Humans have removed themselves – at least consciously – from such practices, yet we do it without thinking every time we take indigestion remedies such as Tums, Remegel, Maalox and Kaopectate. These products are made of earth compounds such as clays (kaolin) or certain earths (calcium carbonate). Eating salt is another way that we surreptitiously ingest rock compounds.

For people with inflammatory bowel disease, deliberately ingesting ‘dirt’ may reap benefits. According to Canadian researchers (Can J Microbiol, 1985; 31: 50-3), a form of clay known as bentonite can absorb and remove viruses, aflatoxins (produced by some types of fungi and moulds), pesticides and herbicides from the body. Early studies showed that just two tablespoons in distilled water daily can relieve diarrhoea in 97 per cent of individuals in just over three days (Med Ann DC, 1961; 30: 328).

Bentonite clay is available from Neal’s Yard (0845 262 3145), £1.20 per 100 g, and The Herbal Apothecary (0116 260 2690), £4.99 for 500 g.

This is because these drugs suppress gastric acids, thereby allowing viruses and bacteria in the upper gastrointestinal tract to migrate up into the respiratory tract.

In a study of 364,683 people, Dutch scientists found that 5551 of them had their first bout of pneumonia during the study period (from 1995 to 2002). After eliminating other factors, the researchers concluded that the risk of pneumonia was just 0.6 among those who had never taken an acid-suppressant compared with 2.45 for those who had taken at least one at some time during the study.

Their findings were similar for proton-pump inhibitors and H2 antagonists. The risk of developing pneumonia with an H2 antagonist was 1.63 and, with a proton-pump inhibitor, 1.89.

The research team, from Nijmegen, noted that pneumonia can be fatal among the elderly, who are more likely to regularly take an antacid for mild stomach disorders. As gastric-acid secretion is reduced in those over 60 anyway, they are already more liable to develop pneumonia, even without the help of antacids.

Antacids are thought to have no serious side-effects and, so, are freely available in pharmacies and supermarkets. Popular brands include Andrews, Bisodol, De Witt’s, Pepto-Bismol, Setlers and Tums. The few that contain magnesium are available only on prescription.

Any side-effects are considered mild. Those made with magnesium may have a laxative effect, while those with aluminium can cause constipation. Magnesium carbonate can also lead to belching.

Similarly, proton-pump inhibitors such as Losec (omeprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole) and Zoton (lansoprazole) are also regarded as benign, although they require a prescription. The most common side-effects are diarrhoea, nausea, constipation, flatulence, abdominal pain and headache.

H2 antagonists include some of the world’s most successful drugs, including Tagamet (cimetidine) and Zantac (ranitidine). These are used to treat stomach and duodenal ulcers, especially those due to NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) painkillers. Also prescribed to relieve indigestion and heartburn, again they are believed to cause only minor side-effects such as diarrhoea, dizziness and headache. Tagamet is also associated with hair loss.

Doctors are already aware of restrictions on the use of acid-suppressants. Of the antacids, sodium bicarbonate shouldn’t be taken by people on a salt-restricted diet, aluminium-containing antacids should be avoided by those with low blood phosphate and those containing magnesium shouldn’t be taken by people with kidney problems. Proton-pump inhibitors and H2 antagonists should never be prescribed to people with liver or kidney problems, or to pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Now the Dutch researchers want a new set of further restrictions, and are urging doctors to think carefully before prescribing an antacid to elderly patients, particularly those who have a history of chronic respiratory problems, such as asthma or obstructive lung disease (JAMA, 2004; 292: 1955-60).

To find out if you have an underlying problem, you’ll have to undergo a series of tests. There’s a gut permeability test to check for a leaky gut, a blood test for signs of gut fermentation and a stool test to reveal parasites. It is also worth having a gastric analysis done to determine how much gastric acid you produce, and whether you have sufficient pancreatic enzymes. Labs that offer these tests are listed at the end of this box.

In the meantime, you can do much to control reflux through your diet. One dietary approach suggests:

* eating foods rich in fibre, and preferably wholegrain breads and cereals rather than ‘hard fibres’ like oats

* drinking a wineglass of freshly squeezed juice, made up of equal parts of apples, carrots and beetroot

* avoiding all refined carbohydrates, red meat, pips in foods, and foods that commonly cause flatulence, such as peas, beans, broccoli, cabbage and onions, as well as alcohol and caffeine

* peeling foods that have tough skins

* avoiding drinking liquids with meals, and any drinks that are either too hot or too cold.

You should also avoid cow’s milk products and any other dairy that includes carrageenan, a seaweed used as a stabiliser in ice cream, yoghurt and cottage cheese.

There’s also a range of supplements that can help regulate the stomach’s digestive enzymes, and avoid overproduction of stomach acid. These include products such as BioCare’s Polyzyme Forte and all pancreatic-enzyme products by Solgar.

A US product called Chirozyme T5-T9, specifically formulated for hiatus hernia, contains a number of herbs and vitamins to soothe and heal the digestive tract.

You’ll also need a good probiotic to repopulate the gut with ‘friendly’ bacteria. Lactobacillus GG, a variety of L. acidophilus purified in Finland, has proved effective in preventing diarrhoea and treating ulcerative colitis.

Finally, there’s one thing you can do straightaway – start chewing gum. A small study has found that chewing gum can ease the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Eating increases gastroesophageal acid levels, leading to uncomfortable symptoms, but chewing gum for an hour after a meal had a sustained benefit, more so than either walking or sitting (Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2001; 15: 151-5).

* Where to go for the tests

Gut permeability tests are carried out in the UK at: Biolab Medical Unit, The Stone House, 9 Weymouth Street, London W1W 6DB, tel: 020 7636 5959; and in the US at: Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratories, 63 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801-1074, tel: + (828) 253 0621.

Stool analysis is available at: Parascope, Department of Microbiology, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 4SA, tel: 0113 392 4657.

Parasite infestation analysis can be carried out at The London Clinic, 20 Devonshire Place, London WD1 2DH, tel: 020 7723 6581, or at the Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratories (as above).

Until quite recently, the accepted medical view was that ulcers were triggered mostly by stress (which disturbed the production of stomach acid) or by medications such as NSAIDs (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) or aspirin, and were probably aggravated further by spicy or smoked foods and excess alcohol.

Ulcers can occur in the oesophagus, stomach or duodenum (upper part of the small intestine). Statistics from the US show that one in every 10 people develops an ulcer; half a million new cases are diagnosed every year; and more than a million people end up in hospital, often as a result of complications and/or late diagnosis. Left untreated, the lining of the stomach or intestines will be destroyed, risking internal bleeding, vomiting of blood or blood in the stools. Even more serious is the possibility of perforation, where a hole in the membrane allows previously contained contents (partially digested food, for example) to spill into the abdominal cavity, causing contamination, infection, inflammation and life threatening trauma.

The remedy most favoured, the milk based diet, is now recognised as being a poor protector against ulcer attack. Although it may soothe for a few seconds, once milk hits the stomach, it stimulates the secretion of even more acid, akin to pouring pints of acid over a raw wound, causing intense pain and further damage to the ulcerated area. Barbiturates, antacids, semi comatose bed rest, stress management techniques, psychodrama and, latterly, more sophisticated (and expensive) attempts have all come (and gone) as the treatments of choice.

Dedicated research by Australian doctors Barry Marshall and Robin Warren has now turned established practice on its head. They found a common bacterium called Helicobacter pylori nestling in the gut of a significant number of ulcer sufferers and dared to suggest that this bug could be the actual cause of ulcers. Similar work was carried out by a team at the Western Infirmary in Glasgow led by Dr Kenneth McColl.

Helicobacter pylori, a new name for an old bug, is still sometimes known as Campylobacter pylori. It sets up home in the narrow space between stomach lining and the mucous covering that tries to protect the stomach wall from damage. Worryingly, it is now considered a more prolific bug than salmonella and is now classified a class A carcinogenic, equal to asbestos and cigarettes.

Marshall and Warren tried to interest the medical establishment in their discovery but met with a wall of apathy and indifference. Doctors have believed for years that bacteria can’t survive in stomach acid. In fact, this belief was so firmly held many medics didn’t follow even basic hygiene rules, unwittingly passing the bacteria from patient to patient during surgery. No one imagined for a moment that ulcers could be contagious.

Marshall and Warren caused further furore by suggesting that short term treatment with the right kind of antibiotics (usually a cocktail of two different ones with bismuth and sometimes antacids referred to as the “triple therapy”) cured 95 percent of cases. So convinced was Dr Marshall that (at Freemantle Hospital in Western Australia) he used himself as the first guinea pig, swallowed a heavy suspension of the offending bacteria, gave himself an ulcer and then cured it with antibiotic therapy.

This was almost panacea enough to those who thought they would be on anti ulcer medication for life. But maybe not, say some sceptics, to the drug companies who were already making millions of pounds and dollars a year from the sale of acid blocking drugs estimated to be one of the biggest medical money spinners of all time.

As a short term remedy for heartburn, these drugs can be effective. But, using them to try and eradicate bacterial ulcers is now regarded as nothing more than a sticking plaster approach. Not only are the ulcers extremely likely to recur, a greater danger lies in that fact that such medications can mask more serious disorders such as early signs of oesophageal and stomach cancers. Now that these drugs are easily obtained without prescription, the American College of Gastroenterologists (representing some 5000 specialists in more than 30 countries) is concerned that sufferers may delay seeing their physicians.

Researchers have also found that, because this medication suppresses stomach acid (which kills bacteria), those taking it face a tenfold increase in the risk of developing stomach ulcers and, more seriously, gastroenteritis.

A further concern is that, although more than 90 out of every 100 people with ulcers harbour Heliobacter, the bug also occurs in patients who never develop ulcers. But the possibility of the ulcer causing infection being passed from one family member to another is so strong that screening programmes are being recommended to test and treat relatives before H pylori gets out of hand. It isn’t a question of catching the bug and contracting an immediate ulcer. H pylori can lurk in the gut for years, waiting until the “right” conditions prevail such as other illness or lowered immunity.

There is no getting away from the fact that, on “conventional” anti ulcer medication, symptoms recur in 80 per cent of people. However, ongoing treatment is good for the company’s balance sheet since the drugs bill for one ulcer patient can run into thousands of pounds or dollars.

A one off antibiotic cocktail to kill the bacteria and cure the ulcer costs a comparatively piffling £25 to £30. An excellent example of how the sensible use of antibiotics can be lifesaving.

As a result of the H pylori discovery, it seems likely that the widespread use of orthodox anti ulcer drugs will diminish. However, their value for short term use should not be denied since they can provide welcome relief from the stress and discomfort caused by an isolated attack of acid reflux, stomach irritation or non ulcer dyspepsia. For example, aspirin based drugs and other non steroidal, anti inflammatory drugs can cause ulcers themselves.

Dr Marshall himself discovered that it can be beneficial to use acid reducing drugs to relieve symptoms whilst the antibiotics go to work on the pylori perpetrator. Even patients who are not H pylori positive but have problems with over acidity may benefit from a short course of antibiotic therapy and a few days on cimetidine (Tagmet), ranitidine (Zantec) or omeprazole (Losec), followed by a course of repopulating probiotic supplements. It is possible that they may have a low level infection and/or small ulcers which have not been spotted in routine tests.

In other words, if you have a persistent or recurring problem with dyspepsia or gastritis, it might still be beneficial for you to go the antibiotic route, even though your tests for bacteria proved negative. If you are concerned, chat with your GP or ask for a referral.

Talk to your doctor, too, if you have any suggestion of a heart condition or a family history of heart problems, especially if you are also troubled with digestive disorders. Peptic ulcers have a strong association with heart disease. An inflamed and infected gut is likely to disturb your health in some other way, too. Researchers are looking into the possibility that the inflammation this bacteria causes may be responsible for some cases of coronary heart disease. It has been estimated that those infected with Helicobacter pylori (who remain untreated) are twice as likely to suffer heart disease and six times more likely to develop stomach cancer.

Dr Michael Menial of St George’s Hospital in London believes that the rise and fall of figures for heart disease can’t be explained away by cholesterol control or advice to quit smoking. It’s suspected that H pylori infection may raise the clotting factor of the blood, increasing the risk of clogged arteries and heart disease.

In some people the symptoms of under acidity can be identical to those of over acidity. As we age, our stomach acid production slows down. This means that some food may not be broken down properly, leading to distension, pain, gas production and explosive belching. There can still be burning discomfort (called pyrosis), even in the absence of acid. Bad breath, foul smelling wind, constipation, sore tongue and metallic tastes are other symptoms. Helicobacter pylori has even been implicated by one study as a possible cause of food allergies.

Dr Marshall has found that patients infected with H pylori can produce up to six times more acid than normal (the body’s natural response to the infection) but also that, in some patients, the bacteria itself inhibits that production of stomach acid, increasing the likelihood of achlorhydria or hypochlorhy dria non existent or limited levels of acid.

If your present medication is not helping you or if the condition returns immediately the drugs are stopped talk again with your GP. A simple test which can determine whether you are producing too much or too little hydrocholoric acid, along with a speedy and easy breath test for Helicobacter pylori is now available.

Another possible cause of stomach upsets is lactose intolerance. This occurs when there is a deficiency of the lactase enzyme, needed to break down lactose, the natural sugar content of milk. The condition may be inherited (known as primary intolerance) or acquired, due to stomach surgery, infections or ageing as we grow older, our bodies produce progressively less lactase. Those with coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, leaky gut syndrome or ulcerative colitis may find it difficult not only to deal with lactose but also to digest cow’s milk protein. Allergic reactions to cow’s milk seem increasingly common in young children, too.

When lactose is allowed to pass through the digestive system untouched by lactase, it’s left to the Lactobaccillus bacteria to do the digesting. (The same kind of bacteria used outside the body to make yoghurt from milk.) Unfortunately, it’s often the case that those with digestive troubles already have reduced levels of the friendly bacteria. The upshot is that any leftover lactose is likely to be leapt upon by not so friendly gas forming bacteria who leave abdominal bloating, colic and diarrhoea in their wake. Many of these symptoms are similar to those of IBS.

Where the production of lactase is limited but not lacking completely, the condition is sometimes referred to as lactose maldigestion.

The figures for lactose intolerance, say some researchers, are grossly exaggerated. The difference between the two conditions, we’re told, is that maldigesters can still digest some milk products.

In addition, if there is an ample supply of Lactobacilli in the gut, some milk sugar will be broken down even if the lactase enzyme isn’t there. But as disturbed gut flora is common in those with digestive difficulties, this doesn’t always happen.

!AKathryn Marsden

Adapted from Hotline to Health by Kathryn Marsden (Pan, 1988, £5.99).

If you still think your problem is too much acid, keep this in mind. The older people get the more likely they are to use antacids. This is interesting as stomach acid production decreases dramatically as people get older!

We seem to forget that having stomach acid is both necessary and normal. In fact, the body has gone to great lengths to be able to produce stomach acid without digesting the stomach itself! Your body needs to have proper nutrition, however, to make the mucous lining that protects the stomach. Instead of giving your body what it needs to heal, we sometimes make the mistake of turning off our stomach acid to solve the problem.

Most of your indigestion symptoms occur when any stomach acid refluxes (squirts) back up into the food pipe (the esophagus). Your food pipe is not made to resist stomach acid and even a little bit will cause it to burn. Because of this we give medications that turn off all the stomach acid. Because there is no stomach acid, the burning stops and we get deluded into thinking the problem was too much stomach acid.

What happens when you turn off stomach acid?

Unfortunately, using anti-acid medications for an extended period causes 2 problems. Firstly, with no stomach acid, your body is not able to optimally digest food and you become nutritionally deficient. This makes it even harder for your stomach to make the mucous lining it needs to protect itself and can set you up for even more reflux. Secondly, in your body’s attempt to make stomach acid (when you take anti-acid meds), it makes huge amounts of a hormone called Gastrin that stimulates stomach acid. Because of this, as soon as you stop your antacids, the stomach makes massive amounts of acid– which it cannot protect against. In essence, you become addicted to the antacids. It is no surprise that Prilosec, Nexium, Zantac and other antacids are some of the biggest money making pharmaceuticals!

So what can I do?

A wonderfully effective way to resolve your reflux and indigestion is the following (in mild or occasional cases, the DGL licorice for a few days may be all you need. For more severe cases, use the entire program below to restore healthy digestion).

1. Improve your digestion by taking the proper enzymes (see below and the “Enzymes and digestive health” info sheet) and drink sips of warm liquids instead of cold while eating (cold temperatures inhibit digestive enzyme function). Long-term use of digestive enzymes can also dramatically improve your over-all health and well being!
2. Avoid coffee, aspirin products, colas, and alcohol until your stomach heals and then use them in limited amounts.
3. Take measures to heal up your stomach lining. Using DGL licorice (must be the DGL form as others can cause blood pressure problems-see below) can be powerfully effective in resolving your symptoms. Research shows that it is as effective as tagamet, but is healthy for you! Mastic gum 500 mg capsules two capsules twice a day for two months is also highly effective. Both of these can be used separately or together. As they help to heal the stomach instead of just masking symptoms, they may take 3-4 weeks to work in severe cases .You can use your antacids during that time if you want.
4. In many patients, stomach infections (H. Pylori) can be a major cause of long-term indigestion. Most doctors treat this with Prilosec combined with 2-3 antibiotics used simultaneously! A better approach is to add Limonene (Heartburn Free by PhytoPharmica) 1 every other day for 20 days once your indigestion has settled down a bit with the licorice/mastic gum. It may initially aggravate reflux symptoms, but, by killing the infection, may give long-term relief after only one 10 capsule course!

How can I come off my prescription antacids?

After you have been on this treatment regimen for 1-2 months and are feeling much better, ask your doctor if you can stop your prescription antacids and switch to Tagamet (or stay on the DGL licorice/ mastic gum). This will decrease your stomach acid instead of totally turning it off. By doing this, you’re body can slowly ease back to normal production of acid. Decrease the dose of Tagamet or DGL licorice until you are able to come off of it. After two months, most people can stop the licorice/mastic gum. They can be used as long as you want, however. If symptoms recur down the line, simply use the DGL licorice for a few days. If needed, you can repeat the course of DGL licorice/mastic gum (and even the heartburn Free if the stomach infection recurs) whenever you like. Meanwhile, you’ll have broken your addiction to antacids and allowed your body to have the stomach acid it needs for proper digestion!

To Summarize:

1. Similase(by Tyler) or Complete GEST Enzymes (Enzymatic Therapy) – 2 capsules with each meal to help digest your food properly and drink warm liquids with meals. If the enzymes are irritating to the stomach, switch to Similase GS and wait till your stomach feels better on # 2&3 below before resuming the other enzymes.
2. DGL Licorice – 380mg (not the sugar free one) from Enzymatic Therapy or Rhizinate from PhytoPharmica. Chew 2 tablets 20 minutes before meals.
3. Mastic Gum (any brand) – 1000mg twice a day for 2 months – then as needed.
4. Heartburn Free – (Enzymatic Therapy). 1 every other day for 20 days (may initially aggravate reflux, but can give long term relief.

To some of us, these problems are occasional and to others
they are all too common. The good news is that you won’t die from it, but the bad news is that sometimes you feel like you are experiencing a slow and painful death.

Although we may want to curse at our digestive tract, the fact of the matter is that our digestive symptoms are actually defenses of the body in its best efforts to defend and heal ourselves. The symptoms that we experience may not always feel like they are healing us, but these symptoms are our body’s efforts to defend ourselves against poisons in our food, against substances to which we may be allergic, against overdosing on too much food or drink, against the stresses that we experience before, during, or after eating, or simply against unknown fac tors that affect the digestive processes.

There’s an old television commercial from the 1960s in which a person is talking to his stomach. His stomach was expressing concern about the way that the man was treating it and then even asks the man to become more sensitive to its problems. Although most people don’t talk to our stomach, our stomach do talk to us…through various symptoms.

It is sometimes perfectly clear what it is saying (“Stop eating.” “Stop eating certain things.” “Stop eating so late at night.” “Chew your food more thoroughly.” “Eat in an relaxed environment.”), and sometimes (perhaps often), people know what their stomach is saying and simply refuse to listen or learn. At other times, it is difficult to know what our digestive system is saying or why.

What Homeopathy has to Offer

Actually, before considering homeopathic medicines, it makes sense to sit down and have a heart-to-heart (or stomach-to-per son) talk with your digestive system. See what you can learn. Experiment with whatever changes make sense. Observe yourself.

If this doesn’t bring adequate results or if you would like to know if something (perhaps anything) can help strengthen your system so that you can have your cake (or whatever) and eat it too, here’s when you might consider using homeopathic medicines.

First of all, it is important to say that medical care
should be sought if you are having serious digestive pain, if vomiting is excessive, if there is evidence of dehydration, if there is a possibility of poisoning or drug use, if the stools or vomited material is bloody or tarlike, or if vomiting occurs during the course of a viral respiratory condition.

Although homeopathic medicines may also be useful in such situations, it is generally best if these potentially more seri ous conditions be treated by a professional homeopath. Profes sional homeopathic care should also be sought if homeopathic self-care is not effective in treating a person’s more mild symptoms or when these remedies are effective, but the symptoms continually return.

Commonly, professional homeopathic care will not only re lieve the acute symptoms the person is experiencing but will even prevent future similar symptoms. Professional homeopaths pre scribe “constitutional remedies” which are highly individualized to the person’s genetic history, personal health history, and totality of physical symptoms and psychological characteristics. These remedies tend to strengthen the overall health of the person.

It is the common experience of professional homeopaths and
patients alike that constitutional homeopathic remedies can strengthen a person’s digestive system, cure food allergies, and improve the elimination of foods and toxins.

This is the power of the correctly prescribed homeopathic medicine. People do not necessarily have to avoid those foods to which they may be allergic. Homeopathic remedies can sometimes dramatically change these hypersensitivity syndromes.

Using homeopathic medicine at home for self-treatment may often provide important and necessary relief of digestive com plaints, however, self-treatment for acute ailments generally do not have as significant of a result as constitutional care.

In light of self-treatment with homeopathic medicines, there are two basic strategies to consider. One strategy is to simply go to a health food store or pharmacy and seek out a homeopathic “combination medicine,” that is, a mixture of 2-8 common homeo pathic remedies useful in treating a specific condition, such as indigestion and gas, allergies, migraine headaches, etc.
Although homeopathic combination remedies work reasonably
well, you will generally get better results when you individual ize a single remedy to those of the sick person’s. Some of the remedies listed in this article can be very helpful, though it is sometimes necessary to augment your information on homeopathic medicines with one or more books on homeopathy.

Ultimately, homeopathic medicines offer a safer treatment than conventional drugs in the treatment of indigestion, heart burn, and gas. Distinct from conventional drugs for heartburn which tend to cause rebound symptoms that are often worse than the original symptoms, homeopathic medicines are not known to cause a rebound.

Specific Homeopathic Medicines

Shakespeare once described infancy as the age of “mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.” Indeed, infants vomit consider ably more frequently than do people later in life. There are good evolutionary and defensive reasons for this hypersensitivity early in life, and there are similar good reasons that people maintain the capacity to experience nausea and vomiting through out their life.
The body may be creating these symptoms as defenses, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t help it defend itself. The following homeopathic medicines are substances which cause in overdose the similar symptoms that the sick person is experienc ing. The trick in homeopathy is that exceedingly small and specially prepared doses of these medicines are used, and they aid the body’s defenses in healing itself.

One of the most common homeopathic remedies for treating acute nausea and vomiting is Ipecacuahna, made from an herb ipecac root which is widely known to cause nausea and vomiting if taken in crude doses. It is wonderfully effective in treating the symptoms it is known to cause: constant nausea which is not relieved by vomiting, vomiting with gagging, lack of thirst, a surprisingly clean tongue despite strong feelings of nausea, aggravation of symptoms from warmth, and some relief of symptoms from being in the open air. A headache, cough, or heavy menstru ation may accompany the nausea.

It is at first startling to learn that another important remedy for acute nausea and vomiting is Arsenicum (arsenic), though homeopaths use extremely small and nontoxic doses of it. It is particularly valuable in the treatment of nausea and vomit ing as the result of food poisoning. Generally, the person who needs Arsenicum cannot stand the sight or smell of food and has a strong thirst but can tolerate only sips at a time. The person may experience burning pains in the stomach, burning pains in the throat as a result of irritating vomitus, and burning pains in the anus as a result of excoriating diarrhea.

Nux vomica (poison nut) is a remedy for acute nausea and
vomiting, especially when these symptoms are the result of over eating, drinking alcohol, or food poisoning, and often accompa nied by flatulence, bloating, heartburn, and either diarrhea or constipation. This remedy provides relief from hangovers and also helps deal with digestive complaints that are aggravated by therapeutic or recreational drugs. People who need Nux vomica
usually experience the worst symptoms in the morning upon waking. These people wake unrefreshed and are highly irritable. They feel some relief from warmth, warm applications, and warm drinks. Bryonia (wild hops) is a remedy that is known to be effective in treating nausea that is aggravated by motion (the simple act of just getting up or stooping can lead the person to vomit). These people are are also aggravated in a warm room and by heat. Even though their stomach may be sensitive to touch, people who need this remedy are at least partially relieved by lying on
their stomach. They may also experience some relief in cool or open air and by resting. These people also have a significant thirst, typically for cold drinks though they may experience some relief from drinking warm fluids. Concurrent with their digest iive symptoms, they may experience a headache in the front part of the head.

Podophyllum (may apple) is a valuable remedy when the person experiences diarrhea with nausea and vomiting. The diarrhea is painless, profuse, offensive, and expelled with gushing force. Typically, much gurgling in the abdomen is felt, and prior to having a stool, much gas released with the diarrhea.

Pulsatilla (windflower) is helpful for people who suffer from indigestion after eating rich foods or pork. They have bloating, abdominal distension, and sometimes a headache. They tend to be thirstless. This remedy is more often given to chil dren and women than to men.

Carbo veg (vegetable charcoal) provides relief for people who suffer from great distension and offensive gas from almost any kind of food. They experience some relief from the release of gas and desire carbonated drinks because they seem to help in releasing it, but these people seem to be gas manufacturers, and any relief that they experience is only temporary…until they take Carbo veg.

A leading remedy for acid indigestion is Natrum phos (sodium phosphate), which is both a homeopathic medicine and a cell salt. This remedy is indicated in the typical symptoms of acid indiges tion with sour belching, sour tasting vomit, and yellow discolor ation of the tongue. It is also a remedy useful in people who
get digestive symptoms after eating fats.

Dose and Potency: It is generally recommended to use the 6th, 12th, or 30th potencies. Use the 30th potency when you are confident with the selection of the remedy; use the 6th potency when you are less certain. In terms of the dosage, take a dose every two to three hours during intense symptoms and every four to six hours during less intense symptoms.

When the correct remedy is taken, symptoms are usually relieved within hours or at least after a night’s rest. If no relieve has occured after 24 hours, consider another remedy or consider seeking professional homeopathic care.

How do I Learn More About Homeopathy?

The best source of homeopathic books, tapes, home medicine kits, and software is:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 649-0294

(510) 649-1955 (fax)

To some of us, these problems are occasional and to others
they are all too common. The good news is that you won’t die from it, but the bad news is that sometimes you feel like you are experiencing a slow and painful death.

Although we may want to curse at our digestive tract, the fact of the matter is that our digestive symptoms are actually defenses of the body in its best efforts to defend and heal ourselves. The symptoms that we experience may not always feel like they are healing us, but these symptoms are our body’s efforts to defend ourselves against poisons in our food, against substances to which we may be allergic, against overdosing on too much food or drink, against the stresses that we experience before, during, or after eating, or simply against unknown fac tors that affect the digestive processes.

There’s an old television commercial from the 1960s in which a person is talking to his stomach. His stomach was expressing concern about the way that the man was treating it and then even asks the man to become more sensitive to its problems. Although most people don’t talk to our stomach, our stomach do talk to us…through various symptoms.

It is sometimes perfectly clear what it is saying (“Stop eating.” “Stop eating certain things.” “Stop eating so late at night.” “Chew your food more thoroughly.” “Eat in an relaxed environment.”), and sometimes (perhaps often), people know what their stomach is saying and simply refuse to listen or learn. At other times, it is difficult to know what our digestive system is saying or why.

What Homeopathy has to Offer

Actually, before considering homeopathic medicines, it makes sense to sit down and have a heart-to-heart (or stomach-to-per son) talk with your digestive system. See what you can learn. Experiment with whatever changes make sense. Observe yourself.

If this doesn’t bring adequate results or if you would like to know if something (perhaps anything) can help strengthen your system so that you can have your cake (or whatever) and eat it too, here’s when you might consider using homeopathic medicines.

First of all, it is important to say that medical care
should be sought if you are having serious digestive pain, if vomiting is excessive, if there is evidence of dehydration, if there is a possibility of poisoning or drug use, if the stools or vomited material is bloody or tarlike, or if vomiting occurs during the course of a viral respiratory condition.

Although homeopathic medicines may also be useful in such situations, it is generally best if these potentially more seri ous conditions be treated by a professional homeopath. Profes sional homeopathic care should also be sought if homeopathic self-care is not effective in treating a person’s more mild symptoms or when these remedies are effective, but the symptoms continually return.

Commonly, professional homeopathic care will not only re lieve the acute symptoms the person is experiencing but will even prevent future similar symptoms. Professional homeopaths pre scribe “constitutional remedies” which are highly individualized to the person’s genetic history, personal health history, and totality of physical symptoms and psychological characteristics. These remedies tend to strengthen the overall health of the person.

It is the common experience of professional homeopaths and
patients alike that constitutional homeopathic remedies can strengthen a person’s digestive system, cure food allergies, and improve the elimination of foods and toxins.

This is the power of the correctly prescribed homeopathic medicine. People do not necessarily have to avoid those foods to which they may be allergic. Homeopathic remedies can sometimes dramatically change these hypersensitivity syndromes.

Using homeopathic medicine at home for self-treatment may often provide important and necessary relief of digestive com plaints, however, self-treatment for acute ailments generally do not have as significant of a result as constitutional care.

In light of self-treatment with homeopathic medicines, there are two basic strategies to consider. One strategy is to simply go to a health food store or pharmacy and seek out a homeopathic “combination medicine,” that is, a mixture of 2-8 common homeo pathic remedies useful in treating a specific condition, such as indigestion and gas, allergies, migraine headaches, etc.
Although homeopathic combination remedies work reasonably
well, you will generally get better results when you individual ize a single remedy to those of the sick person’s. Some of the remedies listed in this article can be very helpful, though it is sometimes necessary to augment your information on homeopathic medicines with one or more books on homeopathy.

Ultimately, homeopathic medicines offer a safer treatment than conventional drugs in the treatment of indigestion, heart burn, and gas. Distinct from conventional drugs for heartburn which tend to cause rebound symptoms that are often worse than the original symptoms, homeopathic medicines are not known to cause a rebound.

Specific Homeopathic Medicines

Shakespeare once described infancy as the age of “mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.” Indeed, infants vomit consider ably more frequently than do people later in life. There are good evolutionary and defensive reasons for this hypersensitivity early in life, and there are similar good reasons that people maintain the capacity to experience nausea and vomiting through out their life.
The body may be creating these symptoms as defenses, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t help it defend itself. The following homeopathic medicines are substances which cause in overdose the similar symptoms that the sick person is experienc ing. The trick in homeopathy is that exceedingly small and specially prepared doses of these medicines are used, and they aid the body’s defenses in healing itself.

One of the most common homeopathic remedies for treating acute nausea and vomiting is Ipecacuahna, made from an herb ipecac root which is widely known to cause nausea and vomiting if taken in crude doses. It is wonderfully effective in treating the symptoms it is known to cause: constant nausea which is not relieved by vomiting, vomiting with gagging, lack of thirst, a surprisingly clean tongue despite strong feelings of nausea, aggravation of symptoms from warmth, and some relief of symptoms from being in the open air. A headache, cough, or heavy menstru ation may accompany the nausea.

It is at first startling to learn that another important remedy for acute nausea and vomiting is Arsenicum (arsenic), though homeopaths use extremely small and nontoxic doses of it. It is particularly valuable in the treatment of nausea and vomit ing as the result of food poisoning. Generally, the person who needs Arsenicum cannot stand the sight or smell of food and has a strong thirst but can tolerate only sips at a time. The person may experience burning pains in the stomach, burning pains in the throat as a result of irritating vomitus, and burning pains in the anus as a result of excoriating diarrhea.

Nux vomica (poison nut) is a remedy for acute nausea and
vomiting, especially when these symptoms are the result of over eating, drinking alcohol, or food poisoning, and often accompa nied by flatulence, bloating, heartburn, and either diarrhea or constipation. This remedy provides relief from hangovers and also helps deal with digestive complaints that are aggravated by therapeutic or recreational drugs. People who need Nux vomica
usually experience the worst symptoms in the morning upon waking. These people wake unrefreshed and are highly irritable. They feel some relief from warmth, warm applications, and warm drinks. Bryonia (wild hops) is a remedy that is known to be effective in treating nausea that is aggravated by motion (the simple act of just getting up or stooping can lead the person to vomit). These people are are also aggravated in a warm room and by heat. Even though their stomach may be sensitive to touch, people who need this remedy are at least partially relieved by lying on
their stomach. They may also experience some relief in cool or open air and by resting. These people also have a significant thirst, typically for cold drinks though they may experience some relief from drinking warm fluids. Concurrent with their digest iive symptoms, they may experience a headache in the front part of the head.

Podophyllum (may apple) is a valuable remedy when the person experiences diarrhea with nausea and vomiting. The diarrhea is painless, profuse, offensive, and expelled with gushing force. Typically, much gurgling in the abdomen is felt, and prior to having a stool, much gas released with the diarrhea.

Pulsatilla (windflower) is helpful for people who suffer from indigestion after eating rich foods or pork. They have bloating, abdominal distension, and sometimes a headache. They tend to be thirstless. This remedy is more often given to chil dren and women than to men.

Carbo veg (vegetable charcoal) provides relief for people who suffer from great distension and offensive gas from almost any kind of food. They experience some relief from the release of gas and desire carbonated drinks because they seem to help in releasing it, but these people seem to be gas manufacturers, and any relief that they experience is only temporary…until they take Carbo veg.

A leading remedy for acid indigestion is Natrum phos (sodium phosphate), which is both a homeopathic medicine and a cell salt. This remedy is indicated in the typical symptoms of acid indiges tion with sour belching, sour tasting vomit, and yellow discolor ation of the tongue. It is also a remedy useful in people who
get digestive symptoms after eating fats.

Dose and Potency: It is generally recommended to use the 6th, 12th, or 30th potencies. Use the 30th potency when you are confident with the selection of the remedy; use the 6th potency when you are less certain. In terms of the dosage, take a dose every two to three hours during intense symptoms and every four to six hours during less intense symptoms.

When the correct remedy is taken, symptoms are usually relieved within hours or at least after a night’s rest. If no relieve has occured after 24 hours, consider another remedy or consider seeking professional homeopathic care.

For further information about homeopathic medicine for indigestion or other common ailments or for access to homeopathic medicines, contact:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA. 94704

(510)649-0294

(510)649-1955 (fax)

email: mail@homeopathic.com

HOW DO I LEARN MORE ABOUT HOMEOPATHY?


The best source of homeopathic books, tapes, home medicine
kits, and software is:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA. 94704.

(510)649-0294

The key homeopathic organization to know about is:

National Center for Homoeopathy

801 N. Fairfax #306

Alexandria, VA. 22314

International Foundation for Homeopathy

PO Box 7

Edmonds, WA. 98020

Dana Ullman, M.P.H. is one of America’s leading educators on homeopathic medicine. He has authored 5 books, including The Consumer’s Guide to Homeopathy, Discovering Homeopathy, Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants, The One-Minute (or so) Healer and co-authored Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines. He is also the Director of Homeopathic Educational Services, a leading resource of homeopathic books, tapes, medicines, and software in Berkeley, California.

Acid regurgitation is one of the commoner causes of indigestion and often presents with symptoms such as heartburn. The sensation of heartburn is caused by irritation due to the acid reflux from the stomach into the tube connecting the stomach to the mouth (the oesophagus). This syndrome may be called a ‘hiatus hernia’ although a variety of other names can also be used to describe exactly the same symptoms.

Acupuncture is not the treatment of choice for all types of indigestion. For instance, the best treatment for over-indulgence is to eat less, but some other causes of indigestion such as hiatus hernia and stress are definitely amenable to acupuncture therapy. Exact figures for success rates are not available, but the ‘clinical impression’ that arises from a number of acupuncturists indicates that about 60 per cent of patients gain some long-term relief of their symptoms with acupuncture. Symptoms do recur and usually require re-treatment after about six to twelve months.

Niacin is one of the most stable of the B vitamins. It is resistant to the effects of heat, light, air, acid, and alkali. A white crystalline substance that is soluble in both water and alcohol, niacin and niacinamide are both readily absorbed from the small intestine. Small amounts may be stored in the liver, but most of the excess is excreted in the urine.

Another important fact about vitamin B3 is that it can be manufactured from the amino acid tryptophan, which is essential (needed in the diet). So niacin is not truly essential in the diet when enough protein, containing adequate tryptophan, and other nutrients are consumed. When niacin is not present in sufficient amounts, extra protein is needed. Also, when we are deficient in such nutrients as vitamins B1, B2, and B6, vitamin C, and iron, we cannot easily convert tryptophan to niacin. Many foods that are low in tryptophan are also low in niacin or, as in corn, the niacin is not readily available. Corn is low in tryptophan and its niacin is bound, so it must receive special treatment. Native Americans knew this and would soak corn in ash water before or after grinding to release the niacin. Even when they subsisted almost solely on corn, they did not experience the serious niacin deficiency
disease called pellagra. In the time around the American Civil War, in the South poor white farm workers subsisted on “quick cornmeal,” the poorly prepared white people’s version, and pellagra was epidemic until the discovery that it was a dietary deficiency disease. Pellagra, the disease of the “three Ds”–diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia–historically
has been a problem of corn-eaters, whereas beriberi has been a disease most correlated with rice-eating cultures.

Sources: Only small to moderate amounts of vitamin B3 occur in foods as pure niacin;
other niacin is converted from the amino acid tryptophan, as just discussed. The best sources of vitamin B3 are liver and other organ meats, poultry, fish, and peanuts, all of which have both niacin and tryptophan. Yeast, dried beans and peas, wheat germ, whole grains, avocados, dates, figs, and prunes are pretty good sources of niacin. Milk and eggs are good because of their levels of tryptophan. Though B3 is stable, the milling and processing of whole grains can remove up to 90 percent of the niacin. Thus, manufacturers will often “enrich” their products by adding niacin.

Functions: Niacin acts as part of two coenzymes, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)
and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), that are involved in more than 50 different metabolic reactions in the human species. They play a key role in glycolysis (that is, extracting energy from carbohydrate and glucose), are important in fatty acid synthesis and in the deamination (nitrogen removal) of amino acids, are needed in the formation of red blood cells and steroids, and are helpful in the metabolism of some drugs and toxicants. Thus, niacin is a vital precursor for the coenzymes that supply energy to body cells.

Basically, the coenzymes of niacin help break down and utilize proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Vitamin B3 also stimulates circulation, reduces cholesterol levels in the blood of some people, and is important to healthy activity of the nervous system and
normal brain function. Niacin supports the health of skin, tongue, and digestive tract tissues. Also, this important vitamin is needed for the synthesis of the sex hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, as well as other corticosteroids.

Niacin, taken orally as nicotinic acid, can produce redness, warmth, and itching over areas of the skin; this “niacin flush” usually occurs when doses of 50 mg. or more are taken and is a result of the release of histamine by the cells, which causes vasodilation. This reaction is harmless; it may even be helpful by enhancing blood flow to the “flushed” areas, and it lasts only 10-20 minutes. When these larger doses of niacin are taken regularly, this reaction no longer occurs because stores of histamine are reduced. Many people feel benefit from this “flush,” but if it is not enjoyable, supplements that contain vitamin B3 in the form of niacinamide or nicotinamide can be used, as they will not produce this reaction. (Note: When vitamin B3 is used to lower cholesterol levels, the nicotinic acid form must be used; the niacinamide form does not work for this purpose.)

Uses: Niacin is used to support a variety of metabolic functions and to treat a number of
conditions. Many niacin deficiency symptoms can be treated by adjusting the diet and by supplementing B3 tablets along with other B complex vitamins. Many uses of niacin are based primarily on positive clinical experience and are not as well supported by medical research, although more studies are being done.

Niacin helps increase energy through improving food utilization and has been used beneficially for treating fatigue, irritability, and digestive disorders, such as diarrhea, constipation, and indigestion. It may also stimulate extra hydrochloric acid production.
Niacin, mainly as nicotinic acid, helps in the regulation of blood sugar (as part of glucose tolerance factor) in people with hypoglycemia problems and gives all of us a greater ability to handle stress. It is helpful in treating anxiety and possibly depression. B3 has been used for various skin reactions and acne, as well as for problems of the teeth and gums. Niacin
has many other common uses. It is sometimes helpful in the treatment of migraine-type headaches or arthritis, probably in both cases through stimulation of blood flow in the capillaries. This vitamin has also been used to stimulate the sex drive and enhance sexual experience, to help detoxify the body, and to protect it from certain toxins and pollutants. For most of these problems and the cardiovascular-related ones mentioned below, the preference is to take the “flushing” form of niacin, or nicotinic acid, not niacinamide.

Nicotinic acid works rapidly, particularly in its beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. It stimulates circulation and for this reason may be helpful in treating leg cramps caused by circulatory deficiency; headaches, especially the migraine type; and Meniere’s syndrome, associated with hearing loss and vertigo. Nicotinic acid also helps reduce blood pressure and, very importantly, acts as an agent to lower serum cholesterol. Treatment with about 2 grams a day of nicotinic acid has produced significant reductions in both blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. To lower the LDL component and raise the good HDL
cholesterol, people usually take 50-100 mg. twice daily and then increase the amount slowly over two or three weeks to 1500-2500 mg. Generally, for those with high cholesterol levels it has been used to help reduce the risk for atherosclerosis. Because of its
vascular stimulation and effects of lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, vitamin B3 has been used preventively for such serious secondary problems of cardiovascular disease as myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and strokes. Also, some neurologic problems, such as Bell’s palsy and trigeminal neuralgia, have been helped by niacin supplementation. In
osteoarthritis, to help reduce joint pain and improve mobility, niacinamide has been used in amounts beginning at 500 mg. twice daily up to 1,000 mg. three times a day along with 100 mg. daily of B complex.

Niacin has been an important boon to the field of orthomolecular psychiatry for its use in a variety of mental disorders. It was initially well demonstrated to be helpful for the neuroses and psychoses described as the “dementia of pellagra,” the niacin deficiency disease. Since then, it has been used in high amounts, well over 100 mg. per day and often over 1,000
mg. per day (up to 6,000 mg.), to treat a wide variety of psychological symptoms, including senility, alcoholism, drug problems, depression, and schizophrenia. Niacin has been helpful in reversing the hallucinatory experience, delusional thinking or wide mood
and energy shifts of some psychological disturbances. Though this therapy has its skeptics, as does all application of nutritional medicine, some studies show promising results in treatment of schizophrenia with niacin and other supplements. Other studies show little or no effect. More research is definitely needed on niacin’s effect in mental disorders.

People on high blood pressure medicines and those who have ulcers, gout, or diabetes should be very careful taking higher-dose supplements of niacin because of its effect of lowering blood pressure, its acidity, its liver toxicity, its potential to raise uric acid levels, and its effect in raising blood sugar–though recently niacin has been shown to have a positive effect on glucose tolerance (it is part of glucose tolerance factor) and, thereby, on diabetes as well. Exercise and niacin are helpful for people with adult diabetes through their positive effects on blood sugar and cholesterol.

Deficiency and toxicity: As with the other B vitamins, there are really no toxic effects from
even the high doses of niacin, though the “niacin flush” previously described may be uncomfortable for some. However, with the use of high-dose niacin in recent years, the occasional person experiences some minor problems, such as irritation of the
gastrointestinal tract and/or the liver, both of which subside with decreased intake of niacin. In addition, some people taking niacin experience sedation rather than stimulation.

Deficiency problems have been much more common than toxicity, and for a long period of history, the niacin deficiency disease, pellagra, was a very serious and fatal problem. Characterized as the disease of the “three Ds,” pellagra causes its victims to experience dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia. The fourth D was death.

As described previously, the classic B3 deficiency occurs mainly in cultures whose diets rely heavily on corn and where the corn is not prepared in a way that releases its niacin. One of the first signs of pellagra, or niacin deficiency, is the skin’s sensitivity to light, and the skin becomes rough, thick, and dry (pellagra means “skin that is rough” in Italian). The skin then becomes darkly pigmented, especially in areas of the body prone to be hot and sweaty or those exposed to sun. The first stage of this condition is extreme redness and sensitivity of those exposed areas, and it was from this symptom that the term “redneck,” describing the bright red necks of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century niacin-deficient fieldworkers, came into being.

In general, niacin deficiency affects every cell, especially in those systems with rapid turnover, such as the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and nervous system. Other than photosensitivity, the first signs of niacin deficiency are noted as decreased energy
production and problems with maintaining healthy functioning of the skin and intestines. These symptoms include weakness and general fatigue, anorexia, indigestion, and skin eruptions. These can progress to other problems, such as a sore, red tongue, canker sores, nausea, vomiting, tender gums, bad breath, and diarrhea. The neurological symptoms may begin with irritability, insomnia, and headaches and then progress to tremors, extreme anxiety, depressionÑall the way to full-blown psychosis. The skin will worsen, as will the diarrhea and inflammation of the mouth and intestinal tract. There will be a lack of stomach acid production (achlorhydria) and a decrease in fat digestion and, thus, lower availability from food absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, and E. Death could occur, usually from convulsions, if the niacin deficiency is not corrected.

Niacin deficiency symptoms can be seen in diets with niacin intake below 7.5 mg. per day, but often this is not the only deficiency; vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and other B vitamins, as well as protein and iron may be low. To treat pellagra and niacin deficiency disorders, vitamin B3 supplements should be taken along with good protein intake to obtain adequate levels of the amino acid tryptophan. As described earlier, about 50 percent of daily niacin comes from the conversion in our livers of tryptophan to niacin with the help of pyridoxine (vitamin B6).

Requirements: Many food charts list only sources that actually contain niacin and do not
take into account tryptophan conversion into niacin. Approximately 60 mg. of tryptophan can generate 1 mg. of niacin. But tryptophan is available for conversion only when there are more than sufficient quantities in the diet to synthesize the necessary proteins as tryptophan is used in our body with the other essential amino acids to produce protein.

Niacin needs are based on caloric intake. We need about 6.6 mg. per 1,000 calories, and no less than 13 mg. per day. Women need at least 13 mg. and men at least 18 mg. per day. The RDA for children ranges from 9-16 mg.

Niacin needs are increased during pregnancy, lactation, and growth periods, as well as after physical exercise. Athletes require more B3 than less active people. Stress, illness, and tissue injury also increase the body’s need for niacin. People who eat much sugar or refined, processed foods require more niacin as well.

Realistically, 25-50 mg. per day is adequate intake of niacin if minimum protein requirements are met. On the average, many supplements provide at least 50-100 mg. per day of niacin or niacinamide, which is a good insurance level. For treatment of the variety of conditions described previously, higher amounts of niacin may be needed to really be helpful, and levels up to 2-3 grams per day are not uncommon as a therapeutic dose. The other B vitamins should also be supplied so as to not create an imbalanced metabolic condition.

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