218 Leaky Gut Syndrome

How to prepare herbs for dissohaliallajfi Gravel Root, Marshmallow and dried Hydrangea Root Soak 1/4 cup of each of the herbs in 10 cups of water for 4 hours (in a bucket), then bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain then cool and store the liquid. When cool drink 1/4 cup. Throw away after 4 days.Parsley Boil 4 bunches of rinsed, organic parsley in 750m1 of water and then strain, store and cool liquid.When cool drink 1/4 cup. Throw away after 4 days. Each morning thereafter mix 3/4 cup of Root mixture and 1/2 cup of Parsley water with 2 Tbsp of Black Cherry concentrate, 20 drops of Goldenrod tincture and 1 Tbsp of Glycerin. Drink this mixture in 4 divided doses throughout the day. It will give you a stomachache if you drink it all at once. Complete this programme a total of 3 times in sucession. Take Ginger, Bearberry (Uva Ursi), Vitamin B6, a Vitamin B complex and Magnesium at the same time.

Ginger Reduces inflammation, bloating, digestion and congestion, and increases don. Take 1g-1.5g daily with food over several months.Bearberry (Uva Ursi) Has a marked antiseptic and astringent effect on the memb of the urinary system, soothing, toning and strengthening them. Take 250mg-500mg powdered solid extract (10% arbutin) daily or 1.5g-4g of dried leaves as a tea.

Leaky Gut SyndromeThis condition is more common than you think. Sometimes the symptoms are unobtrusive it may go undetected until it leads to chronic illnesses. Often these nesses become the main focus of treatment and leaky gut syndrome may not diagnosed or linked to these conditions. The lining of the intestine leaks like a as it is more permeable (has larger spaces or holes) than normal. The tight jun of the cells become destroyed in some cases, and gaps appear. This allows mi toxins, partially digested foods and waste material entry into the bloodstream, which they would not normally cross.The immune system recognises these subs as harmful and creates antibody soldiers to mount an immune response, leading

list of possible inflammatory conditions. Leaky gut syndrome puts stress on the as well.

Causes

■ Inflammation of the intestine.■ Damaged gut lining or mucosa from alcohol, drugs, antibiotics, microbial

infectio tries, smoking, stress and possible familial tendency.■ Immune hypersensitivity.■ Junk food.

Signs and symptoms

Fibromyalgia, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis or sore joints and muscles.■ Lupus and chronic fatigue syndrome.■ Bloating, gas, abdominal pain, food sensitivities and allergies.■ Mineral deficiencies.■ Diarrhoea alternating with constipation and cramps, leading to irritable bowel■ Fatigue, irritability, poor concentration and brain fog.

Leaky_Gut Syndrome I Nal

• Candida.• Mouth ulcers, anal fissure, malnutrition due to poor absorption.• Allergies.• Inflammatory digestive conditions. This results in malabsorption of nutrients in food,

leading to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, anaemia and thin bones (osteoporosis).

Naturopathic recommendations

Nutrition• People with compromised digestive systems have found relief from eliminating certain

foods from their diet. Studies show that removing certain common foods, such as dairy, wheat, corn, yeast, eggs, pork, chicken, lamb, shellfish and beef, can bring blessed relief from pain and inflammation, while their return can cause a flare-up. The improvement that follows an elimination diet appears to be long-lasting.To try an elimination diet, see a qualified naturopath.

• Alcohol, painkillers (e.g. aspirin) and non-steroidal, anti inflammatory drugs increase the permeability of the gut, leading to leaky gut syndrome. Saturated animal fats, red meat, dairy products and coffee increase the inflammatory response by stimulating the pro-duction of inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Eliminate nightshade foods (e.g. potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant) to help relieve muscle pain.The majority of cases can benefit from a diet that eliminates dairy and all grains except rice, all refined carbohydrates, MSG, soda drinks, artificial foods, and sugars and processed foods.

• Eat more cold-water fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines, swordfish, shark, cod and halibut as an alternative way of obtaining anti-inflammatory essential fatty acids (EFA). These fish contain high concentrations of omega 3 fatty acids which have also been documented as inhibiting the inflammatory or allergic response. If fish is either unpalatable or not readily available in certain inland areas, supplementation of 9g-12g daily with fish oil capsules is an alternative.

• Drink 8 glasses daily of chamomile, lemon balm, St John's Wort, verbena and other herb teas, and fresh water.

• Add flax oil to salads and vegetables as a salad dressing. For example, you can mix 1 Tbsp with lemon juice, salt and pepper and toss with salad.

SupplementsEvening Primrose oil (3000mg daily) and Flaxseed oil (2 Tbsp daily) or Fish oil (3000mg daily) May help reduce leaky gut syndrome and inflammation. Flax oil contains EFA components of membranes that surround each cell. Lack of EFA causes cells to leak. Incompletely digested food molecules can be inappropriately absorbed into the systemic cir-culation. This can lead to various diseases and the development of food allergies.Colostrum Helps to heal the leaky gut and destroy microbes that can colonise the gut causing infections and releasing toxins into the blood stream, leading to inflammatory responses. Take 4g daily.Other beneficial supplements include Glutamine (3g daily), Glucosamine (1500mg daily) and Chondroitin (1200mg daily) to help heal the leaky barrier of the gut; and a Multi vitamin and mineral formula that contains Zinc (15mg-45mg daily), Vitamin A (50001U-8000IU daily), Vitamin E (200IU-400IU daily) and Folic acid (200mcg-400mcg daily) to heal cell membranes in the stomach wall. Aloe Vera (20m1 3 times daily), and Acidophilus and Bifidus (1 billion daily) are also complementary nutri-ents to aid digestion and heal the gut lining.

220 Lymphoedema

Herbs

Fenugreek Tea or tincture helps to tone the digestive system, soothe and coat the diges-tive tract, and relieve gas and bloating.Test to see if you can stomach this and make the tea very weak at first. Add 1/2 tsp of crushed Fenugreek to hot water, cover with a saucer and let it sit for 10 minutes. Add honey and drink before or after meals.Slippery Ehn Mix 1 tsp in a glass of water and drink quickly, to heal inflamed gastric membranes. This should be taken separately from the other herbs.Marshmallow Works in a similar way to Slippery Elm. Marshmallow has a demulcent (protective) action and is rich in mucilage, soothing and protecting irritated or inflamed internal tissue. It also binds and eliminates toxins, allowing the body to cleanse itself. Take 1.5g before meals daily.Chamomile Helps recovery from inflammatory processes in the stomach and mucous membranes.Take 2g-4g 3 times daily in a herbal tea infusion.Liquorice Soothes and coats the lining of the stomach reducing inflammation, works on adrenals and is excellent for healing the digestive system.Take lg-5g daily. Do not take this without naturopathic supervision if you have hypertension or extreme water retention. Other helpful herbs include Wild Yam, Lemon Balm, St John's Wort and Verbena. These herbs are wonderful for inflammation, nervousness, anxiety and mild depression that can also be linked to leaky gut syndrome.

Schuessler tissue salts

Homeopathically prepared minerals.Take 1 tablet every 30 minutes for 5 days to help reduce symptoms rapidly, then take at least 4 tablets daily to enhance healing of the gut lining. Talk to the health store or pharmacy stockist as you may find some of these tissue salts in one combined formula.Nat phos (Sodium phosphate) Acts as a digestive buffer and removes metabolic wastes. Calc phos (Calcium phosphate) and Ferr phos (Phosphate of Iron) For pain and inflam-mationMag phos (Magnesium phosphate) Helps rebuild the intestinal membrane and relieves

cramping pains in the abdomen, bloating and gas.Silica and Calc fluor (Calcium fluoride) Normalise tissue for cell integrity.

LymphoedemaLymphoedema is a swelling of the limb(s) caused by a blockage of lymph flow through the lymphatic system. The lymph system, or lymphatics as it's commonly called, may be perceived as a poor cousin to the blood and circulatory system. Most people are unaware that it even exists, yet it is no less important.

Impurities within the body are processed as waste matter from cells transported via lymph vessels to lymph nodes, and then released into the bloodstream to be excreted.The lymph system plays a vital role in waste elimination, as well as fluid dis-tribution, immune function and metabolic regulation. Loss of proper lymphatic function can cause waste accumulation and fluid stagnation in the tissues, water retention, swollen lymph glands or nodes, and fibrocystic breasts.

Causes

■ Lymphatic obstruction from microbial infection or parasitic blockages.■ Swollen glands seen in the neck, armpit or groin.

2 6 0 S h i n g l e s

Acidophilus Helps to repopulate gut with 'good' bacteria and lessen bowel toxicity.Take 1-2 capsules daily that contain 1 billion of both Bifidus and Lactobacillus acidophilus strains._

Herbs

Detox Complete a gentle detox herbal programme and a parasite-cleansing prog to balance the internal body organs and prepare for a healthy start. Detox herbs sh include Burdock (2g-6g of dried root daily) Cleavers (2g-4g daily) and Red Cl (2g-4g daily) to help cleanse the blood and clear the lymphatics. Dandelion (3g-5g of root daily) and Milk Thistle (9g—lOg of seed daily) enhance bile flow and detoxify the liven Aloe Vera juice To aid proper digestion of food take 20m1-50m1 with each meal. Sarsaparilla A specific herb for treating skin conditions. Take lg-4g daily.

Herbal rinses and scrubsAn infusion of Chamomile, Thyme and Rosemary as a skin rinse may be beneficial. Steep a handful of these herbs in a pot with just-boiled water for 20 minutes and then sout the herbs. Add a pinch of Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C powder obtained from the chemist) to the rinse and dissolve. After shampooing and rinsing hair, use this as a secondary rinse carefully avoiding the eyes.Use a skin scrub to loosen dead skin from the scalp, but avoid raw patches to allow healing to take place.

Shingles t

Herpes zoster (shingles) is believed to come from the reactivation of the varicella (chicken pox) virus lying dormant in cells of a dorsal root ganglion (section of nerve Chicken pox can occur at any age, but it's most common in children from 2-8 yea-old. Therefore shingles in adults may result from the herpes virus waiting to std./ from childhood onward. This infection may become active in adult years in the for-

of shingles, sores or blisters and localised pain along the course of the sensory nerves The shingles lesions are often preceded by three days of fever and burning or irritaA don of the skin. Herpes zoster symptoms are more likely to occur in people who

immune systems are suppressed.Without treatment, viruses can be immortal. Many orthodox treatments are s

tomatic but cannot penetrate the viral host's cell. Getting rid of symptoms related the viral infection doesn't mean that the virus is eliminated.The virus can remain mant and break out again when the host's immunity becomes compromised. Once viral disease has invaded, the well-being of the host remains in danger of bre down again.

Signs and symptoms■ Pain and tingling may precede (by several days) the re-emergence of the virus into the

skin.■ It then produces characteristic vesicles (blisters), papules (a small solid elevation of

skin) or bulbous lesions throughout the skin.■ Secondary infection increases discomfort, and in an elderly person, intractable post-

petic neuralgia may follow an attack of the shingles.■ Small ulcers sometimes appear on the face in association with cranial nerve involvem■ Trigeminal nerve disease can lead to infection of the eye.Warning: Patients with shingles may be infectious. The virus can be spread from fresh

lesions by direct contact or by airborne transmission. Patients with shingles can be subject to complications and, therefore, must be medically monitored.

Complications: Postherpetic neuralgiaPostherpetic neuralgia is pain in the zone of the previous eruption; it occurs in some 10% of patients (often elderly). It is a burning, continuous pain that responds poorly to analgesics. Depression is almost universal. Treatment (orthodox) is unsatisfactory but there is a trend towards gradual recovery in two years.

Orthodox treatment includes drying, soothing creams like calamine lotion, antiseptic powders to limit secondary infection, acyclovir taken orally 5 times daily, and prednisolone.

Herbal Topical cream can be used by those who do not want to use chemicals or wish for a herbal or natural alternative. Try herbal creams with lysine and lemon balm herb, these may be available from health stores and some pharmacies.

Some creams may spread the blisters. Do try to avoid any creams that have this effect.

Naturopathic recommendations

Lifestyle hintsAs a run-down condition can bring on shingles and the illness itself is extremely weakening, treatment aims to restore health and immune function.■ Avoid extreme weather changes.■ Apply ice to tingle if you feel a herpetic sore coming on.

NutritionEat fresh fruit and vegetables that have been thoroughly washed then boiled or steamed, or eat them raw. Choose green leafy vegetables and reduce consumption of tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant.

■ Reduce consumption of all processed foods and eat foods that are prepared from scratch.■ Increase intake of yoghurt.

■ Reduce consumption of protein as much as possible and eat only organic meats. Pro' tein can encourage herpetic blisters and symptoms. If you do eat protein take the amino

acid supplement lysine to counteract the arginine amino acid that is linked to shingles activation.

■ These foods trigger the spread of shingles: chicken, eggs, salmon, tuna, bacon, beef, milk, stocks, almonds, peanuts, nuts, chocolate, brown rice, fried foods, corn and possibly foods containing gluten.

SupplementsVitamin C Provides antioxidant protection against pollution and toxins. Take 1500mg daily.Lysine An amino acid that may help reduce blisters and aid healing. Take up to 6g daily. Zinc Helps the body fight off a range of viral infections from strep and influenza to herpes and the common cold.Take 45mg daily.

HerbsOlive Leaf extract Has several antiviral properties that help to boost the immune system and may also help to eradicate viruses. Research shows that Olive Leaf extract with oleu-ropein can destroy the protein coating of the herpes virus, helping to reduce symptoms and ongoing infection. Take 270mg of Olive Leaf extract 3 times daily.

In 1969, Harold E. Renis, PhD, a virologist with The Upjohn Company of Kalamazoo,

Michigan, proved that calcium elenolate from oleuropein in the Olive Leaf is virucidal for all viruses against which it was tested. In particular, Dr. R.enis showed that calcium elms-late kills the herpes virus, including the varicella zoster virus (VZ).Astragalus The antiviral action of Astragalus is mainly due to increased immunity interferon production. Take 500mg-lOg daily.Pau D'Arco Effective against viral activity including herpes 1 and 2 and influenza.T 1.5g-3.5g daily.St John's Wort Has antiviral action against cold sores and herpes outbreaks. Take the equivalent of 2g-5g of dried root daily.Lemon Balm Add 1 handful of leaves to a pot of hot water. Cover with a plate and leave to steep for 15 minutes.You may drink this tincture or add to baths, as a gargle etc. Best so use as a preventative or when the first symptoms are felt or appear.

PainCapsaicin Derived from Cayenne, Capsaicin desensitises nerves. About 10% of all patients with herpes zoster experience postherpetic neuralgia about 30 days after herpetic infection. In 50% of cases, patients over the age of 60 may develop severe pain. Capsaicin cream is used to provide relief from postherpetic pain from shingles, phantom limb pain, cluster headaches, neuropathies, osteoarthritis and pain from skin conditions including pso-riasis and puritis.101•'04 In one study patients suffering from postherpetic neuralgia found that a topical applications of Capsaicin cream (0.025%v Capsaicin) on painful areas was beneficial." Should be continued for 4 weeks with a response expected at the end of the four weeks of treatment. Hands must be washed thoroughly to avoid contact within the eyes_ St John's Wort Has a specific effect on nerves, acting as a mild sedative, reducing pain. and is beneficial for mild depression, anxiety and nervousness associated with ongoing chronic pain.Take 2g-5g of dried herb or use topically (on the skin) as a tincture poultice, cream or oil on nerve pain sites.Californian Poppy Has mild analgesic and sedative properties. It also exhibits a relaxing effect on the mind and has potential mood elevating actions without addictive side effects. Take 900mg daily.Jamaican Dogwood Used fOr neuralgia and insomnia due to its anti-inflammatory and sedative effects. Take 2g-4g of dried root bark up to 3 times daily.

Sinusitis and Sore ThroatMany people experience these two conditions together as infection is normally involved. Viruses, fungal infections and bacterial infections often cause the sinuses to become inflamed with mucus build-up especially from colds or flus. The mucus is a perfect warm, moist breeding ground for infection, and transports it to the throat causing inflammation and reinstigating the infection.

Causes■ Acute viral respiratory infection.■ Bacterial infection including many resistant to common antibiotics. The bacteria Strep-

tococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae cause most of all sinusitis cases. Staphylococcus aureus is another bacterium that causes sinusitis.

■ Dental infection.■ Allergies include hayfever, dairy and gluten (wheat, rye, barley and oats).