TREATMENT PROGRAMS

GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISORDERS

Gastro-intestinal function is the key to optimal health. If the gastro-intestinal tract is not in optimal condition, it is the cause of many long-term health problems. Therefore concepts like metabolism, immune response and healing power in relation to digestion and diet are fundamental in the holistic view of disease.

Intestinal bacteria, Dysbiosis and Candidiasis

Beneficial (probiotic) intestinal bacteria combat disease-causing bacteria, yeast and parasites and have tremendous significance for the preservation of a healthy metabolism and immune response. Probiotic intestinal bacteria (fx lactobacilli og bifidobacteria):
 

	prevent the growth of destructive microorganisms by producing natural anti-microbial substances.
	maintain the intestinal wall’s rhythmic contractions (peristalsis) by means of optimal acid-base level.
	produce B-vitamins (B-2, biotin, B-3, B-5, B-6, folic acid, B-12) and Vitamin K
	promote digestion and absorption of nutrients
	produce lactate, which inhibits disease-causing intestinal microbes and digests milk
	render carcinogens (cancer causing substances) harmless
	enhance the immune response
	produce SCFA (short chain fatty acids), which nourish surface cells in the large intestine.

Dysbiosis is imbalance in the intestinal flora’s ecology, which causes sickness. Published research has implicated intestinal dysbiosis as a contributory cause to colon cancer, diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome, B-12 deficiency, chronic fatigue, inflammatory bowel and joint disease as well as skin disorders such as acne, eczema and psoriasis.

The most common symptoms with intestinal dysbiosis are bloating, constipation, diarrhea and stomach ache. The overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria and yeast is often accompanied by increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut syndrome), absorption of undigested foods (food allergy) and impaired uptake of nutrients. Overuse of antibiotic therapy and immune suppressive medicine (fx chemotherapy) is one of the most important causes of dysbiosis. Other causes are poor diet, stress, maldigestion, intestinal infection and environmental poisons (fx mercury toxicity).


Candidiasis is a dramatic example of what can happen, when the intestine’s eco-balance of microflora is destroyed. Intestinal yeast grow out of control. The overgrowth leads to inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. The permeability of the intestinal membrane is increased and permits contents from the intestinal tract to be taken up in the blood. In extreme cases the yeast develops from one celled to mycelized fungus, which attaches itself to and penetrates the mucous lining of the intestinal wall. Food allergy results from immune response to undigested food particles; if the protective barrier between the intestinal canal and the blood stream is breached, undigested food residues and bacterial endotoxins enter the bloodstream, where they cause tremendous allergic reactions, multi-chemical sensitivity, immune dysfunction (frequent, prolonged infections), joint pain, muscle aches, skin problems (hives, rashes), fatigue, insomnia, headaches, mood swings, anxiety, depression, confusion, poor concentration and hormonal disturbances (adrenal-/thyroid function, menstrual problems).

With severe candidiasis lab tests for underlying health problems (fx food allergy, intestinal permeability) are recommended together with high dose intravenous vitamin C (IV-C). The 4R treatment program to restore G-I function is used: (1) Remove pathogenic bacteria and yeast (2) Replace digestive enzymes and secretions (3) Reimplant friendly intestinal flora (4) Repair the intestinal mucosa.

Digestion

Digestive enzymes are at their highest level in youth, but fall sharply after 40 years of age. The most important organs responsible for digestion are the stomach, pancreas, and liver. The stomach digests protein and begins the breakdown of fat. As gastric acidity declines with age, low gastric acidity occurs frequently and is seen in relation to eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, food allergy, malabsorption and gastric disease (stomach cancer, gastritis),

Pancreatic enzymes is decisive in the body’s ability to digest dietary protein, carbohydrates and fats. Studies have shown that a diet enriched with vegetables and fruit has high levels of natural enzymes, which preserve pancreas function. In contrast, a diet poor in enzymes from food sources overtaxes the pancreas, which comes to overproduce large quantities of digestive enzymes. The long term effect is declining enzyme production and chronic illness because of deficiencies in critical enzyme controlled metabolic functions in the body’s cells. Enzyme deficits are suspected to be the cause of diseases such as atherosclerosis, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, osteoporosis, connective tissue disease and celiac disease.

Bile is produced in liver cells (1 quart daily) and is excreted through the biliary ducts to the small intestine, where it assists in the digestion of fats. The excretion of bile is at the same time a detoxification process, which allows liver cells the opportunity to secrete toxic substances. The bile is therefore a transport medium for poisons, which are emptied in the small intestine. When bile excretion is blocked (gallbladder-/stone disease), symptoms such as malaise, fatigue, bloating and digestive disturbances (especially after meals containing fats) are experienced.

Intestinal Permeability and Liver Function

Leaky gut syndrome is a condition, in which the intestinal mucosa’s ability to absorb nutrients, and at the same time function as a barrier for the contents of the intestinal tract, is disturbed. Any irritation of the intestinal mucosa can result in increased intestinal permeability and consequently a dramatic increase in the uptake of substances in the blood, which normally are excluded, when the intestinal barrier is intact. The causes of changes in intestinal permeability are: inflammatory bowel disease, NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), intestinal dysbiosis, intestinal infection, digestive disturbances and allergic foods.

The liver is the body’s last line of defense against substances, which come from the intestines and must be detoxified. The liver’s enzymatic detoxification system transforms potential toxins to harmless bi-products which are excreted in the kidneys. An increase in toxins from the digestive tract in connection with leaky gut can mean a gradual decline in the liver’s ability to detoxify. Toxins are permitted to leave the liver unchanged. Toxic wastes accumulate in the body’s fat tissues, including the brain and central nervous system, from where they can recirculate in the blood and contribute to chronic health problems. Decreased liver detoxification ability is seen in connection with: chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, food allergies, Parkinson’s Disease and candidiasis.

Treatment Program

The purpose of therapy is the reestablishment of normal gastro-intestinal function. The long term goal is lifestyle changes that maintain metabolism in a harmonious state.

With the 1. consultation we focus on the course of the illness and actual symptoms. Lab tests for underlying health problems are considered in relation to the treatment program:
 

1.	CDSA- (Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis) is a total review of intestinal conditions – including digestion, absorption, metabolic markers, immunity and inflammation as well as microbiological conditions with regards bacteria, yeast and parasites.
2.	Food Allergy (IgG1 & 4) test shows delayed food reactions, which occur from 3 hours up to 3 days after intake of the specific food. 90 foods are tested with ELISA (enzym linked immuno sorbent assay).
3.	Intestinal Permeability Test measures the small intestine’s effectiveness as a barrier to toxic compounds as well as changes with time in relation to the treatment program.
4.	Liver Detoxification Profile is a test for the determination of the liver’s ability to detoxify and eliminate toxic chemicals.
5.	Organix is a metabolic profile with 47 bi-products excreted in the urine, which gives information regarding intestinal dysbiosis, liver detoxification, inflammation, free radical damage and cellular energy metabolism.

With the 2. consultation the test result and treatment program are discussed.