Having suffered with constipation for years, I decided to cleanse me colon using colonic irrigation, natural supplements and a radical diet overhaul. In two weeks (and with the aid of 6 colonic treatments) I lost over 15 pounds in weight which I believe was mainly impacted stool which had built up in my system. It made sense to me, if I wasn't passing it, where else was it going to go? Having cleansed my colon I felt younger and more energetic. With a whole new outlook on life I decided to study natural healing and to help people control this uncomfortable symptom.
The most common advice given for treatment of chronic constipation is to increase dietary fiber and water consumption. I have found that while adding bulk and hydration to the stool is important in the treatment of constipation, it is only part of the solution to the puzzle.
The colon is made up of three layers of muscle which lose their strength if they are not used on a daily basis. Also, once the contents of the colon reach over 5 pounds in weight the transverse colon tends to collapse or prolapse. It is much more difficult for stool to pass through a colon which is atonal and out of shape. Inversion board exercises or yoga postures like head or shoulder stands help to right the position of a prolapsed colon, but something still needs to be done to remove the years of build-up!
Here's the three step program that we use in our clinics:
1. Dietary Changes
* Plant based foods feed good bacteria and animal foods contain and feed unhealthy bacteria. Try to keep your diet 80% plant based and to eat smaller portions of meat.
* Reduce or eliminate mucous forming foods, the two most mucous forming foods are cows milk and white bread.
* Eat small amounts of starchy foods like potatoes and pasta, cook with aromatic herbs to help move them through your system.
* Replace regular tea and coffee which are dehydrating with herbal teas and water.
* Add lubricating healthy oils into your diet. Use olive oil for dressings and coconut oil for cooking.
* Nuts, seeds, beans and grains are high in fiber and beneficial, however they contain enzyme inhibitors which make them difficult to digest. Soaking these foods overnight destroys enzyme inhibitors.
2. Natural Supplements
* Magnesium is required for proper nerve and muscle function and one of the first symptoms of magnesium deficiency is constipation. I have found this supplement to be invaluable in the treatment of constipation. Take 300mg of magnesium citrate at night.
* Probiotics, or good bacteria, are needed to complete the process of digestion. Probiotics also importantly produce lactic acid which keeps the colon slightly acidic and in turn triggers a bowel movement. Take one capsule on an empty stomach (each containing 5 billion organisms with at least 8 strains)
* Herbal cleansers: it is important to use something to help to break down the old hardened stool in the digestive system. Alo vera is a simple colon cleansing herb which is gentle and well tolerated. We use a Master Herbalist blend of herbs to cleanse and tone the colon.
3. Colonic Irrigation
While it is possible to achieve results through diet and supplements alone, colonic irrigation speeds up results and helps to reduce the side effects of colon cleansing (cramping, gas, bloating and headaches). Colonic irrigation removes the same amount of stool as about 20 normal bowel movements. The gentle action of the water also exercises the colon and helps to tone it. For chronic constipation, it is recommended that you have six treatments over the course of 2-4 weeks.
For more information please visit Niamh's website www.colonhealth.ie
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Do You Have a Food Intollerance?
Many people have food intolerances. Foods that trigger reactions/ intollerances vary from person to person. Reactions range from mild to severe. These variations make it almost impossible to deduce which foods are causing the problem. Proper testing pinpoints problem foods.
Food intolerance tests use a blood sample to measure the body's inflammatory response to specific foods. Two hundred different foods are tested and patients are provided with a list of foods to avoid.
Patients are then put on a rotational diet (we vary the foods the patient is allowed to eat) and supplements are recommended to heal the digestive tract and prevent new intolerances from developing.
Approximately 80% of your immune system is present in the digestive tract. Lifestyle factors such as stress, antibiotics, alcohol, sugar, female contraception, constipation and diarrhea can cause damage to the digestion and trigger a condition called leaky gut.
In leaky gut the digestive tract becomes too permeable (porous) and large particles of food are allowed to enter the blood stream. These large food particles are seem as foreign invaders and your body begins to attack them just as it would a virus or bacteria.
This immune response is highly inflammatory and can cause symptoms such as joint inflammation, IBS, bowel inflammation, headaches, migraines, acne, eczema and high cholesterol.
Diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, cramping and constipation may also occur due to bowel damage.
Since the body is constantly fighting a foreign invader (food particles), patients with food intolerances may suffer from fatigue, cold sores and low immunity. Other signs and symptoms of a food intolerance are depression, poor memory, anemia, hypothyroid, infertility, PCOS, endometriosis and weight gain.
Many studies have shown that unexplained weight gain is often due to low grade inflammation in the body. Food intolerance testing can be used to remove foods which cause an inflammatory (immune) response. Studies show this to be 70% effective for most patients.
Colonics are an excellent way of increasing your basal metabolic rate (how many calories you burn just doing nothing). As people grow older, metabolic rates slow down. This is why we all have a harder and harder time staying thin as we age. At Xsmena we have found that the use of daily colonics for 6 days is the most effective way to utilize colonics for weight loss. We have seen some clients lose 5-10lbs in a week when colonics are used in this way.
Weight loss is always hard and the benefits vary from person to person but it is our belief that this potent combo of food intolerance testing and colonics is an excellent way to kick start your way into health.
For more details please contact Xsmena on 01-2021987
Food intolerance tests use a blood sample to measure the body's inflammatory response to specific foods. Two hundred different foods are tested and patients are provided with a list of foods to avoid.
Patients are then put on a rotational diet (we vary the foods the patient is allowed to eat) and supplements are recommended to heal the digestive tract and prevent new intolerances from developing.
Approximately 80% of your immune system is present in the digestive tract. Lifestyle factors such as stress, antibiotics, alcohol, sugar, female contraception, constipation and diarrhea can cause damage to the digestion and trigger a condition called leaky gut.
In leaky gut the digestive tract becomes too permeable (porous) and large particles of food are allowed to enter the blood stream. These large food particles are seem as foreign invaders and your body begins to attack them just as it would a virus or bacteria.
This immune response is highly inflammatory and can cause symptoms such as joint inflammation, IBS, bowel inflammation, headaches, migraines, acne, eczema and high cholesterol.
Diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, cramping and constipation may also occur due to bowel damage.
Since the body is constantly fighting a foreign invader (food particles), patients with food intolerances may suffer from fatigue, cold sores and low immunity. Other signs and symptoms of a food intolerance are depression, poor memory, anemia, hypothyroid, infertility, PCOS, endometriosis and weight gain.
Many studies have shown that unexplained weight gain is often due to low grade inflammation in the body. Food intolerance testing can be used to remove foods which cause an inflammatory (immune) response. Studies show this to be 70% effective for most patients.
Colonics are an excellent way of increasing your basal metabolic rate (how many calories you burn just doing nothing). As people grow older, metabolic rates slow down. This is why we all have a harder and harder time staying thin as we age. At Xsmena we have found that the use of daily colonics for 6 days is the most effective way to utilize colonics for weight loss. We have seen some clients lose 5-10lbs in a week when colonics are used in this way.
Weight loss is always hard and the benefits vary from person to person but it is our belief that this potent combo of food intolerance testing and colonics is an excellent way to kick start your way into health.
For more details please contact Xsmena on 01-2021987
Monday, August 24, 2009
Focus on help for Health
Topic: Diabetes
Controlling blood sugars is so well understood now, that the quality of life for diabetics is far better than it has ever historically been. Early diagnosis has vastly improved, greatly reducing the more sinister outcomes of the disease.
One of the secondary health issues related to diabetes is circulatory disease. In the case of diabetes the blood becomes excessively acid. As the disease advances [especially if the diabetic is also a smoker] blood and lymph circulation to the feet decreases - sometimes with such inadequate blood and lymph supply to the toes and feet that amputation of toes, foot or lower leg becomes necessary to preserve life.
In the case of Diabetes the blood becomes excessively acidic. Another diabetic issue is damage to acid sensitive organs / tissues the blood circulates through. The eyes and the heart in particular are especially sensitive to continuous exposure to high acidity leading to poorer vision or indeed total blindness while acid damage to the heart muscle causes the muscle tissue to become fragile and less tolerant of the pressure of the heart pumping.
Apart from controlling the blood sugars - it is also important to be prudent in what you eat and drink. Adequate water intake is vital.
There is well documented advice for controlling sugar intake but since sugars and fats are closely related [the body can convert excess sugars into stored fat] the quality of the fats you eat is just as important for maintaining good health.
There are good fats which can help to clear harmful cholesterol fats from the body and these fats also improve lymph circulation and keep your veins and arteries nice and supple [better able to withstand pressure from the heart pumping].
The Colon [i.e. large intestine] is the final destination for all lymph wastes. Colon cleansing helps to increase waste output from all cells, nerves, muscles, organs and the lymph system - instantly boosting circulation and reducing acidity of the bloods which is a huge benefit to diabetics in particular.
It is also important to do what you can to maintain good circulation - long walks help not only to circulate blood better but its the best way of pumping the lymph fluids throughout the body.
Why is Lymph Circulation so important???
Lymph fluid carries your white blood cells, fats and body waste. There is just as many metres of lymph vessels in the body as there are veins or arteries. If the lymph fluids move too slowly through your body - wastes cant be cleared and they begin to stagnate, pool and crystalize in the lymph vessels [these are like a vein or artery but are not 'plumbed' into the hearts' "pump" and so rely on movement [particularly of the feet] to be pumped and circulated.
Why should Lymph Circulation matter???
When the fats in the lymph begin to crystalize the crystals can be transported and deposited in any nerve, muscle fibre, or joint resulting in pain. They can also form as bumps [spots not coming to a 'head'] just under the surface of the skin - particularly on the face, upper arms, chest, back, and upper thighs. Wastes then begin to accumulate in every cell in the body causing the cells to be too full to take in food, water, oxygen and 'hormone' messages from the brain.
Cells begin to starve causing them to be unable to respond properly to instructions from the brain or receiving garbled messages.
This is very important as garbled information or lack of information can cause cells to 'do their own thing' such as to mutate or continue growing [ie tumours]. Thick waste laden lymph fluid also slows the bodys' immune response since white blood cells must cross from the lymph system into the blood vessels when needed to fight off foreign bacteria and viral invaders - which can leave your body more susceptible to viral and bacterial infection, re-infection or a prolonged recovery.
If cells full of waste, lacking adequate food, water and oxygen manage to divide and grow, the copy they make is poor, not exactly like the original [can result in premature aging].
The best ways to help your lymph system whether you take regular exercise or not is to have
Controlling blood sugars is so well understood now, that the quality of life for diabetics is far better than it has ever historically been. Early diagnosis has vastly improved, greatly reducing the more sinister outcomes of the disease.
One of the secondary health issues related to diabetes is circulatory disease. In the case of diabetes the blood becomes excessively acid. As the disease advances [especially if the diabetic is also a smoker] blood and lymph circulation to the feet decreases - sometimes with such inadequate blood and lymph supply to the toes and feet that amputation of toes, foot or lower leg becomes necessary to preserve life.
In the case of Diabetes the blood becomes excessively acidic. Another diabetic issue is damage to acid sensitive organs / tissues the blood circulates through. The eyes and the heart in particular are especially sensitive to continuous exposure to high acidity leading to poorer vision or indeed total blindness while acid damage to the heart muscle causes the muscle tissue to become fragile and less tolerant of the pressure of the heart pumping.
Apart from controlling the blood sugars - it is also important to be prudent in what you eat and drink. Adequate water intake is vital.
There is well documented advice for controlling sugar intake but since sugars and fats are closely related [the body can convert excess sugars into stored fat] the quality of the fats you eat is just as important for maintaining good health.
There are good fats which can help to clear harmful cholesterol fats from the body and these fats also improve lymph circulation and keep your veins and arteries nice and supple [better able to withstand pressure from the heart pumping].
The Colon [i.e. large intestine] is the final destination for all lymph wastes. Colon cleansing helps to increase waste output from all cells, nerves, muscles, organs and the lymph system - instantly boosting circulation and reducing acidity of the bloods which is a huge benefit to diabetics in particular.
It is also important to do what you can to maintain good circulation - long walks help not only to circulate blood better but its the best way of pumping the lymph fluids throughout the body.
Why is Lymph Circulation so important???
Lymph fluid carries your white blood cells, fats and body waste. There is just as many metres of lymph vessels in the body as there are veins or arteries. If the lymph fluids move too slowly through your body - wastes cant be cleared and they begin to stagnate, pool and crystalize in the lymph vessels [these are like a vein or artery but are not 'plumbed' into the hearts' "pump" and so rely on movement [particularly of the feet] to be pumped and circulated.
Why should Lymph Circulation matter???
When the fats in the lymph begin to crystalize the crystals can be transported and deposited in any nerve, muscle fibre, or joint resulting in pain. They can also form as bumps [spots not coming to a 'head'] just under the surface of the skin - particularly on the face, upper arms, chest, back, and upper thighs. Wastes then begin to accumulate in every cell in the body causing the cells to be too full to take in food, water, oxygen and 'hormone' messages from the brain.
Cells begin to starve causing them to be unable to respond properly to instructions from the brain or receiving garbled messages.
This is very important as garbled information or lack of information can cause cells to 'do their own thing' such as to mutate or continue growing [ie tumours]. Thick waste laden lymph fluid also slows the bodys' immune response since white blood cells must cross from the lymph system into the blood vessels when needed to fight off foreign bacteria and viral invaders - which can leave your body more susceptible to viral and bacterial infection, re-infection or a prolonged recovery.
If cells full of waste, lacking adequate food, water and oxygen manage to divide and grow, the copy they make is poor, not exactly like the original [can result in premature aging].
The best ways to help your lymph system whether you take regular exercise or not is to have
- Drink 2 litres of water per day [more if you are tall, carrying excess weight or very active]
- Regular massage
Massage when done by an experienced professional will help move lymph through muscles freeing your muscles of pain and speeding movement of wastes to the colon where the body dumps all lymph wastes.
- Colon cleansing
To ensure all wastes especially lymph waste is properly cleared improving circulation and immune response and improving absorption of the water you drink.
- Essential Fats
Take a high quality omega 3 fish oil supplement to ensure lymphatic wastes remain sufficiently fluid to clear properly and keep your blood vessels supple.
by Adrienne Manassero
Aria Healthcare
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
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