Healing Wise

IBS and Diarrhea

Q: Do you have any suggestions for severe refractory IBS that is diarrhea prominent? I contracted campylobacter that has basically destroyed the nervous system in my gut. So, I'm a little nervous about using herbs as I know they can stir up my belly.

thank you
S.

 

A: Hello S., this is an interesting question. First I would ask you what herbs do you know can stir up your belly? I hear you describe your IBS as caused by a bacterial infection's damage to the nervous system in your intestines. Do you feel there is anything else contributing to the IBS? Is this the description offered to you by a doctor? I ask these questions, and find this an interesting question, because of a recent personal journey of mine. Until this past year all these concepts were fairly new to me. And until this year I was ignorant about the huge difference of opinions among medical doctors when it comes to digestive disturbances, the label of IBS, the seriousness of IBS and diarrhea, and what constitutes digestive health. I share all this because I am not convinced there is a simple answer for you. If there is I don't know it.

By definition refractory means your IBS has not responded to standard treatments. What treatments have you tried? Have you found anything to help? How long has this been going on? The idea of nervous system damage to the intestines is actually a fascinating one, however to me, as of yet, a bit complex when learning how to work with it. At present, I see many cases, as I hear yours, as a more broad concept of ecosystem health. I think of the intestinal complexities as an intestinal ecosystem that can get real thrown out of whack from an infection, stress of any kind, tests to learn what is going on, and many of the treatments used to help bring relief to the symptoms. Further, just as a bacterial infection can cause damage, the symptoms from that infection, like diarrhea, can cause damage as well further throwing things a little more out of sync.

My current approach with this, which I have to acknowledge is a work in progress, is from several directions. If you wish to hear further on my own approach I am happy to discuss through email. Or you are very welcome to read a thread on it I started late last summer when in the heart of it all. If just wishing to hear my most recent decisions toward health you may want to skip to the last page :)

I would also love to invite you to a few community resources we have that might help you find some ideas - our online forum, where people from around the world come to share life experiences and questions, and two new email groups - both can be accessed through the website below my signature.

You are welcome to write any time!

Blessings,
Karen Joy
[email protected]
www.wisewomanweb.com

 

Q: Hi Karen,

Hmm, where do I begin to answer! lol :)

I finally went to a gastroenterologist after going to the ER repeatedly for re hydration and pain med's. I was diagnosed at one ER visit with a confirmed case of campylobacter. The gastro. doc figures it was from that point forward that my nervous system in my gut was compromised. That was about 3 years ago. I was at home for 3 days before seeking treatment for it, I thought it was just another case of belly bugs etc. Well, I was very, very wrong.

I have had all the intestinal tests, colonoscopy, upper GI endoscope, in which they found a hiatial hernia ... and I have severe GERD. Boy, am I a digestive mess or what?

As for treatments, I have tried lots of med's., nortriptyline, Wellbutrin, and a handfull of others that I can't seem to remember the names of them. Nothing works for any length of time for me. I can start a new med and get great relief for about 6 months and then my body builds up a resistance to it and it stops helping.

I have tried watching what I eat, how I eat, etc. Nothing really helps me for any length of time. I have quit using Immodium as it makes the opposite problem. I have a scrip on hand right now that I can take as needed instead of it being a maintenance type med, it's called Lomotil and it will usually stop a vicious attack in about an hour and it doesn't cause constipation which is helpful ...

I have started eating a new yogurt that is on the market that is supposed to regulate your digestive system in 2 weeks ... we'll see. It's called Activia ... have you heard of it yet?

I have six children, we dairy farm on 200 acres and we homeschool 5 of the 6 children. The oldest has graduated :) So, as far as stress being an issue ... um YES! But, how do I "reduce" what is my life?

I would love to know more about what you think can help me with this. I am so tired of living my life on the potty!

S .

 

A: Hi S., what a wonderfully rich life it sounds like you have!

Did you have a chance to read any of my post at the forum? My approach lately has come from several directions. The main one is looking inside to find my own answers. This has been an interesting journey. Next I first want to alleviate the stress on my digestive system by eating foods that feel easier for me to digest, meaning less work. I want to do this for now so my own self-healing abilities have a better chance to work. Next I have been working with herbs to help, as I understand it, toughen my intestinal walls so less water passes through them. This has slowed the diarrhea tremendously. Third since I feel I have a bacterial infection still to some degree, I have been working with some antibacterial herbs. Fourth and fifth I am working at healing from the damage of this journey by restoring depleted minerals, oils, etc. and by replenishing the lost helpful bacteria. Of course none of this is identical to your situation, but perhaps can give you some ideas. At this point I think each situation, though there are many like this, is unique. Not sure if this will relate to you but I think of it the same as I think of working with the land I live on, how each piece of land is unique and how to work with each, landscaping, building a home, etc. is unique. I don't think there is one herb for anyone with IBS. I wish I could tell you better.

I am very curious to hear what you choose to work with. And am happy to help you explore ideas.

Karen Joy

 

Q: Hi Karen,

One thing I have done was buy Activia yogurt. It has a blend of I think, 3 different bacteria's. I have to watch and not eat it every day as it will upset my stomach. They "advertise" that it can stabilize the digestive system in 2 weeks. After about 10 days, I am noticeably better.

I know I have to be pretty careful with what I eat. Sweet corn is a no-no. In fact, a lot of corn based products are a no-no for me.

Yes, my life is rich :) I am blessed.

I am also plagued with severe migraine's. I was hospitalized for them in October of last year. And was referred to a neurologist and after a host of drugs, nothing works, or I have a lot of stomach related problems with them. So, I am going to a chiropractor, and have been there now for 2 weeks, and it is "helping". Nothing seems to keep them at bay however. :(

S.

 

A: So wonderful the yogurt is working for you. The live cultures are a great way to help your digestive system. And I am so glad you have explored for yourself what foods are best to eat and best to avoid. We are all so unique. The headaches sound awful! Have you read either of these articles on our websites:

Headaches/Migraine
Spearmint: A New Natural Antimigraine Remedy 

I do understand though when having dealt with something so severe for so long, trying so many different remedies, new ones may sound futile. So I share it only if something in there sparks some ideas. I imagine more than a new remedy to try you need a new way of looking at the situation and approaching it.

I hope the chiropractor work is helpful enough to give some relief.

Blessings,
Karen Joy

Baby with Ear Infection

Q: Hi, i would really appreciate advice on my 5 month's old (S.) situation. She was diagnosed with an ear infection in both ears 1 week ago. She had a lot of mucus in her nose, but none in her lungs. I am solely breastfeeding, so I started taking echinacea tincture 3 x a day. I was giving S. elder tincture, 2 drops when she was phlemy. 4 days later I took her back to the doctor and she said S. had a very bad ear infection and she gave me amoxacillan. I have been giving her the antibiotics for 2 days now and I feel it is the wrong thing to do. Her poop smells like chemicals and her tongue is stained pink. I want to stop the antibiotics, would that be bad, or should I finish them? How can I naturally cure her and how can I track this ear infection and know it is not getting worse? None of the naturopaths can see me for 3 weeks. I am so stressed out over this and feel like I am poisoning my child. Do you think there is another solution? Thank you for all the knowledge you have brought into my life, J.

 

A: Hello J., I hear and understand your dilemna, as a mom myself. I too have struggled over the question of how we can monitor our children's ear, throat, etc. infection, especially after hearing warnings that if left unresolved, though appearing so, serious injusry could occur. In the end I chose to trust my mom instincts on this. After working with echinacea as I learned from Susun and seeing it work miraculously well without the damage of antibiotics, I trust it tremendously even when (especially when) faced with a serious infection. Antibiotics would only be my choice if this fails or if something required super speedy intravenous attention perhaps.

As for your question of whether you should take her off the antibiotics, this must be your choice. The risk with this is if the echincea or something else does not work, now she likely can not go back on the same antibiotics.

If you choose to use echinacea again, with or without the antibiotics, here is what I do when dealing with an acute infection. I use 1 drop of Echinacea angustifolia root tincture (I strongly prefer angustifolia for this, and only the root, no other part of the plant or other herbs mixed with) for every 2 pounds of body weight. I mix it with water to drink. When my son was still solely breastfed I dropped the tincture water mix in his mouth with a dropper (without putting the tip of the dropper in in case he were able to break the glass). I take this one drop for every two pounds of weight, every hour, even through the night, for at least 12 hours, sometimes longer as appears necessary, then lighten to every two hours, for another day or two, then every three, etc. Keep going though, don't stop as soon as it appears well. I also stress as much as possible to follow the schedule through the whole night, though of course we do not want to wake up our peacefully sleeping sick babes, do it when she does wake crying. I understand you taking it so it can pass through your breastmilk, but with an acute infection I opt to give it direct.

If you continue to give the antibiotic, or even if you stop it, I invite you to consider offering bits of great quality, preferably homemade, yogurt. For a 5 month old, I would put some on my clean finger and let her suck. This is to help her restore her healthy gut flora. Of course kids are good at this themselves as they scoop fingerfuls of dirt in their mouth :)

As I write this I realize you just sent this 5 days ago, so am wondering what you have chosen and how your daughter is doing, and how you are doing. So sorry I had not gotten back to you sooner. Please let me know how we can support you now, and I will keep an eye out for your reply to get back to you much faster.

Blessings,
Karen Joy
[email protected]
www.wisewomanweb.com

 

Q: Hi Karen Joy, thank you for the response to my e-mail I went with the antibiotics, but I've been giving them to S. for over a week and I see no improvement. Seems that she is doing worse she's now grabbing her ears. We are going to start the echinacea with the dosages you suggested. We haven't been able to find the tincture that's strictly from the root. We found some online and were going to order it, is it okay you think to start out with the whole plant tincture? Thank you immensely for your time, it is most appreciated. Regards, J.

 

A: J. yes it is okay to start with the whole plant tincture, but I strongly prefer that made from root. HerbPharm makes a wonderful one. Do you have a natural food store near you? They can probably order it for you. It is so hard to see your little one suffer, I know. How about fevers, has she been running any? Any other signs of feeling unwell? Tugging ears can be teething. My son got his first tooth just before his 6 month birthday, but got so unhappy, fever, seemed a bad cold and ear infection, but was just the tooth, but lasted a couple weeks. Perhaps she had an ear infection and is teething and the antibiotics are helping with the infection. Have you been doing anything to help her with the good bacteria the antibios are killing?

My thoughts are with you,
Karen Joy

 

Q: Hi Karen Joy, My name is J. and I had the five month old, who is now six months old, on antibiotics for an ear infection. I used the echinacea like you told me to and it cleared up the infection. Thank you so much , I don't have much faith in our medical doctor and I needed the encouragement you gave me to trust in herbs and heal my daughter S. the right way. I will not doubt my motherly instinct or the healing power of herbs again. Thank you! Love J.

 

A: Wonderful J. I am so happy for you and S.! Thank you for letting me know, and yay for you knowing your motherly wisdom and the power of the plants. Feel free to write any time :) All my best to you both! Blessings, Karen Joy