05.05.2013

The real truth about H. pylori: allergies, autoimmune, & adrenal fatigue

*Update* I want to post an update for this post because It has become so popular! (I’m so happy my experience is helping others).

I had reinfection that lasted several months (because it took me that long to match my symptoms with h. pylori again). I tried a few things like colloidal silver and a few foods. I had run out of the herb trio and a tried essential oils and olive leaf extract. I was interested and the more research I did, the more I realized there are lot of different approaches to killing it. H. pylori typically is not a solo infection but comes with a weakened immune system and other health conditions. It’s hard to distinguish whats what too (treating the whole body is always important).

So I am put together a Gutsy h. pylori Facebook group (join HERE) for all of you to ask questions about h. pylori and see what works! 

 


 

In my last post (healing update #5) I told you I have h. pylori. It is not a fun thing to have. It creates SO much destruction in the gut and organs and pretty much can ruin your body. The #1 thing you do not want to do is let it overgrow-trust me, it is much worse then the detox. So, lets begin.

h. pylori is short for Helicobacter pylori

Research

If you don’t know anything about h. pylori I suggest you watch these video’s. I have done lots of research over the past months and these videos are very detailed and explain the biochemical process your body goes through and what the h. pylori does (what vitamins it takes away, detox pathways it ruins, etc..) to the body. I wont lie- they are long, but if you are serious about eradicating the h.pylori for good, then you need to know your facts.

h. pylori- another piece to the puzzle

h. p- part 2

I find Dr. Amy is a very thorough Dr. and researcher and her protocol and testing techniques actually work. Here is her site.

h pylori 2

The confusion

H. pylori is pretty common and a lot of people don’t even know they have it. From what scientists can test- It is the most common infection in the world! When you do know you have it, most likely it is because you are already having un plesent symptoms.

Im not going to list all the symptoms here all because it can pretty much be anything. Not just digestion related/ulcers. Lots of doctors think it stays in the stomach. Nope. It can travel and infect any organ it likes to.

Not only does h. pylori invade but since it reduces stomach acid- (because it likes an base environment to grow) then other parasites and bugs have a easy time thriving. Acid kills, without acid-bad bugs will live in you. yuck.

Many people say that most people infected have no symptoms. Though, I disagree because now I know that it does only produce stomach related symptoms. (Brain fog, thyroid, allergies, fatigue, parasites, and other chronic illnesses are related to h. pylori). Who knew! The reason why I was not diagnosed earlier was because I did not have ulcers, or severe stomach pain. I had all the other symptoms no one could figure out and put the pieces together.

How to treat h.pylori?

There are tons of methods to treat h. pylori.

  • Antibiotics- Which are now clinically proven to not work long term.
  • Herbs-There are so many to count but there is good list that are proven to kill it effectively. (I have lists below)
  • Baking soda or acids- Which one do you choose? It is important to understand the “science” behind it all to know HOW to get rid of h. pylori. Read the section “a note on acids”
  • Gums: (I did not want to include this in “herbs” so it got its own category. Mastic gum is the most common and very good at killing h. pylori.

It is hard to get rid of

H. pylori is stubborn. If you were a bacteria, you would think of a million ways to stay alive-right? H. pylori got the brains so it decided to “hide” and bury itself in the mucus layer in the stomach lining- and other places it infects. You cant just kill it without provoking it out.

Not only that, but even after you eradicate it- it can take up to 6+ months to finally start felling really normal again because it can do so much damage. Your body needs time to rebuild nutrient stores and learn how to function like the body intended (without the bacteria thriving in you).

How is it transmitted?

Over half of the world’s population host H. pylori in their upper G.I. tract. Infection tends to be more prevalent within developing countries and less in western civilizations because of the health care provisions available.

The route of transmission of H. Pylori is unknown, although it’s noted that individuals typically become infected in childhood. H. pylori has a helix shape that is thought to have evolved in order to penetrate the stomach’s mucoid lining.

 

Possible routes of infection include either oral-oral or fecal-oral, iatrogenic spread with inadvertent use of unsterile pH probes and endoscopes, and vectorial spread by flies.

Many sources say it is easily transmitted so it is advised to treat the whole family (and pets) with the herbal regime so you do not get re-infected. I am planning on doing this. I still have to do a bit more research about what herbs are safe for pets.

bacteria

What are the facts- why is it SO bad?

Let me just  explain WHY you may feel so terrible. The longer the infection has been in your body and the weaker you are- the more likely that these symptoms will be on the severe side.

Allergies: 

This is because the h. pylori sort of “drills” holes in the gut, allowing big food molecules in the blood stream. This in turn will cause an “allergic reaction” because the body is always fighting against things (aka. leaky gut).

Swelling, sneezing, itching all have a purpose- to dilute or get rid of toxins produced by the body when it reacts to these things. Food, smells, chemicals, toxins, touching things, breathing- any of these are possible to give a person with h. pylori problems. Allergies are secondary to h. pylori. 

 “IgG food sensitivities and IgE food  allergies. It is my personal opinion, and what I have seen using this  program that IgG food sensitivities are related to leaky gut (often secondary to H.pylori). What happens is the system is exposed to foods that it should not be, due to the  fact that the barrier is leaky. As we address the leaky gut itself as  well as the underlying cause the sensitivity to those foods seems to  diminish.”- Dr. Amy.

Messes up our detox pathways:

This is the most destructive thing in my opinion. Detox is vital to staying alive! The detox methylation pathways NEED certain vitamins and amino acids to work.

The h. pylori takes a lot of these important “middle men” that work to keep our detox pathways open and running. So basically h. pylori shuts down some of your detox pathways. This makes people sick, sick, sick. Anything is possible at this point. Touching or just breathing in foods/chemicals/pollens can make you go crazy or pass out. Your body just keeps recirculation toxins and your liver gets overwhelmed, swollen, and full!

Autoimmune disorders:

This may get a little tricky- try to follow me. When the h. pylori decided to make a home in your body, it needs certain materials to do that. It needs to neutralize acid. It needs certain vitamins (vb-12 is one of them).It needs to make enzymes to help keep it alive – its enzymes use up manganese- leaving the body deficient in manganese. Manganese is needed to fight free radicals. Without it cell membranes and the DNA are damaged.

In the process it throws off phospholipid, DNA, uradine (helps with brain connection–brain fog anyone?), and pretty much starts messing with the mitochondria. The mitochondria houses the body’s energy (ATP). So now the body is zapped of ALL energy and things start to work slower.

Detox pathways start to shut down because of what I explained in the above points Once this happens then toxic metals start accumulating in the body’s tissues. They can settle wherever they like-brain/thyroid/pancreas, etc.

The cells are smart so they will “trap” and “hide” the heavy metals which are a threat to the body- especially the brain. Once they “trap” the heavy metals in the cell, the body starts to attack the cell-trying to get to the heavy metal to kill it. Autoimmune is the body attacking itself. But really it is attacking the antigen inside the cell. Now this process is not going to be the same for everyone-but you get the point. If you want to learn more about autoimmunity and its process read this free book.

Minerals:

Sine the h. pylroi has blocked absorption (due to neutralizing acid in your stomach), minerals are not going to be absorbed.

Detox pathways also help eliminate excess heavy metals ( “bad” minerals) and since the pathways are blocked the heavy metals will take over binding sites of good minerals. Basically minerals are off and not balanced. This is never good and can lead to pretty much any problem under the sun!

The body has an order of preference for minerals. For example, the body prefers Zinc for over 50 critical enzymes. However, if Zinc becomes deficient (which is very common) or exposure to Cadmium, Lead or Mercury is sufficiently high, the body will use these toxic minerals in place of Zinc. Cadmium, in particular, is located just below Zinc in the periodic table of the elements, so its atomic structure is very similar to that of Zinc. It almost fits perfectly in the Zinc binding sites of critical enzymes.

Look at this atomic table to figure out the possible “thefts” for each good mineral. In each vertical column find each good mineral- zinc, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, manganese, iron, copper, selenium, sulfur etc. Then search for “bad” minerals (heavy metals)  in the same column that can potentially take over the binding spots of the good ones.

High aluminum levels are correlated with bacterial infections.

Even good minerals can get off balance like calcium/magnesium,copper/zincselenium/sulfur ratios. A good test to figure out your mineral and heavy metal ratios is a hair analysis test.

Chronic infection:

H. pylori is a chronic infection. Chronic infections lead to decrease in the conversion of T4 to Active T3 (thyroid hormones- the 3 and 4 represent the # of iodine molecules).

When the body is stressed the T3 gets converted to RT3 (reverse t3). That is bad. The thyroid and the whole body are affected form this inablilty to produce thyroid hormone your body can use. The thyroid becomes “hypo” which leads to weight gain, constipation, dry skin, depression, etc. Thyroid is very important and helps regulate hormones too in the body.

learn more about RT3 here. I don’t believe in taking medication to cover up symptoms. Symptoms are the body trying to tell YOU what is wrong, I believe in fixing the ROOT problem.

Parasites:

Dr Amy says. “I regularly find blastocystis hominis, giardia, cryptosporidium, candida, and other infections in my clients and sometimes people are harbouring these organisms as well as H pylori. A long term H pylori infection and lowering of stomach acid allows these other organisms to pass safely through to the intestines where they are able to colonise. These other infections cause many overlapping symptoms – gas, bloating, headaches, diarrhoea, etc – and are therefore hard to distinguish from H pylori. I therefore recommend running high quality stool testing where possible.”

Fatigue:

Of course fatigue will be a part because they body is ALWAYS working and you are deficient in b-vitamins (aka energy vitamins), iron (h. pylori/bacteria like to use iron to their own good). Even when I was eating red meat and high iron foods, my iron levels were low.

Stomach acid:

H. pylori is attracted to low or high acid environments. It starts in the stomach because of this quality- but can travel to other organs. H. pylori can thrive in a high acid stomach because it covers itself in a barrier and hides itself in the mucous layer, deep within your stomach. This can make it tricky to eradicate because they herbs have no way of reaching the bacteria.

H. pylori also neutralizes stomach acid so you have a very poor time digesting and assimilation vitamins and minerals. Say hello fatigue and rumbly stomach!  Read more at “note on acid” below.

*you can also try this HCL temporarily. But it will not eradicate you h pylori, only help ease heartburn and digestion. Do not use at the same time as baking soda.

Ketosis:

Ketosis  is when your body starts using fat for energy.  You may think-“Oh this is great”. No not great at all. The brain NEEDS glucose for energy and to survive. When the body turns to fat for energy the body produces ketones.

Part of the ketone molecule can be used for energy but the “bad” part called acetone (the chemical also found in nail polish remover) cannot be used by the body. It is excreted through the urine and breath (stinky urine and breath). The urine is first filtered through the kidneys. When too much acetone is always flushing through the kidneys, the kidneys start to overwork (read here if your kidneys are in danger).

Acetone is a toxin that makes the blood more acidic and starts to damage the liver. When the kidneys overwork the body starts to really get messed up and it can be dangerous. I was there, and I never want to go back. I still have to be careful because I get kidney pain and fluid retention (kidneys facilitate fluid in the body).

In TCM the kidneys are the life force- you don’t want to be messing around with that. It is important to support the kidney with homeopathic, foods, herbs, and whatever you can think of.

You should be taking the ph or your urine:

Something I am thinking of doing is buying these Ph test strips. You take the strip and hold it under your urine. A high urine ph (alkaline) means toxins are being excreted by your kidneys and they are stressed!

High urine ph (7-8): ALKALINE

  • kidney stones
  • vegetarian diet
  • chronic renal failure
  • bacteria infection (Most of the bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections make the urine more alkaline because the bacteria split urea into ammonia and other alkaline waste products.)

Low urine ph (4.5-7) : ACIDIC

  • high protein/meat diet
  • diarrhea
  • starvation
  • dehydration

 

Learn more about it here.

Neurotransmitter imbalances:

You have probably heard of neurotransmitters so you know how important they are to the cells and brain. Serotonin will be off balance. OCD symptoms may be present and mood and appetite will be affected as well.

Muscle spasms:

This one was random but made sense why I get random eye twitches. High triptamine levels are associated with h. pylroi infection. These high triptamine  levels create “twitches” in the body. I found that Magnesium Bath Flakes help the twitching.

Ammonia:

H. pylori produces high ammonia levels in the body. I cant imagine this is good for any organ. Just more for the body to deal with.

Hard to eradicate:

This bacteria digs deep deep down into the mucous layer. It hides itself form the immune system. Because of this and its “tail” that buries itself in the body, it can take a long time to eradicate. It can take many months to get neurotransmitters back to normal too (after eradication). This infection is common in autistic kids and eradicating it can have a huge improvement on moods, speech, cognitive abilities.

Liver/gallbladder problems:

The liver filters the blood (which is becoming toxic from the h. pylori) so it gets clogged and overwhelmed.

The detox pathways are not working so the liver takes the upper hand and overworks night and day until it becomes too clogged to do the job.

Allergies commonly become worse when the liver is toxic.

When the liver does not work right, the gallbladder will not do its job right either. The gallbladder is connected to the liver and works according to how the liver works and vice versa. You need bile to help flush out hormones and toxins and to digest food.

Liver herbs and gallbladder herbs (bitter) are helpful in getting these important detox organs stronger and functioning again (listed below).

To learn more about liver/gb connection read this book. Ox bile and coffee enemas can also assist these two organs greatly.

Adrenal fatigue:

The adrenals sit on top of the kidneys, so they are connected. Since h. pylori damages kidneys so badly, the adrenals are affected as well. When your body is under chronic stress it starts to affect your adrenal glands and drags your body down the stages of adrenal fatigue until one day you feel “dead tired”. Cortisol levels, sleep, and blood sugar will be off too.

Here is a good book about adrenal fatigue.

Malnutrition:

Not only is your body not absorbing nurtients because you need acid and vitamin b-12 to assimilate nutrients, but since h. pylori neutralizes your stomach acid- parasites, bugs, and bacteria grow and use the nutrients up and leave you with…well not much. This can leave you feeling always hungry- like “nutrient hungry” I call it. Height and growth is also affected in some children and adults.

Histamine:

Gut problems is directly related to histamine levels. Mast cells (which release histamine) increase with an h. pylori infection.

I never really had a problem with his until one day out of the blue I got full body hives and itching. Since then I have had more hives and itching spells. I keep it under control by eating low histamine foods, detoxing, and following my h. pylori program so it does not overgrow more. For me, sea salt seems to help calm the itching/hives as well- natural antihistamine. I find magnesium flake baths help the itching/hives.

Digestive problems:

Digestive problems are characteristic symptom for people with h. pylori (so are ulcers). Diarrhea, constipation bloating, acid reflux, indigestion, nausea, loss or gain or appetite, nervous stomach, gas, etc.  In the mean time, activated charcoal can help digestive issues and gas.

Hernia of stomach (hiatal hernia):

This is when the stomach rides up and get “stuck” and pushes into an ares it doesn’t belong-upward into the chest. Usually the feeling is a hard stomach that is tender. GERD is also a symptom.

This type of hernia can be corrected with manipulative pressure from a kinesiologist (or yourself). I got mine”pushed down” (and you can fix your too!) and will have to continue doing it every few weeks or so until it actually “stays where it is suppose to”

Other organs infected:

Since bacteria can travel, other organs can get infected. For me, my small intestines, stomach, and sinuses are all infected with the h. pylori. Each person is different. Just paying attention to your symptoms may help you figure it out.

Look at a human anatomy chart to know where your organs are. Stomach (hard/tender-h. pylori starts in the stomach). Small intestines (absorption issues). Large intestines/colon (digestion/ bowl problems). Pancreas (enzyme and insulin imbalances). Liver (toxic liver symptoms). Kidneys (kidney pain and associated problems). Sinus (sinus pressure and constant swelling).

Teeth and sinus problems:

The stomach and intestines play a big role in teeth and sinus health. I have a history of cavities and sinus infections. Bacteria can travel from the stomach into the teeth and do damage. The bacteria can travel from the mouth into the sinuses. It is important to kill the bacteria in the sinuses and mouth with salt water rises until you get the h. pylori under control.

Migraines:

*for relief, magnesium oil can help headaches instantly.

” Migraines can be caused by hormone and/or serotonin imbalances and recall that serotonin imbalances can related to chronic bacterial issues. So this gets us back to a need for a full CPR if other suggestions are not enough of a help. Also lack of carnitine (often secondary to H.pylori) can be sufficient to cause migraines.- Dr. Amy”

GABA/glutamate imbalance:

GABA is a neurotransmitter used by the nervous system to transfer messages. It is important to prevent anxiety, restlessness, and brain health.

Vitamins b-6 and B-12 specificlaly are needed to make GABA and since your body is already deficient in them, GABA production slows down. When GABA is out of balance glutamate will be to.  GABA gets low, while glutamate gets high.

I experienced this “drunk” feeling after drinking too much bone broth and fermented veggies once- this was because these foods are high in free glutamate. I already had enough glutamate being produced at abnormal levels so even slight amounts in food send the balance way overboard. This can be a reason why some people do worse on the GAPS diet. Look up high glutamate foods here.

 

Did I list enough for you? There is alot more that h. pylori does, but lets try to focus on what to DO to get rid of it and bring the body back in balance.

Testing

You are probably wondering how do you even know if you have h. pylori for sure?  You do testing- but here is where it can get tricky (not all testing is reliable).

* I got kinesiology testing, which in my opinion can be just as accurate as a blood/stool/breath test if you get a good practitioner.

* always work with a practitioner if you think you have h. pylori.

Stool test:

(like this one). Do the stool test on a full moon- bacteria and parasites are most active then. This is the most reliable according to most studies. It can be done before to diagnose h. pylori. and after to make sure you have it cleared from your system. Read here why it is the most reliable test.

Kinesiology:

This requires a special kinesiologist practitioner to use muscle testing to find the “root cause” . This is what I did and my Dr. used “bacteria” viles and my muscles to determine that I had an h. pylori infection. We tested things until we found out what exactly made my muscle weak.

Blood test:

Checks the antibodies to H. pylori. Antibodies can stay in your blood 12-18 months after eradication (treatment). If you do have antibodies and have never been treated then YES you have h. pylori.

Breath test:

This test uses radioactive carbon atom to detect h.pylori. Though it is a inconsistent test, and usually expensive.

Stomach biopsy:

A sample is taken from inside the stomach and small intestine. This test too is inconsistent and the most invasive.

Markers on other testing:

Here are some of the markers trained Dr.’s look for that “hint” at the patient has an h. pylori infection.  Here are Dr. Amy’s findings…

  • “if manganese is  consistently low on a Urine essential elements test
  • if most amino acids are low on a Urine amino acid test  and  arginine is normal range
  • if suberic is really high  on a Metabolic Analysis Profile (MAP) in spite of carnitine support
  • if particular Krebs  intermediates are high while others are in normal range on that MAP
  • if  5HIAA is very high when it doesn’t make sense with the maoA status or  the support being used
  • if there is consistently midrange to high  cadmium and bismuth excretion
  • if a Neurotransmitter test is showing  high tryptamine or tyramine”

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A note on Acid:

Some pratcitoners like to supplement acid to “kill the h. pylori”. But if you have been following what I have been saying, then the h. pylori will not be killed by the acid because it will either neutralize it or hide in the mucous layer of the gut so it stays in a “safe environment”

Here is what Dr. Amy says:

“I would NOT add anything acidic to drop the pH in my personal opinion.  I will explain why I am saying that by explaining my personal theory on  H.pylori that seems to be holding up to the test of time and having  positive results…I believe that the H.pylori may be coming out of  hiding due to the program. H.pylori makes an enzyme called urease. This  enzyme uses arginine from the body and makes a product to help to  neutralize the stomach acid. While H.pylori may initially be attracted  to a gut that has a higher stomach pH, and while it is shown to be a  factor in acid reflux, GERD, stomach ulcers…it actually will not live  in an acid environment. That is why it hides in the mucosal cells lining  the gut. I believe it is in part so hard to eradicate as it is hiding  in those mucosal cells. The idea of the baking soda which has worked  well is to trick the H.pylori into thinking the pH is less acidic so it  will come out of hiding and so the other supplements (Peptimycin and  HELXthese are the supplements she uses which contain many of the herbs I am listing) can reach it. When the pH climbs  like you are seeing, I believe that represents H.pylori that has come  out of hiding, out of the mucosal cells and is making urease to  neutralize the stomach acid so that it can live there. I feel it is now  more vulnerable to eradication, but it also may be causing more gut  pain. This is why we consider the H.pylori program when the gut  pH is very low (an environment that H.pylori may be attracted to) or  when it is high (indicating H.pylori is making urease to increase the  gut pH to neutralize the acid). What has been seen on a number of tests  is that the pH will swing from very low (ie around 5) to very high  (closer to 8 ) for the same individual.”

* a gut test determines the h.p of the stomach.

*So basically- don’t use acid- use baking soda to “provoke” the h. pylori out of hiding so you can kill it with supplements and herbs. Baking soda is used to trick the h. pylori that the stomach is “safe” and base (not acidic).

food

FOOD/diet:

What to eat?

This is a very broad question and I wonder if I am doing the right thing each day. It all boils down to- how do you feel after eating? Of course you should stay away form the junk, sugar, table salt, and the obvious bad things. But what about all the lists you see online “what not to eat with h.pylori”. I tried to find out the pros and cons or each. I hope it helps. Your best bet is to listen to your instincts.

“Are these food’s ok if I have h. pylori?”

Coffee:

pro: It can decrease GGT (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) levels–this is a “bad” liver enzyme.

con: Coffee is acidic in nature and can stress adrenals more-so this is a decision you have to make. I personally do not drink it.

Fermented foods:

pro: Full of good natural probitoics to hep fight infection and bacteria.

con: Can increase excess glutamate and histamine levels.

High fat (even good fats):

pro: Help absorption of vitamins  (especially since you are deficient probably) and keep you full longer.

con: Can aggravate ketosis and inflammation in the stomach- look at note below **

** Eat a higher carbohydrate/ lower fat diet:

Too much fat aggravates the h pylori symptoms (digestion/gallbladder doesn’t work/ketosis) and keeping a steady amount of carbohydrates prevents the body from going into ketosis. This is a temporary diet- and you can return to lots of healthy fats once you recover. A stool that is pale and stinky is most likely a signal you are not digesting your fats. To help digest fats- increase herbs to support bile (dandelion root, bitter herbs).

Onion/garlic/broccoli/cauliflower:

pro: Helps to “fight” h. pylori directly.

con: If you have a CBS mutation, you have a sulfur detox problem and this can aggravate your symptoms. (check out foods high in sulfur)

Spices (cayenne/mustard/cloves/cinnamon):

pro: Antibacterial properties and are known to help ulcers (common in h. pylori).

con: Spicy foods can aggravate the stomach lining and increase HCL in the stomach. Remeber that 1-2 hours after eating we want to make the stomach “base” so the h. pylori comes out of hiding. Some sources say they can promote the perfect ground for bacteria growth.

*Here is my thinking. Is it may be ok to eat these healing spices with food  (even if it does increase the Hydrochloric acid in the stomach temporarily) and then just follow with the baking soda after most of the food is digested. If it aggravates your stomach- don’t eat it, but if you crave it- your body may need it. (here is a good article to help)

Dairy

pro: Especially if it is raw and cultured, it will be a rich source of probioitcs.

con: Can be a cause of excess mucous in the body and high fat dairy can aggravate sensitive stomachs with h. pylori. Fermented milk or cheese are high in glutamates.

Chocolate

pro: High in magnesium and mineras.

con: Can aggravate the stomach because it is acidic.

Red meat:

pro: A good source of b- vitamins and iron (anemia and B-12 are common deficiencies with h. pylori)**

con: Meat is acidic but it depends on how your body digest it if it will be ok with h. pylori symptoms.

**h pylori is commonly found in blood type O’s -who process meat well and need to eat it to feel good and strong. read about it here

Protein:

pro: Keeps you full, contains important amino acids to make neurotransmitters (which you are lacking in).

con: Too much can stress the kidneys- which are already fragile and detoxing hard.

Bone broth/gelatin:

pro: Rich in gut healing properties.

con: If you have a GABA/glutamate imbalance then you need to be careful about eating foods high in free glutamate and gelatin is high. (check out foods high in glutamate).

cranberry

AVOID:

carbonated drinks

alcohol: Too much free glutamate

canned foods: Histamine is high

leftover foods: Histamine is increased

sugar

white products

vinegar: Use apple cinder vinegar instead

foods you are allergic to: Aggravates stomach and pretty much the whole body.

tomatoes: They have an acidic affect in the stomach.

grains (gluten and non gluten): There are alot of problems with grains and leaky guts /cross reacting to gluten grains so it is best to stay away while you heal.

ADD:

flavinoid rich foods: Cranberries (good for kidneys too), apples, onions, celery

sea salt: Helps balance adrenals and regulate kidneys

leafy green veggies/sea veggies (organic): Rich in vitamin b’s, and other vitamins and minerals

wild fish– Rich in omega 3’s -reduce inflammation

veggies and fruits

squash and starchy veggies: To help keep carbohydrate intake higher if you are on low fat- you will need calories

 

Remember these are just my thoughts and can be used as guidelines, but I say the best bet is listen to your body’s healthy cravings.

 

The protocol

My protocol will look different from yours, but I will show you my protocol as an example. I am still very sensitive, so I did some extra research and “dissected” common h. pylori supplements that contained herbs and enzymes so I could stay away from “fillers” and capsules.

Tip: Cycle on and off supplements/herbs- don’t want to over drive the immune system. You want to give the body a break.

example: 2 weeks on herbs & 1 week off herbs or 4 days on herbs & 1 day off (whatever feels right with your body)

teas

Organ support:

I created this to have its own category because these herbs don’t necessarily “kill the h. pylori, but they are still important to keep the organs strong and eliminating the toxic waste.

Herbal teas:

Many teas are very supportive of the organ systems (which you need right now). I will give you a small list for supporting each organ system.

*I always have someone in my family muscle test me to make sure my body needs them at that time. Use these videos to learn how to muscle test yourself. I have a new love for learning about herbs-here is my new page for them

Kidney: uva ursi, cranberry, rose hips, parsley, nettle, burdock, dandelion leaf

Reproductive system: maca, red raspberry leaf, red clover, white peony root

Lymph: oregon grape root, poke root, cleavers, wild indigo, Figwort, horsetail, echinacea, goldenseal

Bowel:

  • constipated: senna leaf, Cascara sagrada, rhubarb root, chickweed
  • diarrhea: marshmallow root, slippery elm bark, peppermint, camomile

Liver/gallbladder: dandelion root, dandelion leaf, Schisandra berries, milk thistle, gentian root, turmeric

Digestion/stomach: ginger, fennel, marshmallow root, slippery elm bark, rose hips, lotus leaf

Spleen/blood: hawthorn berries, red root, barberry

Adrenals: licorice, codonopsis root, sarsaparilla, ginseng, wild yam *sea salt is also very good at supporting adrenals

Brain: ginkgo, ashwaghandha, rosemary, peppermint, holy basil, green tea

Screen Shot 2013-05-05 at 7.45.53 PM

Homeopathics:

Homeopathics help support organ systems and keeps their toxic load down. I like the apex line. I use this and this one. When I had my second flare- homeopathics really helped calm my symptoms and bring my body back in balance.

RNA’s:

Thee may be new to you. My dr. usually recommends them to her patients. RNA’s help support organ systems. I take Liver RNA, Kidney RNA, cytokine inflammation RNA

Enzymes:

Digest gold or digestive enzymes : taken 20 minutes before meals to help digest your food.

.

How to “kill” h. pylori:

Anti-h. pylori Herbs: These are specific herbs used to kill h. pylori. that I am taking daily:

combine

My H. Pylori blend:

With trial and error and some research I figured out what “blend” works for my body. I believe that if the body is going to heal, it needs to have a nourishing diet, detoxing (to get the toxins out of your body), and an overall balanced healthy life style.

Nature provides special herbs and plants to flush toxins–specifically we are targeting h. pylori–out of our bodies that make us sick. These 3 plants (triphala (actually 3 herbs in 1) , cats claw, and mastic gum) are the things I choose to kill off the h.pylori in my body to use consistently.

I dissected a bunch of well trusted supplements and these 3 ingredients were common in many mixtures. I don’t like taking capsules and I prefer to source my own ingredients. Im ok with this because it forces me to learn about each one.

Since I am sensitive, I like to try each herb individually to make sure my body is ok with it. I first muscle test myself and then try a very small amount. After I know I was ok with all 3, I combined them into a formula that my body tolerated well.

Some days I make the herbs into a tea (with hot water) and take the mastic gum separate. Some days I combine and drink in regular temp water.  Do what your body tolerates (you may have to change up the measurements) and feel free to change up the formula to add in any of the other “anti-hpylori” herbs listed below.

Where to buy?

Most everything I have taken can be found on my “supplements” tab above. I made this page just for you guys. –>  Gutsy’s H. Pylori Supplements

 

Triphala: You can buy powder here or capsules here.

Cats Claw: You can buy powder here, bark here, and capsules here.

Mastic gum: You can buy in capsules here  or whole here.

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Triphala:

what is it?

latin names:

family:

Triphala is actually a combination of 3 herbs. It is a very popular Ayurvedic herb that originated in India. The herbs are dried and ground into a powder.

Triphala is an Ayurvedic remedy consisting of equal parts of three herb, taken without seed: Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula). The word triphalameans literally “three fruits”.

 

Triphala contains five of the six tastes recognized in Ayurveda (sweet, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent), only missing the salty taste.

Dosage:

1/4 tsp 1-2x a day  (you can either dissolve in hot water or cold). I prefer taking it in liquid because of this…

Triphala Tea The traditional way of ingesting triphala is as a tea. This method allows one to taste the herb fully, and taste is considered by Ayurveda to be an important part of the healing process. Taste starts the digestive process, and sends signals to the body as to what to expect, already initiating your body’s own inner pharmacy.

Studies:

A 17 year old girl discovered an Ayurvedic herb to effectively break the protective layer of bacteria. The specific herb was Haritaki. This protective layer is called a “biofilm”. Some people use biofilm enzymes to help break down this protective layer so the body can then recognize and attack the bacteria (h. pylori).

One of the common tropical plant extracts penetrated the bacterium’s protective layer. Next, Madhavi isolated the specific molecule in the extract that was able to inhibit bacterial growth. She found that the molecule was heat resistant, and resistant to pressure. “It kills the cell,” she explains, “by preventing the transcription of the genes involved in energy, metabolism, adaptation, membrane transport, and toxin secretion.”

This study explains the qualities of Haritaki (one of the three herbs in triphala) and its effect on h. pylori.

Haritaki has anti-bacterial effect (International Journal of Cardiology, 1988). In this study the researchers tested the effect of extracts of Haritaki on a bacteria called Helicobactor Pylori. The results indicated that water extracts of Haritaki contain a heat stable agent with inhibiting effects and possible therapeutic potential for fighting Helicobactor Pylori and other bacterial species.

About:

I included an “about” section for triphala because it is such a complex herb. Ayurvedic medicine has a different way of looking at the body, illness, and foods/herbs. I will help you understand the herbs and how each one relates to a specific “dosha”- characteristics that help make up the body and mind. Each one is a completely different herb with amazing properties.

Amalaki: 

  • has a cooling affect on the dosha Pitta (fire/bile)
  • helps with digestion and assimilating food
  • clears thinking ability
  • mildly laxative
  • astringent- constrict tissues to heal
  • alterative-helps restore body functions
  • antipyretic-helps reduce fever
  • used to treat “fire” imbalances -ulcers, stomach/intestine inflammation, constipation/diarrhea, acne/rashes, liver congestion, infections.
  • very high source of vitamin c
  • antioxidant
  • sour

Bibhitaki:

  • helps target problems in kapa (water/mucus) dosha
  • balances excess mucus
  • helpful for respiratory problems (allergies/asthma)
  • astringent taste (smooth/bitter/dry)
  • cleanses the blood
  • remove harmful toxins in body
  • strengthens hair roots and color or hair
  • balances kapa (water) imbalances- eliminated fluid (edema)
  • antiviral and antibacterial
  • improves eye site
  • balances over weight conditions

Haritaki:

  • helps balance the vata (wind/nervous system) dosha
  • helps to eradicate parasites
  • clams nerves and anxiety
  • removes toxins- “scraping” effect
  • helps maintain a healthy weight
  • lubricant and laxative-helps constipation
  • has 5 tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent)
  • stimulates digestion and sensory organs
  • helps combat anemia
  • combats gallstones
  • restores health

 

Benefits:

  • 3 herbs that support 3 different dosha’s  (a well balanced herb)
  • improves circulation (cleanses blood and increases red blood cells)
  • detoxifies at a deep level without depleting the bodies reserves
  • helps stimulate bile flow
  • good liver tonic
  • internal cleanseing
  • helps fight bacteria (h. pylori), parasites, and viruses
  • improves digestion and elimination
  • helps body absorb nutrients, fight cravings
  • helps body balance out weight-fights unwanted fat
  • regenerate tissues
  • anti-imflamitory
  • promotes normal appetite
  • helps heal metabolism
  • used as a tonic for eye and hair washes
  • supports healthy immune system

 

warning: 

  • Do not use if nursing/pregnant
  • do not use if you have acute diarrhea– mild laxative effect
  • can cause weight loss-do not use if you are already very underweight
  • no known drug interactions
  • be cautious with blood thinning medications
  • do not take with dysentery (inflamed intestines with severe diarrhea)
  • if you are allergic to any of the herbs plant family’s (listed above) do not take
  • can cause detox symptoms- you may have to stop temporarily if it gets too uncomfortable

 

Cats claw:

what is it?

latin name: Uncaria tomentosa

plant family: Rubiaceae

The coffee family (Rubiaceae) is the largest woody plant family in the wet tropics, and contains approximately 13,200 species. Most species live in the lower ‘understorey’ level of the forest, where their fruits, nectar and leaves provide an important source of food for animals.

 

Cat’s claw is a tropical vine clinging to 100-foot (and taller) trees by using its namesake “claws.” Cat’s claw (una de gato in Spanish) refers to at least 20 plants with sharp curved thorns, both native to the South and Central American tropical rain forests, with most of the commercial production focused on Uncaria tomentosa. Ethically harvested cat’s claw bark is a major source of income for many Brazilian and Peruvian villages.

cross reactants: coffee, rubiaceae (coffee) family

Dosage:

1/4 tsp (powdered) 1-2x a day

1-3 tsp (bark). Steep in boiling water for 15  minutes.

*The tannins in the herb are released only if it is taken in an acidic medium

If you can tolerate lemon juice- stir cats claw powder in lemon water or squeeze some lemon juice in your tea. I cannot do this because I am sensitive to citrus fruit. I just take it in water and still believe I am getting the benefits of this herb (i have gotten detox).

 

Studies:

Fights against lyme and other bacteria (h. pylori)- In this study

In this study the patient went on a course of antibiotics for h. pylori. Symptoms were nauseous, weight loss, loss of appetite, and high blood pressure. She only got worse. After 1 month of cats claw (120mg ) a day, taken 30 hour before breakfast, her h. pylori was gone and her symptoms were a lot better.

 

Benefits:

  • DNA repair (8 week study proved this)
  • helps allergies (breaks down mucous)
  • treats inflammation (by suppressing TNF-alpha synthesis–which is needed in the inflammation process)
  • detoxify intestines while helping keep friendly bacteria alive
  • stimulates immune system to help fight cold, viruses,
  • Fights some cancers (study done that it stops cell mutations in long term smokers)
  • regulates microphages and white blood cells (either low or high)
  • acts against h. pylori
  • helps fight sinus problems
  • used for arthritis and joint inflammation conditions
  • helps people with stomach and bowel disorders
  • fights fungal and viral infections (candida)
  • promotes speedy wond healing
  • antioxidants help fight free radicals

 

warning:

  • Avoid when trying to get pregnant/ already pregnant/ nursing/young children.- can cause miscarriages
  • should not be taken 2 weeks before/after surgery or people who have bleeding disorder
  • should not be used by people who have organ transplants
  • should not be taken with some autoimmune disorders (can make the immune system more active)–for this reason I balance it with herbs that stimulate my T2  side.
  • can aggrivate leukemia cancer.
  • can lower blood pressure–i have low blood pressure but again it is all bout balance.
  • medications: since cats claw is broken down by the liver it could interact with certain medications that are broken down by the same enzyme (allergy meds, cholesterol meds, allergy medication, anti fungals)
  • if you are allergic to the rubiaceae (coffee) family no not use.

.

Mastic gum:

what is it?

latin name: Pistacia lentiscus (Greek for mastic)– mastic gum comes from this small evergreen tree

plant family: Anacardiaceae

Mastic is a resin obtained from the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus). In Greece, it is known as the “tears of Chios,” being traditionally produced on that Greek island, and, like other natural resins, is produced in “tears” or droplets. Originally liquid, it is sun dried into drops of hard brittle translucent resin. When chewed, the resin softens and becomes a bright white and opaque gum. The flavor is bitter at first, but after chewing, it releases a refreshing, slightly piney or cedar flavor.

 

The ancient Greeks chewed mastic gum (or mastiche, pronounced “mas-tee-ka”) for centuries. This substance is formed from the resin contained in the bark of the mastic tree found mainly in Greece and Turkey. Grecian women favored chewing mastic gum to clean their teeth and sweeten their breath.

 

Anacardiaceae (the cashew or sumac family) are a family of flowering plants bearing fruits that are drupes and in some cases producingurushiol, an irritant. Notable plants in this family include:cashew (in the type genus Anacardium), mango, poison ivy, sumac, smoke tree, and marula. The genus Pistacia (which includes thepistachio and mastic tree) usually is now included, but has sometimes been placed in its own family, Pistaciaceae

Cross reactants:

Mastic gum is related to cashews, mango, poisin ivy, sumac, smoke tree, marula (oil used in cosmetics, to treat leather, and preserve meat), capers, pistachio (im including it just to be safe), and the Anacardiaceae (cashew family).

Dosage:

I took the weight (grams) of the mastic gum I bought in powder (here).  This are approximate values .

1/2 tsp = 0.8 gram

1/4 tsp = 0.4 gram

Taking 1 g of mastic gum is a good amount in opinion. I have no problem doing this and I don’t even notice I am taking it. Some people take from 500mg -1 g of mastic gum a day. I find it best to do this (1/4 tsp) 2x a day.

Studies:

In this article there were 2 groups of people. One group was given 1g of mastic gum the other a placebo. After 2 weeks 80% of the people in the mastic gum group had their symptoms improve and 70% had healing in their gastric mucosa.

In this article they do a study where people  with ulcers -caused by h. pylori- take 1g of mastic gum a day. After 2 weeks the ulcers were “cured”. This study showed that mastic had a anti-h. pylori. effect.

What is the gastric mucosa? Thanks wikipedia.

The gastric mucosa is the mucous membrane layer of the stomach which contains the glands and the gastric pits. In humans it is about 1 mm thick and its surface is smooth, soft, and velvety. It consists of epithelium, lamina propria, and the muscularis mucosae.

Here is an interesting study about the early cause for stomach ulcers and how mastic gum kills h. pylori!!

Researchers in Australia made that startling discovery about the true cause of ulcers in the early 1980s, at about the same time that mastic was being rediscovered by the Arab scientists in the Middle East. The Arab and British researchers subsequently (in the late 1990s) found that mastic kills H. pylori. By then it was known that H. pylori typically infects the stomach and intestines, but it is also commonly found in the mouth (which is, after all, part of the gastrointestinal tract), because there’s no way to prevent the bacteria from migrating up and down the esophagus

Benefits:

  • effective at eradicating h. pylori
  • helps prevent cavities -specifically Streptococcus mutans- known to create cavities. (the bacteria travels from stomach to the mouth)
  • acts as prebiotics for your probiotic (natural source of food for your healthy bacteria- helps keep bad bacteria out)
  • soothes stomach ailments
  • eliminates stomach ulcers
  • “absorbs” bad cholesterol –helps reduce heart attack risk
  • anti-bacterial and anti-fungal
  • decreases symptoms of IBS
  • helps protect liver by decreasing certain liver enzymes.
  • anti-viral

 

warning:

  • Usually considered safe unless you have a true allergy to the cashew family. It can be used by people on medications, but to be safe, check with your doctor first.

 

 

probib

Probiotic:

I take custom probiotic 11 strain (affiliate link). Gut pro and prescript assist are also good. Both of these are free of fillers. There are many strains that are superior in killing h. pylori, but when I did my research I found that Custom probitoics was the best fit for me. Be careful because they are powerful and can cause detox/die off.

Here is an article going over the “best strains” for eradication h. pylori. They don’t “kill” the h. pylori but they prevent any further grown.

Studies have also highlighted probiotic supplementation to enhance natural killer cell activity, stimulate IgG antibody responses

  • L. acidophilus- reduce urease activity of h. pylori.
  • L. johnsonii- secrete antimicrobial substances that stop the h.pylori from adhering to the gut lining.
  • L. salivarius- secrete antimicrobial substances that stop the h.pylori from adhering to the gut lining. Reduce inflammation in gut
  • L. casei– inhibits h. pylori by lactic acid 
  • L. lactis- inhibits h. pylori by lactic acid
  • L. reuteri- inhibit h. pylori by competing with the adhesion sites.
  • L. plantarum- increase secretion of mucin by colon (helps restore permeability of gut)
  • L. rhamnosus– increase secretion of mucin by colon (helps restore permeability of gut)
  • L. brevis- helps decrease the h. pylori bacterial load
  • L. gasseri– helps decrease the h. pylori bacterial load
  • L. bulgaricus-increase mucosal immune response and IgA cells in gut tissue
  • B. Bifidum- directly inhibit h. pylori
  • B. lactis- directly inhibit h. pylori

  natually

Other herbs known to help kill h pylori:

 

Baking soda:

Used to provoke the h. pylori out of hiding your mucous gut lining so it can be reached by the “killing” herbs. Look at “a note on acid” above. I use this kind .

Dosage: 1/4 tsp baking soda 1-3 x a day. 1 hour after meals

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rife 2

RIFE:

RIFE is light frequency to kill the frequencies of bacteria-which then kills the actual bacteria. This was a good option for me because at first I could not tolerate ANY supplements. Through NAET I have become less allergic to foods/herbs and now I can use supplements/herbs. I still use my RIFE to treat h. pylori each night. Learn about RIFE here. 

I have a few friends who use a Zapper (like this one) instead to kill their bugs, and it actually works very well. They get bad die off, but eventually feel better and their pain and aches subside.

 

A note:

*NO iron supplements- feeds and fuels bacterial infections

* When you work with a practitioner they may want to help supplement other things to keep your body functioning as best as possible. I don’t know everything and I am still learning what I need. Since I am very sensitive, so I take what MY body needs.

 Screen Shot 2013-05-05 at 7.45.36 PM

Detox/ support:

Magnesium baths: To ease the constipation, muscle twitches, fatigue (I get this kind), and general wellness. Are you deficient? I use this kind.

Coffee enemas: Helps to detox all the stuff that is being kiledl off and to support the liver so it does not get overwhelmed. Look at this post for instructions and more information. I use this non-toxic enema bucket and this organic enema coffee.

Charcoal: Used to soak up extra toxins in the blood stream and help ease detox symptoms. Gives me a sense of mental clarity and less “toxic” feeling. This can cause constipation in some people because it binds to toxins in the gut and if you have h. pylori you have a toxic gut. You may use herbs-listed above- to help bowel movement. Charcoal on amazon.

Lymph: Getting the lymph system moving is important to keep the toxins moving OUT- you don’t want the lymph stagnant. Learn how to move your lymph here. A rebounder can be very helpful.

Oil Pulling: If sinuses and brain fog are a problem you may want to consider oil pulling. I find that it gives me energy and drains my sinuses very well. Look here for instructions. I use coconut oil. This book explain the “why” behind it.

Clay: Using the skin as a detox organ and giving the other ones a break (liver & kidney) is a helpful tool. On my bad detox days, I feel calmer and less “toxic” after a clay foot, face, or body mask or soak. Look at my post for directions. I drink and bath in this clay..it that pure!

Infrared sauna: A far Infrared sauna heat can penetrate into the system and actually help kill viruses and bacteria! I use this sauna which is AMAZING and the wood is hypoallergenic since I am extra sensitive. It is also a LOW EMF sauna which is very important. I also use this near infrared sauna light because the light frequencies are extremely beneficial at killing bad bugs and regenerating organs.  Don’t forget the light clip! To learn more, read this or this article or this book. You could also build your own sauna!

EMF protection: A extra stressed or toxic body can feed illness and infections. Make sure to protect yourself from EMF’s. I sleep on a earthing mat. I protect my house with this and my wifi with this. I protect my phone with these little EMF sticker (actually filled with a special rock powder thats proven to block EMF’s). Immediately my brain felt clear, and my body felt more relaxed. I one time knocked the house protector out of the socket and my mind was racing and I felt my heart rate go up for no apparent reasons.

How long will it take?

This is a very good question and it will depend on the person. It depends on how long you have had the infection, how bad it got, etc. Most likely it will take many months to eradicate completely. You can always follow up with a stool test to make sure it is 100% gone.

You may start feeling better after a few weeks, 1 month or it could take 3 months. Mine over grew and I feel like the overgrown was much worse then the detox that happened weeks later. I have only been treating it for 2 months and I can already feel a small difference- but I know I have a long way to go.

Since h. pylori disrupts neurotransmitters and nutrients, it can take an additional 6 months (after eradication) to start feeling normal.

Doing all of these things/herbs can get a little confusing. Just listen to your body and things will fall in place. I am still trying to figure out the groove of things and pace myself with detox and such. At least I KNOW I am on my way to healing :). You will heal too.

 

* update 8/23/13 : after 3 months of active treatment (herbs) and then 2 more more months being diligent with my food choices, doing the RIFE frequencies, and detoxing I have my h pylori under control.  I still have digestive issues, and will continue to keep an eye on my h pylori symptoms. Since I have other factors going on (heavy metal toxicity) it will be easy for any bacteria to take advantage of my out of balance body. Since h pylori is common, and I don’t want to get reinfected I will continue with a few parts of the treatment to be preventative. Once my body is free of toxins, I will be able to fight off bugs and illness, better and will not have to worry about reinfection. 

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” ~Psalm 34:19

 

 ~Stay Gutsy, Caroline

Resources:

  • http://amyking.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/im-so-happy-i-have-h-pylori/ <– good post to help give an example of another persons “protocol”
  • http://rhrplus.com/b2evolution/blogs/index.php/Articles/antimicrobial-herbs-for-helicobacter-pyl
  • http://www.h-pylori-symptoms.com/the-11-best-herbs-vitamins-for-fighting-h-pylori/
  • http://www.livingsource.co.nz/heavymetals.cfm
  • http://www.ulcer-cure.com/H_Pylori/h-pylori-test.php
  • http://www.neuroconcepts.memberlodge.org/resources/Documents/NN%20155%20probiotics%20H.%20pylori.pdf
  • http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/Cats_Claw.htm
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncaria_tomentosa
  • http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/kew-stories/kew-research/coffee-family/index.htm
  • http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-cats-claw.html
  • http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/catsclaw.php
  • http://books.google.com/books?id=oRsXKdSaiKsC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=h+pylori+fights+cats+claw&source=bl&ots=UnNH4JMruG&sig=Q4p5IHhuCfOpcxnof4RX0hFPV5A&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LYmJUb-LDIrlyAHHoIF4&ved=0CGMQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=h%20pylori%20fights%20cats%20claw&f=false
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastic_(plant_resin)
  • http://www.wrigley.com/global/about-us/history-of-gum.aspx
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacardiaceae
  • http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/Mastic-Gum.htm
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9394753
  • http://www.intactnutrition.com/blog/the-benefits-of-mastic-gum.html
  • http://www.intactnutrition.com/blog/benefits-of-mastic-gum-include-killing-h-pylori-to-prevent-and-combat-ulcers.html
  • http://www.livestrong.com/article/267577-what-are-the-benefits-of-mastic-gum/
  • http://www.life-enhancement.com/magazine/article/770-mastic-is-more-than-an-antibacterial
  • http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=6320
  • http://taxondiversity.fieldofscience.com/2011/06/phyllanthaceae.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllanthaceae
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combretaceae
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminalia_chebula
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminalia_bellirica
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllanthus_emblica
  • http://www.banyanbotanicals.com/triphala.asp
  • http://ayurvedabykailas.com/ayurvedic-reference/triphala.html
  • http://www.banyanbotanicals.com/triphala.asp
  • http://www.organicindia.com/triphala.php
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triphala
  • http://herbalicine.com/Triphala-is-a-natural-ayurveda-herb-for-gItract-digestion
  • http://www.planetherbs.com/specific-herbs/the-wonders-of-triphala.html
  • http://www.experiencefestival.com/wp/article/triphala-a-traditional-ayurvedic-herb-to-help-cleanse-the-body
disclosure 3
04.08.2013

Are your child’s clothes TOXIC?

Are your child’s clothes TOXIC?

Most likely the clothes you are wearing on you back and the ones you dress your kids in have harmful toxins in them. The effects of these toxins on your children can range from hyperactivity to hormone imbalances.

toxic

 

The problem with farming and government standards

 

Today’s modern farming methods and government regulations make our clothes laden with toxins. By law the flame-retardants are required to keep in the clothes for at least 50 washings! The government advocates these “safety” measures because they feel it will reduce the risk of injury in a fire. Though, are the government’s intentions to protect us really worth it? Yes, these fire retardants may save our life in a fire but they are slowly killing us.

 

Additionally, there are other methods out there for fire safety. But why haven’t you heard of any of them? This is because the big chemical company’s advertise that their “chemicals are necessary to save lives”. The brominated flame-retardants being used, directly affect the developing brain and reproductive systems.

 

As Ramiel points out in his book, “The government doesn’t protect us from these chemicals, even when their dangers are well understood and acknowledged. He has warned us that we now have to take our health in own hands.”

 

Symptoms

Additional symptoms and effects from brominated flame-retardants or PBDE’s include: hives, headaches, migraines, rashes, fever, flu-like symptoms, difficulty breathing, sinus infections, heart problems, muscle cramps, kidney failure, rapid breathing, yellowish coloring of the skin, birth defects, increased risk of cancer, acne, dilated pupils, motor and coordination problems, stomach ach, learning disorders, reduced appetite, fluid retention, reproductive problems, infertility, and the list just goes on and on.

killing

 

Toxins

 

PBDE’s or antimony polybrominated diphenyl ethers are not the only toxins used on our clothes.

  • Antibacterial is used to prevent bad odors in sporting clothing, which causes irritation to the skin and is harmful to water life.
  • Fungicides are used to stop mold growth in clothes.
  • Dyes contain carcinogenic and mutagenic toxins.
  • Formaldehyde is a common agent to prevent shrinkage and wrinkles. It is a very dangerous toxin to the brain and body.
  • Phthalates are known to cause infertility.
  • Heavy metals such as chrome, lead, and nickel are present in dyes and are very dangerous to developing brains.
  • Fluoride and PFC’s are a common additive to the manufacturing of clothing.

 

Toxins in your clothes:

 

Most likely if you are not buying your clothes organic, they are going to contain flame-retardants. Making your clothes may not be any better, because the fabric comes with flame-retardants on them. A less expensive option than organic clothing would be to buy organic fabric and then make your own clothes.

 

  • Cotton: It is sprayed heavily with carcinogenic pesticides and then doused with toxins and flame-retardants because it is highly flammable by nature.
  • Nylon or acetate: Soaked in toxins. It takes at least 50 washings to minimize the toxins.
  • Fleece (pj’s): Very toxic with flame-retardants, you do not want to sleep in it!
  • Leather: Contains the heavy metal chrome.
  • Polyester: Flame-retardants are built into the clothes, so only wear on occasion.
  • Synthetic materials: Not only are they toxic, but they block your energy flow throughout your body.
  • Rayon: A synthetic material that is sprayed with many toxins and dyes.
  • Clothes that claim to be “wrinkle and shrink free”: They loaded with formaldehyde!

 

 

 

Your children are in danger

 

Children and babies especially, are susceptible to these chemicals because they are growing and their cells are rapidly multiplying. Once these chemicals and toxins enter the body, they get stored in the fatty tissue. Detoxing these chemicals can be especially hard and sometimes damage is irreversible.

 

Don’t forget that anything the mom puts in or on her body will transfer to her growing baby or through her breast milk. It has been found that PBDE are not only in breast milk but are also in almost all living animals, from eagles to polar bears. There have been studies that show effects of fire retardants in baby animals, so this is definitely a warning to all little children in the world. Even blood samples of people who live in ideal unpolluted places have significant amounts of flame-retardants and toxins in them.

 

 

You are what you put in and on your body

 

Remember that your skin is a very powerful absorber. You skin will absorb anything you put on it. In Healing Our Children, it is mentioned that the pesticides used to grow cotton are definitely not food grade. Most cotton is also genetically modified as well. Really, anything you put onto your skin will absorb into your body, so using food grade methods should be a must. Sadly, this is not the case with most of the clothing sold in our country. If your clothes contain dyes and nerve damaging chemicals, you are putting yourself and your children at risk for serous health issues.

 

save children

Now what can you do?

 

Since you can’t go anywhere without clothes, finding natural brands will be important to maintain your health. Going all organic or natural is not completely reasonable for most people. The time it takes to research trustworthy brands, the money and availability all play a factor.

 

For sure have some clothes that are organic or natural. Even if you and your family only wear them around your house and when you sleep, it will help reduce the toxic load of your body. It is hard to transform your whole closet to safe materials, so do the best you can.

 

Here are some guidelines you should follow when buying clothes for your child.

 

  • Always buy organic or natural materials when possible.
  • Choose natural materials such as cotton before synthetic materials.
  • Always wash cotton and all clothes several times before wearing them.- (I personally wash 20x before wearing them)
  • Stay away from store bought pajamas. They contain some of the highest levels of toxins. You are better off buying organic pj’s or use an old cotton sleep shirt for your kids.
  • Stay away from polyester, because the flame-retardants are actually built into the clothes.
  • Natural fire retardant clothing include, snug untreated cotton (snug reduces flammability) and natural wool.
  • If you are going to make your own clothes, do so out of organic fabric only. When you sew clothes, you are directly releasing the formaldehyde into your face!
  • Make sure to wash your clothes in a non-toxic detergent as well! Air dry only if you live in a unpolluted area.

 

Toxins are everywhere!

 

Do the best you can with lifestyle choices as well. Watch out for toys, stuffed animals, mattresses, pillows, car seats, highchairs, baby carriers, and even diapers. Sometimes you can find lists that show the toxic load on certain brands. It is safer to stick with the brands that claim to have fewer toxins. Though, you cannot be completely safe unless you buy all organic or natural materials.

 

For a rule of thumb, whatever your baby or child spends most of their time in, whether it be a car set, nursing pillow, mattress, baby swing, bouncy chair, carpet, etc. make sure that it is organic or natural. Expose time does play a big role in the severity of the effect as well.

 

In a recent study, baby and toddlers have three times the amount of toxins than their moms do. This mostly has to do with the materials that these baby’s are rolling around in and sticking in their mouths.

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Do the best you can

 

Remember that emotions can be toxic too. Not only can negative thoughts and worries affect your own body, but it can affect your growing baby as well as people around you. The best things you can do are, become aware of the toxins in your life and reduce your exposure to them. Even if that means just changing out your pajamas, you have helped reduce your body’s toxic load. Be thankful for the things that you have done already to protect your family.

 

“Let us cease poising ourselves and let this be the end of the poisoning of our children-to-be”. ~Ramiel Nagel

 

This is one of my favorite books because it just gives so much information and is WAPF (Weston A. Price foundation) oriented.

 

Resources:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/19/eveningnews/main4109418.shtml

http://www.naturalnews.com/024797_child_children_toxic.html

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baby-global.jpg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pregnant_woman2.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/2874232024/

 

~Stay Gutsy, Caroline

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03.06.2013

Healing update #4

If you are sick almost every day (like me) there are some rules or guidelines I like to follow that give me purpose in life and focused on healing…

 

rule #1: Do something that makes you happy. (Right now for me that is cuddling this new guy in the pictures below. I don’t think I have smiled and laughed this much in a years!)

rule #2: Pray. Wait, maybe that should have been #1..lets just say that the order has no significance. God is the creator of all of us and he is the one that allowed us to be sick in the first place. Only He has he answers and it is our responsibility to figure this out–we are on this journey for a reason-I promise. (For me, I open up the bible each day to a random passage and somehow it connects to my life at the moment-I love it, it is so encouraging.) Remember miracles happen!

rule #3: Find support. There are people who are going through the same thing as you. It may not seem like it- but you will be led to these people wether you are looking for them or not. Talking and exchanging ideas is priceless! (I sure have done my share and have met amazing people along the way. My sickness leads me to the most amazing hopeful people.)

rule #4: Listen to your instincts. If you cannot detox or get out of bed, then don’t (or do as little as possible if that is not an option). Eat what your body calls for-as long as its healthy. Exercise only if you think it will be good for you today. Your body is smart- you cant trick it!

rule #5: HOPE. If there is one thing I have learned these past 2 months-it is to hope. Hope for a miracle. Hope for resources. Hope for a good day. Hope that your “fire” doesn’t die. Hope that you find a purpose through all of this. Hope even if you don’t have a reason to. NEVER Give up!

 

Now you may have your own set of “rules” of things that keep you going, but this is mine all summed up. I may be missing a few things, but I hope you get the point.

Cooper +

The Flu.

My family had the flu for over 2 weeks (im still struggling, and this post has been “in the making” for over 2 weeks!) We all started to feel run down mid February and then every few days I go through this cycle. Sick-in bed, no energy to move. Take a bath or sauna hoping with will make me feel a bit better-does very little. Feel a tad better but still have a fever and don’t sleep well. Oh my energy is coming back!-finally. Feeling super good- im going to take a walk or something. Then just when things start looking good-back flat on my back sick in bed. This cycle has happened 4x already!!! Each weekend I get very sick. I pray this this be the last weekend.

We were all so weak and dizzy. I canceled most of my appointments for this past week so I could just rest. The laundry and dishes and everything else took a back seat. Rest was most important.

 

I don’t believe can be healthy.

What?! Of course I do…or at least that is what I try to do. But deep down. I dont.

Dr. Conners did some muscle testing with asking questions. He asked me to say something like “I believe I will be completely healed”. Ha! I tested weak for it while I tested strong for many other statements.

What am I going to do about it? First off, he did some special EFT tapping with extra things added like rolling eyes, and humming a tune while I would say “I believe I will be completely healed”. It seems a little wacko but, what every works-right? He explained that he was trying to help me break the circuit. Tapping on acupressure points while saying a statement helps the body realize the truthfulness of the statement and will help the brain break that “negative” circuit, like in my case. He retested me and it was a bit stronger.

for I know dr conners

Healing the memories

That was not the end of my healing with the emotions. I cannot heal without God. That is simple.

I learned that emotions can hinder the body from healing fully. When I was muscle tested for heavy metals, it showed that emotions were tied into this big mess. I knew I had some things to work on. Talking to someone you trust is powerful and very helpful.

There was this little game that we played. I had to remember a painful time (the first one that pops into my head). The more vivid the better. The game is to feel the feeling you did in that situation–it hurts right? The reason why it still hurts is because the emotion never got resolved or healed. Now imagine–where was Jesus in that situation–or where would you have liked him to be? Was He holding your hand when no one else could? Was He keeping you safe as things clashed? Was He whispering into your ear as you watched everything fall apart around you. You can imagine it any way you want-but make sure you ask God to guide you to remember what you are suppose to. Replacing Jesus in the painful situation will allow you to see the situation in a completely different way, in a way that you could not see before. You might just feel different afterward, at least I did. This “game” is called healing the memories.

Something I never thought about is that why not ask God why I am sick? There is obviously a purpose and it is our responsibility to figure it out. For me, maybe it is so I can heal and understand people in the same situation one day. Maybe I need to go through this journey to truly find out who I am inside and out.

I opened up to a bible passage today and this is what stood out, I hope it speaks to you as it did to me. “Take heart daughter; your faith has made you well.”  ~Matthew 9:22

 

NAET

I continue to do NAET. I feel like it gives me relief after the 25 hours and allows me to keep adding things back into my life. I have almost treated 40 things so I am becoming pretty experienced and am getting to know my body even better in the process.

I treated fish- and thank goodness I did because sadly now Im allergic to the one food I could eat -bison. Not too sad for me, I was getting sick of it anyways. Things are always changing and I just embrace it. If I just held on to things and pondered over it for too long, I would miss out on what is happening in the NOW!

I also treated magnesium. I knew something was up with magnesium and my body, because every time I used magnesium oil on my body I would feel like I had the flu–not a detox, but just sick. So I treated it with NAET. I felt terrible and surprisingly it did not clear the first time. After the 25 hour mark, almost on the dot, I started to feel run down. Too bad it was a weekend and I just was achy and flu-ish until I got it retreated and wow did that make a difference! It thought I forgot what it felt like to feel good–or semi-good 🙂

The last one I treated was coconut. Why? Because if you look at my lip picture below you will see that I was desperate for relief.

Dr

Inflammation

Some days I feel like a itchy puffer fish. Swollen lips, itchy skin…its not fun.

Bloating, rashes, redness, tired, thyroid problems, sinus pressure, leaky gut… the list just goes on and on. But these are all “symptoms”. I try not to dwell on my symptoms (its easy to) but really in the long run they just help remind you to heal the root cause.

Supplements

My new things to help with inflammation are:

-Matcha green tea (supports T1 autoimmune side)–read this book to learn if you are T1 and T2 autoimmune (click here to download)

-MSM (helps open the detox 2 pathway which most autoimmune patients are poor at)

-Nettie pot: this is not “new” but I just never mentioned that it helps keep my sinuses clean.

-Volcanic ash: I got this to sprinkle around my house (I think I will do it after the snow melts). Even though I already have EMF protection, this will help even more “soak” up the extra EMF’s around my house.  There is a big link between stress and autoimmune and EMF’s are an “invisible” stress.

Quercetin: The kind I got is just the powder form (no fillers)- it comes from a special kind of tree. This too helps with acute allergic reactions, but I am taking it daily to help with general inflammation. This too is good for the T1 dominant autoimmune.

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Lip “rash”

Thanks to everyone who responded to my “plea” for help with figuring out my lip problem. I know I can do my own research, but many times I miss something and things other people say pop out and spark my mind to think more. Take a peak at the conversation on fb–you all are awesome help!

So I was wondering, is it something more then just chapped lips? They were painful!! Every time I would open my mouth each crack would split open-ouch! The worst was waking up and it looked “healed” but they were sealed shut, so if I was going to even drink water I had to deliberately crack the lips.

The mouth in TCM is the opening to the stomach and around the mouth is the colon-that is where I had my flaking. The top lip = small intestine and the bottom lip= large intestine. Just looking at my lips got me a little worried about the health of my guts.

I think I have a clue as to why this “rash” got so bad–but that will be in my next post because it is a big topic and finding for me!

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Sad news.

May of you knew I was starting NTA- nutrition therapy association. Sadly I had to drop at the last minute. I got the flu the day the class began. By the time I was able to think clear, I was 2 weeks behind. I dropped the class and even to this day (4 weeks later) I still am not better–so I am thankful that I made that decision. I prayed about it too and it was right. Sometimes we don’t have control over things no matter how much we want them. Im not going to focus on what I am missing but instead just do what I can, when I can. This post has been in the “making” for over 2 weeks–so even blogging has taken a big backseat for my health.

Cooper11

Puppy LOVE!

If you follow me on Instagram, you would know that my family just got a new puppy. He is adorable!! If you want to see a video of him watch it on youtube here (I taught him how to climb the stairs–maybe this was a mistake with a puppy who pees every 20 minutes.)

My favorite part is every morning when I come downstairs he comes running to my feet, waiting to be picked up–so sweet.

His name is Cooper. He is a white-ish golden. We also have a cat (Ollie) who is his “brother”. They have a love-hate relationship..its doesn’t help that they are the same size!

We have always had a dog in our house, I don’t remember a day without one. Until our dog suddenly died (Jasmine-8 years old) of cancer a few weeks ago. We did not see it coming :(. Since I cannot go places-due to my sensitivities (I’m limited to my house, the car, the outside, and my two dr’s offices–though even in these places I get reactions) the dog is my buddy. They sit at my feet when I research, when I am sick in bed, force me outside even when I don’t want to, and basically just make me happy and laugh.

I believe happiness and fresh air can help cure an illness– and Cooper has brought me both of those. I laugh every day. I think its helping. I love to take care of people- I have ever since I was a little girl. Once I was the “sick” one 24/7 I had to stop doing things for people. I could not run errands for my mom, I could not spend time with my sisters like we used to, I could not bake a loaf of banana bread for my ever-growing-brother. It made me sad. I could only take care of myself–but I hated it. I have started to do what I like to do-care. I can do it every second of the day if I want to with this puppy-I don’t have to go anywhere, it is in my “safety zone”, my house.

broccoli!

So I could talk about this puppy for ever (just something we do with our pets..) but I don’t want to make you bored. I think he could have his own blog post, filled with pictures of this cuteness :). Oh yes that is Cooper eating broccoli–his favorite food. A boy after my own stomach!

 

I just wanted to pop in and keep you all updated on my healing journey. Each day is a blessing and I try to embrace it to the fullest!

~Stay Gutsy, Caroline

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01.14.2013

Jump-out the toxins (Rebounding for lymph drainage).

Is it possible to jump and release toxins?

Yes it is, but its probably not exactly how you are picturing it. The toxins dont just spurt out of your body- you are actually facilitating your detox process. The method to doing this is called rebounding- which is jumping.

 

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My stubborn lymph system

I suffer from a sluggish lymph system and I try and try to get it flowing. I pretty much do all the suggestions below (which takes up a lot of time) and still I get symptoms daily. If you are like me, then it is going to be a process to get your lymph system working properly again, and it could be tied to some other condition- like my hashimtos. I also am slowly introducing a lymph homeopathic form my chiropractor.

Do you have a sluggish lymph system?

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The answer is YES if you suffer from any of these symptoms.

Chronic illness

Autoimmune disorder

Thyroid imbalances (hypothyroidism)

Weak immune system (prone to infections and illness)

Sinus congestion/infections

Headaches

Consistant fatigue

Swollen lymph nodes

Poor circulation

Itching

Allergies

Cellulite

Overweight

Swollen face and/or limbs

“puffy eyes” in the morning.

Fluid retention (enema)

Swollen tonsils

Pressure in head, “full feeling”

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The lymph organs

The lymph organs

What is the lymph system?

The first thing you should know about the lymph system is that is moves very slowly. It has no pump, like your heart pumps your blood. Its up to you to “pump” your lymph fluid. Trust me, you will want to move by the end of this post!

Every wonder why you wake up with puffy eyes? That is because while you are sleeping the lymph fluid does not get to move as much, so the lymph fluid builds up. The fluid retention will be worse if your lymph system is under functioning because of a illness or disease (liver problems, hypothyroidism, edema, sinus problems..).

You have lymph vessels all over your body. Take a look at this chart to see what I am talking about. These vessels open and close. The lymph fluid moves away form gravity. When you jump these vessels open and close several times, allowing the fluid to move back and forth.

The lymph system removes excess fluid from the tissues and in between the cells. It also absorbs protein and gives it to the blood. Pathogens, toxins, and cancer cells are all removed my the lymph system.

This system absorbs fat soluble vitamins from your digested food. If you are interested in the lymph anatomy (like me) then take a look at these pictures of the face, head, and neck lymph system. Here is the whole body chart.

I bet you didn’t know..

You have main lymph valves in your arms and legs.

You have over 300 lymph nodes in your neck and head area.

The lymph nodes are designed to drain toxins before they reach your brain- so even more of a reason for these nodes to work better!

Your liver is packed with lymph vessels too which are activated when you rebound.

Lymph fluid cleanses and transports.

Lymph organs include bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus.

There is more lymph in your body then blood. You are the “pump” for your lymph system, no organ will do it for you! Move!

Most people with chronic illness have problems with their lymph system.

The body is separated into 2 parts -right lymph ad left lymph.

The left lymph covers most of your body. It is a very uneven proportion, look at a picture here. (notice the bluish color on the man’s right side and the neutral color on his left side.)

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lymph pic

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What is rebounding?

It is simply jumping. A trampoline allows your knees and body to bounce back without stress. If I just jump around, my knees get sore. I would suggest a trampoline- I got mine  here (the reviews say it breaks fast, but I have had mine fore over a year without problems). It also makes you more inclined to jump!

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Unleash your toxins!

The lymph system needs help. It is sluggish. Bouncing forces the fluid to start moving. The fluid moves out toxins and debris and gets your detox organs to kick into gear.

You may feel a flush or rush of energy when you start to rebound. Your energy and lymph fluid are getting stirred up and flowing (this is good).

If you start to feel fatigued or any other detox symptoms, cut down on the time or stop. Rebounding is a powerful detox so play it safe and start slow. Allow your body to be the conductor- more is not always better.

Once the toxins are released your body has to get rid of them. Assist your body by taking a sauna or clay bath (instructions here). Just like any detox, you might feel worse before you feel better.

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How to jump?

Its simple-jump. Up and down. Lift off your toes. Nothing too strenuous. Watch this video to get a feel for exactly what to do. Use a trampoline. I bought a mini one from amazon (actually a kids one) that cost like $40. Mine has not broken and I have been jumping on it daily for 1 year. You will want to get one that is right for your body (weight) and durable.

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How I jump

I grabbed my sister to have her demonstrate rebounding for you. It was a good study break for her to get the blood moving to her brain :). Rebounding is pretty simple. This is how I usually do my jumping. I alternate between the little toe jump, the regular jump and the tuck jump. I like to mix it up so its fun. I also like to move my arms. Im not very coordinated so I just let them fly around :).

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Internal_organs

Rebounding has a direct connection to increase lymph flow in your body’s organs.

Happy organs/body.

Digestion: Expect your insides to feel jiggly (hey you are jumping). Rebounding stimulates your digestion, allowing the food to well…evacuate faster! My sister says it feels like a “body reset” every time you jump.

Intestines: There is a special name for the lymph in the intestines- chyle. Its role is to hold the absorb the fat from your food.

Muscles: Rebounding is in fact engaging tons of muscles, even though it seems so easy and fun…wait till you jump for 10 min. After a few weeks you will notice your muscles might have more definition or are just stronger and more flexible. You are using muscle groups that would not normally be used.

Liver and detox organs: As you jump, the lymph fluid gets circulating around your liver. More blood and lymph fluid = more oxygen & more nutrients. As the blood gets shunted to your liver and detox organs, they can preform their task more efficiently (which is detoxing!) Allowing your liver to function better will put less stress on your lymph organs like the spleen.

Lungs/Brain: I always feel like I can breath better after a rebounding session. The increase in oxygen and allowing your lungs to fully expand gives your brain the oxygen it has been asking for. So much of our life we don’t breath fully and are really starving our brains as well. If you need a “work or study break” just jump. I sometimes stop my siblings when they are studying really hard and have them jump to get their brain working better!

Mood: I cant say exactly what increases someones mood, but when you jump, it sure works. I mean, how could it not after reading all these positive benefits for the body. If your body is happy your mood is happy. I challenge you to rebound without cracking a smile…its hard!

Metabolism/circulation: People seem to love this word, right? Rebounding does help to reboot your metabolism because all your other organ systems are being recharged. If your body is working, you metabolism will follow. If you have cold fingers and toes (like I do) rebounding will become your best friend. I wake up in the morning eager to jump to get some warmth in me.

Immune system: Your lymph system is directly connected to your immune system. It helps remove destroyed cells, debris, toxins, and cancer cells. Your thymus (a lymph gland) plays a key role in your immune system and fighting infections as well.

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liver lymph

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Liver lymph connection:

The key to a healthy lymph system and drainage is keeping the liver in tip-top shape. (I know I have some work to do with my liver- dandelion greens here I come!)

There is a big connection between a healthy liver and a properly functioning lymph system. That is because 25-50% of lymph that flows through the thoracic duct is produced by the liver. The thoracic duct is the main duct (from you neck all the way down your abdomen) in your body for the lymph system. It transports most of the lymph to the bloodstream.

The lymph in the thoracic duct carries nutrients from the intestines into the blood stream and draws lymph from both halves of the body. If that much lymph comes from your liver and flows into the main “vessel” of the lymph system then it makes sense why a healthy liver=healthy lymph.

There are countless ways to get your liver functioning properly. I prefer to focus on gentle ways that wont stress the body too much in the process. Liver detoxing with dandelion greens, milk thistle, burdock, healthy fats, eating grass fed liver, caster oil pack, acupuncture…There are countless ways to clean up your liver and give it that extra boost so it can do what it does best -detox and produce lymph! Glutathione is important to help detox your liver as well.

Good news is that your liver has the ability to regenerate. The liver is comprised of certain types of cells that actually rebuild and replicate to form a healthy liver- even after injury to the liver. This “regeneration” mechanism has been studied and witnessed since ancient times. A liver can grow and adapt in size and mass. As little as 25% of a liver can regenerate back into a whole liver.

There have been studies done that show liver regeneration actually can be compromised by chemicals (we have plenty of those in our world). Despite this, there is hope with your liver, but that doesn’t mean you can be “mean” to it and drink and eat all the bad food you want.

When you support your liver with herbs and exercise, detox is natural. Cleansing will come before rejuvenation and it can take a few moths to many years (depending on the condition you liver is in now). If you care for your liver, all your other systems and organs (gallbladder, lymph, colon, etc.) will benefit and create a healthier body overall.

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Massage

Massage facilitates lymph flow

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How else to get lymph system moving

Dry skin brushing. I do this every day, and I actually look forward to it. There are special techniques so read about it here. Sometimes I even brush my skin with my shower brush, but dry brushing is more effective then wet. I use this brush.

Massage/Face massage. My mom massages my neck and shoulders when they are tight or if my ear won’t drain. It gives immediate relief too. I like this link for face massage instructions. Trust me these techniques work- I stroke my face and neck every morning like this video explains and I see a difference in my face. Here is a good book to learn more.

Any exercise. Rebounding is just the most effective for lymph. Exercise is hands down the most effective lymph system “pumper or drainer”. You cannot live without it! I find swimming or yoga are 2nd best to rebounding for lymph movement.

Chiropractic care. If you get the right alignment, the fluid can drain properly. I always get immediate results with this.

Oil pulling. Swishing a spoonful of oil (coconut, olive, sesame) in your moth for 20 min each day will aid in lymph flow in your sinuses. Nothing feels better to me then clear sinus. I find that it also unplugs the mucus in my ears as well as reduces the swelling the lymph nodes under my chin. I use coconut oil.

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Acupuncture. The lymph organs (spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes) all have special meridians which can be stimulated. I get my lymph points needled and I find relief. Acupressure also is helpful too.

Drink water. Clean water of course. Without water the lymph system cannot flow properly. Not too much though.. don’t over do it (you can be over hydrated, trust me, I was). I use a berkey with ceramic filters.

Inversions: Headstands, downward dog, “legs crawl up the wall” are all simple positions the let your head hang. Inverting your body uses gravity to help your lymph system drain. Go do a handstand..or work on it anyways.

Deep breathing. Seriously just do it. Right now. Fill those lungs and make sure your shoulders don’t move (your belly should). My sisters in choir taught me how to breath. First start by laying of your back. Breath. Do you see you stomach rise. Now try it sitting. Its harder isn’t it? Just practice. This link will help you.

Poop/enema: Yes getting your colon moving is a good idea. Remember its not all about fiber but the good bacteria that helps you eliminate too. A coffee enema or colon cleansing can give your liver a nice detox (don’t be squeamish or scared- your body may need it), which is going to help the lymph system in return.  I wrote a whole post to help you here. I bought this nontoxic enema bucket. When your colon is cleaned up, this puts less stress on your other organ, especially your detox (liver, kidney, lung) and lymph (spleen) organs.

Loose clothing: Constrictive clothing (especially in the lymph node areas) can block lymph flow. That includes underwire bras- so just wear them only when you have to. Here is a good bra without wires and is cotton.

Sauna: The heat gets your blood and lymph fluid flowing (hence the sweat). It is healthy to sweat because it releases toxins in each sweat droplet. (I used to not sweat and I knew my detox and lymph system were impaired. But after a few months on detox baths and sauna’s I am now sweat. I bought this sauna. I also use a near infra red light with this holder.

Castor oil packs: Applying a castor oil pack/with heat on your liver draws more blood to flow around your liver and helps it function better. Remeber a healthy liver = more lymph flow! You need flannel and the castor oil.

Food. Proper nutrition is key too. Your body relies on nutrients to keep the body healthy in all aspects. Take out foods you are sensitive or allergic to, because they can but a big toxic burden on your whole body and mind. For me, food and environmental allergies cause face puffiness and fluid retention in my body.

Magnesium oil: Proper magnesium (do you use magnesium oil?) and calcium balance help with muscle action by “squeezing” the lymph system along its way. I use this oil spray and these magnesium chloride salts. You can also use epson salts (magnesium sulfate) too.

detox bath Herbs/essential oils. I just ordered some essential oils that are suppose to be good for lymph drainage. Cypress, orange, grapefruit, rosemary, ginger, peppermint, lemon. I take a few drops internally or apply them onto my lymph glands under my neck or arms. Homeopathics made from a mixture of herbs can be very effective too.

Clay baths. Detox-Clay baths not only deeply cleanse the body’s largest organ (the skin), but they stimulates the lymphatic fluid. See step by step pictures on how to take a clay bath here. I use this clay and love it!

 

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The lymphatic system

The lymphatic system

What to expect?

Expect your body to feel more “balanced”. All you organs are being worked, its like an organ workout! Toxins will be released, so make sure to drink some water afterwards. A clay bath can help too- to soak up all the toxins. Wear comfortable clothes. Feel prepared to think and feel better. Have fun!

 

 

 

 

 

Resources:

http://www.lymphnotes.com/article.php/id/151/ http://www.soulhealer.com/anatomy-imm.htm http://www.starbounding.com/35_lymphatics.htm http://www.akealife.com/helping-your-lymphatic-system-to-help-you/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18484610 http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/T/thoracic_duct.html

 

Photo credits:

http://www.stockfreeimages.com

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

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