Journaling my 90 days of Natural Herbs
I am keeping a 90 day journal of my experience with natural supplements. I was going to keep it for myself, but thought hey why not chronicle it here and maybe it could help someone else in some way. I stopped taking PPIs a week ago and I have felt no worse. In fact, the acid taste in my mouth is less strong and my bowel movements are closer to normal than they have been in twenty years when a course of antibiotics totally ruined my normal intestinal function. My anxiety is almost completely eradicated. I have only felt one moment of anxiety in four days and it came and went so fast, it almost seemed unreal.
This has been due to taking the following supplements recommended by our local homeopath/nutritionist:
Nature's Sunshine Brand:
-Flax Seed Oil
-Psyllium Hulls
-Stress J
-Mood Elevator
-Stress Relief
-Intestinal Soothe and Build
-Aloe Vera Juice
GNLD International Brand
--Intestine Targeted Enzyme
--Stomach Targeted Beta-Gest
--Formula IV Plus vitamins
--Omega III Salmon Oil (not taking yet because of reflux )
It's a lot to take and I don't know what it will do for reflux, but it is supposed to heal my gastritis and repair my nerves from anxiety. I like that this homeopath realizes that my stomach will never be right as long as I am having anxiety.
It has already cured my IBS symptoms (I was never formally diagnosed with IBS, but I know that I have not had normal bowel movements and had diarrhea almost daily for nearly 20 years).
I have cancelled my appt. with the gastroenterologist and plan to reschedule in 90 days. That is how long I am giving this supplement plan to help. I am believing that it will, but am realistic to know that medical intervention may be necessary, but I am going to try and live without it.
The Stomach Targeted Beta Gest has betaine HCL in it and I was nervous about taking it, but since it does seem to be helping, perhaps I did not have enough hydrochloric acid in my stomach after all. The homeopath said that the acid taste in my mouth is actually the ammonia that is produced in my stomach when the food ferments because there were not enough acidic juices to digest the food (or something to that effect). That's probably why the PPI was causing the food NOT to digest in my stomach.
I'm not saying everyone who has these gastric issues has the same thing--perhaps you are really producing too much acid, but I am just journaling my experience. I would not advise anyone to take the supplements I am taking either until you consult a homeopath who knows what they are doing. I think any Nature's Sunshine or GNLD distributor is knowledgeable about these products and could direct you in the right direction.
As far as diet goes, I have been careless the past few days and have felt the acid taste worse than when I was being diligent about not eating trigger foods. I still don't know what are all the things that I can and can not eat yet. I am starting back today eating what I am supposed to. I figure I can do this for 90 days while I am giving these supplements the chance to do their restorative work. The homeopath said I should feel better in two months, but I'm giving it an extra month.
I chose to come off pharmaceuticals, because they were giving me such terrible side effects. I also read about acid rebound and didn't want to become physically "addicted" to the PPIs. I have felt worried that I might be doing the wrong thing because will the damage to my gastric lining be healed without them? I don't know. But I do know the pain in my belly has decreased to almost nil. Once in while I'll feel a bit of sensation that lasts for a few seconds, but not the pain I had before. I also no longer have that gnawing hunger pain I felt if I allowed my stomach to get empty. So, I do see changes and they do seem better.
I am sleeping with a medslant pillow and two pillows on top of that.
Now I just need to work on my diet.
My approved list so far (I am still testing what works and doesn't work for me):
banana
refried beans
lettuce
avocado
broccoli
chicken
fish
cabbage
bread
potato baked
sweet potato baked
butter beans
grits
eggs
small amounts of raw garlic
salmon sushi roll
rice
chicken salad rollups from Sam's Club
banana moon pie (single decker and only ONE!)
This has been due to taking the following supplements recommended by our local homeopath/nutritionist:
Nature's Sunshine Brand:
-Flax Seed Oil
-Psyllium Hulls
-Stress J
-Mood Elevator
-Stress Relief
-Intestinal Soothe and Build
-Aloe Vera Juice
GNLD International Brand
--Intestine Targeted Enzyme
--Stomach Targeted Beta-Gest
--Formula IV Plus vitamins
--Omega III Salmon Oil (not taking yet because of reflux )
It's a lot to take and I don't know what it will do for reflux, but it is supposed to heal my gastritis and repair my nerves from anxiety. I like that this homeopath realizes that my stomach will never be right as long as I am having anxiety.
It has already cured my IBS symptoms (I was never formally diagnosed with IBS, but I know that I have not had normal bowel movements and had diarrhea almost daily for nearly 20 years).
I have cancelled my appt. with the gastroenterologist and plan to reschedule in 90 days. That is how long I am giving this supplement plan to help. I am believing that it will, but am realistic to know that medical intervention may be necessary, but I am going to try and live without it.
The Stomach Targeted Beta Gest has betaine HCL in it and I was nervous about taking it, but since it does seem to be helping, perhaps I did not have enough hydrochloric acid in my stomach after all. The homeopath said that the acid taste in my mouth is actually the ammonia that is produced in my stomach when the food ferments because there were not enough acidic juices to digest the food (or something to that effect). That's probably why the PPI was causing the food NOT to digest in my stomach.
I'm not saying everyone who has these gastric issues has the same thing--perhaps you are really producing too much acid, but I am just journaling my experience. I would not advise anyone to take the supplements I am taking either until you consult a homeopath who knows what they are doing. I think any Nature's Sunshine or GNLD distributor is knowledgeable about these products and could direct you in the right direction.
As far as diet goes, I have been careless the past few days and have felt the acid taste worse than when I was being diligent about not eating trigger foods. I still don't know what are all the things that I can and can not eat yet. I am starting back today eating what I am supposed to. I figure I can do this for 90 days while I am giving these supplements the chance to do their restorative work. The homeopath said I should feel better in two months, but I'm giving it an extra month.
I chose to come off pharmaceuticals, because they were giving me such terrible side effects. I also read about acid rebound and didn't want to become physically "addicted" to the PPIs. I have felt worried that I might be doing the wrong thing because will the damage to my gastric lining be healed without them? I don't know. But I do know the pain in my belly has decreased to almost nil. Once in while I'll feel a bit of sensation that lasts for a few seconds, but not the pain I had before. I also no longer have that gnawing hunger pain I felt if I allowed my stomach to get empty. So, I do see changes and they do seem better.
I am sleeping with a medslant pillow and two pillows on top of that.
Now I just need to work on my diet.
My approved list so far (I am still testing what works and doesn't work for me):
banana
refried beans
lettuce
avocado
broccoli
chicken
fish
cabbage
bread
potato baked
sweet potato baked
butter beans
grits
eggs
small amounts of raw garlic
salmon sushi roll
rice
chicken salad rollups from Sam's Club
banana moon pie (single decker and only ONE!)
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