blknwhite
17th October 2014, 14:43
Hello and thank you for being here. I am posting this information with the intention that it may reach and help many. This information is the distillation of a health crisis that almost killed me and yet today I am feeling better than I ever have in my life on every level. That is what I wish for you all, health - happiness - comfort. The first chapters are auto biographical explaining how what happened, happened. I really didn't want to include this personal information but felt that it was important in that you may spot similarities in your own journey and that could provide a clue as to what went wrong with your own health. Enough said - here it is - I call it "The Gut Project". Unless someone has a better idea, I will copy and paste each section in this thread.
Chapter One
I moved from Eastern Washington to Eugene Oregon in summer 2004. Life was very good. I was just coming out of a successful business and partnership, was newly married to a wonderful woman, had a great dog Cosmo II and had been hired for a position that was an awesome next step in my career. I felt truly blessed and fortunate. I started the new job and noticed that I was having trouble concentrating and feeling interested in what I was doing. This had not been a problem before as I really loved my work in the Jewelry business. As the weeks went by it got worse, I wasn’t sleeping well, didn’t feel rested after sleep, couldn’t concentrate and the gym and riding my bike was a real struggle. One day I was hitting the heavy bag in the garage and after about 5 minutes I almost fell down and I had the strangest feeling in my head and chest. This was unusual as I normally had plenty of energy for exercise. As I wasn’t performing as I should have at work my employer was unhappy with me and this added to the stress I already had from letting my wife down. After eight months I quit. I gave myself a couple of weeks to rest and recover and then got a job as a landscaper. This felt like a huge failure to me, at age 41 doing yard work instead of running my own business or managing someone elses. Over the next few months I grew to appreciate the work and enjoyed spending time in beautiful landscapes, in nature, outside. I was given my own route which meant I got to be on my own all day. The manager told me that routes usually went to twenty somethings as it was very physically demanding so I was very pleased with myself that I could do it and enjoyed doing it. Life was good in the summer of 2005. I felt equilibrium had returned. August of 2005 I ran across a website selling “Numerology Reports”. I had heard of Numerology but hadn’t any experience with it so ordered my report. As I read the report I was struck by how it seemed accurate as to how my life had played out up to this point, including how amazingly good I felt at this time. I then reached the part that spoke of the next few months. It reported that around the end of December of that year would start the biggest health challenge of my life and spoke of how difficult this period would be. I asked my wife to read it and share her thoughts and she agreed that it seemed to be accurate until the part about the big health challenge but seemed to veer off course. I remember thinking there was no way anything could go wrong. Those words would come back to haunt me because in the beginning of January 2006 started the biggest health challenge of my life.
Chapter 2
It started the end of December, 2005 as a head cold. At least that's what if felt like but it became apparent after a few weeks that it wasn't just a head cold. I felt chronically fatigued, couldn't work out like I was used to and when I did, was totally wiped out and didn’t seem to recover. I had no libido, was irritable, couldn't concentrate and couldn’t sleep well at all. My sinuses were blocked completely and I was producing a lot of mucus to the point I had to sleep sitting up on the couch as I felt like I was drowning if I laid down! I felt worse than I had ever before in my life. Like my life force was on a dimmer switch and it was turned almost all the way down. After 4 months of this, it became apparent that this wasn’t a cold virus and I realized something was very wrong. I got serious about figuring it out and started reading about possible causes of my symptoms and found that the possibilities were vast and overwhelming. Toxicity in many forms, food sensitivities, fungus, parasites, worms, it all sounded scary and disgusting! Maybe the hardest aspect to deal with was thinking about giving up favorite foods, cheese, wheat, eggs and wine and mocha's. From what I'd read I determined to give up alcohol, coffee and caffeine, wheat, dairy, eggs and soy for 4 weeks and then add them back in one at a time, one every 24 hours to see how they affected me. It was a tough transition and I was going to try it for a few weeks and honestly didn’t expect to notice much of a difference. Old habits die hard but I noticed I felt better, the congestion was going away and I could breathe some of the time so felt I was on track. I ate a piece of wheat toast and about 20 minutes later and my sinuses were congested and I was sneezing. Next day I ate a piece of cheese, it took about an hour and my sinuses were blocked without the sneezing this time. Another 24 hours and I tried some soy nuts and a couple hours later I broke out in hives on the back of my neck. It was clear by now that these foods really were causing me problems. I gave up the alcohol and coffee because I had learned that these elements can amplify allergies and sensitivities. I also learned that alcohol consumed with foods could eventually lead to sensitivities because it is technically a neuro-toxin that is it is toxic to the nervous system. Once mixed with food the body can eventually come to associate toxicity with the food the alcohol is mixed with so no more wine with dinner or drinks before. Within about a year I was feeling better than I had in a long time and proclaimed myself very much healed. This led me to the mistaken belief that I could go back to eating what I had eliminated and drinking wine and coffee again. This led to phase 2 of the disorder. The true problem was to be revealed though it would be a couple of years before I would find the information that explained clearly what this root issue was. I am still amazed that this information is not more available.
Even though I was feeling better I was still having some issues. I had a pain in the upper left abdomen just below the rib line. It had gradually increased in intensity and hurt much of the time. As I researched my symptoms, I became convinced that I had Pancreatic Cancer. All of the symptoms were there. I went to a Midwife and Holistic healer, who is a friend of my Dad and well known in the area. I described my symptoms to her and started to tell her how I was sure I had Pancreatic Cancer and she started waving her hands around and said that I could stop because she knew what was wrong. She said she suspected that I had parasites, probably worms. I was skeptical but willing to try what she suggested. She suggested I use a Para-zapper which is an electrical device that works with a nine volt battery as the power source. You hold copper tubes in your hands that are attached to wires allowing a mild electrical current to pass through your body and this is supposed to kill the parasites. I took it home, read the instructions and started my first session. I was surprised there wasn't much sensation at all. I felt a little silly but finished the session. The next day I didn't notice any difference and went to work. I had a job that involved driving and was driving when all the sudden I had to find a restroom for an emergency bowel movement. I found the dirtiest porta potty I had ever seen but dove in and did my business. I had to look because the Midwife said I might see worms after the session with the Para-zapper and worms there were! I was shocked and surprised and felt a huge wave of relief as I finally got some answers as to what was wrong with me. I took note that there were two different organisms present. One was a species of Round Worm named Ascaris, the second was the size and shape of a Pumkin seed only a dark, charcoal gray color. I learned that these are named Flukes. My mind immediately wandered back through the years revisiting all the times I has eaten something that I had dropped on the floor, ate that raw Tuna just cut from the living fish on vacation in st marten, ate rare lamb as I had read these are some of the ways we pick up Parasites. I felt a cold chill with the knowledge. I called Sharlene immediately to share the good news. She was not surprised and congratulated me on my accomplishment. I bought myself a Zapper and started using it several times a week. I never saw another worm and was excited at how easy it was to eradicate the offensive critters. As I read more I learned that the adults are easy to kill and that it's the eggs that are very difficult to completely eliminate. They can withstand the Hydrochloric acid of your stomach, crunching between your teeth and are virtually indestructible. Eating unwashed vegetables and fruits from the garden, kissing our pets or petting and scratching them and then eating something or licking our fingers. You can see there are a lot of ways to pick up unwanted guests. Over eating, low stomach acid (signs are bloating and/or feeling tired after eating, indigestion to name a few symptoms) all allow the organisms to survive through the stomach and into the small intestine to start their life cycle. More on parasites later.
Chapter 3
I felt like I had made headway in understanding what went wrong and feeling better but I still had a burning pain in the upper left abdomen and other symptoms. I went back to Sharlene and she told me that it sounded like symptoms of a Hiatal Hernia. I hadn't heard of Hiatal Hernia and was skeptical as it sounded like too simple and explanation for what I was feeling. I was still thinking I might have Pancreatic Cancer. I had burning and sometimes sharp pain and didn't feel well in general, had low energy and low appetite. Low appetite in me is always a sign that something is really, really wrong. Sharlene showed me a technique for pulling the Esophagus down and out of the slit, or Hiatus in the diaphragm the Esophagus passes through. This Hiatus can become enlarged which then allows the stomach to slide up and protrude into the diaphragm. This can cause many different problems including Acid Reflux and pain and burning in the abdomen and chest. I had burning and shooting pains that would cascade in an arc around my abdomen over a period of time. The pain and senstations are far reaching because of the Vegas Nerves involvement in Hiatal Hernia. It wraps around and travels down the exterior of the Esophagus and gets pinched when the stomach is jammed into the Hiatus. Sharlene had me lie down had me take a few deep breaths and had me tell my abdomen muscles to relax and allow her hands up under the rib cage. She worked her hands under a few inches and then worked them into the middle towards the sternum forming a triangle and pushed downward when she was near the sternum. I felt a shift and the pain and discomfort disappeared instantly! I was shocked and very pleased! I learned how to perform the maneuver on my own and had to do it often in the beginning, maybe a few times a day. Some Chiropractors will perform this technique for you and teach you to do it yourself. Call around in your area to find one.
I also made sure I didn't eat and lie down or recline as that is believed to be involved in the development of Hiatal Herna. Over the next couple of months I continued to improve. It wasn't until a few years later, after I had been using Himalayan Sea Salt for a few months that all symptoms of Hiatal Hernia stopped. When I ran out of Himalayan Salt I switched to another sea salt and after a few weeks I started to notice symptoms again. When I started back on the Himalayan Salt my symptoms stopped again. Dr. Oz had reported that Himalayan Seal Salt could help with Hiatal Hernia and my own experience seemed to prove this out. I just salted my food as I would normally.
Chapter 4
PROTOCOL FOR HEALING THE GUT:
IDENTIFY - /Very often when we're in a state of disease, it has to do with what we are eating, drinking and otherwise ingesting into our bodies. Meds and other drugs, chemicals that absorb through our skin from lotions, soaps, perfumes, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent residue, fabric softener, art supplies, solvents, bug spray, make up, deodorant etc all contribute to the toxic load in our bodies but the single most powerful way we effect our health is through what we eat and drink. Dr. Barry Sears says: "The food you eat is probably the most powerful drug you will encounter." Identifying what it is that his doing us harm is the necessary first step in recovering our health and ourselves. Whether you do this through a elimination diet, Jon Barron at jonbarron.org is a good resource for information on this and many other subjects related to health or through food allergy/sensitivity testing through a Naturopathic or Functional Medicine Doctor it is necessary to identify what isn't working for your body and your health. What sets these health practitioners apart is that they use your lifestyle data to spot possible problems and then usually back this up with specific testing. For instance it wasn't until a parasite was finally identified by a test ordered by my Naturopath that my health started to rapidly improve. The Metametrix GI Effects Comprehensive Stool Profile was the test and is far superior to the Cultured Stool Analysis that is most often performed as it can identify an organism from a tiny fragment via DNA analysis.
ELIMINATE AND CLEANSE:
There are an alarming number of elements working against our gut health in the times we live in. It starts with our first dose of anti-biotic that changes the bacterial terrain of our digestive tracts forever. I can’t recall who it was but one of the researchers I’ve read said, “Anti-biotic are the worst scourge the pharmaceutical companies have ever unleashed on us.” We are all supposed to have 3 to 6 pounds of beneficial bacteria inhabiting our intestines. When we don’t, the pathogenic bacteria can proliferate and that sets the stage for so many problems. Add to this food sensitivities and allergies, toxic overload from the allowance of thousands of chemicals in or environment, on our food, in our drinking water, in furniture, building materials, cars etc. Why do I bring up elements that are not ingested when talking about gut health? Because all of this toxicity has a negative impact on the liver and the liver is part of the digestive system. If your liver is malfunctioning, you digestive tract is probably malfunctioning as well. Once identified, we need to remove as many of these harmful elements as we can or as many as we need to feel better. When on my own journey I kept going back to wheat, dairy, coffee and wine once I was feeling better and that led to me progressively getting worse and worse.
Foods we have an allergy or sensitivity to
Exposure to toxic metals – in non-organic foods, high fructose corn syrup, aluminum cookware, aluminum cans, costume jewelry, metal watch bands, vaccines, non-filtered drinking water, metal fillings. Coal burning power plants spew tons of mercury into the atmosphere daily. This metal falls to earth and is in the soil and water, is picked up by plants which are then eaten by humans and animals.
Candida fungus/yeast - Gets a good foot hold after our first dose of anti-biotic and then its fed well by the standard American diet – Lots of refined grains, dairy products, candy and other sweets, alcohol, coffee and more.
Parasites – acquired from un-washed vegetables, pets, licking our fingers, eating under-cooked meats etc.
It is said if you have a fungal infection, you are likely to have parasites and vice versa which is why I use a parasite cleanse products as opposed to a candida cleanse because it will kill both parasites and fungus.
The steps for regaining control and healing your digestive tract are listed below in logical order. I will expand upon these below. Before beginning any type of cleanse we need to ensure that the pathways of elimination are open and functioning well or the toxic elements we are trying to get rid of will be reabsorbed into the body and that's not good. The body rids itself of waste through the bowel, the kidneys and through the skin. We want waste leaving through the primary routes, not through the skin. Think skin irritations as a possible clue that the primary detoxification pathways are blocked or partially blocked.
Links to:
Elimination diet
Intestinal cleanse
Liver cleanse
Fungal cleanse
Parasite cleanse
Metal cleanse
More to follow - The next section has links and I want to make sure it is ok to post links here.
Chapter 5
REMOVE:
There are an alarming number of elements working against our gut health and our health in general these days. It starts with our first dose of anti-biotic that changes the bacterial terrain of our digestive tracts forever. I can’t recall who it was but one of the researchers I’ve read said, “Anti-biotics are the worst scourge the pharmaceutical companies have ever unleashed on the planet.” We are all supposed to have 3 to 6 pounds of beneficial bacteria inhabiting our intestines. When we don’t, the pathogenic bacteria can proliferate and that sets the stage for so many problems. Add to this food sensitivities and allergies, toxic overload from the allowance of thousands of untested toxic chemicals in or environment, on our food, in our drinking water, in furniture, building materials, cars etc. Why do I bring up elements that are not ingested when talking about gut health? Because these toxins eventually find their way into our bodies whether we ingest them or not, and because all of this toxicity has a negative impact on the liver and the liver is part of the digestive system. If your liver is malfunctioning, your digestive tract is malfunctioning as well. Once identified, we need to remove and avoid as many of these harmful elements as we can. Some of it we can’t avoid and there is a way to deal with that which I’ll discuss later. When on my own journey I kept going back to wheat, dairy, coffee and wine once I was feeling better and that led to me progressively getting worse and worse.
Elements that cause toxic load in the body:
Foods we are allergic or sensitive to.
Pesticides and Herbicides.
Household cleaners.
Toxic vapors from new furniture, building materials, clothing, carpet, new cars etc.
Toxic metals – in non-organic foods, high fructose corn syrup, aluminum cookware, aluminum cans, costume jewelry, metal watch bands, vaccines, non-filtered drinking water.
Candida fungus/yeast - Gets a good foot hold after our first dose of anti-biotic and then fed well by the standard American diet – Lots of refined grains, dairy products, alcohol, coffee.
Parasites – acquired from un-washed vegetables, pets, licking our fingers, eating under cooked meats etc.
It is said if you have a fungal infection, you are likely to have parasites and vice versa which is why I sometimes use a parasite cleanse product exclusively because it will kill both parasites and fungus.
Links to:
Elimination diet
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12540/the-simple-elimination-diet-that-could-change-your-life-forever.html
Parasite cleanse
http://www.naturalnews.com/037964_parasites_detox_cleanse.html
Fungal cleanse
http://www.thecandidadiet.com/cleansing.htm
http://www.renewlife.com/candida-formula
Metal cleanse
http://jonbarron.org/how-colon-detox-cleanse-heavy-metals
Liver detox
http://jonbarron.org/phase-three-how-liver-detox-cleanse-blood
Chapter 6
Parasites:
Think you don’t have parasites? Think again. When a health practitioner told me she was sure I had parasites I remember thinking it wasn’t possible. The Idea was so alien to me that I couldn’t believe it.
By 10:00 the next morning I knew I was wrong. I was staring at a pile of worms in the toilet after using an electronic device known to kill parasites the night before. Pretty gross yes but very good information as parasites are present in all of us. If our health is optimal they don’t have a chance as our immune system keeps them in their place. It is when our health is less than optimal that they can hurt us. Most of us have less than optimal health and this is due most often to our lifestyle and what we eat and drink. Yes there are those that will tell you that most of the diseases that we suffer from are hereditary, that our genetics are causing what is plaguing us which relieves us of the responsibility of fixing what is wrong by making changes. This is the case for some but for most of us it has more to do with diet and lifestyle. Sugar, refined carbohydrates, grains in general (boxed cereals are highly toxic to the body) broken fats (as opposed to healthy fats), foods that contain heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, high fructose corn syrup, soda, fruit juice (even organic fruit juice ), vaccines, pharmaceutical drugs, eating foods we are allergic/sensitive to, excessive stress and lack of sleep all weaken our systems opening us up to massive damage not only to our guts, but to the entire system. Hippocrates, the father of medicine said, “All disease starts in the gut”. The good news here is that because the cause is under our control, so is the solution. Medical doctors have no solutions for these issues, just more toxic load and medications to make it hurt less… and the damage continues. Unless we are talking about a doctor who practices Functional Medicine or a Naturopathic Doctor who will help to identify those lifestyle elements that pave the road to hell. The protocol to rid yourself of your parasites is actually quite simple requiring a few supplements and avoiding certain foods and behaviors for a while. Think Sushi and kissing your animals for starters.
How do we get parasites? They are literally everywhere. Don’t freak out because as I said a healthy human body can easily deal with these unwanted organisms. Some ways we are exposed are food and water not properly sanitized, walking barefoot (some can burrow right through you skin), world travel especially to tropical environments, passed from person to person with any physical contact, on our beloved pets, on all surfaces in public places etc. Again it’s ok. They have always been here, we just need to create an inhospitable environment for them so they can’t live here. We do that by limiting our exposure, and using foods and supplements weaken and kill them.
Supplements and foods to kill parasites: (They also kill fungus )
Gaia Wormwood Supreme – perhaps my favorite parasite product!
The classic combination: Black walnut hull, Wormwood and Clove. The walnut hull and wormwood kill the adults, the clove kills the eggs
Pumpkin Seed, eaten whole, shell and all or just the seeds
Garlic (fresh is best, mince a couple of cloves and add to a glass of water and drink 2 to 3 times daily)
Grapefruit seed extract
Olive leaf extract
Diatomaceous earth (food grade only)
You can find products with combinations of these elements – They have names like para – cleanse, para – clear etc. I have used many of them and have found them to be effective. As I said my favorite is the Gaia wormwood supreme. Just like with the fungal killers, I like to switch what I am using to keep the organisms off balance and not allow them to build a tolerance to what I am using. I suggest the same for you. Most of these elements can be irritating to the intestines with continuous use so cycling is important. On for 2 weeks off for 1 week , repeat if necessary. One or two cycles works in most cases but below I’ll talk about what to do if it doesn’t.
I was infected with several species of worms. Flukes, Round worm and Strongyloides also known as threadworm. My Naturopath Dr. David Graves suggested a test offered by Metametrix Clinical Laboratory (http://www.metametrix.com/test-menu/profiles/categorized) called G.I. Effects comprehensive profile stool. I had avoided stool testing as I had learned that traditional stool testing is not very effective as it requires larger particles of the parasite . Metametrix uses a DNA staining process that can identify an organism from very small particles. The test Identified Strongyloides, and provided useful information about the general state of my digestive tract. After so many years I finally had an answer as to what had gone wrong with my health, at least one of the elements that contributed significantly. We spent a couple hours going over the report and then Dr. Graves suggested I go home and read about Strongyloides specifically as this was the most dangerous of the parasites identified. I went home and researched and promptly had a level 10 anxiety attack! The prognosis with this tiny worm can be pretty bleak, even deadly and I emailed Dr. Graves back and told him I felt I was doomed. He emailed me back and said there was a protocol that showed much success in these “deep infections” as he called it. I started on the protocol and within a few weeks I was feeling better. A few weeks later I was feeling even better and felt I was regaining control of my digestive tract! Yahoo! That’s what all this about, regaining control of our digestive tracts and understanding that there are rules to proper function to the very complex machine known as the digestive tract.
Protocol for deep infection:
Gaia Wormwood Supreme (You could use a parasite formula of your choice) as directed 2 days per week.
A combination of Olive leaf extract, Oregano oil, Pau D Arco and Andrographis extract. This mixture is taken twice daily for 5 days. Once you have regained control, meaning your feeling much better, you could reduce or stop taking these elements. I continue to take the Gaia Wormwood Supreme tincture as it is know that the parasite I had is particularly difficult to completely eliminate. This is where testing could prove valuable for if I didn’t know the tenacity of my parasite, I could run the risk of reinfection. From my reading and experience my situation is relatively rare. Most often, parasites are not that difficult to eliminate.
A high potency probiotic should be taken as these elements also kill beneficial bacteria. I use a product containing 20 – 50 billion organisms or more! We have 22 – 27 feet of intestine and are supposed to have 2 – 8 pounds of bacteria in our guts which explains the need for high potency probiotics.
Chapter 7
Candida Fungus /Yeast
Fungus is the most successful organism on the planet. Make no mistake, Candida and other fungus can ruin your life and is almost always involved in problems with the gut. There are at least several hundred symptoms believed to be caused by these organisms. Fungus and Yeast are two forms of the same organism. One eats sugar, the other eats meat! So just eliminating sugar and simple carbohydrates might not eradicate candida because if you cut off one food supply it can morph into its other form and require a completely different food type. Many people including doctors will tell you that Candida can’t hurt you or doesn’t exist. Don’t believe it. Look at the symptoms, If you have 7 or more of them there’s a good chance Candida is hurting you. It is supposed to be in your body. It lives in the colon and co-exists with the myriad other organisms found there. Its only when it becomes overgrown that it becomes a problem. It gets its start from the first round of antibiotics we receive, usually at a very young age. That first dose changes the ecology of our guts permanently according to researchers. Not too hard to believe considering the epidemic of gut disorders. It works something like this. It’s like the weeds in your yard. When the grass is healthy and full, there are only a few weeds. As the grass thins out due to shaded areas or broken sprinklers, the weeds can get out of control. The idea is to kill the bad guys and re-seed with the right bacteria. We have over 500 types of bacteria in our digestive tract weighing 3 to 8 pounds. Supplements that contain various strains of these beneficial bacteria are called Probiotics. Probiotic means Pro-Life or For Life and considering the positive impact these organisms have on our lives they are aptly named. Fermented foods like Yogurt (most yogurt is ineffective if not made at home), Sauerkraut, Kimchee, fermented Pickles and other fermented foods contain these beneficial bacteria. These beneficial bacteria have a symbiotic relationship with us in that they help us digest our food more completely, produce beneficial enzymes, vitamins and other substances we need for good health and proper digestion. The bad bacteria do just the opposite. They produce toxic byproducts which cause inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining. These toxins not only lead to problems in the intestines but end up intoxicating the whole system leading to those hundreds of symptoms I mentioned previously. Bloating, indigestion, joint pain, headaches/migraines, mood swings, anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, chronic sinus problems, sugar cravings, alcohol cravings, sensitivity to perfumes, deodorant, cologne etc., rectal itching, vaginitus, depression, suicidal thoughts, wheezing or asthmatic symptoms, food allergies and sensitivities, thrush, hay fever, bad breath, sores in or on the mouth, feeling drained, memory loss, confusion, flu like symptoms, spots before the eyes just to name some of the symptoms. Candida isn’t the only fungi we encounter, there are many others. Nuts (especially raw), cereals, breads and grains, cheese and leftovers are examples of ways we are exposed to various fungi. I suggest limiting the length of time you store foods in the refrigerator and freezer. One or two days max for food in the refrigerator. There are many books and websites that give excellent information on fungal infections if you want more in depth knowledge. What was most effective for me in finally getting the upper hand on my own serious fungal infection took a couple of years to finally get. The hardest part for me was limiting sugar and carbohydrates (bread, crackers, cereal, rice, fruit) to very low levels. Stevia really helps as I use it as my primary sweetener and fungus is not interested in it.
Protocol for fungal infections:
I am convinced that fungal infections cannot be eradicated without diet modification. Almost seven years selling supplements in a very busy store, 150 to 400 people a day and I have never seen successful eradication without diet modification. You might feel better for a little while but for lasting results, dietary modification is probably necessary. The idea is to remove the organisms preferred food, sugar, simple carbohydrates, chips, crackers, cookies, candy, desserts, popcorn, rice, cereals, potatoes, corn and carrots – to name some of the most important to eliminate while doing the cleanse. It is suggested to eat primarily meat and vegetables, and no starchy vegetables. Fungus thrives in an acidic environment and most of us in America are acidic. I’m not talking about the acid in your stomach or the PH of your blood. The PH of the blood is tightly regulated in a range of 7.35 – 7.45. This has to do with systemic acidity which is affected by what we eat and drink and how much stress we live with. Alcoholic drinks, coffee, soda, milk, and other dairy products, meats and grains acidify the body creating the perfect environment for fungus to grow. Body PH refers to the degree to which we are either acidic or alkaline. This can be tested at home using PH test strips. The range is 1 – 14 with readings below 7 considered acidic and readings above 7 considered alkaline with a reading of 7 being considered neutral. My goal is to keep my PH in the range of 6.5 – 7.5. When using the test strips its important to test the urine several times in a day and average the readings. This is because PH fluctuates constantly and taking a single reading can be misleading. You might read 7 and 20 minutes later test again and read 5.5. I suggest testing 6 times on 2 different days to get a good idea of what your average PH is. When I want to test I keep the strips on the back of the toilet with a notepad and pencil. Don’t test the first urine in the morning as the body clears accumulated acid overnight. To test, start urinating and at the mid- way point dip the test strip into the stream and following the instructions note the reading.
To achieve proper PH balance eating a balance of alkaline and acid forming foods is suggested as opposed to drinking alkaline water or consuming baking soda which could help but is not ideal. Here are some of the alkaline foods and other elements:
Watermelon
Lemon/lime
Fruits (Except Blueberries, Cranberries, Currants and canned fruits)
Vegetables (Except Corn, Lentils, Olives and Winter Squash)
Apple cider vinegar
Green supplements (Wheat grass, Barley grass, Spirulina, Chlorella or Greens blends)
Minerals
Sea salt
Baking soda
Almonds
Millet
Whey protein powder
Stevia
Chili pepper
Ginger
Cinnamon
This is not a comprehensive list. You can find plenty of information on the internet or in books if you want more information. Your diet is the best way to adjust the acid/alkaline balance of your body as opposed to taking supplements or drinking alkaline water. Start with diet modification and then add supplements as needed. I love to start my day with a shot of greens mixed with water (often with Maca and Raw Cocoa). You can also mix these with juice, either way greens can provide a nice energy boost taken any time of the day. You can get these products in Chocolate, Berry, Orange Cream and other flavors that even kids will beg for!
Supplements to eradicate Fungus:
There are many products on the market to kill Candida and other fungus. I don’t suggest using the same product continuously. It is known that fungi can morph to work around an element if used too often. In other words what kills it initially can become ineffective after a period of time. You don’t get to be the most successful organism on the planet without having a significant bag of tricks. I didn’t really get control of my fungal issues until I understood the concept of cycling the elements that kill it. I suggest 10 day cycles using three different elements, one or two elements per cycle with three weeks being the longest I would cycle and one or group of elements or use one of the combination products listed later.
Pau d Arco (Tincture is best)
Oregano oil
Caprylic Acid
Coconut oil
Olive leaf
Garlic
Neem
Black Walnut hull
Clove
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Ginger
Pure Essence Labs Candex: Candex works differently than any of the other elements listed here or later in the list of combination products. It is a blend of various fiber digesting enzymes designed to breakdown the tough, fibrous cell wall of the Candida organism (and other fungal organisms). Once the cell wall is destroyed, the organism dies. I mentioned before that Candida can develop immunity to the elements we use to eradicate it but it cannot develop immunity to enzymes. Another benefit to this approach is one is less likely to experience the symptoms of die off which are nausea, headache, fatigue or diarrhea. As I’ve said before one can avoid die off with the other elements by starting with a low dose and slowly increasing to the recommended dose.
It’s very common for Candida to reoccur. One must remain vigilant, adopting lifestyle changes to keep it at bay. That has been my experience and is a generally accepted concept. I’ve seen many people suffer recurring episodes because of an inability to let go of their favorite foods or drinks so the choice is ours.
Probiotics: You could think of your intestines as a lawn. When the grass is lush and thick and healthy and receiving plenty of water, sunlight and nutrition, the weeds don’t have a chance. You might find a few weeds to pull. But if you have a couple of broken sprinklers, some shaded areas from trees and you don’t fertilize ever you would notice the yard is full of weeds! And so it is in your gut. If you have 3 to 8 pounds of happy, healthy bacteria in your gut, the weeds don’t have a chance. It’s not that the weeds aren’t supposed to be there, they are, but only in small amounts. It is normal for Candida to be present in your gut, but when it expands its territory beyond a certain level, we have problems. Just taking probiotics can help a lot, even without the anti-fungal elements but for most of us it will take a combination of the two. The concept is to kill what doesn’t belong and re-seed with what does belong.
Chapter 8
INFLAMMATION
It appears that inflammation is at the root of just about every disease process. I’ve written about parasites, fungus, toxic food, water, metals etc. but underlying the damage these elements do collectively is inflammation. We are told to take Aspirin, Advil, Tylenol or any number of other anti-inflammatories to control our inflammation. The problem is these elements are toxic and especially damaging to the gut. When I was in my twenty’s I exercised excessively so consequently had lots of joint pain. I wound up in physical therapy and the physical therapist told me to take as much Advil as I needed and I did, every day for weeks sometimes. I was amazed that I could take 800 milligrams on an empty stomach and never felt a thing. As a matter of fact I really never had much in the way of gastrointestinal symptoms at all. The point here is that the damage can be occurring and you don’t notice a thing. I had some vague symptoms for about a year or so before it got really bad. I had pain in the abdomen that came and went and would have to put ice on it sometimes to stop the pain but nothing too serious at that point, mostly a lot of fatigue and chronic sinus congestion and hives. When I learned how damaging the non-steroidal anti -inflammatories are I stopped taking them immediately and was wondering what I was going to do for the pain I had. Luckily there is an amazing abundance of natural elements that can help with pain and inflammation and that most of them have been used for hundreds or thousands of years.
The anti-inflammatory diet – This is a diet with a balance of foods and liquids that ends up leaning more towards the alkaline end of the scale. High acid means that the processes in the body happen fast and hot as opposed to them happening at a more moderate pace. When these processes are happening at break neck speed, they often don’t happen properly or they happen incompletely. Those processes make you who you are and govern how you feel! An anti-inflammatory diet is high in organic vegetables and fruits with moderate amounts of grains and good quality preferably organic meats. It is also minus foods that our individual bodies don’t do well with. Vegetables in the nightshade family are known to cause pain and limiting these foods can really help if we are dealing with a lot of pain. Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, tobacco and peppers are in this family. I love potatoes and tomatoes! I could eat them everyday, but I don’t. I could eat grains all day every day but I limit them because I notice I feel much better if I don’t. Very often the foods that are hurting us the most are the foods we crave, the foods we can’t live without. The foods that I crave the most, the one’s I can’t live without I limit severely. For instance, I have no control with chocolate almond milk. No matter what amount I buy, I will drink it all within a short period of time. Because of this, I allow myself to drink it all when I buy it but I buy it very infrequently. Its the same with corn chips. When I buy a bag I can sit and eat half the bag in one sitting so I buy them infrequently (maybe every 3 to 6 weeks if that) and when I do, I buy a smaller bag. My favorite snack used to be wheat toast with peanut butter and a glass or three of milk. I would eat it and feel like I was drunk or high on something. I thought I was the luckiest guy in the world and that feeling that way meant that is must be good for me. If a food causes you to feel drunk or high it is probably hurting you. Foods that don’t digest properly can actually cause the production of opiates in the intestines! Alcohol can be produced when Candida is present and we eat grains or sugars. We can become addicted to these foods via the production of these elements. Eliminating them will probably enhance your health. I use metabolic typing and the blood type information as a guide line but whats needed is to become more sensitive and listening to and feeling your body. Tune in and with practice you will get better at identifying which foods are problem foods for you. Itchy ears or chest, rapid heart rate, cheeks that turn red, sinus congestion or sneezing, mucus in the throat, tickling in the throat, sudden mood change can all be indications that a particular food or food group doesn’t work for you. Excessive Dairy, grains, soda, meat or protein, coffee and alcohol all stimulate inflammation and an acidic environment in the body. An acidic body is an inflamed body.
Foods that work against inflammation:
Avocadoes
Walnuts
Almonds
Fatty fish (Fresh cuts of Salmon, Tuna, Lake Trout)
Spices and Herbs – Turmeric is one of the best!
Dark Green leafy vegetables
Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Kale and Cauliflower
Green tea
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Tart cherry’s or juice
Ginger
Garlic
Onion
Chapter 9
NOURISH, REBUILD AND HEAL
This step can be started along with the cleaning and detoxification steps as the elements I am going to talk about are soothing and can help with pain and discomfort. Our bodies are made of and run by amino acids. Amino acids are components of proteins. By adding higher levels of certain amino acids, we can target specific tissues and give them what they need to rebuild. Glutamine supports the mucosal lining of the digestive tract as well as helping with muscle soreness and recovery from exercise. This layer of mucus protects the intestines and enhances immunity. The intestines are made of tissue a lot like skin. Without this protective layer of mucus the intestines are exposed to many irritating elements, including being more susceptible to damage by parasites and fungus.
Glutamine is reported to help with sugar cravings and energy and endurance as well.
NAG or N Acetyl Glucosamine supports tissue repair.
Gamma Oryzanol – Considered a top anti-aging supplement due to its anti-oxidant properties Gamma Oryzanol is also known to have a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive tract and may help heal lesions in the intestines.
BCAA’s or Branched Chain Amino Acids – Dr. Russell Blaylock points out that BCAA’s are superior to Glutamine for supporting the tissues of the intestines. I am a big fan of BCAA’s as they enhance energy, endurance, tissue building, whether you want to put on some muscle, prevent tissue breakdown during exercise, enhance recovery from exercise or are suffering an illness or recovering from an illness BCAA’s are excellent. I use a BCAA product made by MRM called “All Natural Reload” that has Glutamine and Beta Alanine added which also makes it a top anti-aging supplement! Most BCAA products have toxic artificial sweeteners added which are can be irritating to the gut. I suggest you find one without the artificial sweeteners. If you get a BCAA product without flavoring or sweeteners be aware they can taste pretty bad. They should be taken on an empty stomach for maximum effectiveness.
DGL or deglycyrrhizinated licorice - Has a soothing effect on the intestines by positively effecting mucosal secretions and is known to be helpful in healing ulcers and H. Pylori infections which can lead to ulcers.
Marshmallow root – Is not related to the fluffy treats, is soothing and protective of the mucus membranes as it is mucilaginous (mucus like) and coats the intestines. A friend of mine is a Midwife and Holistic healer, she says that Marshmallow is the most healing herb for the mucus membranes.
Slippery elm – Is well known to be healing and soothing to tissues and mucus membranes.
Aloe Vera – Similar to the way it can help heal burns on the outside of the body, Aloe can help heal the irritated or damaged tissues of the intestines and can help with constipation. The whole leaf contains elements that can stimulate bowel function so if you don’t need help for that function then use the “inner fillet” type of Aloe.
Ginger – Stimulates digestion, is the best herb for nausea, calms indigestion and helps with irritation and gas. It is my go to if I have the flu.
Peppermint – Great for relieving gas, nausea, digestive upset and improving digestion. It is also stimulating with peppermint tea giving a nice lift to energy levels. I used peppermint to stop drinking coffee and it was a real life saver. Peppermint oil is available in capsules as well.
Digestive enzymes, bile salts (if your having trouble breaking down fats) and Betaine Hydrochloride to boost hydrochloric acid levels (especially important if your over 50 years of age) You can find products with all of these ingredients together. Enzymes can make a big difference in how you feel for several reasons. For the digestive system to work properly, the chemistry has to be just right as the food is processed by the body. When its not, fireworks! Digestive enzymes help balance that chemistry. Many people notice increased energy levels with digestive enzymes due to the fact that food is being more completely processed thereby making more nutrients available to the body and the cells. I was really surprised by the fact that I was satisfied with much less food when I started taking digestive enzymes because my body was getting more of what it needed. I’ve read that at best we absorb only about 20% of the nutrients we consume when digestion is good and for most of us digestion isn’t so good. Is it any wonder we have low energy? I also noticed this bump in energy when I switched to higher quality and mostly organic food. Higher mineral and vitamin levels coupled with more complete digestion equals more energy. Is it worth the extra cost? Absolutely.
Berberine – Many benefits with this one! Berberine is present in Goldenseal, Barberry and Oregon grape root among others. Oregon grape root is a good choice as its widely available and tends to cost less. Berberine helps with inflammation, kills Candida and as a bonus has many other positive effects within the body.
None of these elements would work without vitamins and minerals as they are required for every process in the body. Especially important are B -12 (taken sublingually) B complex, zinc, Vitamin C, E, Lipoic acid which works against oxidative damage in the intestinal tract.
Chapter One
I moved from Eastern Washington to Eugene Oregon in summer 2004. Life was very good. I was just coming out of a successful business and partnership, was newly married to a wonderful woman, had a great dog Cosmo II and had been hired for a position that was an awesome next step in my career. I felt truly blessed and fortunate. I started the new job and noticed that I was having trouble concentrating and feeling interested in what I was doing. This had not been a problem before as I really loved my work in the Jewelry business. As the weeks went by it got worse, I wasn’t sleeping well, didn’t feel rested after sleep, couldn’t concentrate and the gym and riding my bike was a real struggle. One day I was hitting the heavy bag in the garage and after about 5 minutes I almost fell down and I had the strangest feeling in my head and chest. This was unusual as I normally had plenty of energy for exercise. As I wasn’t performing as I should have at work my employer was unhappy with me and this added to the stress I already had from letting my wife down. After eight months I quit. I gave myself a couple of weeks to rest and recover and then got a job as a landscaper. This felt like a huge failure to me, at age 41 doing yard work instead of running my own business or managing someone elses. Over the next few months I grew to appreciate the work and enjoyed spending time in beautiful landscapes, in nature, outside. I was given my own route which meant I got to be on my own all day. The manager told me that routes usually went to twenty somethings as it was very physically demanding so I was very pleased with myself that I could do it and enjoyed doing it. Life was good in the summer of 2005. I felt equilibrium had returned. August of 2005 I ran across a website selling “Numerology Reports”. I had heard of Numerology but hadn’t any experience with it so ordered my report. As I read the report I was struck by how it seemed accurate as to how my life had played out up to this point, including how amazingly good I felt at this time. I then reached the part that spoke of the next few months. It reported that around the end of December of that year would start the biggest health challenge of my life and spoke of how difficult this period would be. I asked my wife to read it and share her thoughts and she agreed that it seemed to be accurate until the part about the big health challenge but seemed to veer off course. I remember thinking there was no way anything could go wrong. Those words would come back to haunt me because in the beginning of January 2006 started the biggest health challenge of my life.
Chapter 2
It started the end of December, 2005 as a head cold. At least that's what if felt like but it became apparent after a few weeks that it wasn't just a head cold. I felt chronically fatigued, couldn't work out like I was used to and when I did, was totally wiped out and didn’t seem to recover. I had no libido, was irritable, couldn't concentrate and couldn’t sleep well at all. My sinuses were blocked completely and I was producing a lot of mucus to the point I had to sleep sitting up on the couch as I felt like I was drowning if I laid down! I felt worse than I had ever before in my life. Like my life force was on a dimmer switch and it was turned almost all the way down. After 4 months of this, it became apparent that this wasn’t a cold virus and I realized something was very wrong. I got serious about figuring it out and started reading about possible causes of my symptoms and found that the possibilities were vast and overwhelming. Toxicity in many forms, food sensitivities, fungus, parasites, worms, it all sounded scary and disgusting! Maybe the hardest aspect to deal with was thinking about giving up favorite foods, cheese, wheat, eggs and wine and mocha's. From what I'd read I determined to give up alcohol, coffee and caffeine, wheat, dairy, eggs and soy for 4 weeks and then add them back in one at a time, one every 24 hours to see how they affected me. It was a tough transition and I was going to try it for a few weeks and honestly didn’t expect to notice much of a difference. Old habits die hard but I noticed I felt better, the congestion was going away and I could breathe some of the time so felt I was on track. I ate a piece of wheat toast and about 20 minutes later and my sinuses were congested and I was sneezing. Next day I ate a piece of cheese, it took about an hour and my sinuses were blocked without the sneezing this time. Another 24 hours and I tried some soy nuts and a couple hours later I broke out in hives on the back of my neck. It was clear by now that these foods really were causing me problems. I gave up the alcohol and coffee because I had learned that these elements can amplify allergies and sensitivities. I also learned that alcohol consumed with foods could eventually lead to sensitivities because it is technically a neuro-toxin that is it is toxic to the nervous system. Once mixed with food the body can eventually come to associate toxicity with the food the alcohol is mixed with so no more wine with dinner or drinks before. Within about a year I was feeling better than I had in a long time and proclaimed myself very much healed. This led me to the mistaken belief that I could go back to eating what I had eliminated and drinking wine and coffee again. This led to phase 2 of the disorder. The true problem was to be revealed though it would be a couple of years before I would find the information that explained clearly what this root issue was. I am still amazed that this information is not more available.
Even though I was feeling better I was still having some issues. I had a pain in the upper left abdomen just below the rib line. It had gradually increased in intensity and hurt much of the time. As I researched my symptoms, I became convinced that I had Pancreatic Cancer. All of the symptoms were there. I went to a Midwife and Holistic healer, who is a friend of my Dad and well known in the area. I described my symptoms to her and started to tell her how I was sure I had Pancreatic Cancer and she started waving her hands around and said that I could stop because she knew what was wrong. She said she suspected that I had parasites, probably worms. I was skeptical but willing to try what she suggested. She suggested I use a Para-zapper which is an electrical device that works with a nine volt battery as the power source. You hold copper tubes in your hands that are attached to wires allowing a mild electrical current to pass through your body and this is supposed to kill the parasites. I took it home, read the instructions and started my first session. I was surprised there wasn't much sensation at all. I felt a little silly but finished the session. The next day I didn't notice any difference and went to work. I had a job that involved driving and was driving when all the sudden I had to find a restroom for an emergency bowel movement. I found the dirtiest porta potty I had ever seen but dove in and did my business. I had to look because the Midwife said I might see worms after the session with the Para-zapper and worms there were! I was shocked and surprised and felt a huge wave of relief as I finally got some answers as to what was wrong with me. I took note that there were two different organisms present. One was a species of Round Worm named Ascaris, the second was the size and shape of a Pumkin seed only a dark, charcoal gray color. I learned that these are named Flukes. My mind immediately wandered back through the years revisiting all the times I has eaten something that I had dropped on the floor, ate that raw Tuna just cut from the living fish on vacation in st marten, ate rare lamb as I had read these are some of the ways we pick up Parasites. I felt a cold chill with the knowledge. I called Sharlene immediately to share the good news. She was not surprised and congratulated me on my accomplishment. I bought myself a Zapper and started using it several times a week. I never saw another worm and was excited at how easy it was to eradicate the offensive critters. As I read more I learned that the adults are easy to kill and that it's the eggs that are very difficult to completely eliminate. They can withstand the Hydrochloric acid of your stomach, crunching between your teeth and are virtually indestructible. Eating unwashed vegetables and fruits from the garden, kissing our pets or petting and scratching them and then eating something or licking our fingers. You can see there are a lot of ways to pick up unwanted guests. Over eating, low stomach acid (signs are bloating and/or feeling tired after eating, indigestion to name a few symptoms) all allow the organisms to survive through the stomach and into the small intestine to start their life cycle. More on parasites later.
Chapter 3
I felt like I had made headway in understanding what went wrong and feeling better but I still had a burning pain in the upper left abdomen and other symptoms. I went back to Sharlene and she told me that it sounded like symptoms of a Hiatal Hernia. I hadn't heard of Hiatal Hernia and was skeptical as it sounded like too simple and explanation for what I was feeling. I was still thinking I might have Pancreatic Cancer. I had burning and sometimes sharp pain and didn't feel well in general, had low energy and low appetite. Low appetite in me is always a sign that something is really, really wrong. Sharlene showed me a technique for pulling the Esophagus down and out of the slit, or Hiatus in the diaphragm the Esophagus passes through. This Hiatus can become enlarged which then allows the stomach to slide up and protrude into the diaphragm. This can cause many different problems including Acid Reflux and pain and burning in the abdomen and chest. I had burning and shooting pains that would cascade in an arc around my abdomen over a period of time. The pain and senstations are far reaching because of the Vegas Nerves involvement in Hiatal Hernia. It wraps around and travels down the exterior of the Esophagus and gets pinched when the stomach is jammed into the Hiatus. Sharlene had me lie down had me take a few deep breaths and had me tell my abdomen muscles to relax and allow her hands up under the rib cage. She worked her hands under a few inches and then worked them into the middle towards the sternum forming a triangle and pushed downward when she was near the sternum. I felt a shift and the pain and discomfort disappeared instantly! I was shocked and very pleased! I learned how to perform the maneuver on my own and had to do it often in the beginning, maybe a few times a day. Some Chiropractors will perform this technique for you and teach you to do it yourself. Call around in your area to find one.
I also made sure I didn't eat and lie down or recline as that is believed to be involved in the development of Hiatal Herna. Over the next couple of months I continued to improve. It wasn't until a few years later, after I had been using Himalayan Sea Salt for a few months that all symptoms of Hiatal Hernia stopped. When I ran out of Himalayan Salt I switched to another sea salt and after a few weeks I started to notice symptoms again. When I started back on the Himalayan Salt my symptoms stopped again. Dr. Oz had reported that Himalayan Seal Salt could help with Hiatal Hernia and my own experience seemed to prove this out. I just salted my food as I would normally.
Chapter 4
PROTOCOL FOR HEALING THE GUT:
IDENTIFY - /Very often when we're in a state of disease, it has to do with what we are eating, drinking and otherwise ingesting into our bodies. Meds and other drugs, chemicals that absorb through our skin from lotions, soaps, perfumes, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent residue, fabric softener, art supplies, solvents, bug spray, make up, deodorant etc all contribute to the toxic load in our bodies but the single most powerful way we effect our health is through what we eat and drink. Dr. Barry Sears says: "The food you eat is probably the most powerful drug you will encounter." Identifying what it is that his doing us harm is the necessary first step in recovering our health and ourselves. Whether you do this through a elimination diet, Jon Barron at jonbarron.org is a good resource for information on this and many other subjects related to health or through food allergy/sensitivity testing through a Naturopathic or Functional Medicine Doctor it is necessary to identify what isn't working for your body and your health. What sets these health practitioners apart is that they use your lifestyle data to spot possible problems and then usually back this up with specific testing. For instance it wasn't until a parasite was finally identified by a test ordered by my Naturopath that my health started to rapidly improve. The Metametrix GI Effects Comprehensive Stool Profile was the test and is far superior to the Cultured Stool Analysis that is most often performed as it can identify an organism from a tiny fragment via DNA analysis.
ELIMINATE AND CLEANSE:
There are an alarming number of elements working against our gut health in the times we live in. It starts with our first dose of anti-biotic that changes the bacterial terrain of our digestive tracts forever. I can’t recall who it was but one of the researchers I’ve read said, “Anti-biotic are the worst scourge the pharmaceutical companies have ever unleashed on us.” We are all supposed to have 3 to 6 pounds of beneficial bacteria inhabiting our intestines. When we don’t, the pathogenic bacteria can proliferate and that sets the stage for so many problems. Add to this food sensitivities and allergies, toxic overload from the allowance of thousands of chemicals in or environment, on our food, in our drinking water, in furniture, building materials, cars etc. Why do I bring up elements that are not ingested when talking about gut health? Because all of this toxicity has a negative impact on the liver and the liver is part of the digestive system. If your liver is malfunctioning, you digestive tract is probably malfunctioning as well. Once identified, we need to remove as many of these harmful elements as we can or as many as we need to feel better. When on my own journey I kept going back to wheat, dairy, coffee and wine once I was feeling better and that led to me progressively getting worse and worse.
Foods we have an allergy or sensitivity to
Exposure to toxic metals – in non-organic foods, high fructose corn syrup, aluminum cookware, aluminum cans, costume jewelry, metal watch bands, vaccines, non-filtered drinking water, metal fillings. Coal burning power plants spew tons of mercury into the atmosphere daily. This metal falls to earth and is in the soil and water, is picked up by plants which are then eaten by humans and animals.
Candida fungus/yeast - Gets a good foot hold after our first dose of anti-biotic and then its fed well by the standard American diet – Lots of refined grains, dairy products, candy and other sweets, alcohol, coffee and more.
Parasites – acquired from un-washed vegetables, pets, licking our fingers, eating under-cooked meats etc.
It is said if you have a fungal infection, you are likely to have parasites and vice versa which is why I use a parasite cleanse products as opposed to a candida cleanse because it will kill both parasites and fungus.
The steps for regaining control and healing your digestive tract are listed below in logical order. I will expand upon these below. Before beginning any type of cleanse we need to ensure that the pathways of elimination are open and functioning well or the toxic elements we are trying to get rid of will be reabsorbed into the body and that's not good. The body rids itself of waste through the bowel, the kidneys and through the skin. We want waste leaving through the primary routes, not through the skin. Think skin irritations as a possible clue that the primary detoxification pathways are blocked or partially blocked.
Links to:
Elimination diet
Intestinal cleanse
Liver cleanse
Fungal cleanse
Parasite cleanse
Metal cleanse
More to follow - The next section has links and I want to make sure it is ok to post links here.
Chapter 5
REMOVE:
There are an alarming number of elements working against our gut health and our health in general these days. It starts with our first dose of anti-biotic that changes the bacterial terrain of our digestive tracts forever. I can’t recall who it was but one of the researchers I’ve read said, “Anti-biotics are the worst scourge the pharmaceutical companies have ever unleashed on the planet.” We are all supposed to have 3 to 6 pounds of beneficial bacteria inhabiting our intestines. When we don’t, the pathogenic bacteria can proliferate and that sets the stage for so many problems. Add to this food sensitivities and allergies, toxic overload from the allowance of thousands of untested toxic chemicals in or environment, on our food, in our drinking water, in furniture, building materials, cars etc. Why do I bring up elements that are not ingested when talking about gut health? Because these toxins eventually find their way into our bodies whether we ingest them or not, and because all of this toxicity has a negative impact on the liver and the liver is part of the digestive system. If your liver is malfunctioning, your digestive tract is malfunctioning as well. Once identified, we need to remove and avoid as many of these harmful elements as we can. Some of it we can’t avoid and there is a way to deal with that which I’ll discuss later. When on my own journey I kept going back to wheat, dairy, coffee and wine once I was feeling better and that led to me progressively getting worse and worse.
Elements that cause toxic load in the body:
Foods we are allergic or sensitive to.
Pesticides and Herbicides.
Household cleaners.
Toxic vapors from new furniture, building materials, clothing, carpet, new cars etc.
Toxic metals – in non-organic foods, high fructose corn syrup, aluminum cookware, aluminum cans, costume jewelry, metal watch bands, vaccines, non-filtered drinking water.
Candida fungus/yeast - Gets a good foot hold after our first dose of anti-biotic and then fed well by the standard American diet – Lots of refined grains, dairy products, alcohol, coffee.
Parasites – acquired from un-washed vegetables, pets, licking our fingers, eating under cooked meats etc.
It is said if you have a fungal infection, you are likely to have parasites and vice versa which is why I sometimes use a parasite cleanse product exclusively because it will kill both parasites and fungus.
Links to:
Elimination diet
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12540/the-simple-elimination-diet-that-could-change-your-life-forever.html
Parasite cleanse
http://www.naturalnews.com/037964_parasites_detox_cleanse.html
Fungal cleanse
http://www.thecandidadiet.com/cleansing.htm
http://www.renewlife.com/candida-formula
Metal cleanse
http://jonbarron.org/how-colon-detox-cleanse-heavy-metals
Liver detox
http://jonbarron.org/phase-three-how-liver-detox-cleanse-blood
Chapter 6
Parasites:
Think you don’t have parasites? Think again. When a health practitioner told me she was sure I had parasites I remember thinking it wasn’t possible. The Idea was so alien to me that I couldn’t believe it.
By 10:00 the next morning I knew I was wrong. I was staring at a pile of worms in the toilet after using an electronic device known to kill parasites the night before. Pretty gross yes but very good information as parasites are present in all of us. If our health is optimal they don’t have a chance as our immune system keeps them in their place. It is when our health is less than optimal that they can hurt us. Most of us have less than optimal health and this is due most often to our lifestyle and what we eat and drink. Yes there are those that will tell you that most of the diseases that we suffer from are hereditary, that our genetics are causing what is plaguing us which relieves us of the responsibility of fixing what is wrong by making changes. This is the case for some but for most of us it has more to do with diet and lifestyle. Sugar, refined carbohydrates, grains in general (boxed cereals are highly toxic to the body) broken fats (as opposed to healthy fats), foods that contain heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, high fructose corn syrup, soda, fruit juice (even organic fruit juice ), vaccines, pharmaceutical drugs, eating foods we are allergic/sensitive to, excessive stress and lack of sleep all weaken our systems opening us up to massive damage not only to our guts, but to the entire system. Hippocrates, the father of medicine said, “All disease starts in the gut”. The good news here is that because the cause is under our control, so is the solution. Medical doctors have no solutions for these issues, just more toxic load and medications to make it hurt less… and the damage continues. Unless we are talking about a doctor who practices Functional Medicine or a Naturopathic Doctor who will help to identify those lifestyle elements that pave the road to hell. The protocol to rid yourself of your parasites is actually quite simple requiring a few supplements and avoiding certain foods and behaviors for a while. Think Sushi and kissing your animals for starters.
How do we get parasites? They are literally everywhere. Don’t freak out because as I said a healthy human body can easily deal with these unwanted organisms. Some ways we are exposed are food and water not properly sanitized, walking barefoot (some can burrow right through you skin), world travel especially to tropical environments, passed from person to person with any physical contact, on our beloved pets, on all surfaces in public places etc. Again it’s ok. They have always been here, we just need to create an inhospitable environment for them so they can’t live here. We do that by limiting our exposure, and using foods and supplements weaken and kill them.
Supplements and foods to kill parasites: (They also kill fungus )
Gaia Wormwood Supreme – perhaps my favorite parasite product!
The classic combination: Black walnut hull, Wormwood and Clove. The walnut hull and wormwood kill the adults, the clove kills the eggs
Pumpkin Seed, eaten whole, shell and all or just the seeds
Garlic (fresh is best, mince a couple of cloves and add to a glass of water and drink 2 to 3 times daily)
Grapefruit seed extract
Olive leaf extract
Diatomaceous earth (food grade only)
You can find products with combinations of these elements – They have names like para – cleanse, para – clear etc. I have used many of them and have found them to be effective. As I said my favorite is the Gaia wormwood supreme. Just like with the fungal killers, I like to switch what I am using to keep the organisms off balance and not allow them to build a tolerance to what I am using. I suggest the same for you. Most of these elements can be irritating to the intestines with continuous use so cycling is important. On for 2 weeks off for 1 week , repeat if necessary. One or two cycles works in most cases but below I’ll talk about what to do if it doesn’t.
I was infected with several species of worms. Flukes, Round worm and Strongyloides also known as threadworm. My Naturopath Dr. David Graves suggested a test offered by Metametrix Clinical Laboratory (http://www.metametrix.com/test-menu/profiles/categorized) called G.I. Effects comprehensive profile stool. I had avoided stool testing as I had learned that traditional stool testing is not very effective as it requires larger particles of the parasite . Metametrix uses a DNA staining process that can identify an organism from very small particles. The test Identified Strongyloides, and provided useful information about the general state of my digestive tract. After so many years I finally had an answer as to what had gone wrong with my health, at least one of the elements that contributed significantly. We spent a couple hours going over the report and then Dr. Graves suggested I go home and read about Strongyloides specifically as this was the most dangerous of the parasites identified. I went home and researched and promptly had a level 10 anxiety attack! The prognosis with this tiny worm can be pretty bleak, even deadly and I emailed Dr. Graves back and told him I felt I was doomed. He emailed me back and said there was a protocol that showed much success in these “deep infections” as he called it. I started on the protocol and within a few weeks I was feeling better. A few weeks later I was feeling even better and felt I was regaining control of my digestive tract! Yahoo! That’s what all this about, regaining control of our digestive tracts and understanding that there are rules to proper function to the very complex machine known as the digestive tract.
Protocol for deep infection:
Gaia Wormwood Supreme (You could use a parasite formula of your choice) as directed 2 days per week.
A combination of Olive leaf extract, Oregano oil, Pau D Arco and Andrographis extract. This mixture is taken twice daily for 5 days. Once you have regained control, meaning your feeling much better, you could reduce or stop taking these elements. I continue to take the Gaia Wormwood Supreme tincture as it is know that the parasite I had is particularly difficult to completely eliminate. This is where testing could prove valuable for if I didn’t know the tenacity of my parasite, I could run the risk of reinfection. From my reading and experience my situation is relatively rare. Most often, parasites are not that difficult to eliminate.
A high potency probiotic should be taken as these elements also kill beneficial bacteria. I use a product containing 20 – 50 billion organisms or more! We have 22 – 27 feet of intestine and are supposed to have 2 – 8 pounds of bacteria in our guts which explains the need for high potency probiotics.
Chapter 7
Candida Fungus /Yeast
Fungus is the most successful organism on the planet. Make no mistake, Candida and other fungus can ruin your life and is almost always involved in problems with the gut. There are at least several hundred symptoms believed to be caused by these organisms. Fungus and Yeast are two forms of the same organism. One eats sugar, the other eats meat! So just eliminating sugar and simple carbohydrates might not eradicate candida because if you cut off one food supply it can morph into its other form and require a completely different food type. Many people including doctors will tell you that Candida can’t hurt you or doesn’t exist. Don’t believe it. Look at the symptoms, If you have 7 or more of them there’s a good chance Candida is hurting you. It is supposed to be in your body. It lives in the colon and co-exists with the myriad other organisms found there. Its only when it becomes overgrown that it becomes a problem. It gets its start from the first round of antibiotics we receive, usually at a very young age. That first dose changes the ecology of our guts permanently according to researchers. Not too hard to believe considering the epidemic of gut disorders. It works something like this. It’s like the weeds in your yard. When the grass is healthy and full, there are only a few weeds. As the grass thins out due to shaded areas or broken sprinklers, the weeds can get out of control. The idea is to kill the bad guys and re-seed with the right bacteria. We have over 500 types of bacteria in our digestive tract weighing 3 to 8 pounds. Supplements that contain various strains of these beneficial bacteria are called Probiotics. Probiotic means Pro-Life or For Life and considering the positive impact these organisms have on our lives they are aptly named. Fermented foods like Yogurt (most yogurt is ineffective if not made at home), Sauerkraut, Kimchee, fermented Pickles and other fermented foods contain these beneficial bacteria. These beneficial bacteria have a symbiotic relationship with us in that they help us digest our food more completely, produce beneficial enzymes, vitamins and other substances we need for good health and proper digestion. The bad bacteria do just the opposite. They produce toxic byproducts which cause inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining. These toxins not only lead to problems in the intestines but end up intoxicating the whole system leading to those hundreds of symptoms I mentioned previously. Bloating, indigestion, joint pain, headaches/migraines, mood swings, anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, chronic sinus problems, sugar cravings, alcohol cravings, sensitivity to perfumes, deodorant, cologne etc., rectal itching, vaginitus, depression, suicidal thoughts, wheezing or asthmatic symptoms, food allergies and sensitivities, thrush, hay fever, bad breath, sores in or on the mouth, feeling drained, memory loss, confusion, flu like symptoms, spots before the eyes just to name some of the symptoms. Candida isn’t the only fungi we encounter, there are many others. Nuts (especially raw), cereals, breads and grains, cheese and leftovers are examples of ways we are exposed to various fungi. I suggest limiting the length of time you store foods in the refrigerator and freezer. One or two days max for food in the refrigerator. There are many books and websites that give excellent information on fungal infections if you want more in depth knowledge. What was most effective for me in finally getting the upper hand on my own serious fungal infection took a couple of years to finally get. The hardest part for me was limiting sugar and carbohydrates (bread, crackers, cereal, rice, fruit) to very low levels. Stevia really helps as I use it as my primary sweetener and fungus is not interested in it.
Protocol for fungal infections:
I am convinced that fungal infections cannot be eradicated without diet modification. Almost seven years selling supplements in a very busy store, 150 to 400 people a day and I have never seen successful eradication without diet modification. You might feel better for a little while but for lasting results, dietary modification is probably necessary. The idea is to remove the organisms preferred food, sugar, simple carbohydrates, chips, crackers, cookies, candy, desserts, popcorn, rice, cereals, potatoes, corn and carrots – to name some of the most important to eliminate while doing the cleanse. It is suggested to eat primarily meat and vegetables, and no starchy vegetables. Fungus thrives in an acidic environment and most of us in America are acidic. I’m not talking about the acid in your stomach or the PH of your blood. The PH of the blood is tightly regulated in a range of 7.35 – 7.45. This has to do with systemic acidity which is affected by what we eat and drink and how much stress we live with. Alcoholic drinks, coffee, soda, milk, and other dairy products, meats and grains acidify the body creating the perfect environment for fungus to grow. Body PH refers to the degree to which we are either acidic or alkaline. This can be tested at home using PH test strips. The range is 1 – 14 with readings below 7 considered acidic and readings above 7 considered alkaline with a reading of 7 being considered neutral. My goal is to keep my PH in the range of 6.5 – 7.5. When using the test strips its important to test the urine several times in a day and average the readings. This is because PH fluctuates constantly and taking a single reading can be misleading. You might read 7 and 20 minutes later test again and read 5.5. I suggest testing 6 times on 2 different days to get a good idea of what your average PH is. When I want to test I keep the strips on the back of the toilet with a notepad and pencil. Don’t test the first urine in the morning as the body clears accumulated acid overnight. To test, start urinating and at the mid- way point dip the test strip into the stream and following the instructions note the reading.
To achieve proper PH balance eating a balance of alkaline and acid forming foods is suggested as opposed to drinking alkaline water or consuming baking soda which could help but is not ideal. Here are some of the alkaline foods and other elements:
Watermelon
Lemon/lime
Fruits (Except Blueberries, Cranberries, Currants and canned fruits)
Vegetables (Except Corn, Lentils, Olives and Winter Squash)
Apple cider vinegar
Green supplements (Wheat grass, Barley grass, Spirulina, Chlorella or Greens blends)
Minerals
Sea salt
Baking soda
Almonds
Millet
Whey protein powder
Stevia
Chili pepper
Ginger
Cinnamon
This is not a comprehensive list. You can find plenty of information on the internet or in books if you want more information. Your diet is the best way to adjust the acid/alkaline balance of your body as opposed to taking supplements or drinking alkaline water. Start with diet modification and then add supplements as needed. I love to start my day with a shot of greens mixed with water (often with Maca and Raw Cocoa). You can also mix these with juice, either way greens can provide a nice energy boost taken any time of the day. You can get these products in Chocolate, Berry, Orange Cream and other flavors that even kids will beg for!
Supplements to eradicate Fungus:
There are many products on the market to kill Candida and other fungus. I don’t suggest using the same product continuously. It is known that fungi can morph to work around an element if used too often. In other words what kills it initially can become ineffective after a period of time. You don’t get to be the most successful organism on the planet without having a significant bag of tricks. I didn’t really get control of my fungal issues until I understood the concept of cycling the elements that kill it. I suggest 10 day cycles using three different elements, one or two elements per cycle with three weeks being the longest I would cycle and one or group of elements or use one of the combination products listed later.
Pau d Arco (Tincture is best)
Oregano oil
Caprylic Acid
Coconut oil
Olive leaf
Garlic
Neem
Black Walnut hull
Clove
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Ginger
Pure Essence Labs Candex: Candex works differently than any of the other elements listed here or later in the list of combination products. It is a blend of various fiber digesting enzymes designed to breakdown the tough, fibrous cell wall of the Candida organism (and other fungal organisms). Once the cell wall is destroyed, the organism dies. I mentioned before that Candida can develop immunity to the elements we use to eradicate it but it cannot develop immunity to enzymes. Another benefit to this approach is one is less likely to experience the symptoms of die off which are nausea, headache, fatigue or diarrhea. As I’ve said before one can avoid die off with the other elements by starting with a low dose and slowly increasing to the recommended dose.
It’s very common for Candida to reoccur. One must remain vigilant, adopting lifestyle changes to keep it at bay. That has been my experience and is a generally accepted concept. I’ve seen many people suffer recurring episodes because of an inability to let go of their favorite foods or drinks so the choice is ours.
Probiotics: You could think of your intestines as a lawn. When the grass is lush and thick and healthy and receiving plenty of water, sunlight and nutrition, the weeds don’t have a chance. You might find a few weeds to pull. But if you have a couple of broken sprinklers, some shaded areas from trees and you don’t fertilize ever you would notice the yard is full of weeds! And so it is in your gut. If you have 3 to 8 pounds of happy, healthy bacteria in your gut, the weeds don’t have a chance. It’s not that the weeds aren’t supposed to be there, they are, but only in small amounts. It is normal for Candida to be present in your gut, but when it expands its territory beyond a certain level, we have problems. Just taking probiotics can help a lot, even without the anti-fungal elements but for most of us it will take a combination of the two. The concept is to kill what doesn’t belong and re-seed with what does belong.
Chapter 8
INFLAMMATION
It appears that inflammation is at the root of just about every disease process. I’ve written about parasites, fungus, toxic food, water, metals etc. but underlying the damage these elements do collectively is inflammation. We are told to take Aspirin, Advil, Tylenol or any number of other anti-inflammatories to control our inflammation. The problem is these elements are toxic and especially damaging to the gut. When I was in my twenty’s I exercised excessively so consequently had lots of joint pain. I wound up in physical therapy and the physical therapist told me to take as much Advil as I needed and I did, every day for weeks sometimes. I was amazed that I could take 800 milligrams on an empty stomach and never felt a thing. As a matter of fact I really never had much in the way of gastrointestinal symptoms at all. The point here is that the damage can be occurring and you don’t notice a thing. I had some vague symptoms for about a year or so before it got really bad. I had pain in the abdomen that came and went and would have to put ice on it sometimes to stop the pain but nothing too serious at that point, mostly a lot of fatigue and chronic sinus congestion and hives. When I learned how damaging the non-steroidal anti -inflammatories are I stopped taking them immediately and was wondering what I was going to do for the pain I had. Luckily there is an amazing abundance of natural elements that can help with pain and inflammation and that most of them have been used for hundreds or thousands of years.
The anti-inflammatory diet – This is a diet with a balance of foods and liquids that ends up leaning more towards the alkaline end of the scale. High acid means that the processes in the body happen fast and hot as opposed to them happening at a more moderate pace. When these processes are happening at break neck speed, they often don’t happen properly or they happen incompletely. Those processes make you who you are and govern how you feel! An anti-inflammatory diet is high in organic vegetables and fruits with moderate amounts of grains and good quality preferably organic meats. It is also minus foods that our individual bodies don’t do well with. Vegetables in the nightshade family are known to cause pain and limiting these foods can really help if we are dealing with a lot of pain. Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, tobacco and peppers are in this family. I love potatoes and tomatoes! I could eat them everyday, but I don’t. I could eat grains all day every day but I limit them because I notice I feel much better if I don’t. Very often the foods that are hurting us the most are the foods we crave, the foods we can’t live without. The foods that I crave the most, the one’s I can’t live without I limit severely. For instance, I have no control with chocolate almond milk. No matter what amount I buy, I will drink it all within a short period of time. Because of this, I allow myself to drink it all when I buy it but I buy it very infrequently. Its the same with corn chips. When I buy a bag I can sit and eat half the bag in one sitting so I buy them infrequently (maybe every 3 to 6 weeks if that) and when I do, I buy a smaller bag. My favorite snack used to be wheat toast with peanut butter and a glass or three of milk. I would eat it and feel like I was drunk or high on something. I thought I was the luckiest guy in the world and that feeling that way meant that is must be good for me. If a food causes you to feel drunk or high it is probably hurting you. Foods that don’t digest properly can actually cause the production of opiates in the intestines! Alcohol can be produced when Candida is present and we eat grains or sugars. We can become addicted to these foods via the production of these elements. Eliminating them will probably enhance your health. I use metabolic typing and the blood type information as a guide line but whats needed is to become more sensitive and listening to and feeling your body. Tune in and with practice you will get better at identifying which foods are problem foods for you. Itchy ears or chest, rapid heart rate, cheeks that turn red, sinus congestion or sneezing, mucus in the throat, tickling in the throat, sudden mood change can all be indications that a particular food or food group doesn’t work for you. Excessive Dairy, grains, soda, meat or protein, coffee and alcohol all stimulate inflammation and an acidic environment in the body. An acidic body is an inflamed body.
Foods that work against inflammation:
Avocadoes
Walnuts
Almonds
Fatty fish (Fresh cuts of Salmon, Tuna, Lake Trout)
Spices and Herbs – Turmeric is one of the best!
Dark Green leafy vegetables
Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Kale and Cauliflower
Green tea
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Tart cherry’s or juice
Ginger
Garlic
Onion
Chapter 9
NOURISH, REBUILD AND HEAL
This step can be started along with the cleaning and detoxification steps as the elements I am going to talk about are soothing and can help with pain and discomfort. Our bodies are made of and run by amino acids. Amino acids are components of proteins. By adding higher levels of certain amino acids, we can target specific tissues and give them what they need to rebuild. Glutamine supports the mucosal lining of the digestive tract as well as helping with muscle soreness and recovery from exercise. This layer of mucus protects the intestines and enhances immunity. The intestines are made of tissue a lot like skin. Without this protective layer of mucus the intestines are exposed to many irritating elements, including being more susceptible to damage by parasites and fungus.
Glutamine is reported to help with sugar cravings and energy and endurance as well.
NAG or N Acetyl Glucosamine supports tissue repair.
Gamma Oryzanol – Considered a top anti-aging supplement due to its anti-oxidant properties Gamma Oryzanol is also known to have a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive tract and may help heal lesions in the intestines.
BCAA’s or Branched Chain Amino Acids – Dr. Russell Blaylock points out that BCAA’s are superior to Glutamine for supporting the tissues of the intestines. I am a big fan of BCAA’s as they enhance energy, endurance, tissue building, whether you want to put on some muscle, prevent tissue breakdown during exercise, enhance recovery from exercise or are suffering an illness or recovering from an illness BCAA’s are excellent. I use a BCAA product made by MRM called “All Natural Reload” that has Glutamine and Beta Alanine added which also makes it a top anti-aging supplement! Most BCAA products have toxic artificial sweeteners added which are can be irritating to the gut. I suggest you find one without the artificial sweeteners. If you get a BCAA product without flavoring or sweeteners be aware they can taste pretty bad. They should be taken on an empty stomach for maximum effectiveness.
DGL or deglycyrrhizinated licorice - Has a soothing effect on the intestines by positively effecting mucosal secretions and is known to be helpful in healing ulcers and H. Pylori infections which can lead to ulcers.
Marshmallow root – Is not related to the fluffy treats, is soothing and protective of the mucus membranes as it is mucilaginous (mucus like) and coats the intestines. A friend of mine is a Midwife and Holistic healer, she says that Marshmallow is the most healing herb for the mucus membranes.
Slippery elm – Is well known to be healing and soothing to tissues and mucus membranes.
Aloe Vera – Similar to the way it can help heal burns on the outside of the body, Aloe can help heal the irritated or damaged tissues of the intestines and can help with constipation. The whole leaf contains elements that can stimulate bowel function so if you don’t need help for that function then use the “inner fillet” type of Aloe.
Ginger – Stimulates digestion, is the best herb for nausea, calms indigestion and helps with irritation and gas. It is my go to if I have the flu.
Peppermint – Great for relieving gas, nausea, digestive upset and improving digestion. It is also stimulating with peppermint tea giving a nice lift to energy levels. I used peppermint to stop drinking coffee and it was a real life saver. Peppermint oil is available in capsules as well.
Digestive enzymes, bile salts (if your having trouble breaking down fats) and Betaine Hydrochloride to boost hydrochloric acid levels (especially important if your over 50 years of age) You can find products with all of these ingredients together. Enzymes can make a big difference in how you feel for several reasons. For the digestive system to work properly, the chemistry has to be just right as the food is processed by the body. When its not, fireworks! Digestive enzymes help balance that chemistry. Many people notice increased energy levels with digestive enzymes due to the fact that food is being more completely processed thereby making more nutrients available to the body and the cells. I was really surprised by the fact that I was satisfied with much less food when I started taking digestive enzymes because my body was getting more of what it needed. I’ve read that at best we absorb only about 20% of the nutrients we consume when digestion is good and for most of us digestion isn’t so good. Is it any wonder we have low energy? I also noticed this bump in energy when I switched to higher quality and mostly organic food. Higher mineral and vitamin levels coupled with more complete digestion equals more energy. Is it worth the extra cost? Absolutely.
Berberine – Many benefits with this one! Berberine is present in Goldenseal, Barberry and Oregon grape root among others. Oregon grape root is a good choice as its widely available and tends to cost less. Berberine helps with inflammation, kills Candida and as a bonus has many other positive effects within the body.
None of these elements would work without vitamins and minerals as they are required for every process in the body. Especially important are B -12 (taken sublingually) B complex, zinc, Vitamin C, E, Lipoic acid which works against oxidative damage in the intestinal tract.