"I wish above all things that you mayest prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
- 3 John 2 -
Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
IBS is the most common digestive problem that patients see their doctor about. The muscles of the small and large intestines contract in spasms rather than regularly. These spasms cause the food to pass through the GI tract either too fast or too slow. When too slowly, too much water is absorbed causing constipation, and when too fast, too little water is absorbed and causes diarrhea.
Symptoms
Constipation
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Gas/Bloating
Heartburn
Nausea
Headaches
Foods that may trigger and should be avoided
Processed foods
Refined sugar
Fried foods
Dairy-many people are lactose intolerant and cannot digest dairy products
Gluten (wheat, rye, barley)
Meat-ferments easily because of the time it takes to digest
Natural Remedies
-Eat meals at regular times and do not eat anything in between meals
-Eat slowly and chew your food well
-Avoid drinking with meals-this dilutes the hydrochloric acid needed to digest your food
-Take a couple grains of Celtic salt before drinking water in the morning, afternoon, & evening
-Drink warm lemon water in the morning a half hour before eating
-Drink 2 ounces of organic aloe vera juice before each meal and at bedtime
-Drink 1 tablespoon slippery elm powder mixed in hot water before each meal and at bedtime
This herb stimulates rapid healing in the lining of the gut
-Eat a high fiber diet; adding bran will help stimulate the bowels
-Drink at least half of your weight in ounces of water each day
-Exercise every day; walking right after meals can be helpful
-Drink peppermint tea for upset stomach. You can also apply peppermint oil to the abdomen to decrease cramps
-Apply hot, moist compress to the stomach to relieve cramping/bloating
-Take 1 to 3 teaspoons of charcoal in 8 ounces of water to relieve gas/bloating/cramping
Be sure to drink extra water throughout the day if taking charcoal to avoid constipation.
Osteoporosis is a reduction in the total mass of bone causing the remaining bone to be fragile or “brittle”. The bones become thinner. The loss of bone mass occurs either because bone formation has slowed or because bone reabsorption is increased because the body needs the calcium and minerals somewhere else.
Common Causes
-Lack of calcium intake in the diet
-Inability to absorb calcium
-Too much phosphorus in the diet
-Lack of exercise
-Lack of certain hormones
-Smoking
-Chronic liver or kidney disease
-Long-term use of certain medications; anticoagulants, corticosteroids, anti-seizure meds…
Symptoms
Skeletal pain esp. in the hips and back
Hump in the upper back or rounding of the shoulders
Loss of height
Increased risk of fractures (broken bones)
Natural Remedies
-Eat foods containing calcium and bone forming minerals
Green leafy vegetables broccoli carrot juice
Sesame seeds pinto beans millet
Almonds quinoa garlic
Onions spirulina parsley
Liquid chlorophyll seeds raw nuts and seeds
Raw fruits vitamin C vitamin D
Herbs
-Slippery Elm
Stir 1 tablespoon of powder in hot water and drink as a tea 3 to 4 times a day. Can use capsules as
Alternative to the tea
-Comfrey
Drink as a tea or use capsules
Avoid
Soda
Refined sugar
Caffeine
Chocolate
Vinegar
Meat
Spinach- high in oxalic acid which prevents absorption of calcium
Exercise
-Walk every day
-Weight bearing exercises-build bone mass
Start out slowly especially if your bones are brittle and break easily.
Percussion
Cup hands with fingers together (finger tips and bottom of palms are doing the tapping) and tap lightly over hips, ribs, and forearms. These are the three areas commonly weakened by osteoporosis. This mimics the bone building stimulation from exercise to promote building of bone mass. Do this twice a day.
Gallstones are formed from bile, a brown digestive fluid produced by the liver. They are 80% cholesterol and 20% bile. They are smooth and soft and feel like dense fat. An attack usually occurs in the evening. The stones can block the exits of the liver or gallbladder causing symptoms.
Symptoms
Nausea/vomiting
Pain in the upper right abdomen-can be severe—can radiate up into the right shoulder
Bloating/gas/indigestion
Chills/fever
Causes
Rich/fatty foods
Fried foods
Overeating
Diet high in refined sugar and processed foods
Lack of exercise
Animal fat
eggs
Natural Remedies
-to relieve the pain, apply moist hot pack over the gallbladder for 15 minutes. Follow this with an ice rub. Repeat 3 times
-Turmeric prevents and treats gallstones. It contains curcumin which eliminates stones and increases the solubility of bile
-milk thistle increases solubility of bile
-Chamomile tea helps dissolve gallstones
-peppermint tea will decrease the effects of an attack
-Eat omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseed, chia seed, walnuts)
-drink a lot of water
-Avoid processed, fried, sugared, spicy, and junk foods
-Exercise daily
-Eat a lot of figs pears, prunes, oranges, pineapple, grated apples, and melons. Eat broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, kohlrabi, and cauliflower. Beets, carrot juice, celery, garlic, onions, and tomatoes are also good.
The liver is the largest organ in our bodies, and it performs more different functions than any other organ in the body. One function is to filter the blood and excrete waste through the bile. It also aids in the digestion of fats.
6 things which damage the liver
1. Overeating
2. Eating the wrong things-refined white-flour products, processed foods, junk foods,
White sugar products, imitation foods, potato chips, and corn chips
3. A low-protein, high carbohydrate and fat diet; esp saturated or hydrogenated fats (snacks and fried foods)
4. Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, theobromine, and hard drugs
5. Medicinal drugs-the liver has to work overtime in order to excrete the dangerous chemicals
6. Insecticides, preservatives, and other cumulative poisons (can be in what we breathe or eat)
Natural Remedies to help the liver
-Eat foods high in potassium (rice, bananas, blackstrap molasses, wheat bran, almonds, seeds, prunes, and raisins
-Drink plenty of water drinking throughout the day
-Get plenty of raw foods in the diet
-Drink fresh vegetable juices especially carrot and beet.
-Eat raw nuts and seeds
-Get plenty of omega 3 fatty acids in the diet (flaxseed, chia seed, walnuts)
-Use only cold pressed oils. Avoid margarine, butter, shortening, or meat fat.
-Each morning have a glass of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon
-Lecithin helps prevent fatty buildup in the liver
-Beet juice slowly cleanses the liver
-eating fresh apples stimulates the liver
-Eat celery
-Ginger contains 8 liver-protecting compounds
-Turmeric protects the liver
-Avoid constipation
Cold sores are thin-walled inflamed pimples which tend to recur in the same area. Usually at the borders of the mouth. First there is local tenderness with a small bump. Then the bump changes into a blister and the tenderness can increase. After about 48 hours the blister crusts over. Cold sores appear 3 to 10 days after exposure and can last up to 3 weeks but usually only last 7 to 10 days.
Causes
Cold sores are an infectious disease caused by herpes simplex virus. You can get it by kissing or drinking out of someone else’s glass, ect. This is a life-long virus.
Other Triggers
-Stress
-Eating too much sugar
-Acidic foods
-Alcohol
-Poor Diet
-Fever/Infection/Cold
-Sun and wind exposure
-Depressed immune system
Natural Remedies
-Eat plenty of raw vegetables and a nutritious diet to keep the immune system strengthened
-Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes at the first sign of tingling (repeat this frequently)
-Apply vitamin E to the sore
-take zinc lozenges and lysine until the cold sore is gone
-protect your lips from sunburn and wind
-get plenty of exercise and adequate rest
-goldenseal and Echinacea tincture
-Black walnut tincture
-Avoid foods high in arginine such as chocolate, peanuts, nuts, seeds, meat, and fish.
Canker sores are small oval or round white ulcers that can be very painful. They can appear on the tongue, gums, inner or outer lips, or on the insides of the cheeks. At first it starts as a red, warm spot which ulcerates and has a yellowish border. Then a yellowish fluid can be seen which consists of bacteria and white blood cells. Often there is burning or tingling at the area for one to three days before the canker sore appears. Canker sores do not form blisters like cold sores do.
Causes
Allergies (citrus, apple, spices; esp cinnamon)
Stress
Vitamin Deficiencies
Viral Infections
Endocrine imbalance
Acidic or salted foods
Chocolate/Coffee
Natural Remedies
-When you first feel the tingling take 500mg vitamin C 3 times a day for 3 days
-Goldenseal powder or a moistened goldenseal tea bag applied over the ulcer is one of the best treatments
-wash your mouth with plain hot water
-Squeeze vitamin E oil from a capsule on the sore several times a day
-gargle with chorophyll or wheatgrass juice
-rinse your mouth with aloe vera juice 3 times a day
-apply an activated charcoal compress (works best if can be applied at onset of sore)
Prevention
-Avoid things which tend to cause canker sores like; mouthwashes, citrus fruit, coffee, highly seasoned, and tart foods
-Do not smoke or chew tobacco
-Folic acid supplements can help
-include onions in your diet
-Do not eat meat for at least two weeks (it is very acidic) or stop altogether
-Avoid sugar and processed foods
-Avoid physical damage to the area (do not bite the tongue or cheek; this can occur while talking or turning your head while chewing food)
Plantar Fasciitis usually starts out as low-grade pain on the sole of the foot just at the junction of the heel and arch and spreading into the arch of the foot. The inside of the heel usually hurts more than the outside. It is caused by microscopic tears and inflammation of the plantar fascia (a sheet of specialized fibrous connective tissue) which results from repeatedly bending the foot while walking. The injury may occur because the ankle is not as loose as it should be because of tightness in the calf. Swelling is not usually present.
Natural Remedies
-Ice massage 20 minutes several times a day
-A prolonged, firm massage of the area
-Anti-inflammatory herbs (turmeric)
-Running shoes with soft heals
-Do exercises to stretch out the calf muscle
-Apply red pepper extract to the heel six times a day for six days, then twice a day for about 2 to 3 months until the condition is healed
-alternating hot/cold foot contrast bath
Fasting is an excellent way to treat disease. A day or two of fasting each week would do most people more good than any amount of medical advice or treatment. Fasting has several beneficial effects on the body. First, fasting allows the overworked stomach to rest. Even with peptic ulcer disease, fasting is the very best treatment. If a person fasts, the amount of hydrochloric acid that he produces will be reduced, since the production of stomach acid is increased by the eating of protein foods. Fasting also helps the liver detoxify, aids mucous membranes, decreases joint stiffness and pain, and helps with appetite control.
Most people are chronically dehydrated. You should drink half your body weight in ounces per day. This will help you be more alert and lubricates joints which helps decrease pain.