Signs of a Stomach Ulcer

Signs of a stomach ulcer can include nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain just beneath the ribcage, indigestion, vomiting, symptoms of anemia, weight loss, and blood present in vomit or bowel movements.

If you experience these symptoms for any length of time, it is important to seek medical attention. These are not symptoms to be ignored.

Stomach ulcers occur when there is a break in the tissue lining of the stomach. These ulcers normally occur in the stomach or the first part of the small intestine that leads out of the stomach, called the duodenum.

Commonly stomach ulcers are related to extreme stress, smoking and diet. Any of which are factors over which we have control, making it possible to heal a ulcer; if you work to eliminate some of the contributing factors that can lead to the development.

If you begin noticing the signs of a stomach ulcer, these signs should not be ignored. In fact, an appointment with your doctor should be your course of action if these symptoms persist.

In order for your doctor to make a specific diagnosis, several tests may be ordered to help determine the exact cause of your stomach pain.

One of the first tests your physician may order is the barium swallow or upper GI series of X-rays. This test allows your doctor to identify and locate any ulcers and determine its type and severity.

The barium swallow test requires you to drink a "barium milkshake." This thick "shake" contains a liquid that will light up on an x-ray. The barium will light up on the x-ray making it easier for your physician to see exactly what is going on and causing your pain.

You are normally asked to eat only bland, easily digestible foods for two or three days before the test. After drinking the chalky liquid, you will be asked to lie down on a tilting examining table, which as it tilts, evenly distributes the barium around your upper digestive tract and allows the x-ray to capture images at different angles.

Treatment options for stomach ulcers can consist of over the counter medications, prescription medications, modifying your diet, perhaps a lifestyle change that includes the addition of exercise and reduction of stress, and as a last result, surgery.

In summary, any signs of stomach ulcers should not be ignored as the delay in diagnosis and treatment could lead to further complications. It is important to understand, however, that in many cases you have control over the factors that contribute to stomach ulcers.

Causes and Symptoms of Colitis - A Guide

Ulcerative colitis is a relentless disorder that is epitomized by persistent incidents of abdominal discomfort, high temperatures, shivering and prolific dysentery. It is a continual, inflammatory bowel disorder in which the interior coating of the large intestine (the colon or the bowel) and rectum turn out to be painful.
Ulcerative colitis may possibly be attributable to an assortment of infections over and above a shortage of blood supply and certain autoimmune responses.

The colon, often also known as the large intestine accumulates and amasses the residues after digestion has occurred. The large intestine also functions as the route or conduit through which this residual matter moves towards the rectum to be thrown out of the body. As a result of ulcerative colitis the inner layer of this passage gets irritated. There is no specific cause of ulcerative colitis. The most common risk factors attributable to this disorder may be atypical attack of the immune response on the intestines. Smoking also has been found to cause this ailment. Environmental aspects like nourishment and a variety of infections may also cause colitis.

Crohn's disease is another type of colitis. It is an inflammatory ailment of the bowel and the intestines which mostly distresses many regions of the GI tract - starting with the mouth to the rectum. This is manifested in a wide variety of symptoms. It generally causes abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, queasiness and loss of weight. It may also bring about indications such as skin inflammation, arthritis, and irritation of the eyes, fatigue and loss of focus.

Crohn's disease is classified as an autoimmune disease, which means that the body's own immune response besets the GI tract, causing inflammation. There isn't any identified basis for the disease as such. Infectivity, family history, heredity, nutrition, various immunological aspects, measles, certain vaccines, and even psychosomatic factors may have a role to play in crohn's disease.

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a fairly common colitis that affects numerous people. On the whole, people with IBS have a markedly vulnerable GI tract. Irritable bowel syndrome can have varied medical manifestations. The warning signs may vary from dysentery, to lack of bowel movement, to abdominal spasms to the urge to visit the washroom as soon as food is eaten. All these indications are an expression of the very same disease. Experts have found the major sources of irritable bowel syndrome to be improper digestion of the food that is eaten and to a certain extent, the stress that most people experience these days.

In conclusion, a lot of people suffer from the various forms of colitis. Knowing some of the symptoms and causes associated with these may be useful to people.

Colitis - How I Cured Myself Without Drugs

Colitis is a distressing condition. It is certainly a cause of inconvenience, embarrassment and discomfort to the sufferer. If not treated properly it has the potential to develop into a more serious condition.

A baby is not born with colitis. It develops through living in ways which are against the best interests of the body. Put bluntly, colitis is caused by abuse, neglect and ignorance. It is caused by the person who owns the body. In your case: You! Brutal? Yes, but undeniably true, as you will see. Although you are the cause of it and are responsible for it...it is not entirely your fault. Because you have been mislead since childhood by the environment you live in. You do not live in the world of nature, like say a gorilla or orangutan. They get sunshine, fresh air and fresh natural, unprocessed foods and drink only water. Do you? Exactly! And that is the tip of the iceberg.

That is good news. Why? Because if you caused it, you can simply reverse the situation by doing the opposite to what you have been doing to cause it. The question at this point is: What have you been doing to cause it? Probably the same as I had been doing over 30 years ago when I was a rather arrogant, strong-willed, stubborn youth. My abuse then had covered more than 10 years.

When I developed colitis I consulted with doctors and hospitals; endured probes and prods, biopsies, barium-meal x-ray examinations, endoscopies, drugs...and more drugs. What happened? Well, I had been reading up on the subject back then in the 1970s and into the 80's and learned one or two fundamental principles.

One was food. As none of the doctors and specialists had mentioned food or diet I thought it appropriate to ask. Next time I went to see my doctor I asked him about food and his reply astonished me. He told me that I could eat whatever I liked as it didn't have any effect on the condition. Here's the snorter: Two decades later when I was suffering a recurrence, a bowel specialist said the same thing.

Dilemma: On the one hand the 'nature-cure' practitioners were saying one thing and the medical professionals were saying the exact opposite. My friends and family in the main were siding with the medical profession. As I was so ill I took things into my own hands. At that time there was a natural healing clinic here in the UK run by a well known natural healing practitioner and health writer.

They advised me that a residential stay of at least 2 weeks would be required. I replied that I could only manage one week due to time restraints (folly of youth). In truth, I could only afford one week. They said, it would not be enough time but it would help.What I learned at that establishment literally changed my life. In residence were medical doctors who had 'seen the light' and had 'crossed over' to natural healing.

Bottom line: After several days of feeling like a 120 year old man I left at the end of the week completely symptom-free of colitis. Neither I, my family and friends and doctor could hardly believe the transformation.

Fact: My body had cured itself. A neglected car or bicycle degenerates into a rusty heap. But it can be restored with care. Our bodies, with understanding, care and application, heal themselves. We are self-repairing beings. Notice how if you cut your hand, the wound will naturally heal itself. However, if you make a habit of poking it every day, it will never heal, simply by not being allowed to do what comes naturally. Same with your colon.

Since that February in 1978 I had several lapses and the condition reappeared. Why? Due to my own stupidity and disregard. Since then I have learned my lesson well. I sometimes almost forget how painful and embarrassing it was to be the custodian of the condition known as colitis, inflammation of the colon. But I do know that it should never happen to anyone. And it wouldn't happen if simple adjustments to lifestyle were observed. Message: Take care of your bowel and your general health will take care of you.

The basics for everyone as in most health problems is in general lifestyle. This covers just about everything you do, say and think. Yes, even what you say and think. Most important is what you think. What you think is what you are. Because what you think is how you conduct your life. Your lifestyle follows on from this. Natural good health follows lifestyle.

Copyright 2008 - Carl Birchwood

Cancer Markers

There, I said it - the big C word. No one wants to hear it. You may have a family member who has it, be a survivor yourself, or know someone who has died from it.

Since I have PBC (primary biliary cirrhosis) I am concerned about liver cancer. I have blood tests every so many months to keep an eye on my liver enzyme levels. There is a high incidence of liver cancer resulting from individuals who have had liver cirrhosis.

You may have been curious how doctors can tell what stage of cancer a person has.

Alpha-fetoprotein or AFP is a type of tumor marker which is used to diagnose cancer. These markers are used to determine which stage of cancer a patient has. Tumor markers are substances (mostly proteins) that are produced by the body or by the tumor itself in response to cancer.

A high reading of certain proteins in a urine or blood sample may indicate a more aggressive cancer. Usually, the higher the resulting number of the marker, the higher the stage of cancer.

Where symptoms suggest cancer in a patient, urine and blood samples are taken and submitted to a laboratory to be tested for cancer tumor marker levels.

The results assist the physician in determining if a patient has cancer. They can also help diagnose the type of cancer the patient has.

Cancer markers also are useful in determining the prognosis for the patient. They are also used to check to see if cancer has returned after remission.

A biopsy is taken once a diagnosis of cancer has been made, and again tumor markers can help to determine the amount of cancer that is present in the patient's body.

Advanced cancer is indicated by higher tumor marker levels and the prognosis is less positive.

With the help of cancer markers, a doctor can then determine the best treatment for the patient.

Types of Cancer Markers

Some of the most common cancer markers (AFP) are used for diagnosing the following cancers:

• Liver


• Ovarian


• Breast


• Gastrointestinal


• Pancreatic


• Lung


• Colon


• Prostate

Cancer research is ongoing in hopes to discover tumor markers for other types of cancers.

Not just one tumor marker is used for all cancers, and not all cancers have tumor markers that work specifically for their diagnosis and treatment.

Once cancer treatment has been started by a patient, they will need to have further testing with tumor markers to see if their particular treatment is working.

If the tumor marker level declines, it usually is an indication that the current treatment is working.

If the level increases or stays the same, the physician may try a different form of treatment.

It is important that a certain amount of time has passed between cancer marker testing to give the treatment a chance to work on the tumor.

Drawbacks of Cancer Markers

There are only a few cancer markers that are able to find cancer in the early stages. In fact, there are certain noncancerous diseases which may contribute to a high tumor marker level.

On occasion, cancer marker levels may not be elevated in a person who really has cancer. It is important that all tests are taken into consideration, including a complete physical examination, history of the patient, other laboratory tests and scans.

Another drawback of testing with markers is that sometimes you get a false positive. There are a few factors that might contribute to an inaccurate lab test. Certain medications can alter the results of blood and urine tests, including Vitamin C, Naproxen Sodium or Tylenol. Some antibiotics can also affect the tests.

False positives rates for cancer marker tests are usually 5 per cent. For other false positives or false negatives and their causes go to this link.

Personally, I have lost a boss to cancer from smoking. It was not lung, but nose cancer. He was way too young to die, and was a very kind man. He was a chain smoker.

I am glad that research continues on these types of markers to help in detecting cancer cells early on so a person has a better chance of surviving.

If you have peculiar symptoms, breast changes, weight loss, unusual bleeding, unexplained fatigue, gnawing pain, indigestion, changes in lymph nodes, depression, or persistent cough or sore that will not heal, go to see your doctor. It is better to be tested early rather than wait until it is too late to treat it.

Understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome and What To Do About It

Irritable Bowel Syndrome has many names. It can be called "Spastic colitis", "nervous Indigestion", "mucous colitis", and "intestinal neurosis", and finally in short we will address it as "IBS".

IBS is not a disease it is a functional disorder. It is treatable by diet, lifestyle changes, stress reduction, nutrition, and movement. It affects 55 million Americans a year. It can affect you in different ways. Some report that any number of the following symptoms. Abdominal pain, bloating, more frequent bowel movements with pain, or bowel movements that relieves pain sensations, constipation, diarrhea, excessive production of mucus in the colon, indigestion, flatulence, nausea, anorexia, anxiety and or depression.

IBS is usually associated with a food allergy, stress, or a lack of fiber and water in the diet. I want to stress right here that just because you have symptoms of IBS does not mean that you have it. There are many things that mimic IBS. (cancer, antibiotic or antacid over usage, diverticular disease, infectious diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal candidiasis, lactose intolerance, laxative abuse, pancreatic deficiency, celiac disease, fecal impaction, adrenal insufficiency, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, reactions to coffee, teas or carbonated drinks and sugars). You see there could be many different things that could be wrong. Make sure you get your diagnosis from a doctor.

So, you have IBS and you're wondering just what can I do about it. You should really consult a professional like a holistic health counselor. Why? Because, they will work with you and your doctor if you choose. They will guide you through a diet and lifestyle change gradually. It will take about 6 months to really put your IBS to rest.

We want to start by

1- Drinking more water.

2- Increasing your fiber.

3- Keeping a daily diary. Keep track of what you ate or drank and how it affected you. You should also include and medication, vitamins & probiotics.

4- Eat more cooked greens

5- ELIMINATE the following items:
A) Coffee, caffeinated teas, carbonated drinks, alcohol, white flour, sugar, artificial sweeteners and if you have allergies to dairy and wheat eliminate them. You should consult with a doctor or health counselor to try an elimination diet to see if food allergies exist.
B) Eliminate eating fast. Chew your food at least 25 times. This helps aid in digesting your food better.

YOUR PLATE:

What your plate should look like is 翻 the plate should be cooked greens. Then 翹 of the plate should be a complex carbohydrate (like brown rice or spelt noodles) the other 翹 should be a protein (beans, fish, meat, chicken) with a healthy fat like avocado, olive oil, or seeds.

The easy way to add fiber to your diet is ground up flax seeds. You can add these to your breakfast lunch or dinner. They will keep your system clean from top to bottom.

Eat more organic fruits and vegetables. Keep it balanced though.

BLOATING

For those of you who suffer from abdominal pain and or bloating. I want to give you some simple tricks that can help. The easiest one is lying down with a hot water bottle. You should try sleeping with a hot water bottle every night as well. This helps to aid in passing a bowel movement and or trapped gas. It does this by relaxing the muscles. The other one is if your able to do a few sit ups you might dislodge the gas pocket. Most of the time the pain is gas. You can also by a anti-gas supplement from your local health food store. You can also take a probiotoc everyday as it helps in creating good intestinal balance.

LIFE STYLE CHANGES

You definitely need to implement some life style changes. Start by walking. You can start by just taking a leisure stroll for 20 minutes a day. Your movement will cause movement.

STRESSED? Then try meditation or yoga relaxation therapy or get a message.

Early childhood trauma or sexual abuse seek a mental health counselor. You need someone to talk to. You need to release this from inside of you. When you hold your thoughts or feelings in. It can cause digestive issues. They can show them shelves in many ways and one way is IBS.

Comfrey Leaf is an Effective Healer

Comfrey has a long history of effectiveness as a healer plant. It has the reputation of being able to knit bones together thus accounting for many of the common names (boneset, nipbone, knitbone, and healing herb).

Comfrey leaves are similar to Foxglove leaves, though they have smaller veins not extending into the wings of the leaf-stalk. The leafy stem, 2 to 3 feet high, is stout, angular and hollow, broadly winged at the top and covered with bristly hairs. The lower, radical leaves are very large, up to 10 inches long and covered with rough hairs which make people itch when they touch them. The flowers are either creamy yellow or purple, growing on short stalks. They appear in April or early May.

Comfrey is a contact healer and is best known for tissue healing. In fact, until the early 1800's, it was only used externally as treatment of cuts, burns, skin ulcers, varicose veins, bronchitis, and rheumatism. The leaf has been tea that is gargled or used as a mouthwash to relieve throat infections, hoarseness, and bleeding gums. One reason for its effectiveness is its abundance of calcium and vitamin C and contains carotene (vitamin A), B12, and chlorophyll.

Internally and externally comfrey is used in the treatment of colitis, varicose veins, assorted pulmonary complaints (pleurisy, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia), rheumatism, metritis, diarrhea, and periostitis. It is utilized as a diuretic and bulk laxative and is credited with scar healing. It is also used as a sedative.

Comfrey is effective as a healer because it contains Allantoin. This is able to help grow new flesh and bone cells and accelerate the healing process. It also reduces the inflammation of pulled tendons. An extract can be used for acne and athletes foot. It is also used for certain female problems. Comfrey tea and extract has been used as a douche for yeast infections. Poultices applied to sore and caked breasts, helps the tenderness leave very quickly.

Comfrey leaves and shoots are also used as a vegetable and are often ground up in a blender or some other type of mechanical device to form the basis of "green drinks" which have become increasingly popular among health conscious individuals.

A modern medicinal tincture, employed by homoeopaths, is made from the root with spirits of wine, and 10 drops in a tablespoonful of water are administered several times a day. Internally, the leaves are taken in the form of an infusion, 1 oz. of the leaves to 1 pint of boiling water.

Many claim that comfrey is so safe that anyone can use as much as they want any time. However, a few precautions are in order. Care should be taken when using Comfrey with very deep wounds as its rapid healing power can lead to tissue forming over the wound before it is healed deeper down, possibly leading to abscesses. Make sure that wounds are thoroughly cleaned and protected from infection.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine For Crohn's Disease

Introduction to Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a disorder marked by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The illness is similar to another inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis. While Crohn's disease can affect any part of the digestive system, it primarily impacts the colon and the end of the small intestines, called the ileum. Patients with the condition can experience symptoms like abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, bloody stool, and weight loss. It is theorized that Crohn's disease results when the body's immune system attacks non-threatening substances like bacteria or food in the gastrointestinal tract. Severe illness can result in the swelling, scarring, and blockage of the intestines, and many patients are forced to have surgery to remove damaged bowel sections.

Currently, there is no definitive cure for Crohn's disease, and its exact cause remains unknown. There are many medications on the market and in development that help alleviate symptoms, but no drug is completely effective. Moreover, many of these medications, such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, have significant side effects. The shortcomings of traditional pharmaceutical therapies have led several patients with Crohn's disease to try complementary and alternative medicine for relief.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary and alternative treatments include natural substances like vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbs, as well as therapies like homeopathy, acupuncture, and hypnosis. Altering or restricting one's diet is another common response to Crohn's disease, as eating certain foods can exacerbate symptoms. Much like the patient response to pharmaceuticals, some Crohn's disease sufferers respond to natural remedies or alternative medicine, while others do not. Nevertheless, many holistic and non-traditional practices are becoming more mainstream, and it is useful for Crohn's disease patients to be familiar with complementary and alternative treatments.

Specific Therapies for Crohn's Disease

The following are examples of alternative therapies that have been beneficial for some people with Crohn's disease. Please be aware that evidence of effectiveness specifically among Crohn's disease patients can be limited, and some studies involving these substances and treatments were not placebo-controlled.

• Omega-3 essential fatty acids: typically taken in the form of fish oil supplements, omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects and have shown promise for some people with Crohn's disease.


• Probiotics (beneficial bacteria): there is some evidence that ingesting various bacterial strains can help Crohn's disease patients maintain remission.


• Vitamins: nutrient deficiencies are common in people with Crohn's disease. B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, and zinc are among vitamins recommended for patients.


• Diet: many Crohn's disease patients find certain foods more problematic than others. Some individuals feel better when avoiding or limiting dairy products, gluten, refined sugars, fiber, fatty foods, or fried foods. Experiences in this area seem to vary greatly among patients.


• Boswellia: resin derived from boswellia serrata trees is used as the basis of an herbal preparation that can help reduce inflammation in the body.


• Curcumin (turmeric): curcumin is another botanical substance that alleviates inflammation and also is an antioxidant.


• Aloe: patients can drink aloe in juice or gel form to promote intestinal healing, but aloe has laxative properties which can cause problems for Crohn's disease patients.


• Glutamine (l-glutamine): this amino acid can help preserve intestinal integrity and build strength and stamina.


• Bromelain: researchers have found that this digestive enzyme derived from pineapple has anti-inflammatory effects in colon biopsies of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.


• Acupuncture (moxibustion, acupressure): this component of traditional Chinese medicine has been shown to be beneficial for patients with a variety of ailments, including Crohn's disease.


• Exercise: a low-intensity fitness program can improve quality of life in patients with Crohn's disease while not making symptoms worse.

Conclusion

Crohn's disease is a debilitating digestive disorder with an unknown cause. There is no conventional treatment that can cure or soothe all people afflicted with the illness. As a result, complementary and alternative medicine has become quite common among individuals with the disease. While there remains no alternative therapy that is completely effective, there are several supplements and practices that have been beneficial for some patients.