Perfect Digestion By Miriam Young

Digestive problems are one of the most common disorders affecting humanity.If you have a digestive system that is functioning less than perfectly, you will most likely suffer impaired nutritional absorption, resulting in fatigue, poor concentration, distorted patterns of thinking and lack of motivation.

Mucoid Plaque
Over seventy per cent of the immune system is located within the intestines. Improperly digested foods in the small and large intestines tend to ferment and putrefy, forming a sticky tar-like substance which sticks to the intestinal wall. This old poo is known as mucoid plaque and an excessive build-up often leads to irritation of the mucous lining and can impair the immune system, causing allergies and contribute to auto-immune conditions. We should absorb vitamins, minerals and energy through the intestinal lining, but if it is coated in this toxic sludge, absorption fails to happen. Stress, inactivity, harmful organisms and orthodox medication contribute to the formation of mucoid plaque.

Foods which contribute to this toxic sludge formation are white flour and white rice, meat, milk and dairy products, coffee and processed foods, including preservatives, sugar, artificial sweeteners and colourings – junk foods in general.

Harmful Organisms
Depending on who you speak to, it is estimated that 75-97% of people have harmful organisms or parasites living in their body. Over 134 kinds of parasites can live in the human body. They can live anywhere in the body be it in the digestive organs, lungs, liver, muscles or brain. We can become infested with parasites by eating under-cooked meat or fish, touching animals, drinking infected water, being bitten by flies or mosquitoes, eating foods grown in infected soil and walking barefooted on infected soil.

Constipation
Other than inappropriate diet, toxic sludge build-up and a poorly functioning liver, the most common cause of constipation is dehydration. It is important that the cause of constipation is identified and treated and that the bowel is not just left to putrefy. Laxative abuse is one of the most prevalent “quick fix” approaches sufferers of constipation resort to. What starts with one laxative soon becomes three or four to do the same job.

Replacing Beneficial Bacteria
Many people with a digestive issue take a probiotic or acidophilus supplement every day. This is not a ‘bad’ thing to do,
however many of these same people also experience that a probiotic does not entirely get rid of the problem. As soon as the probiotic is stopped, the digestive symptoms such as bloating, loose, and/or mucous bowel movements etc come back. This is because they have not treated the real cause of their dis-ease– the existence of unhealthy organisms such as Giardia, Blastocystis, Klebsellia, and Candida living in their digestive system. It’s important to ‘weed’ the system first destroying harmful organisms and then ‘re-seed’ with beneficial bacteria, it in order to achieve perfect digestion.The most powerful way of destroying harmful organisms in the intestines is with herbal medicine, essential oils and food grade hydrogen peroxide.

Miriam Young, medical herbalist, practices from Flourish Remedies, Herbal Pharmacy in Doonan, 07 5449 1130. Her ‘Detox For Life’ Health Retreats held at ‘The Retreat Beach Houses’, Peregian are now booking for February and October 2010, explore www.detox4life.com.au.