Information for integrative medicine, alternative doctor, naturopathic medicine, alternative health, holistic health, holistic healing

Q1: I have been following some of the threads here about pH and chronic disease and I have a question.
My wife is having an acute bout of UC isolated to her rectum with the usual symptoms of cramps, bloating, pain, diarrhea, and mucus with some bleeding.
She is currently under the care of a homeopathic MD who is trying different remedies to get the correct one. Homeopathy has worked for her in the past but this time it is taking a longer time to do so.
Does anyone have any suggestions to help her get out of this acute episode?
I was wondering whether changing her pH to alkaline would be recommended and if so, how to do it? Would sodium bicarbonate baths with epsom salts be enough? If not, how much sodium bicarbonate would she take by mouth?
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Richard A. Miller DDS

Q2: Dear Practitioners:

Would you be so gracious as to share your clinical expertise of effective alternative therapies for Ulcerative Colitis. There is a 19 year old male UCLA medical student of Jewish origin who is not responding adequately to conventional treatment?

I would be specifically interested in RNA therapies and the role that non beneficial microorganisms in the colon may be playing in this chronic condition.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marsha Prudden

A: I have had very consistent positive outcomes by doing the following:

1. Correct dysbiosis: do a stool analysis and always treat for yeast, especially if there is a history of antibiotic use. I use prescription antifungals such as ketoconazole 200 to 600 mg per day (measure LFT's regularly on the higher doses). I've had better results than herbal preparations.
2. High dose, high potency probiotics. There's a recent (past 2 years) study (sorry I don't have the reference handy) from U. Nebraska in which 70% of UC and Crohn's patients responded to strong probiotics only.
3. Heal Gut mucosa. Test for Intestinal Permeability. There are products from several suppliers that work: GI Revive (Designs for Health), Permeability Factors (Integrative Therapeutics), Ultraclearsustain, but I have found good results with Folic acid 5 mg, Zinc 30-60 mg, Vitamin A 25,000 iu and lots of Glutamine over 2-3 months.
4. Test and Treat food allergies. I use electrodermal screening with elimination & desensitization, so the patient should be able to expand their diet again in 6 months or so. I personally am not a fan of blood testing for food allergies but use what you have had results with. Low pH can also be associated with food reactions, so it is important to optimize pH.
5. Balance endocrine problems. Many of these patients have hypothyroidism and / or adrenal insufficiency, either as a cause of their disease or as a result of high dose corticosteroids. These must be corrected for the patient to stay in remission.
6. There is a study on a mycobacterium from cows milk as a cause of Crohn's and some of those patients will respond to Rifabutin.

Robban Sica, MD

A2: The 3 main factors in UC/IBS are gut dysbiosis, allergies, and neurotransmitter disruption. I will first start them on the neurotransmitter therapy from Neuroresearch only. I have seen symptoms improve by 85-95% in 1-3 weeks. This gets them feeling better and then gives time to treat the other 2 main triggers, as well as deal with all of the other factors (heavy metals, nutritional, etc.)

Dr. Ted Cole

A3: Dear Dr Miller, For the acute episodes, Ozinatate water enema followed by ozone insuflation are very good for Sx and healing. You need a good Integrative practitioner (who also does ozone therapies) to get you started and then perhaps to get you on a home ozination unit. He should also check into other factors that may be complicating the symptoms. Get a salivary hormone test from someone like Sabre lab (Dr Borkin) and a comprehensive stool analysis (Diagnos Tech is good) to see about hereditary allergies from soy, albumin (egg whites), cows milk, and most important the grains (gliadin, etc) and they'll likely find oportunistic parasites. If any of these allergies are present those foods should be avoided forever. While healing, Mark Clark Pharmacy has wonderful antihistamine for gut while it heals. Good guess your wife also has chronic sinusites, bronchitis, arthritis or other chronic problem(s). Let me know if that is correct. These are not uncommon "side effects" because the eroded epithelial lining of the gut exposes mast cells which then pore out histamine which often show up by effecting other systems.

Odds are she'll also need lots of detox, digestive enzymes, and high doses of probiotics among other support. This would get you going in the right direction.

It should go without saying, be sure she is followed with colonoscopies. Unfortunately the Gastroenterologist may not agree with all the Integrative therapies but that's another battle. At least you want to rule out Cancer, polyps, diverticulites, etc.

David J. Krizman, MD

A4: Richard,
I have 'pursued' the philosophies of classical homeopathy and naturopathy for nearly 40 years.
Probably because my first naturopathic 'induction' was based on the central and primary role of waste disposal; I always approached most treatments via detox.
How often have I seen toxic overloads manifest in other organs, emanating from bowel inadequately- flushing!
There are X-ray illustrations of ovarian overload, in consequence of gut leakages. Even kidney malperformances.
Etc., etc.
I'm not for one moment generally characterizing all causes of disease as primarily bowel-sourced. But, if input of food should roughly equate with the output of bowel-waste evacuation, then addressing this basic and everyday requirement for me and my patients is the first sine qua non.
The acidification, 'cramps, bloating, pain, diarrhea (IBS??), and mucus with some bleeding' might often arise from stagnating stools (each or some or all of the aforegoing symptoms); should therefore be attended to in a regular lifestyle structured-pattern.
Items like well-controlled regular dosages of milk of magnesia; and fibres like flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, homemade vegetable soup, lots of filtered water, fresh and raw vegetable and fruit juices, deep-breathing exercises...among others.
these for me and my patients are eminently suitable attention-requisites.
Amazing to me, over the years, how many of my patients 'hotly' deny the possibilities of their constipation. Like it's a 'dirty' subject!! And there are so many indicating harbingers of bowel-'dis-ease'.
Our bodies are highly-intelligent and elucidatory, assisting us in living-by 'healthier 'messages'. Always with God's Help.
Dr. Garry's hugely-important messages on issues such as toxic heavy metals and dramatically-improving additives to our daily food and lifestyles are for me, also highly respected. I high-flagg most of Dr. Garry's messages, and those of Dr. Roy Kupsinel, and many of our 'privileged' FACT -forum voices.
May I say also that one could assist simultaneously with 'normal' improved bowel elimination and much of the advice presenting on FACT, various effective therapies; and perhaps initiating homeopathic treatment generally in low potencies, possibly no higher than 12X-30X, whatever is prescribed?
God's Blessings on us all,
Ron Beare, South Africa.

A5: -Specific Carbohydrate Diet (http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/)
-VSL#3 mega-dose probiotics (http://www.vsl3.com/) -Saccharomyces boulardii -Fish oil -Food sensitivity avoidance (especially dairy)

Best regards,

Blake Graham, B.Sc (Honours)
Clinical Nutritionist

A6: My latest success has been with a product called VSL#3<vsl3.com>. Gastroenterologist Richard Fedorak at the University of Alberta has done extensive research with it. Extremely high count probiotic developed for IBD in general, but works very well with UC/IBS. Should be done under dr supervision as Herxsheimer's is common. The "Oregabiotic" from North American Herb and Spice is formulated such that it passes through the upper gut and gets released in the large colon to act as an anti-microbial. These patients should take 6-10/day for 15-30 days. Of course this goes along with getting off the grains and sugar usually responsible.
This spot where the UC shows up, or the arterial plaque presents, or aneurysm ruptures, or cancer presents, or tooth falls out is the weak link in that person's chain, the proverbial canary in the coalmine. So,that symptom you're trying to treat is a barometer for a toxic environment. Would have done us no good in the 70's to go around spraying Eagle eggs with enamel.

Roby Mitchell M.D.(Dr Fitt)

A7: I would recommend Primal Defense strongly. Take 3 times a day 4 tablets.
Also consider butyrate enemas.
Paul van Meerendonk, MD

A8: I had the very same symptoms and thought I had ulcerative colitis after a big workup. It was just lactose intolerance. Lactase and milk avoidance fixed it all.
G. Josephs, MD(H)

A9: Ulcerative colitis is part psychological but about 96% food allergy.
She needs a program of identifying hostile foods. The medical textbooks say "milk allergy" but it's far more than just that. Anything can do it. I had one lady with over 20 years of bloody UC. It turned out to be lettuce! Salads were the least healthy food for her.
The whole story and all the techniques told in my book DIET WISE:
http://www.dietwisebook.com

Keith Scott-Mumby MD, MB ChB, PhD
http://www.alternative-doctor.com

A10: Hi there,

I am a Naturopath in Portland, OR, and I have worked with several cases of IBD - Reducing the inflammation is primary key - and since the source of the inflammation can be varied from patient to patient, it is a good start to go on a strict anti-inflammatory diet. There are several different ones out there, and the main theme of them all is - no processed foods, elimination of ALL sources of refined, simple sugars and carbohydrates. Organic food is preferred. Elimination of most common allergenic foods (ie, dairy, wheat, soy, corn, etc.).

I have had great success using a couple different products from Metagenics, a high quality nutriceutical company that sells only to doctors.

The names of the products are ULTRACLEAR medical food. Sig: 2 scoops BID for acute inflammation. 2 scoops Once daily for general support ENDEFEN - Multi-dimensional GI support and Protection - 2 tablespoons BID for acute inflammation. 1 Tblsp. BID - general support

These are both powders and can be mixed together with water, or Organic RICE MILK.

The patient may likely need to be on these products for 6 months and then occasionally as a preventative measure.

Hope this helps anyone with this condition!

Peace,

John Monagle, N.D.

A11: Please share the following case. The specific program utilized over the weeks can be shared upon request.

Richard Ostrow
Owner / CEO
Carnivora Research International

C1: H.G. Male, Ulcerative Colitis

Mr. G. developed and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He was admitted to the hospital for two weeks. Subsequently his illness was controlled with Azulfadine and Prednisone for about a year and a half. Needless to say the side effects of prednisone took a heavy toll on him. He suffered from edema, hair loss, fatigue and mood swings and his illness was no longer improving. He was now in a period of rapid decline.

When his doctors tried to taper him off prednisone he bled again. "It was a catch-22 situation for me because the medicine side effects were just as bad as my illness, and I could not get off the Prednisone otherwise the colitis would flare up," he says. In May 1988 he was hospitalized again, but this time the intestine was expanded and at the verge of perforation. "The only solution my doctors had was to operate and take out my entire large intestine, meaning I would carry a bag for life. They were finally able to bring down the inflammation and I was discharged with the understanding that I would one day return only to have that operation performed on me."

Tired, depressed and in poor health, he turned to his only hope, a phytonutrient compound called Carnivora of which he had heard of miraculous results. "I was ready and willing to try it in the hope of getting better and never having to be operated on."

He commenced the Carnivora program and stopped taking Prednisone. The treatments lasted two months and he continued taking the Carnivora capsules. Mr. G. says, "To this date I have never felt better in my life. I am still using the Carnivora with NO side effects whatsoever. I hope that one day this wonderful medicine will be approved here in the United States and used by others like myself to stop the pain and suffering that others are going through this very moment. I consider myself very lucky and thankful for discovering Carnivora which has brought back my health and made me feel like a member of society again. I can now comfortably continue my lifestyle, which I enjoyed before developing colitis. I no longer worry where the bathroom is at all times, I no longer endure embarrassment or pain. Life was restored to me. Emotionally I am a new person. I feel wanted again and am no longer a burden to others."

C2: R. A. Ulcerative Colitis < Utilized Carnivora Capsules Only >

Mr. R.A., 70. R.A. was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. His first bout with it was in January, 1993 when he suffered diarrhea with bloody stool, headache, fever and weight loss. When he had a recurrence of these symptoms in December of 2003, he took prescription drugs with no result. He withdrew from the drugs after a month. He began to take a supplement derived from aloe called AMP (aloe mucilaginous polysaccharide) for a couple of years, which helped him, but there were still frequent recurrences of all of the symptoms. In addition, the product was very expensive so he switched to Carnivora capsules. He has been taking the Carnivora for over a year and has had no recurrences of the colitis symptoms. He takes one capsule 3 times a day, usually before each meal. At the present he still takes one capsule at least twice a day.