Well, the important thing to keep in mind is that different things work for different people - I've heard from several people who've followed the SC Diet for years and are very happy with it and feel it works well for their body. And I'm sure there are hundreds more people for whom this is true.

Which brings me to the Raw Food diets. In theory, I like these diets. Ideally, all of us should consume at least a portion of our food raw (although some plants have natural defense mechanisms blocking nutrient absorption that are only disabled via cooking) or at least only lightly steamed/cooked. If you could tolerate a completely raw diet, then great, go for it. Unfortunately, I've found that for many people with IBD, their digestive systems are simply too sensitive and impaired to tolerate raw foods and consumption can trigger a flare.

Thus, I like the diet which recommends only raw juices first, until you're healed enough to handle raw foods. Unfortunately, again, many people may not even be able to tolerate raw vegetable juices (I was one of them) and they may cause violent diarrhea which can then trigger intestinal bleeding. Also, I don't know whether these diets would work if you were already at a low weight or suffering from malnutrition. If all you're going to consume is veggie juices for weeks (and/or raw veggies), you're going to lose some serious weight. Maybe you could throw in some whey protein (isolate) powder to counteract this (if you could tolerate the taste).

So, again, you really have to follow your own gut in this whole arena. If you feel a leaning towards trying a raw food diet, then give it a try, go slowly, and see how your body responds.

If you follow your own body wisdom, you may also come up with novel ways of eating that work best for you. For example, I was contacted by a reader who was 2 months pregnant and her symptoms flared terribly. She was worried about the effects of Prednisone on the fetus and was wondering if the IBD Remission Diet might be a better option. I agreed that it certainly would be better than Prednisone, but I was also concerned about the lack of phytonutrients (from plants) for the developing fetus. So, I suggested she try and see if she could tolerate a combination of the elemental diet (Absorb Plus) along with raw vegetable juicing. She could and it worked a charm and her baby was born completely healthy and continues to do well two years later.

I believe the best thing for all of us is to be open to all sources of knowledge and information and then bring that home to our gut and listen to what our body says feels right for us. And continue to listen/stay open. Your body may want raw food, but only for a week, then it might want something else, then back to raw food for a month, then something else, etc. (for example). As long as you're listening to and following your own body's wisdom, you'll do well in the long-term.

Regarding pizza and beer: When most people ask their gut what it wants to eat, they're usually asking their tastebuds - not their gut. Likewise with 'cravings' for foods you're actually allergic to, or addictive foods like sugar. Connecting with your gut (i.e. digestive system) will not give you same answer as if you ask your 'body' which usually means you're asking your tastebuds, or, the corresponding region of your brain. For example, 'hunger' is regulated by the stomach itself. But 'satiety' (feeling satisfied and not wanting any more food) is regulated by the brain. How many times have you been eating a meal and been offered seconds or thirds and you say, "Oh no, I couldn't eat another bite, I'm absolutely stuffed!" as you pat your distended, obviously full belly. But then your host brings out a mouthwatering chocolate torte and all of a sudden you find you have room in your stomach after all and actually WANT to put more food in your mouth? This is because whilst your hunger is certainly fulfilled and your stomach/gut has indeed had enough, the centre in your brain that controls satiety has not had enough of the tastes of cream, chocolate, etc. and thus you want to eat more. It is not your gut that wants to eat the cake, it is your tastebuds. Follow the instructions in "Dialoguing With Your Body" in LISTEN TO YOUR GUT for guidelines on how to do this. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts and if you want to pursue the path of natural/holistic healing, this is a skill you're going to have to develop.

Anyway, hope that helps you out and please keep me posted on how it goes. The Natren probiotics are the key and banished my girl's constipation in 2 days - but if we missed a dose (in the first 2 weeks of therapy), she would not have a bowel movement that day.

all the best,
Jini

You can also take all these things while breastfeeding and if your baby gets a cold, the Astragalus and Vit.C will get rid of it very quickly - but again, don't use Astragalus if baby has a fever. If baby is vomiting, diarrhea or has a bacterial infection, definitely
take the Natren probiotics for the duration of the illness (the probiotics will be passed to baby through your breastmilk) and then for 1 month following. Also ALWAYS follow antibiotic use with probiotic supplementation, both for baby and you. If you're formula feeding, contact Natren Inc. for guidelines on adding their probiotic (L. infantis) to baby's formula bottles.

I would think he'd see substantial relief from following the above (all of which he would also automatically do by following The IBD Remission Diet), if not a return to normality. This way, he probably could avoid the expense of an elemental diet. However, if he needs to gain weight, he can also use the Absorb Plus 1-3 times a day (whatever he can afford) along with his regular diet. I know, based on emails like yours, that the company is currently looking at revising their discount schedule, which should bring the price down significantly - I'm sure they'll be in touch and let you know. Or, he could just use whey isolate protein powder (with no added artificial ingredients or preservatives!) blended with water, flax oil and fruit (extra-ripe bananas are usually well tolerated) which would be cheaper than Absorb Plus too - since he doesn't need the ingredients to be elemental (pre-digested). Mouth ulcers are often involved with IBS/IBD and quite common. Does the DGL (in the book) work for him at all with these?

1/ I would address the gas/flatulence problem by following the appropriate diet from the book. Sounds like the Minimize Gas & Bloating Diet should work well for you at this point - no need to follow the Reduce Diarrhea Diet. When you do have a bowel movement, use the Colonic Massage technique to move as much gas and stool around and out at the same time as possible. Interestingly, I just had an email a few days ago from a woman who says she experienced bloating and weight gain from taking Asacol. Both subsided once she stopped the Asacol and took some of the supplements recommended in the book. So that may indeed be your culprit - there's only one way to find out. In my opinion, L-Glutamine, NAG and George's Roadrunner Aloe Vera Juice provide more protection for the mucosal lining than either Asacol or Salazopyrin. The Natren probiotics also provide long-term protection for the mucosal lining, so if you take all of them you should be pretty well covered! But again, only do what feels safe/right for you.

2/ I would also find an experienced bodywork therapist to work specifically on your colon and rectum to relax and release the tissue. Look for someone skilled at craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation and myofascial release (all 3 is best). If you can find someone who is qualified to work internally (rectally) and if you feel comfortable with this, that would probably be the fastest route. If not, don't worry, a LOT can be done by working externally. You may have restrictions or traumatized tissue that is causing your rectum to spasm. The feeling of weight/pressure and urgency are also indicative of this. Also, try and connect with the emotional feelings located in this area of your body. You can do this either via Dialoguing with your Body, or with a craniosacral therapist who is also skilled/trained in somato-emotional release. Be picky, sometimes it can take a lot of trial & error to find the right practitioner. I know that NY is the center for a lot of advanced courses on the bodywork therapies I mentioned, so if you do a search you may be able to phone the organizations for referrals. The Upledger Institute is one of the top schools for craniosacral. Also, if you contact some of the serious yoga or alternative healing schools around there they should have some good referrals for you too. Barbara Brennan (author of Hands of Light) used to have a training school in NY for energy healers, if that's still around then they would probably be able to refer you to some accomplished therapists.

"I would suggest that the parent split the Absorb Plus in half - put half in the feeding bag at a time - shaking very well before putting formula into the bag...maybe in a sealed container. Giving the bag a shake occasionally would stir it up so sediment doesn't stay on bottom. When tube is clogged, use a syringe full of ginger ale (2nd choice would be soda water) to unclog - probably a good idea to push ginger ale through prophylactically every 1/2 hour - or as they find is needed. (a 3-5cc syringe - if too much is used, the bubbles could cause too much gas).
Is this person receiving any meds through her tube? There are a few drugs that are like cement is those tubes. Biaxin is the worst I can remember - is often used in Crohn's, HIV and cancer patients with infections.
There is probably increased sediment since AP is mixed at home - maybe not completely mixed? The products most hospitals use come ready in a liquid form so there is no sediment. I think all the bad fat in them likely keeps everything from separating - and probably is filtered as well.
For your information - in case another question arises in future; the normal naso-gastric tubes unplug in a similar fashion, using a little more ginger ale. However, the silastic (long-term placed naso-gastric tubes) are more difficult to unplug since they sort of cave into themselves and stick to the clog."

Answer:
Thanks for your email and I'm glad to hear you're doing so well! Okay, to answer your first question. Excessive mucus production seems to suggest that a) either you're eating a food/substance that your body doesn't like (food allergy/intolerance), or b) there's still a fair amount of inflammation present so your intestines are producing mucus in an effort to soothe things, or, your mucosal lining is just not functioning properly. Let's look at the first possibility: top mucus-producing foods are soy and dairy, so try cutting those out and see what happens - do you currently eat/drink either? Also, try to get in touch with your intuition and/or do some experimenting with other foods/drinks you think may be triggering mucus production.

Secondly, in terms of therapy to directly address inflammation/ mucosal lining secretions, I would recommend the following (some of which you may already be doing from the LTYG book):

N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG) on an empty stomach (see book for dosage) - an amino sugar that forms the basis of complex molecular structures that are key parts of the connective tissue and mucous membranes of the body - tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bone matrix, skin, synovial (joint) fluid, and intestinal lining. To maintain healthy absorption and digestion of food, the body needs a healthy mucosal lining to lubricate and protect the digestive tract. It is also an immune system modulator with anti-tumor properties.

For convenience's sake, try to get the next 3 together in either liquid tincture form (Herb Pharm is an excellent brand and should have all 3) that you can just add in drop form to your favorite herbal tea, or hot water. The hot water will cause the alcohol in the tinctures to evaporate, so no irritation from alcohol. Take 30 drops of each, 3 times/day until mucus clears then once a day or as your intuition leads you for maintenance. Or, you could get the herbs in some other form that you can brew into a tea. If you can get them all in capsule form that you can swallow, that would work too. But, again, you must take them on an empty stomach:

Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice - reduces muscle spasms, promotes adrenal gland function, soothes inflammation and fights bacterial, viral and parasitic infection. Increases number of mucus-secreting cells in intestine which improves the quality of the mucosal lining, lengthens intestinal cell life and enhances microcirculation in the gastrointestinal tract. It must be deglycyrrhizinated though, otherwise continued use can cause liver damage and high blood pressure (none of these problems exist with the deglycyrrhizinated form).
Slippery Elm - good for diarrhea and ulcers when taken internally. Soothes inflamed mucous membranes of the stomach, intestines and urinary tract.
Marshmallow Root - soothes and heals mucous membranes, skin and other tissues. Aids the body in expelling excess mucus and fluid.

And lastly, are you currently on a full-spectrum probiotic? If not, take acidophilus, bifidus, and bulgaricus bacteria:
Natren is my favorite brand and guaranteed quality/efficacy. Take either their Trenev (Healthy Trinity) capsules, or, their Mega-Dophilus, Digesta-Lac and Bifido-Factor powders mixed together in water (get the non-dairy base). Dosage instructions are on the
bottles, take just before bed on an empty stomach (so bacteria has the whole night to implant and colonize) and then again in the morning 20 minutes before breakfast. Continue for 2-3 months and then only as needed for maintenance - let your bowels be your guide. A good bacterial flora is absolutely imperative to proper bowel and digestive function.

Okay, now to answer your 2nd question: My next book, THE IBD REMISSION DIET, differs from LISTEN TO YOUR GUT in that while LTYG is a compendium of natural treatments, THE IBD REMISSION DIET is one specific diet and supplementation program that you follow for 3-6 weeks to induce disease remission and heal the GI tract. It shows you how to use an elemental diet (a completely liquid, pre-digested diet, also outlined in Ch.3 of LTYG) and specific herbal supplementaion plan to accomplish the following things:

It's a very easy to follow, step-by-step instruction book of how to follow the program and the detailed ways it will benefit your body. There are also many clinical trials supporting the effectiveness of an elemental diet to induce disease remission and a quick Internet search will provide you with lots of data. In 2 of the latest studies (done in England and Italy and presented in May 2002), the presenters concluded that:
"elemental diet therapy is as effective as steroids in inducing remission, whilst avoiding steoid side effects" - Dr. Bhupinder Sandhu
"In children with active Crohn's disease, exclusive nutritional therapy shows a more rapid effect than steroids in inducing clinical remission and is markedly more effective than steroids in producting healing of mucosal inflammation" - Dr. Robert Canani.

Anyway, when THE IBD REMISSION DIET is available, you'll be able to read Chapter One on the website and that will give you a really good idea of what it's about and what's involved. Check back in December 2002 at: http://www.caramal.com.

Now, to answer your final question: As long as you can absorb the needed nutrients from your food (or added supplements) you'll be able to have a healthy fetus/baby. Studies have shown the primary determinant of a child's health (one study followed them for 17 years) is the mother's nutrition while in utero. Funnily enough, I went on an elemental diet and supplementation plan (the same one I've mapped out in THE IBD REMISSION DIET) before each of my two pregnancies and continued to take the elemental shakes (Absorb Plus) with supplements as needed throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. I have had strong, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. So, basically, ideally you want to be as healthy as possible before getting pregnant and set up a good support network so you can get enough rest and good food throughout the preganancy and the first 2 years when sleep deprivation can run you down and suppress your immune system. I've used Absorb Plus (an elemental diet shake) with flax or Udo's oil throughout preganancy and breastfeeding and I also give it to my 2 year old son Oscar whenever he asks for a milkshake (and his friends). It is an excellent source of high quality, all-natural nutrition and is absorbed very quickly - so even if your system is not functioning well, you'll still absorb the nutrients.

Regarding keeping things in remission, you need to address all the facets of your self - mind/body/spirit and heal all levels/aspects of your self. Dis-ease is not just a physical phenomena and this is the crux of the Healing Journey - healing, balancing and also integrating all the needs and woundings withing yourself. The physical body is very important and it's needs must be met, but so are the emotional and spiritual bodies. When we can achieve health in all areas of our Selves, then it's lasting, I believe. Hope that helps you and answers all your questions. Wishing you all the best, Jini.

Answer:
Sorry to take a while to get back to you but I wanted to make sure I had the answer before replying. Hence, I've talked to a couple of research heads at 2 of the major manufacturers in North America and the answer is: They're exactly the same; N-Acetyl D-Glucosamine is actually the correct pharmacological name for what is usually called N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG). So yes, go ahead and get the Intestamine product - L-glutamine and NAG work really well when combined together. However, if you start getting constipated, you'll have to reduce the dosage (L-glutamine firms up stool by causing water to be re-absorbed from the colon). NAG on it's own will not cause any constipation. Alternatively, you can order just NAG on its own (without the L-glutamine) from Finlandia Pharmacy (listed in the back of the book) as they do ship worldwide.

Regarding causes for Colitis, you may want to look at your antibiotic use and gut flora (Leaky Gut Syndrome). If antibiotics (even as little as one course) are not followed by probiotics they can seriously disrupt the gut flora and consequently the health of the gut. There's one antibiotic that even warns in the package insert that it "causes Ulcerative Colitis" - and yet doctors don't warn patients and continue to prescribe it! Go figure. Also, emotional factors are key in any gut disorder and the brain/emotions and gut are closely linked - did you know that 60% of the body's neurotransmitters are in the gut - not the brain? So always explore and seek to heal emotional roots/woundings - for some people this provides more relief than physical therapies. Good therapies for this are craniosacral, hypnotherapy and energy/spiritual healing (but make sure the therapist has a good reputation). Anyway, hope that gives you some ideas...

If you're worried about polyps, or if your intuition tells you this is something you need to address, then I can give you a couple of ideas: First, check out Ozone Therapy (do an internet keyword search), a very popular, natural therapy administered by MDs in Germany for over 10 years, which is VERY effective in healing UC (and related intestinal symptoms). You basically receive ozone enemas (I believe 8-10 is the normal course of treatment). This therapy is also very effective with colon cancer with high cure rates - chemotherapy not needed. The second thing is that if you're having colonoscopies, you need to follow each one with a specific program of intestinal healing and bacteria re-colonization: George's aloe vera, NAG, L-Glutamine and a full-spectrum probiotic for at least 2 months - Natren is my favorite probiotic manufacturer, get either their Trenev capsules or the 3 strains (bulgaricus, bifidus, acidophilus) in powder form that you can mix with water, whichever you prefer. The third thing you may be interested in is my next book, THE IBD REMISSION DIET. This book basically expands on the elemental diet outlined in Ch.3 of LTYG and makes it very easy to follow a step-by-step program of completely liquid, elemental diet combined with a specific supplementation plan to heal the mucosal lining, restore the immune system and basically provide an intensive healing spa for the whole body (cells, hormones/glands, organs, etc. all facets of health are supported simultaneously). This is then followed by systematic food re-introduction (to test thoroughly for food intolerances/allergies) and probiotic supplementation to re-colonize the gut flora with good bacteria (all your bad bacteria, yeast, parasites, mold, etc. have been starved off and excreted over the course of the elemental diet which allows no undigested food into the colon and parts of the small intestine). Anyway, the result is truly a wholistic healing program that takes your body (and colon) to the next level of health and so is a marvelous preventative for any future unbalance (including cancer).

Anyway, hope that answers your question. So I guess the short answer to the polyps would be: I don't worry about them, I just focus on taking care of myself wholistically. I also avoid pretty much all medical interventions and testing/exploratory procedures as I feel the damage done to the intestinal tissue and gut flora (and overall health) far outweighs any 'knowledge' benefits. If something is wrong in my digestive system, I'll know about it just through my health (energy, bloodwork, Bio-Terrain Analysis - blood, urine, saliva comparitive- mentioned in LTYG, and through specific digestive symptoms - gas, diarrhea, constipation, mucus in stool, cramping, bleeding, etc. , or the absence thereof). I'm not even convinced that polyps (in isolation) precede or are indicative of eventual cancer, actually.