A NATURAL HEALING VIEWPOINT ON COLITIS, ULCER, AND OTHER GI PROBLEMS

[Guest guest]

A NATURAL HEALING VIEWPOINT ON COLITIS, ULCER, AND OTHER GI PROBLEMS

JoAnn Guest

Apr 04, 2005 14:23 PDT

===================================================================

Your digestive tract is well over twenty feet long. If you were to

flatten out just your small intestine, its total absorptive area would

be half the size of a basketball court.

 

This is an important bit of real estate.

 

Naturopaths tend to annoy medical specialists by looking at

gastrointestinal (GI) problems such as colitis, ulcers, spastic colon,

irritable bowel syndrome and even Crohn's disease as manifestations of

the same two problems, just in different places.

 

These two fundamental causes of most GI disorders are " systemic

toxemia " (a polluted body) and " malnutrition " . This means one is taking

in too much of the wrong things and not enough of the right ones.

 

Persons with GI troubles simply must stop doing things that hurt their

guts. Smoking, alcohol,sugar, coffee, meat, food additives, and stress

must be systematically eliminated.

 

If a person is not willing to stop doing things that hurt, there is a

greatly reduced chance of success with things that help. I need add

nothing about why drinking and smoking harm your digestive system.

 

Coffee drinking and meat eating, though, are often allowed by doctors

unwilling to stop those habits themselves. But one has to confront even

the popular, little vices if doing so can save big suffering. Persons

who move towards vegetarianism and away from coffee will not be

disappointed.

 

I may not make a lot of friends with this article, but these are the

facts, ma'am: a near-vegetarian diet has important advantages.

 

It is high in bulk, high in vitamin C, and high in carotene vitamin A.

A vegetarian diet is cheap and low fat. And incidentally, there are

fewer dishes to do.

 

The lining of your entire digestive tract is made up of epithelial

tissue. Epithelial cells are " skin " cells. Your skin covers both the

outside and the inside of your body. You might think of yourself as a

sleeping bag: there is an outer waterproof covering and an inner, softer

lining.

 

Since epithelial tissue is very dependent on vitamins A and C for its

health and integrity, and since a diet high in fruits, sprouts and

veggies is quite high in these vitamins, you can see the vegetarian's

advantage.

 

The additional bulk of a veggie diet makes stools softer and easier to

pass. Pressure is reduced inside the colon and straining to have a bowel

movement is eliminated.

 

Persons with very sensitive intestines can temporarily juice their

vegetables and even put their salads through a blender if necessary.

This tastes a lot better than it sounds, and is an extremely gentle and

digestible way to instantly improve nutritional status.

 

Fruits and especially vegetables are so high in carotenes that

supplemental vitamin A is not needed if you are juicing.

Carotene vitamin A is non-toxic.

 

Years ago, one of my naturopathic textbooks was entitled Everybody's

Guide to Nature Cure, by Dr. Harry Benjamin. At the time, I resisted the

way he began practically every treatment the same way: with a fast. His

advice has withstood the test of time. Persons with GI troubles often

get the most relief by just shutting down the digestive system for a

while. A few days fasting gives the body a chance to rest and repair.

Naturopaths believe, and anatomical evidence confirms, that given this

chance the body will take advantage of it.

 

Earlier I mentioned that your intestinal tract is lined with epithelial

cells. These cells, called enterocytes, are replaced by your body every

three to five days (Williams, Nutrition and Diet Therapy, 7th ed, page

29). This suggests that a fast of similar length would best enable the

reconstruction. If I were going to work on Chicago's sewer system, I'd

shut it down first. And, I'd certainly keep it shut down until the

repair was done. How could it otherwise be done properly?

Fasting is simply a temporary and logical measure.

 

While it is possible for some people to fast on water alone, I think

this is unnecessary. Equally good results will be obtained (with greater

comfort) by vegetable juice fasting.

 

One might argue that juice fasts are ideal because they provide the

healing Vitamins A and C. The minimal carbohydrate content of vegetable

juices promotes normal blood sugar levels, provides electrolyte

minerals, and prevents ketosis.

 

And, vegetable juice fasting feels remarkably GOOD and it WORKS

remarkably well. (You may want to read my article entitled " How To Juice

Fast " for some helpful pointers.)

 

To give you an idea of the therapeutic potential of vegetable juices,

consider the work of Garnett Cheney, M.D. He had 100 peptic ulcer

patients drink a quart of raw cabbage juice daily.

 

The patients reported dramatically less pain, and X-ray examination

confirmed faster healing time. There was no other change in their diet,

and they did not have drug therapy. 81% of the patients were

symptom-free within one week; over twothirds were better in just four

days. Average healing time for patients given standard hospital

treatment was over a month. (Cheney, G: " Vitamin U Therapy of Peptic

Ulcer, " California Medicine, vol. 77, number 4, October, 1952)

 

Dr. Cheney used cabbage juice to also treat gastric ulcers and duodenal

ulcers. He clearly was onto something, which he called " Vitamin U " (for

ulcer) for lack of a better name.

 

Today, the cabbage family (cruciform) vegetables including Brussels

sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli, are finally being recommended to help

prevent diseases including cancer.

 

Dr. Cheney was getting therapeutic results in four days with cabbage

juice OVER FORTY YEARS AGO! Do we really have to wait for orthodox

medical approval of vegetables?

 

I know of people who have utilized cabbage juice along with vegetarian

diet and fasting to heal all forms of gastrointestinal diseases without

drugs and without surgery.

 

One person even cured her untreatable rectal bleeding with cabbage

juice. The attending physician confirmed her excellent but unexplained

progress, asking her what she was doing. She told the doctor of her diet

and about cabbage juice. His response was, " No, that couldn't be it. "

 

Supplemental vitamin C is very valuable to help heal lesions and

inflammation all along the GI tract. Thousands of milligrams in divided

doses are necessary for best results. Enough " C " should be taken to

improve the condition, but not so much as might cause excessively loose

bowels. A non-acidic or buffered Vitamin C is ideal, because it will not

irritate the digestive tract. Calcium ascorbate or an esterfied Vitamin

C both work well.

 

Some organized form of stress reduction is essential for digestive

system health and healing. Whether it is prayer, meditation, yoga, music

or another approach, what matters most is if you will actually learn how

to relax efficiently and take the time to do it every day!

 

That goes for juicing, too. What is the best juicer to buy? The one you

will USE! If you don't want to begin juice fasting just yet, you can

certainly begin by adding some cabbage juice to your diet. Just a glass

with each meal plus one more equals a quart a day. Can you sweeten it?

To quote Curly: " Why, soitenly! " Remember Mary Poppins' advice about

that spoonful of sugar, and do what it takes to be healthy.

 

 

REFERENCES AND ADDITIONAL READING:

 

Cheney, Garnett: " Antipeptic Ulcer Dietary Factor, " American Dietetics

Association 26:9 September, 1950

 

Cheney, Garnett: " The Nature of the Antipepticulcer Dietary Factor, "

Stanford Medical Bulletin, 8:144, 1950

 

Cheney, Garnett: " Prevention of Histamine-induced Peptic Ulcers by

Diet, " Stanford Medical Bulletin, 6:334, 1948

 

Cheney, Garnett: " Rapid Healing of Peptic Ulcers in Patients Receiving

Fresh Cabbage Juice, " California Medicine, 70:10, 1949

 

Cheney, Garnett: " Vitamin U Therapy of Peptic Ulcer, " California

Medicine, vol. 77, Number 4, October, 1952)

 

Pauling, Linus: How To Live Longer and Feel Better, Freeman, 1986, pages

112-113

 

Stone, Irwin: The Healing Factor: Vitamin C Against Disease, Grosset and

Dunlap, 1972, Chapter 21.

 

A good librarian will help you locate any hard-to-find article or book.

Try an Interlibrary Loan if necessary.

 

Copyright C 2004 and prior years Andrew W. Saul. From the books DOCTOR

YOURSELF and FIRE YOUR DOCTOR, available from Andrew Saul, Number 8 Van

Buren Street, Holley, New York 14470 (585) 638-5357.

 

http://www.doctoryourself.com/colitis.html

 

Andrew Saul, PhD

--

 

AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This page is not in any way offered as prescription,

diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or physical

condition. Any form of self-treatment or alternative health program

necessarily must involve an individual's acceptance of some risk, and no

one should assume otherwise. Persons needing medical care should obtain

it from a physician. Consult your doctor before making any health

decision.

Neither the author nor the webmaster has authorized the use of their

names or the use of any material contained within in connection with the

sale, promotion or advertising of any product or apparatus. Single-copy

reproduction for individual, non-commercial use is permitted providing

no alterations of content are made, and credit is given.

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messenger

Show us what our next emoticon should look like. Join the fun.