Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; ? about oils

Can anyone recommend oils or herbs to help heal the digestive tract and calm inflammation? I have reflux, candida, ulcers and inflammation. I eat a lot of cocunut oil but have not tried any others. I have candida, ulcers, reflux and systemic inflammation. Have not tried a juice fast yet since I am only 100 pounds. I am on a gluten free diet.

Thanks for the help.

Shari

Healing the intestines... fish and flax seed oil I have read in the past help.

Hi, Shari:

In general, the two goals are mildly divergent: Trying to heal the tract can actually increase inflammation.

I hope that You address the underlying issue of the ulcers first; please contact the Road Back Foundation for a rheumatologist who is able to prescribe antibiotics in the tricky situation of candidiasis. The new dilemma is that antibiotics can exacerbate the candidiasis, so antifungals first, followed by strict diet (no sugars or starches) and do the garlic, caprylic acid (oil--EFAs), colloidal silver, and every form of oregano oil.

But do take the olive oil by teaspoonful throughout the day, as You are able and please get some GLA (borage seed, evening primrose, black currant) oils--enough to take about 2g effective GLA every evening before retiring (while symptoms are active; take less when these decrease).

Now, especially because You are underweight, it makes the entire process more difficult. But some things to consider are whether You are underweight because of the inefficiency of Your digestive system; it seems there is a lot going on there! Regret gluten-free alone will not resolve AS inflammation.

If this is a good season for fresh cherries (otherwise, the apples are better), I recommend eating these alone, like the Edgar Cayce Three Day Apple Diet and finish up the cherries with as many ounces of EVOliveOil as possible (up to four which is beyond the gag factor for me), Okay also drink unsweetened cherry juice if You can manage.

Upon healing Your tract and making it more efficient, You should be able to get to a healthy weight quickly.

The following supplements are very necessary: VitC, vitE, niacin and niacinamide, lysine, chelated calcium and magnesium and colloidal minerals, unsweetened Knox gelatin. Things that might help: Colostrum, quercetin, Stonyfield Farms or Brown Cow brands of yoghurt--take this in very small increments of max 2oz daily to begin.

Foods that we normally do not eat but should: Sauerkraut, okra, bitter melon (especially half a cucumber-sized melon daily for one week; best with scrambled egg and a LOT of hot sauce!), raw almonds with skin removed or macadamia nuts. Honey-marzipan and/or halvah will always be a good dessert.

It may take some time and effort,--and experimentation, but You will win back Your HEALTH,
John

Thanks for the tip on the fish and flax seed oil. My tummy is sensitive to fish oil but will try the flax seed oil.

John - thanks for all the good info. I am currently on meds for candida. My Immunologist told me I will have candida for life due to the disease and medications I take.

I will start taking the olive oil and may give the apple diet a try .If I do the apple diet without antibiotics, can I heal my digestive tract? Also, will try the foods and vitamins you are recommending.

I appreciate all your help.

Shari

Hi, Shari:

Yes, the apple (or cherry) regimen only 3 days can help heal the gut even without cleaning the slate fully.

The candidiasis is for life, but there are things we can do to control it and we certainly need to address this issue first; I am glad You are on anti-fungals (?), however, unless You are able to do an extended fast, certainly the ulcers cannot be treated properly without antibiotics. A competent rheumatologist can set up a protocol for You and I very much recommend doing this soon: The candidiasis should be controlled before taking any antibiotic or especially any steroid (of any kind).

Good Luck with Your therapy,
HEALTH,
John

John - I will ask my Rheumy about the antibiotics to treat the ulcers when I see him in June and I will try the three day fast.

Thanks so much!

Shari

Not ulcers but very bad gastritis and at times very inflamed ileum such that I do not digest my food. No reflux though.

Stopping dairy was a big improvement for me.

Starting probiotics was also helpful. I currently take Align and Culturelle.

When my gastritis flares, nothing acidic, no underripe fruit, no dairy, no caffeine. Though now, just removing the dairy and I can eat the other things.

Prilosec is still the most helpful thing in my arsenal. Mylanta for short term immediate relief.

Since I don't have reflux, I find mint to be very soothing for my gastritis, but I know it is bad for reflux.

Ginger is really wonderful for my GI tract as well.

When my gastritis was really bad, I consumed a lot of ginger and mint, mostly in the form of teas.

I've read that fennel is another good one. I did try slippery elm for awhile, but the mint and ginger were more effective so I stuck with them.

I've read that aloe vera juice can be very soothing. I bought it, but the preservative in it made it unpalatable for me.

I've read that cabbage juice is also very good for ulcers. I haven't tried juicing cabbages, but I do know that cabbage seems to be the best thing to keep my GI tract functioning properly. I realize that these last few weeks, I've eaten sauerkraut, then red cabbage, then stuffed cabbage nearly every day, and my bowels have been awesome. Yesterday was the first day I didn't consume cabbage, and today now bowel movement…note to self: MUST EAT CABBAGE.

And when my GI tract was so inflamed that I couldn't digest hardly any veggies, I could digest the cruciferous veggies: I ate a lot of well cooked broccoli and a lot of cole slaw during those days.

-- Ulcers --
Any thoughts on what the root cause for ulcers is in your case? NSAIDs?

I used to have a lot of trouble with mouth ulcers, this was an ongoing issue for 10years or more. When I looked on earthclinic.com for remedies I found the kinds of things I had already tried.. the usual antibacterials such as topical peroxide, iodine, bicarb, salt, rinsing with alcohol. That stuff didn't work for me though and I had already tried all those without relief. And anytime I bit my lip or cheek, or even just a minor abrasion to the lining of my mouth, and I would be guaranteed to get a mouth ulcer.

In the end my ulcers turned out to be caused by a virus (maybe a strain of HSV), and a potent anti viral called BHT worked for me (only works for lipid coated viruses). I took about 500mg of BHT twice a day and that fixed it. And by fixed I mean I'm practically cured, as I don't need to take a maintenance dose of BHT to keep the ulcers away. 500mg worked, but maybe 250mg would be fine too, but I know that taking 1000mg in one dose was too much for me to handle as I would get some pains in my tummy (possibly liver struggling to metabolise it).. that only lasted an hour or so.

-- reflux --
My reflux played up whenever I ate food with animal fat in it. I think in particular it was fat from mammals that made it act up. This includes things like chocolate and butter.. yoghurt was ok because of the cultures preventing weird fermentation issues. Not painful in my case, just annoying.

What I found to be beneficial was:
* ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar)
* Rutin (pregnant ladies must not take this as it may bring on delivery)
* Licorice root tea
.. if these don't help then I thoroughly recommend doing a search on earthclinic.com

-- candida --
I was going to post here my observations but it turned out to be longer than I planned.. will start a new thread for it.