States. IBD most commonly begins during adolescence and early adulthood, but it also can begin during childhood and later in life.
UC– Ulcerative colitis affects only the colon and rectum. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the large intestine, also called the colon. In ulcerative colitis, the inner lining – or mucosa – of the intestine becomes inflamed (meaning the lining of the intestinal wall reddens and swells) and develops ulcers (an ulcer is a sore, which means it’s an open, painful wound).
Crohn’s– Crohn’s can affect any part of the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease differs from ulcerative colitis in the areas of the bowel it involves – it most commonly affects the last part of the small intestine (called the terminal ileum) and parts of the large intestine. However, Crohn’s disease isn’t limited to these areas and can attack any part of the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease causes inflammation that extends much deeper into the layers of the intestinal wall than ulcerative colitis does.
IBS- Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common disorders seen by doctors and affects about 1 out of 10 people. Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits in the absence of any detectable organic cause. Diarrhea or constipation may predominate, or they may alternate. IBS may begin after an infection, a stressful life event, or onset of maturity without any other medical indicators. IBS affects the colon, or large bowel, which is the part of the digestive tract that stores stool.
Celiac Disease– Celiac disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. When gluten is eaten an immune reaction occurs in the small intestine, causing damage to the surface of your small intestine and an inability to absorb certain nutrients. Celiac disease is diagnosed in European countries at a rate of 1 in 133 people. It is identified in the US much less frequently, although this is changing as the public, and physicians, become more aware of the disorder.
Diverticular disease– Diverticular disease includes two conditions: diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Diverticulosis is the development of the pouches in the large intestine, most often the lowest parts of the colon called the sigmoid colon. These saclike swellings, called diverticula, project outward in weak spots in the wall of the large intestine. Diverticulosis is a common condition in middle aged and older adults. In about ten to 25 percent of people with diverticulosis, the diverticula become inflamed and cause further problems, such as infection. This condition is called diverticulitis.
Diagnosing gastrointestinal disease is often difficult, and causes are not understood. Current research indicates they may all be caused by an immune reaction. Bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections may contribute. Reactions to medications may result in similar symptoms. Food allergies and hypersensitivities may be at the root of any of these disorders.
Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Information provided by CHS is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Any information given is only intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from scientific world literature. You are encouraged to make your own health care decisions based upon your own research of the subject and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
Latest GI Science News
A Retrospective Review: Patient-Reported Preoperative Prescription Opioid, Sedative, or Antidepressant Use Is Associated with Worse Outcomes in Colorectal Surgery
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of preoperative prescription opioid, sedative, and antidepressant use on postoperative outcomes following colorectal surgery. This study was a retrospective database and medical record review conducted at University of Kentucky utilizing the local American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database.
All patients =18 years of age who underwent colorectal resection for all indications, excluding trauma, between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2016, were included.
The primary outcomes measured were the rates of 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality.
Of 1201 patients, 30.2% used opioids, 18.4% used sedatives, and 28.3% used antidepressants preoperatively. Users of any medication class had higher ASA classification, rates of dyspnea, and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than nonusers. Opioid users also had higher rates of ostomy creation, contaminated wound classification, prolonged operation time, and postoperative transfusion. Postoperatively, patients had higher rates of intra-abdominal infection (opioids: 21.5% vs 15.2%, p = 0.009; sedatives: 23.1% vs 15.7%, p = 0.01; antidepressants: 22.4% vs 15.0%, p = 0.003) and respiratory failure (opioids: 11.0% vs 6.3%, p = 0.007; sedatives: 12.2% vs 6.7%, p = 0.008; antidepressants: 10.9% vs 6.5%, p = 0.02). Reported opioid or sedative users had a prolonged hospital length of stay of 2 days (p < 0.001) compared with nonusers.
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum: July 2020 – Volume 63 – Issue 7 – p 965-973
doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000001655
Dr. Reinhardt: More negatives to “anti”depressants. After 50 years of studies, still unable to prove significant benefits, only harms!
AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Role of Probiotics in the Management of Gastrointestinal Disorders
Within the last 20 years, there has been increasing recognition and interest in the role of the gut microbiome in gastrointestinal health. Within the last 20 years, there has been increasing recognition and interest in the role of the gut microbiome in gastrointestinal health.
1. In patients with C difficile infection, we recommend the use of probiotics only in the context of a clinical trial.
2. In adults and children on antibiotic treatment, we suggest the use of S boulardii; or the 2-strain combination of L acidophilus CL1285 and L casei LBC80R; or the 3-strain combination of L acidophilus, L delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus, and B bifidum; or the 4-strain combination of L acidophilus, L delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus, B bifidum, and S salivarius subsp thermophilus over no or other probiotics for prevention of C difficile infection.
3. In adults and children with Crohn’s disease, we recommend the use of probiotics only in the context of a clinical trial.
4. In adults and children with ulcerative colitis, we recommend the use of probiotics only in the context of a clinical trial.
5. In adults and children with pouchitis, we suggest the 8-strain combination of L paracasei subsp paracasei DSM 24733, L plantarum DSM 24730, L acidophilus DSM 24735, L delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus DSM 24734, B longum subsp longum DSM 24736, B breve DSM 24732, B longum subsp infantis DSM 24737, and S salivarius subsp thermophilus DSM 24731 over no or other probiotics.
6. In symptomatic children and adults with irritable bowel syndrome, we recommend the use of probiotics only in the context of a clinical trial.
7. In children with acute infectious gastroenteritis, we suggest against the use of probiotics.
8. In preterm (less than 37 weeks gestational age), low-birth-weight infants, we suggest using a combination of Lactobacillus spp and Bifidobacterium spp (L rhamnosus ATCC 53103 and B longum subsp infantis; or L casei and B breve; or L rhamnosus, L acidophilus, L casei, B longum subsp infantis, B bifidum, and B longum subsp longum; or L acidophilus and B longum subsp infantis; or L acidophilus and B bifidum; or L rhamnosus ATCC 53103 and B longum Reuter ATCC BAA-999; or L acidophilus, B bifidum, B animalis subsp lactis, and B longum subsp longum), or B animalis subsp lactis (including DSM 15954), or L reuteri (DSM 17938 or ATCC 55730), or L rhamnosus (ATCC 53103 or ATC A07FA or LCR 35) for prevention of NEC over no and other probiotics.
AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(20)34729-6/fulltext
Dr. Reinhardt: Try probiotics, “There’s really no downside,” according to neurologists, but try “only in the context of a clinical trial” according to the American Gastroenterological Association (trade association).
Probiotics are safe. That is why they are recommend them for certain conditions, without reservation.
Western medicine has no advice based on science for those suffering from Chron’s, IBS, IBD ABD and UC. These disorders commonly impair zinc absorption, and possibly certain B vitamins. Even such simple science as supplementing zinc is seldom mentioned to sufferers. This is forgivable; as the AMA states, medical schools do not typically teach nutrition as a part of their program.
Another recommendation:
How good gut bacteria help reduce the risk for heart disease
Researchers identify a protein responsible for bacteria’s beneficial behavior
Scientists have discovered that one of the good bacteria found in the human gut has a benefit that has remained unrecognized until now: the potential to reduce the risk for heart disease.
The bacteria’s activity in the intestines reduces production of a chemical that has been linked to the development of clogged arteries. After it’s manufactured in the gut, the chemical enters the bloodstream and travels to the liver, where it is converted into its most harmful form.
The Ohio State University researchers have traced the bacteria’s behavior to a family of proteins that they suspect could explain other ways that good gut organisms can contribute to human health. In essence, these microbes compete with bad bacteria for access to the same nutrients in the gut — and if the good bacteria win, they may prevent health problems that can result from how the body metabolizes food.
Much more work is ahead, but the scientists see potential for this microbe, Eubacterium limosum, to be used for therapeutic purposes in the future. Previous research has already shown the bacterium is “good” because it calms inflammation in the gut.
Science Daily July 8, 2020, reporting on MtcB, a member of the MttB superfamily from the human gut acetogen Eubacterium limosum, is a cobalamin-dependent carnitine demethylase. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2020; jbc.RA120.012934 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200708150606.htm