19-12-08
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME AND BIO-REGULATORY MEDICINE
Stephen Bourne MB, MRCGP, MBRCP, Dip Homotox (Hons)
Irritable bowel syndrome (I.B.S.) is the most common digestive disorder. It may be associated with bloating, colic, irregular bowel motions, nausea, migraine, sinusitis, joint pain and dermatitis.
Conventional medicine tends symptoms rather than causes.
The causes of IBS undermine the biological terrain. They include electro-magnetic pollution (EMP), dental mercury toxicity, an abnormally low biological pH, insufficient stomach acid and dysbiosis. Conventional medicine has tended to disregard the significance of the biological terrain.
BACKGROUND OF THE BIOLOGICAL TERRAIN
Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902), the father of modern pathology, stated in his mature years-
"If I could live my life over again, I would devote it to proving that germs seek their natural habitat - diseased tissue.
That is to say germs are attracted to diseased tissue rather than being the primary cause of it.
For example, mosquitoes seek stagnant water, but do not cause the water to become stagnant."
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) subsequently proposed the germ theory of infection
Pasteur was supported were supported by the German physician, Robert Koch (1843-1910), who stated in his well known postulates, that -
"Germs can be identified microscopically, isolated and transmitted from one host to another."
At about the same time also in France, Claude Barnard (1813-1878), who is regarded as the father of modern physiology, proposed the rival 'milieu intérieur' theory of infection.
He wrote, "La fixité du milieu intérieur est la condition d'une vie libre et indépendante" ("The constancy of the internal environment is the condition for a free and independent life"). This remains the underlying principle of homeostasis.
Shortly before he died in 1895, Pasteur conceded to Barnard, with the remark, "La bactérie n'est rien. C'est le terrain qui fait tout"
(" The bacteria is trivial. It is the terrain that is all important".)
It is now evident that both schools of thought are valid, depending on circumstances.
Further support for the milieu intérieur theory was provided by Antoine Béchamp (1816-1908). Béchamp studied sterile living red blood corpuscles under a powerful microscope over a period of time, and found that lowering the pH of the preparations encouraged the spontaneous development of pathogens.
Experience with modern bio-regulatory medicine confirms that improving the biological terrain is the basis of the scientific treatment of chronic disease and supports the views of the great pioneers of medical science (Virchow, Pasteur and Barnard).
In modern medicine, it is now evident that an acidic biological pH causes release of calcium from bone, and magnesium from muscle leading to osteoporosis and muscle fatigue.
Balch and Balch in 'Nutritional Healing' suggest that diet is the most significant factor in achieving and maintaining a remission: such a diet omits poorly tolerated foods and includes some grilled fish and chicken and is composed mostly of complex carbohydrates. On the other hand, in 'Clinical Medicine' (Kumar and Clark) significance of diet is disregardedin favour of suppressive treatments such as corticosteroids and salicylates. This book of modern medicine does, however, advocate the use of probiotics!
Conventional colonoscopy and biopsy does not help explain the pathogenesis of IBS, and stools cultures are unreliable. Looking at dead diseased tissue under the microscope has been compared to trying to understand fire by examining ash.
Here is a case history to illustrate the point. A five year old child with chronic abdominal bloating and diarrhoea was brought to see me a few years ago,. A consultant paediatrician had previously diagnosed coeliac disease following an intestinal biopsy. He told her parents that she would have to remain on a gluten free diet for the rest of her life and the diet had not helped. I diagnosed giardiasis, which responded readily to treatment. This diagnosis was subsequently agreed by a second consultant paediatrician.
BIO-REGULATORY MANAGEMENT OF IBS
Factors that have undermined the biological terrain should first be identified and treated. Electro-magnetic pollution (EMP) and dental mercury toxicity are considered separately. Alkalising diets are covered in 'The pH Miracle' by Robert and Shelley Young, (Warner Paperbacks, 2003. ISBN: 978-0-7515-3406-1).
SUMMARY OF THE CAUSES OF IBS
- Electro-magnetic and geopathic interference fields.
- Heavy metal poisoning (mercury, lead, aluminium).
- An over acidic biological terrain (unhealthy diet).
- Dysbiosis with leaky gut syndrome.
- Oxygen depletion (?stagnant colonic putrefactive material - TV').
- Hypochlorhydria and H2 receptor blockers.
- Prescription drugs (antibiotics, hormones).
- Pancreatic enzyme deficiency.
- Liver stress with bile salt deficiency.
- Urban, industrial and agricultural pollution.
- Dominant foci' (in colon, appendix, teeth, paranasal sinuses).
- Bio-energetic inter-relationships with teeth.
- Psychological stress -especially grief.
With a bio-regulatory approach, it is possible to distinguish between the causes of IBS and their consequences. With vegatesting, the diagnostic filter 'ORIGIN OF DISTRESS' can be used to identify the most important underlying cause.
DYSBIOSIS AND IBS
The term 'dysbiosis' is derived from ancient Greek and means 'unhealthy life'. It causes inflammation of the intestinal endothelium, enabling antigenic particles of food to penetrate the gut wall in 'leaky gut syndrome'. These antigenic particles combine with local antibodies to release of inflammatory cytokines with consequent bloating, colic, nutritional deficiencies, irregular bowel motions and nausea. They may also be conveyed by the blood stream to end organs at other parts of the body, causing migraine, sinusitis, joint pain and dermatitis. All these symptoms are associated with IBS. With a bio-regulatory approach, associated nutritional deficiencies, liver, pancreatic and adreno-cortical stress can also be identified and treated.
IMMUNE SYSTEM WEAKNESS AND IBS
Intestinal inflammation stresses the lymphoid tissue that is embedded in the intestinal wall (Peyer's Patches). This stresses the immune system and leads to a generalised deterioration in health.
POORLY TOLERATED FOODS AND IBS
These should be identified and excluded from the patient's diet
PRESRIPTION DRUGS AND IBS
Antibiotics predispose to dysbiosis.
The side effects of H2 receptor blockers used in the management of gastric hyper-acidity include "diarrhoea and other gastro-intestinal disturbances," (BNF).
The side effects of metronidazole (Flagyl - active against protozoa and anaerobic bacteria), include epileptiform seizures, nausea, vomiting and an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND IBS
PREDISPOSING FACTORS
Organic fruit and vegetables are not irradiated against infection and may be implicated in the transmission of pathogens (E. Coli, Salmonella and intestinal parasites).
Salmonella may be disseminated by infected food handlers.
Water sources in the United Kingdom are contaminated with protozoa, so that intestinal parasites are not necessarily contracted abroad.
CANDIDIASIS
This is liable to be associated with dental mercury toxicity or antibiotic therapy.
PROTOZOA AND NEMATODES (roundworms)
The orthodox diagnosis of intestinal parasites depends on finding positive stools cultures. These are unreliable because of the high incidence of false negatives associated with the considerable volatility of the parasite cysts (trophozoites) during their life cycles.
OXYGEN DEFICIENCY AND IBS
Intestinal oxygen deficiency associated with a build up of stagnant faeces contributes to the establishment of inflammatory anaerobic bacterial colonic pathogens. OxyTech (from Dulwich Health) is a laxative supplement that increases the bio-availability of oxygen in the intestine.
THERAPEUTIC SUGGESTIONS
Diet
Exclude poorly tolerated foods and drinks.
Advise whole unprocessed foods - legumes vegetables, fruit nuts and seeds. Reduce intake of acidifying foods (animal protein, coffee, cola refined flour etc).
Include ground up flax seeds in the diet.
Increase water intake (1.5 L) taken throughout the day - not all at once.
Life styles
Regular exercise.
Relaxation (music, breathing exercises, meditation etc.).
Identify and reduce adverse stress factors.
Psychological factors - especially grief.
Nicotine addiction: bear in mind that stopping smoking can aggravate stress related symptoms.
The treatment section has been omitted from this paper, which is for educational purposes only.
