Intestine Tips

Undigested food that lurks around in the digestive tract produces a host of disorders due to intestinal distress. These disorders range from acidity to gastro-oesophageal reflux and even colon diseases like cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, gallstones, ulcers and Crohn's disease. Cramps, nausea, vomiting, loose motions, gas, and acidity are some of the most common symptoms that visit the patient as a result of such ailments. There are many ways of dealing with such intestinal distress, as follows :-

1. Diet: Introduce plenty of fibre into your diet to aid the digestion process. This can cut the risk of many such ailments and also aid in the treatment of the same. Intestinal distress is largely caused by food that is still lurking around in the digestive tract, so it is important to clean out the digestive system with plenty of fibre and water.
2. Nutrition for better Digestive System Health: Food that is rich in minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and iron will help in creating a stronger system that cleanses the digestive tract and helps in reducing the production of excess acid in the stomach. A balanced diet with plenty of nutrition aids digestion and makes the immunity stronger.
3. Study your Triggers: Watch out for foods that can trigger reflux action and other acidity related issues on the intake. These can include fatty food, fried and oily food as well as extremely spicy food. Stress is also a major trigger of intestinal distress, so it would be a good idea to avoid stressful situations or take medical help to deal with them in a better manner.
4. Medication: Antacids and other medication to prevent the onset and growth of such distress can be sought out after due consultation with a medical practitioner. Medication will help in dealing with and altering the acid level production in the stomach.
5. Surgery: In very extreme cases like ulcers and large size gallstones, surgery may be helpful so that you avoid rupturing the stomach's lining which can lead to a serious infection or even internal bleeding.

Knowing your triggers and getting into a better routine as far as your diet goes is as important as seeing a doctor about the severity of your case when it comes to intestinal distress.

To know more, take a private consultation today!

What is Intestinal Ischemia?

Intestinal ischemia is described as a variety of disorders that cause insufficient blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract. It is a serious condition that can lead to death.

Symptoms of Intestinal Ischemia

• Sudden abdominal pain
• An urgent need to have a bowel movement
• Abdominal tenderness or distention
• Fear of eating because of subsequent pain
• Weight loss
• Blood in your stool
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever

Causes of Intestinal Ischemia-

• Blockage in an artery caused by a blood clot
• Buildup of cholesterol deposits on the walls of an artery
• Heart, blood vessel, intestinal or gynecologic surgeries
• Impaired blood flow resulting from low blood pressure
• Cocaine or methamphetamine use
• Vigorous exercise, such as long-distance running
• Trauma to your abdomen
• Menopausal hormone therapy

Risk factors of Intestinal Ischemia-

• Buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries (atherosclerosis)
• Heart problems
• Blood pressure problems
• Blood-clotting problems
• Cocaine and methamphetamine use
• Certain allergy medications and migraine medications 

Complications of Intestinal Ischemia-

• Scarring or narrowing of your colon
• Death of intestinal tissue 

Diagnosis of Intestinal Ischemia-

Diagnosis of Intestinal ischemia involves the following tests:

• X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan and MRI
• Using a scope to see inside your digestive tract
• Using dye to track blood flow through the arteries
• Exploratory surgery

Precautions & Prevention of Intestinal Ischemia-

• Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Choose a diet full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains
• Do not smoke
• Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes

Treatment of Intestinal Ischemia

• Homeopathic Treatment of Intestinal ischemia
• Acupuncture & Acupressure Treatment of Intestinal ischemia
• Psychotherapy Treatment of Intestinal ischemia
• Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Intestinal ischemia
• Surgical Treatment of Intestinal ischemia
• Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Intestinal ischemia
• Other Treatment of Intestinal ischemia

Homeopathic Treatment of Intestinal Ischemia-

Homeopathy improves blood circulation and relieves pain and other complaints. It treats the person as a whole. Treatment is constitutional. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. It balances the energy system, improves immunity and body functions. It naturally cures the root cause of disorder. Some of the homeopathic medicines that can be used for treatment of intestinal ischemia are:

• China
• Ipecac
• Carb S
• Acid Sul
• Camph
• Lach 

Acupuncture and Acupressure Treatment of Intestinal Ischemia-

Acupuncture relieves by improving the physiological function of the organs and organ system. In acupuncture therapist will first diagnose the case on the basis of energy system or chi blockage as well as on the basis of status of five elements. On this basis certain disease specific acupoints are selected and stimulated.

Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy Treatment of Intestinal Ischemia-

Psychotherapy and hypnotherapy can help in stress relief. They can help in better coping and early relief.

Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Intestinal Ischemia-

In the allopathic treatment of intestinal ischemia, antibiotics are given to treat or prevent infections. Other medications are prescribed to prevent clots from forming, dissolve clots or dilate blood vessels.

Surgical Treatment of Intestinal Ischemia-

If your colon has been damaged, you may need surgery to remove the dead tissue. Or, you may need surgery to bypass a blockage in one of your intestinal arteries. If portions of your bowel show signs of damage, you may need surgery to remove the damaged section.

Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Intestinal Ischemia-

• Eat enough dietary fiber
• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
• Limit iron intake
• Reduce salt in your diet
• Avoid large and heavy meals

What is Intestinal obstruction?

Intestinal obstruction is a blockage of your small intestine or colon that prevents food and fluid from passing through. A complete intestinal obstruction is a medical emergency. It often requires surgery.

Symptoms of Intestinal obstruction-

• Crampy abdominal pain
• Abdominal distention
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas

Causes of Intestinal obstruction-

• Colon cancer
• Tumors in the small intestine
• Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease
• Twisting of the intestine (volvulus)
• Telescoping of the intestine
• Hernias
• Abdominal surgery
• Pelvic surgery
• Infection
• Parkinson’s disease
• Diverticulitis
   

Risk factors of Intestinal obstruction-

• Abdominal or pelvic surgery
• Crohn’s disease
• Cancer within your abdomen

Complications of Intestinal obstruction-

• Death of the affected intestine
• Infection in the abdominal cavity 

Diagnosis of Intestinal obstruction-

Diagnosis of Intestinal obstruction involves the following tests:

• Medical history and physical exam
• X-ray and computerized tomography (CT) scans

Treatment of Intestinal obstruction

• Homeopathic Treatment of Intestinal obstruction
• Acupuncture & Acupressure Treatment of Intestinal obstruction
• Psychotherapy Treatment of Intestinal obstruction
• Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Intestinal obstruction
• Surgical Treatment of Intestinal obstruction
• Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Intestinal obstruction
• Other Treatment of Intestinal obstruction

Homeopathic Treatment of Intestinal obstruction-

Homeopathic remedies are effective in relieving obstruction and complaints like  nausea and vomiting. It helps in relieving cramping and upper abdominal pains that become worse at night and after meals. Some of the homeopathic remedies for intestinal obstruction are:

• Acon
• Arnica
• Bell
• Mag p
• Nux v
• Phos ac
• Plumbum
• Carbo veg

Acupuncture and Acupressure Treatment of Intestinal obstruction-

Acupuncture relieves pain and obstruction by improving the physiological function of the organs and organ system. In acupuncture therapist will first diagnose the case on the basis of energy system or chi blockage as well as on the basis of status of five elements. On this basis certain disease specific acupoints are selected and stimulated.

Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy Treatment of Intestinal obstruction-

Psychotherapy and hypnotherapy can help in stress relief. They can help in better coping and early relief.

Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Intestinal obstruction-

Allopathic Treatment of Intestinal obstruction involves placing an intravenous (IV) line into a vein in your arm so that fluids can be given. Nasogastric (NG) tube is also placed through your nose and into your stomach to suck air and fluid out to relieve abdominal swelling. Drug therapies such as cisapride and vasopressin (Pitressin), are sometimes prescribed

Surgical Treatment of Intestinal obstruction-

Surgery typically involves removing the obstruction, as well as any section of your intestine that has died. The procedure you undergo will depend on what’s causing the obstruction and which part of your intestine is affected. In some cases, especially where there is a mechanical obstruction, surgery may be necessary.

Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Intestinal obstruction-

• Increase your fiber intake
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid dried beans, crunchy nut butters and tough meats
• Choose canned and cooked vegetables
   

A number of worms/parasites can infest the stomach and intestines. Children are more prone, and contract them by ingesting uncooked foods or fruits, contact with animals, playing in soil, or even unhygienic water.
The most common worms include pinworm, threadworms, roundworms, whipworms, hookworm, and tapeworm.

Signs and Symptoms

Whatever the type of worm, the symptoms are more or less the same and include the following:

1. Allergies: When worm infestation happens, there could be blisters on the body and the oral mucous membranes and food sensitivity can occur.
2. Anemia: The parasites growing inside the stomach suck out nutrition from the food, and therefore the body is deprived of essential nutrition. It could lead to severe anemia in some cases.
3. Altered bowel movement: While some organisms produce constipation by blocking the colon, others result in diarrhea which is body’s way of removing harmful substances from the body
4. Fatigue: Needless to say, all this results in extreme fatigue and dehydration for the infested person.
5. Abdominal bloating: The parasites produce gas, which produces a gassy, bloated sensation
6. Altered immune function: As most parasites induce an allergic reaction, there is an increased amount of immunoglobulin A in the circulation.
7. Other: Restlessness, dark circles under the eyes, bedwetting, headaches and light sensitivity.

Some of the most popular homeopathic remedies are listed below and aim at strengthening the child’s overall health. As always, the child will be asked thoroughly for all symptoms and then a remedy identified.

1. Cina: Very useful for all types of worm, it is the most popular remedy. The child is irritable, angry, has a pale appearance with rings around the eyes. When asked more, there will be teeth grinding (bruxism) at night, may have had convulsions, crying at night, nose picking, extreme hunger, milky urine, bluish discoloration around the mouth.
2. Calcarea: The child is usually fat, flabby child with a strong appetite and craving for things like chalk, coal, and pencils. There is aversion to dairy products and meat. There will be a crawling feeling in the rectum and anus. There is profuse sweating from the head, causing a wet pillow.
3. Spigelia: The child will have a pale face, blue rings around the eyes, tendency to faint, nauseating sensation, and pain around the navel. Stool with mucus and worms are an indication for using Spigelia.
4. Caladium: The worm travels from the perineum to the vagina and causes the girls to constantly itch around the vagina
5. Teucrium: Used in pinworm infestation, where there is a lot of irritation in the rectum. A thin dilution or tincture of this medication is used.
6. Indigo: Very effective in roundworms. The child is usually melancholic, has intense pain around the bellybutton, and may have had convulsions.

Intestinal distress is usually characterised by discomfort and pain in the abdomen, as well as an irritable bowel. This is generally caused when food does not move fast enough through the food pipe, to get digested in time. In Ayurvedic terms, this undigested, unprocessed food and the toxins that it causes is known as Ama. Intestinal distress includes conditions ranging from heartburn to IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. This is also known as Grahani in Ayurveda. Want to more about treating these conditions, the Ayurvedic way? Here's how!

1. Mustakarishta: This medicine helps in the prevention and treatment of loose motions as well as indigestion that causes gas and acidity.
2. Dadimavaleha: This is generally prescribed for patients suffering from fever along with loose motions, and bleeding, which usually points to infections in the body.
3. Kutajarishta: This concoction is used for treating patients suffering from dysentery, loose motions and mild to severe irritable bowel syndrome. 
4. Pushyanuga Churna: This medicine is used for treating menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, excessive bleeding during menstrual cycles and other digestive disorders.
5. Kutajavaleha: This is usually used during treatment for conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and piles. It also treats inflammation and bleeding issues. This medicine is also useful in treating patients suffering from anaemia.
6. Sanjeevani Vati: This medicine can be used for treating problems associated with dyspepsia, gastro enteritis and indigestion which can lead to heartburn. 
7. Bilwadi Gutika: Patients who have endured rodent or insect bites as well as gastro enteritis issues can use this medicine for instant relief.
8. Jeerakarishtam: This medicine is used for mothers who have just had babies and need to control frequent stools and indigestion in the post-natal period. 

The use of Ayurvedic medicines necessarily needs the support of other measures like eating a healthy and balanced diet as well as massages and other such tools prescribed under this science. The medicines work towards healing and preventing further eruptions of the ailments. But for the successful treatment of the same, patients of intestinal distress need to remember not to overeat and to have meals on time, and in a routine manner. The meals should consist of cumin, turmeric and easy to digest food as well as plenty of water. Exercise is another important facet of relieving the discomfort felt under such situations.

The production of gas in the body is a natural process as long as it is within normal limits. Whether it makes you burp or causes flatulence, excessive gas can be embarrassing. Gas can also make you uncomfortable and cause bloating. This is simply the buildup of excessive gas in the stomach before it is ready to be released. Here are a few simple tips that can help you prevent the buildup of excessive gas.

1. Avoid eating gaseous foods: Beans, broccoli, milk, cheese and fruits like pears and apples; these are some of the foods to avoid if you suffer from frequent bouts of gaseousness. This is because they contain fiber and sugar that is difficult to digest and creates gas. If you cannot avoid them completely, try steaming them instead of frying or baking them. Some people may also react to certain food combinations such as fruits and proteins by producing gas. Keeping a food diary may help identify such combinations.
2. Drink a glass of water before meals: Drinking water while you are eating can hinder digestion. When water mixes with solid food, it interferes with the way stomach acid breaks down food. Instead, drink a glass of water half an hour before your meals. In this way, the water flushes your system and prepares it for the digestion process.
3. Eat slowly: Grabbing a bite on the go is one of the leading causes of indigestion. When you eat anything, ensure that you chew it properly and do not swallow large bites of food. This prevents air from collecting in your stomach and thus prevents gaseousness.
4. Probiotics: Probiotics boost the production of ‘good gut bacteria’ that is essential for digestion. Probiotics can also help ease bloating. If you suffer from gas, try including probiotics like yogurt, pickles, kimchi and buttermilk in your diet or get yourself a probiotic supplement.
5. A cup of chamomile tea: Chamomile not only calms the body but can also fight indigestion and gas. A cup of chamomile tea after a heavy meal helps speed up the digestion process. This helps relieve bloating, as the faster the stomach is emptied, the faster gas can move out of the stomach and into the intestines. Fennel, dill, peppermint and ginger can also be used as alternatives to chamomile.
6. Digestive aids: Gas is a fairly common problem faced by a number of people and hence digestive aids are easily available over the counter. Look for medication that contains activated charcoal or digestive enzymes.

If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Gastroenterologist.

The production of gas in the body is a natural process as long as it is within normal limits. Whether it makes you burp or causes flatulence, excessive gas can be embarrassing. Gas can also make you uncomfortable and cause bloating. This is simply the buildup of excessive gas in the stomach before it is ready to be released. Here are a few simple tips that can help you prevent the buildup of excessive gas:

1. Avoid eating gaseous foods: Beans, broccoli, milk, cheese and fruits like pears and apples; these are some of the foods to avoid if you suffer from frequent bouts of gaseousness. This is because they contain fiber and sugar that is difficult to digest and creates gas. If you cannot avoid them completely, try steaming them instead of frying or baking them. Some people may also react to certain food combinations such as fruits and proteins by producing gas. Keeping a food diary may help identify such combinations.
2. Drink a glass of water before meals: Drinking water while you are eating can hinder digestion. When water mixes with solid food, it interferes with the way stomach acid breaks down food. Instead, drink a glass of water half an hour before your meals. In this way, the water flushes your system and prepares it for the digestion process.
3. Eat slowly: Grabbing a bite on the go is one of the leading causes of indigestion. When you eat anything, ensure that you chew it properly and do not swallow large bites of food. This prevents air from collecting in your stomach and thus prevents gaseousness.
4. Probiotics: Probiotics boost the production of ‘good gut bacteria’ that is essential for digestion. Probiotics can also help ease bloating. If you suffer from gas, try including probiotics like yogurt, pickles, kimchi and buttermilk in your diet or get yourself a probiotic supplement.
5. Digestive aids: Gas is a fairly common problem faced by a number of people and hence digestive aids are easily available over the counter. Look for medication that contains activated charcoal or digestive enzymes.

If gaseousness persists over a long period of time and is not eased by any of these remedies, consult a doctor at once.
 

Diverticulosis refers to a serious medical condition when pouches develop on the walls of your colon,which is another name for the large intestine. These pouches are small in size and usually vary from 5 to 10 millimeters, but can get bigger when this condition becomes serious. Diverticulosis is usually discovered while performing tests for other medical conditions on your body. Once these pouches become infected and inflamed, they may cause acute pain in your abdomen. This condition is called diverticulitis and is considered quite serious.

Causes of Diverticulosis:
Doctors have suggested that the pouches in diverticulosis are formed when pressure increases inside the colon and presses against the weaker spots in the walls of the large instesine. The differences in pressure may create tears or pouches within the colon resulting in the disorder. Some of the causes are mentioned here:

1. Low fiber diet: Low fiber diet causes small hard stool which makes it tough for the colon to put much more pressure. Low fiber diet can also increase the amount of time stool stays in the bowel which adds to high pressure and thus may contribute to this condition.
2. Age: The chances of diverticulosis increases when you are above the age of 60 which has something related to the weakening of bowels over time. A bad diet over many years can make this worse.
3. Lifestyle: Certain lifestyle habits which generally contribute to bad colon health may also result in diverticulosis by increasing pressure on the blood vessels of the bowel wall. This then pushes against other vessels resulting in the formation of pouches.

Diagnosis
Many people with diverticulosis may not even know they have this issue until it is detected while looking for other issues within the body. There are many cases when diverticulosis has been diagnosed when various tests like X-ray which use barium enema or colonoscopy is performed on your body for other medical reasons. If your white blood cells are higher in count than normal then it can indicate infection which may turn into diverticulitis. You may also be asked to undergo CT scan to check if the pouches are infected.

Symptoms of Diverticulosis:
Diverticulosis is hard to diagnose as it may not show any symptoms at all. In most cases symptoms start showing when it progresses towards diverticulitis. However certain generic symptoms which may prompt the doctor to require a detailed examination are as follows:
1. Diarrhea
2. Vomiting
3. Bloating or gas
4. Loss in appetite
5. Constipation

Treatment can be done at home or you may be asked to stay in hospital depending upon the severity of the case. Proper bed rest and liquid diet may be prescribed to enable the diverticula to heal properly. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Gastroenterologist.