New Acupuncture For IBS Finding (Article/Studies, HealthCMi, Acupuncture News)

Acupuncture improves the symptoms of IBS

Dealing with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) can be frustrating, embarrassing, and isolating. Those affected might feel encouraged to hear HealthCMi’s report that last month researchers conducting a meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials concluded “that acupuncture improves the symptoms of IBS, including abdominal pain and distension, sensation of incomplete defecation, times of defecation per day, and state of stool.” (New Acupuncture For IBS Finding [1259] | Acupuncture Continuing Education News | Acupuncture News.)

HealthCMi went on to cite evidence of sustained benefit in treating the symptoms of IBS using acupuncture, without adverse events reported.

Sound too good to be true? Nope! I’ll add we Chinese herbalists also know that herbs can make a significant difference in care. To read case studies on IBS using Chinese herbal medicine, visit the Chinese Herb Academy.

Is IBS the same thing as IBD?

No. IBD is Irritable Bowel Disease, a broad term for conditions involving inflammation of the GI tract and a chronic or recurring immune response (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis). IBS, on the other hand, does not involve inflammation. It’s considered a functional condition in which the GI tract “looks normal but doesn’t work as it should” (webMD).

Who gets IBS?

About one in seven persons in the US have IBS; but 70% of those folks experience symptoms mild enough they don’t recognize the condition. Nonetheless, IBS is one of the top concerns addressed by doctors (International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders). It tends to affect women slightly more than men, and for half of those affected, appears before they are 35 years old.

What causes IBS?

While Western medicine does not know what causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chinese medicine offers a number of different etiologies. Our system of practice refers to organs, such as Liver or Spleen, but this is not necessarily the same as the Western organs by the same name. For us, the Liver or Spleen are umbrella terms for a number of functions in the body. IBS for acupuncturists and herbalists may involve (but is not limited to) a pattern of Liver overacting Spleen, dampness, or underlying qi or yin deficiency.

Symptoms of IBS

• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Bloating
• Gas/flatulence
• Diarrhea or constipation (sometimes alternating)
• Mucus in the stool

If you have been experiencing any of these symptoms on/off or regularly for at least 12 weeks, you may be experiencing IBS. Make an appointment with your doctor and acupuncturist/herbalist. Whether your symptoms are mild or not, you do not need to suffer in silence. Get the help you need!

“Gluten Sensitivity” May Be a Misnomer for Distinct Illnesses to Various Wheat Proteins (Article, Scientific American)

I remember about ten years ago I started hearing and meeting more people with celiac disease. And then a few years after that it was non-celiac gluten sensitivity. And now recently, as highlighted in the latest Scientific American (“Gluten Sensitivity” May Be a Misnomer for Distinct Illnesses to Various Wheat Proteins), it’s becoming more apparent that isolating gluten might be missing the point; “it might be better to call it nonceliac wheat sensitivity.”

What is gluten?

Gluten is comprised of two proteins, gliadin and glutenin; these proteins are found in the wheat endosperm and are responsible for the elasticity of the dough. Interestingly enough, “[t]hough ‘true gluten’ is sometimes defined as being specific to wheat, gluten is often said to be part of other cereal grains — including rye, barley and various crossbreeds — because these grains also contain protein composites made from prolamins and glutelins.”

How is wheat problematic?

Wheat is problematic for different people for different reasons. For instance, some might experience it as a:

• Genetic Autoimmune Disease

The proteins found in wheat can damage the small intestine in those with Celiac Disease. As this disease affects the absorption of nutrients from food, its complications can be quite serious. Symptoms of Celiac Disease beyond GI distress may include anemia, osteoporosis, reproductive health issues, and chronic fatigue.

• Non-Specific Immune Response

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity is not currently considered genetic; however, in many ways it mimics the same symptoms of Celiac Disease, to a lesser degree. Many people complain of ‘brain fog’ in addition to other common complaints of abdominal pain, fatigue, headaches, etc (symptoms that cease with a wheat-free diet). To learn more about the difference between Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, read this informational piece by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.

• Metabolic Food Disorder

Some folks with Fructose Malabsorption may be sensitive to fructans (a type of carbohydrate, and fructose chain) in wheat, but not gluten. The body cannot break down fructans (we’re missing the necessary enzymes); but the bacteria in our gut have no problem noshing on it. As a byproduct of their feast, a person can experience very painful gas, diarrhea, constipation, brain fog and even depression. To learn more about fructans, visit Food-Info or Food Intolerance Diagnostics.

Next Steps

If you think your diet might be negatively affecting your health, a great place to start is working with a good dietitian or Naturopath. Chinese herbs can also be very helpful for treating the side effects of sensitivity, such as fatigue, bloating, diarrhea, etc. Meanwhile, it’s not uncommon for there to be underlying emotional aspects, such as when one is ‘trying to stomach’ more than one can handle. For this aspect of healing, Reiki energy work can be invaluable.

Have you or has someone you know been affected by wheat allergy or sensitivity? What words of advice would you want to pass on to the uneducated?

The Case for Probiotics: Just Who Do You Think You Are?

How “human” is human?

In all our experience, there is what we see and what we don’t see; what we know, and what we don’t know. And how often do we let what we know be directly informed by what we see? Even in language what is actually said is worth less in communication than looks and tone. Most everyone has probably had opportunity to feel sarcasm and judgment in simple language. (I absolutely love a bit by Eddie Izzard talking about just this – the 70% is how you look, 20% how you sound and 10% what you say.)

So, with the body – there is what we see, which we call a human; but if you looked at what comprised that “human,” you would see we harbor 100 trillion microbes and that, in fact, 9 out of 10 “human” cells don’t even contain the human genome. In the gut alone there are 5600 known unique strains of bacteria just hanging out and loving life. Well, until you flush them down the drain, of course….

The benefit of probiotics

Probiotics are a great way to support the beneficial bacteria in your gut. You can find them in fermented foods like sauerkraut or kimchi. Alternatively, one can purchase them as a supplement in powdered or pill form. These supplements can range in quantity, some providing 1 billion to over 100 billion cells per serving. A number of companies now source dairy-free options as well.

Probiotics for the gut after antibiotics

Antibiotics can do a serious number on our good bacteria – washing it out with the bad. We often see symptoms of diarrhea and electrolyte imbalance here. I get a lot of questions about how to replenish what gets lost and whether yogurt is a good idea. I am immediately reminded of when I had strep as a kid. It was so painful, and I felt like I could hardly eat anything. At the time, I don’t think anyone in my family had even heard of probiotics, but we definitely knew about yogurt. And I’ll say – sure, it felt great to have something easy to swallow and cool to the throat – but boy, not 2 minutes later did the awful feeling come over me that I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to breathe… oh, mucus! Truth is, yogurt is pretty low in probiotics, and while it may not actual increase mucus in the body, it may increase the viscosity of mucus. And anyone who’s felt the heavy hand of mucus on their breathing can tell you – increasing its thickness is not ideal! Probiotics? Great idea!

Probiotics for mood

In 2011 they did a study on Lactobacillus rhamnosus in mice and found that the strain was able to actually reduce stress-induced corticosterone and subsequently modulate behaviours associated with anxiety and depression. In fact, 95% of the body’s serotonin is in the gut. Want to feel groovy? Think bowels!

For more on mental health and probiotics, consider reading my post, “Psychobiotics: How Gut Bacteria Mess with Your Mind.”

Probiotics for immune support

In 2009 they showed kids who supplemented with probiotics for 6 months had fewer sick days and missed less days due to illness than their peers. And kids have the upper hand in disease prevention – if you want to prevent eczema or allergy, you know it… consider probiotics!

A closing thought

If we are in part what we “aren’t,” consider where our lives might overlap with the lives of others. What do we share in common? How can we treat the lives of others–humans, animals, or other–with the same “humanity” each deserves? May we endeavor to be kind, and always consider that in any situation, there may be more there than meets the eye!

Just Who Do You Think You Are?

In all our experience, there is what we see and what we don’t see; what we know, and what we don’t know. And how often do we let what we know be directly informed by what we see? Even in language what is actually said is worth less in communication than looks and tone. Most everyone has probably had opportunity to feel sarcasm and judgment in simple language. (I absolutely love a bit by Eddie Izzard talking about just this – the 70% is how you look, 20% how you sound and 10% what you say.)

So, with the body – there is what we see, which we call a human; but if you looked at what comprised that “human,” you would see we harbor 100 trillion microbes and that, in fact, 9 out of 10 “human” cells don’t even contain the human genome. In the gut alone there are 5600 known unique strains of bacteria just hanging out and loving life. Well, until you flush them down the drain, of course…

Antibiotics can do a serious number on our good bacteria – washing it out with the bad. We often see symptoms of diarrhea and electrolyte imbalance here. I get a lot of questions about how to replenish what gets lost and whether yogurt is a good idea. I am immediately reminded of when I had strep as a kid. It was so painful, and I felt like I could hardly eat anything. At the time, I don’t think anyone in my family had even heard of probiotics, but we definitely knew about yogurt. And I’ll say – sure, it felt great to have something easy to swallow and cool to the throat – but boy, not 2 minutes later came the awful feeling that I wasn’t sure I was able to breathe… oh, mucus! Truth is, yogurt is pretty low in probiotics, and while it may not actual increase mucus in the body, it may increase the viscosity of mucus. And anyone who’s felt the heavy hand of mucus on their breathing can tell you – increasing its thickness is not ideal!

Probiotics, on the other hand, offer the best of both worlds – ranging in number from 1 billion to over 100 billion cells per serving; and quite a few companies are now sourcing dairy-free options. While someone on antibiotics might take somewhere around 24 billion or more cells per day, folks with skin disorders, stress imbalance and low immune health may also benefit from taking these little critters.

In 2011 they did a study on Lactobacillus rhamnosus in mice and found that the strain was able to actually reduce stress-induced corticosterone and subsequently modulate behaviours associated with anxiety and depression. In fact, 95% of the body’s serotonin is in the gut. Want to feel groovy? Think bowels! Want your kids to stay in school? Think bowels!

In 2009 they showed kids who supplemented with probiotics for 6 months had fewer sick days and missed less days due to illness than their peers. And kids have the upper hand in disease prevention – if you want to prevent eczema or allergy, you know it… consider probiotics!

So if we are in part what we “aren’t,” consider where our lives might overlap with the lives of others. What do we share in common? How can we treat the lives of others–humans, animals, or other–with the same “humanity” each deserves? Be kind, and always consider that in any situation, there may be more there than meets the eye!