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As was noted in the last
article regarding the digestive tract, it is a very complex system, and
when not functioning at it’s best, can cause distressing symptoms. Some Naturopathic approaches to common
digestive issues are further explored in this article.
Heartburn:
One misconception
regarding heartburn is that it is caused by an excess of stomach acid – not
so!! Heartburn (also known as
indigestion or reflux esophagitis) is a frequent
complaint for many. Symptoms usually
are described as a burning pain that occurs behind the chest bone, with a
feeling that acid is backing up into the throat. People commonly use over-the-counter
antacids to deal with these symptoms.
According to one statistic, 17% of adults use some type of aid for
indigestion at lease once per week.
From a naturopathic standpoint, it is important to identify and
eliminate the cause of
heartburn. From a physiological
standpoint, the acid (hydrochloric acid) in your stomach is crucial
and needed to help digest food and to be a first line defense to kill
bacteria and parasites that may be present in food. Frequent use of antacids may decrease the
ability of your digestive system to properly digest the food you eat.
One major cause of
heartburn is the inappropriate relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter
(LES), which is located between the esophagus and the stomach. The function of this sphincter is to
prevent the contents of the stomach (acid) from traveling back up into the
esophagus. The stomach itself has
protective lining that protects it from its acid contents, but your
esophagus does not have that same protective barrier. So, when that sphincter relaxes, the
stomach contents can “splash up” into the esophagus and cause
heartburn. Over time, if not
treated, the esophagus may become damaged from the acid reflux, and the
condition become more serious. Of course, if you are experiencing
heartburn symptoms, or if the burning pain in the chest is worsened by
exercise, you should see your physician immediately to rule out more
serious health conditions that need attention.
Regarding heartburn, many
triggers can relax or impede the functioning of the lower esophageal
sphincter. Some of the common
triggers for heartburn include:
specific foods, some medications, being overweight, food
sensitivities, smoking, hiatal hernias and eating
too much at one sitting.
Some recommendations to
treat simple heartburn include:
- Avoid dietary triggers that relax the lower
esophageal sphincter, such as chocolate, alcohol, coffee, fried or
fatty foods, peppermint, onions, citrus fruits and tomatoes.
- Eat
small, frequent meals.
- Since nicotine can relax the LES, consider a
smoking cessation program.
- Consider weight loss options, if weight is an
issue.
- Avoid eating for 3 hours before bedtime.
- If you know you have a hiatal
hernia, elevating the head of your bed by 4-6 inches may help prevent
stomach acid from irritating your esophagus.
- For occasional heartburn relief, many
naturopathic physicians prescribe Deglycyrrhizinated
licorice (DGL), to help soothe and repair inflammation in the
digestive tract. (Note: With DGL the component that may
cause high blood pressure in some individuals has been removed).
Food Sensitivities:
Most of us are familiar
with the stories of people who have immediate allergy responses to foods
such as peanuts or shellfish, that can result in a potentially life
threatening anaphylactic response.
These types of food allergies are due to a response by particular
immunoglobulins (IgE’s) in the immune
system.
However there are other,
less severe types of food sensitivities that can create symptoms such as
fatigue, joint pain, gas, bloating, asthma, eczema, headaches, runny nose,
itchy nose/throat, ADHD, sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic ear
infections, migraines, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, depression or
anxiety. If any of these symptoms
apply to you, you may be reacting to foods in your diet.
These food reactions may
be due to several causes:
- IgG reactions by
the immune system (as opposed to IgE
reactions), may cause a less severe, and delayed reaction to a food
(or foods), and may cause symptoms as outlined above. Frequent foods that individuals may
be sensitive to include: wheat, milk and dairy products, eggs, corn,
sugar, chocolate, peanut butter, soy, and citrus. Symptoms resulting
from an IgG food
sensitivity may be delayed in manifesting for up to 4 days, which can make it
difficult to track which foods may be causing symptoms.
- A deficiency of specific digestive enzymes
may exist, which may decrease the efficiency of the digestive system
at digesting particular foods.
A classic example of this is with people who are lactose
intolerant because they lack the enzyme lactase to help them digest
dairy. As a result, these
individuals may suffer with gas, bloating
and/or abdominal pain when dairy is eaten.
- Individuals may also have negative reactions
to chemicals, additives, preservatives, or colorings in food. One example in this category would
include people who have sensitivities to food dyes, or MSG.
A Naturopathic approach
to food sensitivity is to specifically design a food elimination diet and
subsequent food reintroduction in order to identify food
sensitivities. This approach can be
effective, but time consuming and sometimes difficult for patients to do,
and should be done only under physician supervision. Other approaches include utilizing
different tests to detect food allergies.
Most commonly used in conventional medicine are the RAST skin tests,
which measure IgE immune reactions, but do not
measure IgG reactions. Although controversial as to their
sensitivity and specificity, a relatively inexpensive blood test using
ELISA testing is used by many Naturopathic physicians to identify the
presence of IgG food reactions to common foods,
which may be causing symptoms. These
ELISA tests can allow for a timely identification of potential food
allergens as opposed to the food elimination diet. Once the suspect foods causing a reaction
have been identified, they are eliminated from the diet for a period of
time (generally 3 months to 1 year), and then the foods are re-introduced
back into the diet to see if symptoms resume. Occasionally, the food is able to be
tolerated in small quantities on a rotation basis.
If present, the
identification of food sensitivities, with subsequent food avoidance can be
life-changing for individuals who have lived with the symptoms above, but
in particular, those suffering with chronic eczema, headaches and/or
IBS. Children, too, who suffer from
chronic earaches, dark circles under the eyes, constant runny nose, or
eczema may benefit from the identification of hidden food allergies.
In our next article
regarding Naturopathic approaches to common digestive problems, we’ll
discuss the importance of fiber, water, and probiotics
for conditions which can periodically affect us all…constipation and/or
diarrhea. Stay tuned!
Yellowstone Naturopathic
Clinic
720 N. 30th St.
Billings, MT 59101
PHONE 406·259·5096/FAX 406·248·5655
ync@180com.net
Dispensary
406·254·9682
dispensary@yncnaturally.com
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