Patients with an increasingly bizarre array of symptoms and chronic diseases are streaming into doctors' offices and emergency rooms every day. Physicians are often hard pressed to discover the root of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Inflammatory cytokines are released by the production of antibodies in the body's attempt to fight off toxins, microbes, undigested food and waste in the bloodstream. How did these things get into the blood stream to begin with?
What Is A Leaky Gut?
Leaky Gut Syndrome is a condition in which the lining of the bowel becomes damaged and the gut wall is severely weakened, thus allowing pollution of the bloodstream. When these pollutants get through the gut wall they are assaulted by antibodies and immune complexes are carried by the bloodstream to sites where the release of cytokines causes inflammation. Patients may develop intermittent stomach pains, a low grade temperature and lack the ability to absorb nutrients from foods.
What Causes Leaky Gut?
Chronic yeast or candida is often cited as a cause for Leaky Gut Syndrome along with poor diet, bacterial infections, long term antibiotic use, intestinal parasites and toxins.
Former president of the American Herbalists Guild, Steven Horne RH asserts that inflammation can actually start in infancy. Horne's theory states; "Inflammation causes plasma proteins to move into the tissue spaces, causing localized swelling. In the intestinal tract, this swelling increases the permeability of intestinal membranes."
Proponents of the inflammation connection to Leaky Gut Syndrome maintain that it is responsible for or at least contributory to such conditions as inflammatory bowel syndrome, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, arthritis, type 1 diabetes, allergies, asthma, autism, lupus, colitis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
What To Do About A Leaky Gut
Try introducing some friendly bugs in the form of probiotics to improve bowel function and overall intestinal health. Some powdered or pill forms are shelf stable while others are found in the refrigerated section at health food stores. Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum can be taken daily in doses of five million active organisms each that will set up housekeeping and kick the bad bugs out.
Turmeric is one of the most amazing natural medicines on the planet. It possesses very potent astringent properties that help tighten up the gaps between the cell walls and make the gut less permeable. It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and has shown considerable antimicrobial properties. Turmeric can easily be added to many dishes without a marked alteration of the taste or can be taken in capsule form up to 10 grams per day.
Many herbalists encourage the use of bitter herbs that get digestive juices flowing and help speed up the process. Gentian root is a popular bitter herb used in Europe in the form of an herbal tea to be consumed before a meal because it stimulates the upper GI and sends foods speeding through the digestive process. Large undigested particulates thus have less chance of breaking through the gut wall.
Following this simple advice can help alleviate the symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome and possibly aid in reducing systemic inflammation. Probiotics and herbal preparations can be obtained easily from health food stores or online.
Sources:
americanherbalistsguild.com An Association of Herbal Practitioners "The Chemistry of Medicinal Plants" (accessed January 11th, 2010)
The Healing Herbs - The Ultimate Guide To The Curative Power Of Nature's Medicines
Michael Castleman, Rodale Press Edition 1991, Bantam Edition 1995
huffingtonpost.com "Is Your Body Burning Up With Inflammation" by Mark Hyman MD (accessed August 27,2009)
Candida Albicans: Could Yeast Be Your Problem By Leon Chaitow D.O. N.D. Healing Arts Press 1998
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