Stomach & Bowel
Indigestion: With the hectic pace of life, quick meals, spicy foods, or too much to eat, all contribute to the this condition of heartburn, gas, and/or bloating.
What to use:There are numerous homeopathic remedies to ease this uncomfortable feeling. Carbo vegetabilis taken as a pill and dissolved under the tongue can bring relief in just a few minutes. You can also take Bryonia, Pulsatilla, Ignatia, Chamomilla or Nux Vomica to relieve the discomfort without the long-term dangers caused by antacids.
Cautions and common sense: Create a relaxed, pleasant mood for eating every meal; this may be as elementary as shutting off the TV news, not discussing unpleasant issues at the table, and quitting all work for 30 minutes to give the digestive system the time and conditions to do its job of absorbing nutrients to keep you well! Abdominal pain that persists may be a sign of appendicitis or more serious problems; consult your health care professional immediately.
Case History: The school nurse phoned for me to pick up 13-year-old Laura from school. She was suffering from a stomach ache, the nurse said. I picked her up promptly but this stomach ache was unlike anything she'd experienced or I had ever seen. She was doubled over in pain, pressing on her stomach and stayed on the toilet (diarrhea) as soon as we were home. Not having in the cabinet any OTC medicines, I reached for my first-aid guide to homeopathy and after questioning her on specific symptoms, I gave her a dose of Carbo vegetabilis. In less than 15 minutes the pain eased and the diarrhea ended. She rested and was back at school the next day with no further symptoms. WMB
Constipation: Generally a symptom of other health problems, this uncomfortable condition can be due to a lack of exercise, diet lacking fiber or liquids or from stress. And mothers will remember constipation can be brought on by pregnancy.
What to do: Before any homeopathic or herbal treatment, you may want to try some warm prune or lemon juice about an hour before eating. If that does not help, NuxVomica, Sulphur, Alumina, Bryonia, Natrummuriaticum or perhaps silica will be the proper treatment. Each homeopathic remedy is useful for specific symptoms, and you should follow your homeopathic first-aid book for guidelines as to which remedy is best. Tea made of Senna leaves is also effective for constipation.
Cautionsandcommonsense: As with the use of laxatives, homeopathic remedies can become habit forming and shouldnot be used as a substitute for your own body's regular functions. If symptoms persist, you may need to look at your eating and lifestyle habits.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Caused by failure of the stomach to properly regulate the amount of acid being produced. Symptoms include severe bouts of stomach (hydrochloric) acid splashing up into the esophagus and even entering the lungs, which is extremely painful and can bring on asthma. Stomach cramps, bloating, mild to severe abdominal pain are also symptoms.
What to take: To relieve the discomfort of GERD, immediate use of Carbo vegetabilis, China,
Pulsatilla, Chamomilla, Ignatia or Lycopodium will help to reduce the bloating and burning of stomach acid. Another excellent herb to help calm GERD and, over time, allow the esophagus to heal, is Orange Peel extract . Used by the Chinese and Persians for thousands of years, it has been found to aid esophageal peristalsis (moving food through the stomach effectively) and also a surfactant ( a substance that reduces the surface tension of liquids, thus not allowing the acid to splash into the esophagus from the stomach). And, aside from being effective, IT IS SAFE.
Case History: I began having severe GERD attacks daily in the winter of 2001, some so painful that I was unable to sleep the entire night, causing more distress. My M.D. prescribed Prilosec, which gave me some relief for a week, but then I started experiencing side effects such as headaches, cramps, dizziness and rapid pulse. Finding natural healing methods that would work without the side effects was critical. I first identified trigger foods and eliminated them from my diet, such as cooked tomatoes and cheese. Acupuncture treatments gave me immediate relief with weekly treatments for a month and then 2-3 treatments a month. The combination of acupuncture, TCM herbs including a strong tea of orange/tangerine peel, and reflexology have effectively ended GERD attacks. If I feel that my stomach is a bit on the acid side, I use Carbo vegetabilis, reflexology, and, at bedtime, chamomile tea. I am now also using 1000 mg. of orange peel extract every other day to further the healing. JJS, Virginia
Gastritis: This common condition affects millions of people and is caused by improperly digested foods or dietary factors. The stomach lining becomes inflamed and causes heartburn, gas, reflux, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
What to take:At the first signs of intestinal discomfort, try Carbovegetabilis,China, or Lycopodium. Dissolved under the tongue they enter the bloodstream and bring fast relief from the discomforts of gas, bloating, and indigestion. Orange Peel extract also works well to heal underlying conditions.
Cautions and common sense: Long term use of antacids can have a negative effect causing the stomach to actually produce more acid rather than less. If your body tells you that the same problem is recurring each day, it may be time to look at factors such as diet, eating habits or exercise.
Diarrhea: Aside from an imbalance in the digestive system, diarrhea can also be caused by food poisoning, bacterial or viral infection.
What to use:To relieve cramps and calm the intestine, several remedies work without any harsh side effects. Herbal teas of Agrimony, American cranebill and Tormentil will sooth and reduce inflammation of the bowel. Excellent homeopathic remedies includeArsenicum, Gelsemium, Ciprum arsenicosum, Sulphur, Veratrum albumandPodophyllum. One or a combination of these should help stop the diarrhea within 30 minutes or less. Consult your homeopathic guidebook to see which medication is best suited for your symptoms.
Cautions and common sense:Diarrhea depletes the body of fluids and can be dangerous or life threatening, particularly for children and infants. Increase fluid intake immediately with water, tea or soup. Avoidmilk.If conditions persist, see a physician immediately.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A condition that affects predominantly women and is characterized by bouts of diarrhea, gas, bloating, mucus or blood in the stool, weakness and other more debilitating conditions.
What to take: IBS has been linked to food intolerance, infection, stress and anxiety and other things, but no one root cause has yet to be found. To treat this, German Chamomile, Mexican wild yam and Bitter candytuft can ease spasms, calm the stomach and bowel and tone the digestive tract. Constitutional treatments by a Homeopathic physician have proven effective in alleviating all symptoms.
Case History: After several months and thousands of dollars of medical tests, my M.D. issued a diagnosis of IBS in 1990 and advised me that there was no known treatment but over-the-counter medicines for diarrhea, headache, and flu. In other words, learn to live with it. I coped for 18 months until a friend told me about homeopathy. The homeopathic physician, who is also an M.D., prescribed and administered a mineral; I experienced no more symptoms of IBS for two years and then took a second dose. WMB
