Re: Pu-reh Kombucha, S. Boularddi, Slippery Elm & IBSM

June 23, 2008

I don't know about the teas you mention but I have read over and over

where people have been cured of IBS by following a raw food vegan diet.

http://www.rawhealing.com/myrawstory.html

http://www.paulnison.com/aboutpaul.htm

http://www.shazzie.com/raw/transformation/christy.shtml

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=30360

On Jun 23, 2008, at 11:48 AM, Sharon son wrote:

> I've been trying to find some more helpful things for my DH's IBS.

> I've

> read a few IBS sites where people have seen greater IBS-success

> (remission)

> with kombucha brewed with Pu-reh teas.

>

> Also, am taking a look at saccharomyces boulardii. It's not obvious

> to me

> if it is readily available in fermented foods and am guessing I'd

> need to

> find it in pill form.

>

> Slippery elm - yet another thing I'm contemplating. I've read it

> has the

> taste and texture of warm shot. Yum. I'm guessing pill form is best.

>

> It would also seem some of these would have good application for

> autism gut

> issues. If anyone has experience with these, or can recommends

> brands,

> etc., I'd be most grateful for input/advice/recommendations.

>

> Sharon

June 23, 2008

saccharomyces boulardii is in kefir, and it does seem to work

for a lot of people.

If he is eating gluten though, going GF for a week might be

a great test. My dh had IBS for 15 years ... never told me

about it ... but when I went GF he did too (since I do the cooking)

and his IBS mysteriously disappeared, but he didn't know

why. I hadn't told anyone about my GF experiment! Now

he won't touch the stuff. But he can digest other foods

that he couldn't before (like nuts).

Casein is a culprit for a lot of people too.

A good stopgap though, is bentonite: about 1/4 tsp. with

meals. It stops the bacterial overgrowth that is often

causing the actual symptoms. The reason for the

bacterial overgrowth is likely something like malabsorption

of food, which is another problem to fix, but the bentonite

cuts the symptoms nicely.

The GFCF diet DOES work for Asperger's, at least it

has for me. Total personality change. I think some

of the symptoms, as for IBS, might be fungal or

bacterial, in addition to whatever havoc gliadin wrecks

on the blood/brain barrier. So in addition to changing

the diet, one has to work at fixing the dysbiosis.

I've been also working with nasal washes: I think the

sinuses get infected and put mycotoxins into the

blood.

On Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 10:48 AM, Sharon son <skericson@...> wrote:

> I've been trying to find some more helpful things for my DH's IBS. I've

> read a few IBS sites where people have seen greater IBS-success (remission)

> with kombucha brewed with Pu-reh teas.

>

> Also, am taking a look at saccharomyces boulardii. It's not obvious to me

> if it is readily available in fermented foods and am guessing I'd need to

> find it in pill form.

>

> Slippery elm - yet another thing I'm contemplating. I've read it has the

> taste and texture of warm shot. Yum. I'm guessing pill form is best.

>

> It would also seem some of these would have good application for autism gut

> issues. If anyone has experience with these, or can recommends brands,

> etc., I'd be most grateful for input/advice/recommendations.

>

> Sharon

>

> --

> Deut 11:15 He will put grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will

> have plenty to eat.

> Check out my blog - www.ericsons.net - Food for the Body and Soul

>

June 23, 2008

,

A raw vegan diet is, by definition, gluten and casein free. Raw

wheat/rye/barley is just not that appealing by itself. Café Gratitude does

a public raw vegan menu and only had to change to wheat-free tamari to

become completely gluten free and a place where I can eat anything on the

menu! (Hurrah!!) And if you use the wheat/rye/barley in a fermented thing

like soy sauce or even rejuvilac (is that how it is spelled?) you still are

cutting way, way back on the gluten. Which may make the IBS remarkably

better.

Connie

_____

From: nutrition

[mailto:nutrition ] On Behalf Of C

Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 11:00 AM

nutrition

Subject: Re: Pu-reh Kombucha, S. Boularddi, Slippery Elm & IBSM

I don't know about the teas you mention but I have read over and over

where people have been cured of IBS by following a raw food vegan diet.

http://www.rawheali <http://www.rawhealing.com/myrawstory.html>

ng.com/myrawstory.html

http://www.paulniso <http://www.paulnison.com/aboutpaul.htm>

n.com/aboutpaul.htm

http://www.shazzie.

<http://www.shazzie.com/raw/transformation/christy.shtml>

com/raw/transformation/christy.shtml

http://www.rawfoodt <http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=30360>

alk.com/showthread.php?t=30360

June 23, 2008

On Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 2:17 PM,

June 24, 2008

On Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 3:40 PM, Sharon son <skericson@...> wrote:

> But it's not guaranteed to be in all kefir, or at least in the same

> quantities that worked for some, right? Wish I had my own

> lab...........LOL.

I don't know the quantities, or if it's in all kefir, but

kefir sure seems to help people a lot, and that

would be a prime " suspect " in the helping. And

yeah, a lab would be nice!

> Wow, I'm stuck on the part that you have a dh who never told you about his

> IBS. I don't meant to sound heartless, but I know way more than I care to

> know about my DH to the point I feel more like his internist than his wife.

> Maybe that's a good thing but not when I hear, " Hi, honey, they're like

> rabbit pellets " before I hear, " Good morning, did you sleep well...... " .

Role reversal! I grew up with a nurse for a Mom, and anything

was fair game to talk about at the dinner table. I really have

to restrain myself as to what I'll talk about.

It is really, really hard to help someone though when they

won't tell you what is going on. Something like " I can't

eat nuts " . " Why? " " They upset my system " . Not a lot

to go on!

> He's tried GF....did nothing. If he goes without kefir for more than 2 days

> (he's Aspie - very forgetful in most things), he's miserable, so so far,

> kefir is one of the only things that helps. Oh, and not stopping at

> Starbucks on his way to work. He pays for that Big Time.

OK, so the kefir does help! That's good. GF doesn't help everyone,

but also, a lot of people who think they are GF aren't. Among

celiacs who get tested, turns out 70% are NOT really

on a GF diet, or at least are getting enough that they

don't heal properly. The stuff is hard to avoid.

Among my blood relatives though, milk is more of

a problem than gluten (or at least they see the affects

more) which is interesting. I react to both, but I didn't

give up casein til I was GF for maybe a year, and that

was only because I finally made the connection to migraines.

But the kefir was very healing to me too, so I was sorry

to give it up. Kefir beer had much of the same effect

though.

> About half a year ago, I decided none of us would consume dairy unless it

> was fermented or cultured (butter, sour cream made from cultured buttermilk,

> cultured buttermilk and kefir as well as goat yogurt). Are there any of

> those you'd cut out?

I was getting about 5 migraines a month, with no particular

connection to any meal. I was keeping a journal, hoping to

pin them to something, for years. The only one trigger

that I knew of was polyurethane varnish, and of course

that was very rare.

I cut out dairy (which at that point was

only kefir and butter: I don't actually like milk and never have)

and that month had zero migraines. So I tried it another month,

no migraines. Now the only time I get migraines seems to

be if I get dairy and don't take the clay with it (I have

had several creme brulee's on special occasions and

butter with everything when we were travelling, and did

fine with the clay). But I don't actually know what it is

about dairy that would have this effect. Might be hormones.

Personally though I think if someone is eating

gluten there's not really a good solution: the stuff

seems to be irritating to the guts of 5 out of 6

people, so until THAT is gone it's hard to know

what else to do. Stopping all starches seems to

work for a lot of people (which might indicate

that an underlying problem is dysbiosis), but

I've also heard of people who get better if they

just stop grains other than rice (the macrobiotic

diets might be onto something).

> You know, I put it in my parrot's food, and even though DH wasn't keen on

> the idea, I've been sneaking it into his. Thus far, no changes.

From what you are saying though, he seems to

have more of a problem with constipation? I'm not

sure the clay would help with that ... more fiber might.

> Did sugar affect you? DH inherited a sugar-fiend habit from his father.

> They're awful - hiding sugar like alcoholics. I've found empty candy bags

> under his car seat. I wouldn't be surprised if Candida is an issue, of

> course. And even without eating gluten, his hands break out in little red

> itchy bumps. Can't quite call it a rash, more like dermatitis but smaller -

> they don't break open and scar like dermatitis does, but instead, just

> disappear within 24 hours............

Sounds like the little red bumps I get from milk, gluten, and shrimp. It's

called dermatitis herpetiformis, and it's an IgA reaction.

Really really itchy! Hard to get rid of too: it's considered

a sign of celiac, but most people who have the bumps

don't have the measurable gut damage. But the dh doesn't

go away when you drop gluten, which is really odd, and

the IgA lives under the skin and gets activated by iodine

(hence my reaction to shrimp!). I think ANY

IgA reaction can cause them, so it's not necessarily

gluten but it probably indicates leaky gut from something.

Caladryl helps with the itching though. After a year

or two I stopped reacting to iodine, which is great, I

do love seaweed.

The little bumps were a lifesaver for me though: they

appear very regularly 1/2 to 1 hour after a meal (about

the time the stomach starts emptying into the

small intestine, amazingly enough). I don't get other

symptoms until the next day, which makes it hard

to figure out " the culprit " .

He has enough symptoms though, you could probably

get him a blood test for celiac. Or Dr. Fine's stool

test for gluten and casein. Not everyone who

drops gluten and casein from their diet gets better

quickly, and compliance is hard. If he has dermatitis

herpetiformis though, that's a dead giveaway for

an IgA " allergy " .

June 24, 2008

On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 3:08 AM,

June 24, 2008

On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 7:34 PM, Sharon son <skericson@...> wrote:

My migraines started when I was 14 or so, and involve the

inability to see for about an hour, then a few hours

of pain and nausea which progressed often to the next

day. Later I got less pain and nausea, but also I started

taking Sumatriptin when I'd get one (which worked

great, by the way).

The doc I had when I was 14 was just great: he said

they can be triggered by anything, and its up to

you to find out what is triggering them. They do seem

to be connected to calcium usage though (which is

severely messed up in gluten-intolerant people). Taking

extra calcium and magnesium definitely helped!

I think I read once that B vitamins help too.

Chemicals can definitely cause them though.

Like I said, polyurethane does it to me. Interestingly

enough all the OTHER chemicals I was typically

around (and I was around a lot of them) never had

that effect. I'm not particularly chemically sensitive:

my Mom would cast plastics in the room next to

mine and my Dad painted with oils, and I loved

making perfume ... then I went into jewelry work

which involves all kinds of stuff. I get more sensitive

though when I have a nasal infection. Using a

salt/xylitol/tea tree oil/oil of rosemary wash

in a Neti pot kills the infection and THAT causes

all kinds of changes.

Might cause changes to gut flora too ... the sinuses

get fungi growing and the mycotoxins they produce

go right into your gut (and your blood, and your lungs).

Does he get canker sores too? Is he prone to cavities?

How is his bone density?

> ,

> What type of migraines did you get? He'd been getting eye migraines.

> They started 2 years ago. First one was quite frightening and rather

> severe. He had them monthly for half a year - never at home, always

> at work, so I began to think stress related. Then the eye migraines

> progressed to full-blown lying-in-dark-bedroom-moaning migraines.

> Now, knock on wood, he's not had one for many months - it was a bout

> lasting 18 months BUT, I'm almost thinking there was something

> toxic/EI in his work environment. When they switched to new offices,

> they eye migraines disappeared. We've given up going to concerts, the

> theatre, etc., because perfume/cologne is absolutely deadly to him,

> beginning with respiratory issues and progressing to a closed throat

> and full-blown headaches.

>

> By the way, he goes from constipation to diarrhea. There's

> occasionally a break where he's suddenly quite pleased he's feeling

> semi-normal and then it is back into the bathroom for days on end.

>

> Thanks for helping me think these issues through..................

>

> Sharon

>

> ------------------------------------

>

June 25, 2008

Sharon

I would try triphala. It is good for lots of digestive ailments along

with others.

GB

> I've been trying to find some more helpful things for my DH's IBS. I've

> read a few IBS sites where people have seen greater IBS-success

(remission)

> with kombucha brewed with Pu-reh teas.

>

> Also, am taking a look at saccharomyces boulardii. It's not obvious

to me

> if it is readily available in fermented foods and am guessing I'd

need to

> find it in pill form.

>

> Slippery elm - yet another thing I'm contemplating. I've read it

has the

> taste and texture of warm shot. Yum. I'm guessing pill form is best.

>

> It would also seem some of these would have good application for

autism gut

> issues. If anyone has experience with these, or can recommends brands,

> etc., I'd be most grateful for input/advice/recommendations.

>

> Sharon

June 25, 2008

Hi Sharon,

I give Slippery Elm to my labrador. I put a teaspoon into a mug with a

teaspoon of raw honey, then add some warm water and stir until it thickens.

She thinks it tastes fine, but your hubby may not......

Something else that I give her is L'Glutamine (in pill form) which is

supposed to be really good for coating the intestines.

Regards,

and the K9's

-----

>> Slippery elm - yet another thing I'm contemplating. I've read it

> has the

>> taste and texture of warm shot. Yum. I'm guessing pill form is best.

>>

>> It would also seem some of these would have good application for

> autism gut

>> issues. If anyone has experience with these, or can recommends brands,

>> etc., I'd be most grateful for input/advice/recommendations.

June 25, 2008

Migraines at work only may be related to something related to " Sealed

Building Syndrome "

Peace

Ed Kasper LAc. & family

www.HappyHerbalist.com

.....................................................................

3a. Re: Pu-reh Kombucha, S. Boularddi, Slippery Elm & IBSM

Posted by: " Sharon son " skericson@... notmyown_1cor6

Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:34 pm (PDT)

On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 3:08 AM,

June 25, 2008

S. Boulardii is a yeast that may (or may not) be found in Kombucha Mushroom

Tea. One common brand of kombucha that specifies this particular yeast is GT

Synergy which is widely available. IMO, raw live probiotics is a far

superior method of taking a probiotic. S. Boulardii has some positive

research helping infant diarrhea. It is not always a " cure " because it

appears that the specific strain (of which there are several) are individual

specific. This is one of the few times I (professionally) would recommend

Kombucha for infants or children. Interesting that probiotics may help with

(or cause) diarrhea or constipation, therefore one has to monitor the

individual condition. Generally it is recommended to drink plenty of pure

fresh water with probiotics such as kombucha mushroom tea. Kombucha Cautions

& Safe Brewing Tips http://tinyurl.com/2ftmz7

Pu-erh tea is often used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to break up phlegm

and stagnation. And to sober-up the day after. Pu-erh is often served in

Southern Chinese restaurants after a big meal to aid digestion. A French

study found 5 cups of pu-erh tea daily worked as well as the leading

cholesterol Rx medication - without any of the side affects associated with

the Rx. Therefore pu-erh tea (which has numerous grades and types) is often

used in TCM for digestive disorders. It is a " heavy " " thick - rich " tea,

with a strong taste. http://tinyurl.com/25dou6

Peace

Ed Kasper LAc. & family

www.HappyHerbalist.com

June 25, 2008

Sharon,

I am chemically sensitive. Until I figured out what was going on, I used to get

migrane headaches also. I avoid perfumes and many other toxic chemicals. But

what also really has made a great difference has been the Super Blue Green

Algae. The nutritional profile of this cyano bacteria is such that it makes it

possible for my body to quickly detoxify. And after taking this algae for 10

years plus, I am not so sensitive many chemicals as I was. I still avoid toxins,

such as wearing a carbon filter mask and limit going into public places etc. Oh,

I wanted to say that shortly after starting taking the blue green algae, my

migraines stopped.

Ellis Hein

www.health-helps-you.com

Re: Pu-reh Kombucha, S. Boularddi, Slippery Elm & IBSM

On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 3:08 AM,

July 5, 2008

-----

>

> >> Slippery elm - yet another thing I'm contemplating. I've read it

> > has the

> >> taste and texture of warm shot. Yum. I'm guessing pill form is best.

> >>

> >> It would also seem some of these would have good application for

> > autism gut

> >> issues. If anyone has experience with these, or can recommends brands,

> >> etc., I'd be most grateful for input/advice/recommendations.

>

--

Hi Sharon,

Slippery elm has a taste that you either like or hate. Pill form isn't great,

better to get the powder and stir it into applesauce or a little diluted maple

syrup. Marshmallow root works similarly but has less taste. You stir the powder

into room temperature water and let it get slimy- the slime is what helps with

either one of these. Licorice tea also helps heal the GI tract- don't exceed

three cups daily if he is prone to hypertension. Stash teas work well and don't

have too much licorice- let stand 15 minutes before drinking.

Catnip tea is also good if he takes out stress on his GI tract. Also steep 15

minutes.

While kombucha is one source of probiotic organisms, it is basically a mother of

vinegar grown in sweetened tea. Pu-erh tea is a good black tea, from one of the

better tea growing regions in China. I don't know if kombucha is a better form

of probiotics for IBS than any other source, but it does have decent organisms

if you keep it from getting contaminated.

Usually IBS has some allergenic component, resulting in inflammation and leaky

gut. The usual suspects are gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and anything he eats

nearly every day. Allergy tests basically don't work 30% of the time, so the

only reliable way to tell is to remove the potential food totally (including

additives) from the diet for six weeks or so. Since we are genetically

programmed to forget pain, it helps to start by writing down the symptoms, their

frequency and to rate them on a 1-10 distress scale. He can retake the symptom

test, without looking at the answers after 6 weeks of the elimination diet.

It also helps to deal with inflammation. I like to take turmeric powder, add 5%

ginger and 5% freshly ground black pepper for penetration, and stir honey into

it until it forms a stiff paste. I eat a teaspoonful a day (try that with dry

turmeric!) I have also pickled fresh turmeric and ginger, but I can only get it

once a year.

Vaughan, MSTOM

Licensed Acupuncturist, and Herbalist

253 Garfield Place

Brooklyn, NY 11215

(718) 622-6755

Co-Conspirator to Make the World A Better Place: Visit

http://www.heroicstories.com/ and join the conspiracy

See my Acupuncture and Herbalism website

at:http://www.byregion.net/profiles/ksvaughan2.html

" When you are in doubt, be still, and wait. When doubt no longer exists for you,

then go forward with courage. So long as mists envelop you, be still. Be still

until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists -- as it surely will.

Then act with courage " White Eagle

July 5, 2008

One of the big reasons kombachu is reccommended for gut issues is the

butryic acid. It heals and help the gut to regenerate new tissues.

Also it has pros and enzymes and several b vitamins and minerals that

are all helpful. People who don't do well with pros will often do

great on kobachu.

hth

Ronni

>

> -----

> >

> > >> Slippery elm - yet another thing I'm contemplating. I've read it

> > > has the

> > >> taste and texture of warm shot. Yum. I'm guessing pill form is

best.

> > >>

> > >> It would also seem some of these would have good application for

> > > autism gut

> > >> issues. If anyone has experience with these, or can recommends

brands,

> > >> etc., I'd be most grateful for input/advice/recommendations.

> >

>

> --

>

> Hi Sharon,

>

> Slippery elm has a taste that you either like or hate. Pill form

isn't great, better to get the powder and stir it into applesauce or a

little diluted maple syrup. Marshmallow root works similarly but has

less taste. You stir the powder into room temperature water and let

it get slimy- the slime is what helps with either one of these.

Licorice tea also helps heal the GI tract- don't exceed three cups

daily if he is prone to hypertension. Stash teas work well and don't

have too much licorice- let stand 15 minutes before drinking.

>

> Catnip tea is also good if he takes out stress on his GI tract.

Also steep 15 minutes.

>

> While kombucha is one source of probiotic organisms, it is basically

a mother of vinegar grown in sweetened tea. Pu-erh tea is a good

black tea, from one of the better tea growing regions in China. I

don't know if kombucha is a better form of probiotics for IBS than any

other source, but it does have decent organisms if you keep it from

getting contaminated.

>

> Usually IBS has some allergenic component, resulting in inflammation

and leaky gut. The usual suspects are gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and

anything he eats nearly every day. Allergy tests basically don't work

30% of the time, so the only reliable way to tell is to remove the

potential food totally (including additives) from the diet for six

weeks or so. Since we are genetically programmed to forget pain, it

helps to start by writing down the symptoms, their frequency and to

rate them on a 1-10 distress scale. He can retake the symptom test,

without looking at the answers after 6 weeks of the elimination diet.

>

> It also helps to deal with inflammation. I like to take turmeric

powder, add 5% ginger and 5% freshly ground black pepper for

penetration, and stir honey into it until it forms a stiff paste. I

eat a teaspoonful a day (try that with dry turmeric!) I have also

pickled fresh turmeric and ginger, but I can only get it once a year.

>

> Vaughan, MSTOM

> Licensed Acupuncturist, and Herbalist

> 253 Garfield Place

> Brooklyn, NY 11215

>

> (718) 622-6755

>

> Co-Conspirator to Make the World A Better Place: Visit

http://www.heroicstories.com/ and join the conspiracy

> See my Acupuncture and Herbalism website

at:http://www.byregion.net/profiles/ksvaughan2.html

>

> " When you are in doubt, be still, and wait. When doubt no longer

exists for you, then go forward with courage. So long as mists envelop

you, be still. Be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels

the mists -- as it surely will. Then act with courage " White Eagle

>

July 10, 2008

Hi, Ronni

Looks like it is time to try kombucha again......he had some nice mothers

and batches for a couple years but then had a particularly bad IBS attack

and started self-limiting most foods, thus, allowing the mother to die.

So, we're hunting for another. He purchased a bottled version but it was so

horrifically sweet that it sent him into another episode and he was locked

away for a few days.......

Now I'm researching resistant starch concepts. Someone told him to load up

on those, but I'm guessing there are only very specific RS that would work

well and that we should continue to soak rice and potatoes to remove dietary

starch..........

Any ideas on that? Thank you!!!

Sharon

On Sat, Jul 5, 2008 at 2:00 PM, ronnimike <HISSPECIALTOUCH@...> wrote:

> One of the big reasons kombachu is reccommended for gut issues is the

> butryic acid. It heals and help the gut to regenerate new tissues.

> Also it has pros and enzymes and several b vitamins and minerals that

> are all helpful. People who don't do well with pros will often do

> great on kobachu.

>

> hth

> Ronni

>

> >

> > -----

> > >

> > > >> Slippery elm - yet another thing I'm contemplating. I've read it

> > > > has the

> > > >> taste and texture of warm shot. Yum. I'm guessing pill form is

> best.

> > > >>

> > > >> It would also seem some of these would have good application for

> > > > autism gut

> > > >> issues. If anyone has experience with these, or can recommends

> brands,

> > > >> etc., I'd be most grateful for input/advice/recommendations.

> > >

> >

> > --

> >

> > Hi Sharon,

> >

> > Slippery elm has a taste that you either like or hate. Pill form

> isn't great, better to get the powder and stir it into applesauce or a

> little diluted maple syrup. Marshmallow root works similarly but has

> less taste. You stir the powder into room temperature water and let

> it get slimy- the slime is what helps with either one of these.

> Licorice tea also helps heal the GI tract- don't exceed three cups

> daily if he is prone to hypertension. Stash teas work well and don't

> have too much licorice- let stand 15 minutes before drinking.

> >

> > Catnip tea is also good if he takes out stress on his GI tract.

> Also steep 15 minutes.

> >

> > While kombucha is one source of probiotic organisms, it is basically

> a mother of vinegar grown in sweetened tea. Pu-erh tea is a good

> black tea, from one of the better tea growing regions in China. I

> don't know if kombucha is a better form of probiotics for IBS than any

> other source, but it does have decent organisms if you keep it from

> getting contaminated.

> >

> > Usually IBS has some allergenic component, resulting in inflammation

> and leaky gut. The usual suspects are gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and

> anything he eats nearly every day. Allergy tests basically don't work

> 30% of the time, so the only reliable way to tell is to remove the

> potential food totally (including additives) from the diet for six

> weeks or so. Since we are genetically programmed to forget pain, it

> helps to start by writing down the symptoms, their frequency and to

> rate them on a 1-10 distress scale. He can retake the symptom test,

> without looking at the answers after 6 weeks of the elimination diet.

> >

> > It also helps to deal with inflammation. I like to take turmeric

> powder, add 5% ginger and 5% freshly ground black pepper for

> penetration, and stir honey into it until it forms a stiff paste. I

> eat a teaspoonful a day (try that with dry turmeric!) I have also

> pickled fresh turmeric and ginger, but I can only get it once a year.

> >

> > Vaughan, MSTOM

> > Licensed Acupuncturist, and Herbalist

> > 253 Garfield Place

> > Brooklyn, NY 11215

> >

> > (718) 622-6755

> >

> > Co-Conspirator to Make the World A Better Place: Visit

> http://www.heroicstories.com/ and join the conspiracy

> > See my Acupuncture and Herbalism website

> at:http://www.byregion.net/profiles/ksvaughan2.html

> >

> > " When you are in doubt, be still, and wait. When doubt no longer

> exists for you, then go forward with courage. So long as mists envelop

> you, be still. Be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels

> the mists -- as it surely will. Then act with courage " White Eagle

> >

July 10, 2008

He's been doing slippery elm, pur-eh and aloe, for the past week. While his

intestines are feeling better (more productive), his blood pressure has

suddenly surged. Do you know, , if any of those would affect BP? No

licorice has been involved, btw, but I was interested in your mention of

hypertension. He was shocked, in fact, at his BP (180/120) because his

readings have been quite healthy up until the lastest regime of pur-eh,

slippery elm and aloe (which I doubt aloe has anything to do with

it......)............

Fascinating tip on the turmeric. Will give that a try. I'd just purchased

some a couple weeks ago on a whim....

Curious about the black pepper as I have viewed it as being too contaminated

with fungus, and so we've been using papaya seeds instead. How is the

black pepper beneficial, and is there a specific type that is less prone to

contamination?

Resistant starch and IBS. I'm just beginning to dig in to differences

between RS and dietary starch in some foods. Some ND's have said, " avoid

all starch " , yet it seems that RS is fundamental to good colon health. Any

input on RS and IBS would be greatly appreciated - site/book recommendations

alway welcomed, also.

Thanks, thanks, thanks!!

Sharon

On Sat, Jul 5, 2008 at 9:27 AM, Vaughan <creationsgarden1@...>

wrote:

> -

>

> --

>

> Hi Sharon,

>

> Slippery elm has a taste that you either like or hate. Pill form isn't

> great, better to get the powder and stir it into applesauce or a little

> diluted maple syrup. Marshmallow root works similarly but has less taste.

> You stir the powder into room temperature water and let it get slimy- the

> slime is what helps with either one of these. Licorice tea also helps heal

> the GI tract- don't exceed three cups daily if he is prone to hypertension.

> Stash teas work well and don't have too much licorice- let stand 15 minutes

> before drinking.

>

> Catnip tea is also good if he takes out stress on his GI tract. Also steep

> 15 minutes.

>

> While kombucha is one source of probiotic organisms, it is basically a

> mother of vinegar grown in sweetened tea. Pu-erh tea is a good black tea,

> from one of the better tea growing regions in China. I don't know if

> kombucha is a better form of probiotics for IBS than any other source, but

> it does have decent organisms if you keep it from getting contaminated.

>

> Usually IBS has some allergenic component, resulting in inflammation and

> leaky gut. The usual suspects are gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and anything he

> eats nearly every day. Allergy tests basically don't work 30% of the time,

> so the only reliable way to tell is to remove the potential food totally

> (including additives) from the diet for six weeks or so. Since we are

> genetically programmed to forget pain, it helps to start by writing down the

> symptoms, their frequency and to rate them on a 1-10 distress scale. He can

> retake the symptom test, without looking at the answers after 6 weeks of the

> elimination diet.

>

> It also helps to deal with inflammation. I like to take turmeric powder,

> add 5% ginger and 5% freshly ground black pepper for penetration, and stir

> honey into it until it forms a stiff paste. I eat a teaspoonful a day (try

> that with dry turmeric!) I have also pickled fresh turmeric and ginger, but

> I can only get it once a year.

>

> Vaughan, MSTOM

> Licensed Acupuncturist, and Herbalist

> 253 Garfield Place

> Brooklyn, NY 11215

>

> (718) 622-6755

>

> Co-Conspirator to Make the World A Better Place: Visit

> http://www.heroicstories.com/ and join the conspiracy

> See my Acupuncture and Herbalism website at:

> http://www.byregion.net/profiles/ksvaughan2.html

>

> " When you are in doubt, be still, and wait. When doubt no longer exists for

> you, then go forward with courage. So long as mists envelop you, be still.

> Be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists -- as it

> surely will. Then act with courage " White Eagle

>

July 10, 2008

I have to disagree slightly with Vaughan regarding

" Kombucha is basically a mother of vinegar grown in sweetened tea "

Although there are strong similarities there are major differences in

their composition. Vinegar (mother-of-vinegar) is a single stage

fermentation, where acetobacter produce acetic acid from alcohol.

Kombucha is a serendipitous adventure where both yeasts and

acetobacter are active in the ferment. Gluconic acid is produced

in Kombucha but not in Vinegar. Gluconobacter is a specific sub-species

of acetobacter and not all (sub-species) of acetobacter are equal.

Another important difference is that vinegar is far stronger in acetic acid.

Generally vinegar may be 4-8% acetic acid, whereas kombucha is rarely

over 1%. Gluconic acid may be 1%, and other acids making up about another

1%. Therefore kombucha is far less " leeching " and de-mineralizing than

the typical vinegar. Thus easier for the body to handle, yet still perform

the

important function of breaking down and distributing nutrients.

I do agree with that one doesn't know if one probiotic is better than

another in treating disorders. S. Boulardii (a common yeasts often found in

kombucha) has a " proven /FDA approved " studies on its usefulness -

especially

in treating infant diarrhea. However, some recent studies find that the

different

and numerous sub-species make a difference based upon an individual.

Further that one individual will be affected differently than another

individual.

The latter finding is not surprising to Traditional Chinese Medicine but too

puzzling for the western trained physician.

Some folks have found Kombucha Mushroom Tea to resolve their IBS

Some haven't.

Peace

Ed Kasper LAc. & family

Licensed Acupuncturist, and Herbalist

Kombucha library and research center

http://tinyurl.com/22aono

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