Many people with IBD and IBS are also on prescription antidepressants, either prior to their intestinal diagnosis, or, because of it! Sometimes it’s overwhelmingly difficult to deal with the restrictions these illnesses place on your life, your relationships, your desires, your body, your plans, etc,

However, this is not a good idea, because aside from numerous other damaging side effects, many antidepressants also create an alkaline pH in the digestive system. This causes ongoing damage to your gut since good bacteria need an acidic pH to survive and colonize properly. However, Candida albicans (yeast) and other pathogenic microorganisms love an alkaline pH.

Therefore, taking a prescription antidepressant can often exacerbate your IBS or IBD. Be sure and check the list of possible side effects too, as one medication I checked for a consultation client (Zoloft) listed Gastroenteritis as a side-effect and Colitis as a “rare” side-effect. She had developed Colitis after taking this medication (no gut problems previously) and every doctor she suggested the connection to scoffed at her – so don’t rely on your doctor to read or know the pharmaceutical printout for the drugs he/she prescribes.

The good news is the following article outlines a very effective natural treatment protocol for depression. To tailor this supplement regimen for people with IBD and IBS, I recommend the following modifications:

1. Make sure the Vit.C you take is in mineral ascorbate form only (not ascorbic acid). Calcium ascorbate is a good form of Vit.C.

2. Experiment with the magnesium dosage recommended, if it causes you diarrhea, just reduce it or use magnesium in transdermal form (applied to the skin) or angstrom-sized. See my Holistic Health Shoppe for the brands of magnesium I recommend.

3. Do not ingest soy protein as it depresses thyroid function and prevents the absorption of key minerals – see Ch.3 of Listen To Your Gut for all the details on why. Fermented soy, like soy sauce and miso are fine though.

4. Visit my Holistic Health Shoppe to see my recommendations for a multivitamin and B vitamins that do not contain any aggravating ingredients. Remember to check all of your supplements against the list given on pg. 54 of “Listen To Your Gut” to make sure they do not contain any aggravating ingredients. The most common problem ingredients for people with IBD or IBS are:

- MSM (methylsulfonylmethane)
- Vit. C in ASCORBIC ACID form (mineral ascorbate form is fine)
- too much magnesium or a non-absorbable form
- bacterial soil organisms (HSO’s, SBO’s, etc.)
- Betaine HCL

Okay, now on to the article…

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MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT THAT WORKS
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, October 7, 2005

(OMNS) Doctors report that mental health problems including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, anti-social and learning disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders often have a common cause: insufficient nutrients in the brain. Nutritionally-oriented physicians assert that the cure for these problems is to give the body the extra nutrients it needs, especially when under abnormal stress.

Orthomolecular medical researchers say the future of psychiatry is in nutrition because nutrition has such a long, safe and effective history of correcting many mental problems. Nutrients such as the B-vitamins are most successful when taken regularly, taken in relatively high doses, and taken in conjunction with vitamin C, the essential fatty acids (EFA’s), and the minerals magnesium and selenium.

A summary of what has worked for many people follows below. The safety of vitamins and minerals is extraordinary, and the expense of trying them is much less than the cost of hazardous pharmaceutical drugs. These nutrients can be purchased in a discount or heath store.

Taking 1,000 mg of vitamin B-3 three times a day often cures mild to moderate depression. Dramatic results are often achieved within one week of beginning this nutritional program, especially in alcoholics. (1)

Sometimes a simple deficiency of vitamin D causes depression. 3,000 I.U./day from all sources can alleviate the problem. (2) 3,000 mg/day or more of niacin (vitamin B-3), along with the same quantity of vitamin C, taken in divided doses throughout the day can successfully treat both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. (3)

Vitamins B-3, B-6, C and the minerals magnesium and zinc frequently produce a good response in ADHD and autistic children. (4)

Vitamins B-6, folate, and B-12 taken together lower elevated homocysteine levels in the elderly while improving mental function. (5)

As pointed out by chemistry professor and vitamin discoverer Roger J. Williams, PhD (6), each individual has different nutritional needs and responds differently to nutrients. Are you tired of being depressed, suffering from anxiety, paying huge prescription drug bills for unsafe prescriptions that don’t solve the problem or produce undesirable side effects? Are you tired of the piece-meal trial and error approach to finding a solution to your mental or emotional problems? If so, adults should consider the following nutritional protocol, which will bathe your brain and nerves in natural nutrients and may well produce dramatic results. The cost of trying the program below is less than the cost of a typical doctor’s office visit. It is safe and convenient. All of these nutrients can be purchased at large discount stores.

After the morning meal take:

A multivitamin tablet
1,000 mg of vitamin B-3 (as niacinamide or inositol hexanicotinate)
One B-complex tablet
100 mg of vitamin B-6
1,200 mcg of vitamin B-9 (folate or folic acid)
1,000-2,000 IU of vitamin D (the lower number if you get sunshine, the higher number if you don’t)
1,000 mg of vitamin C [Jini Says: use Vit. C in mineral ascorbate form - NOT ascorbic acid - if you are prone to diarrhea]
200 mg of magnesium [Jini Says: use nanoparticle magnesium if you are prone to diarrhea]
50 mg of zinc
200 micrograms (mcg) of selenium

30 grams of soy protein powder and one tablespoon of lecithin granules mixed into a small glass of juice or milk [Jini Says: Never use soy; it depresses thyroid function and inhibits mineral absorption. Use whey protein isolate or hemp protein instead. Also use only raw (unpasteurized) milk.]

A supplement of omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA))

After the midday meal:

1,000 mg of vitamin B-3
1,200 mg of vitamin folate
100 mg of vitamin B-6
One B-complex tablet
1,000 mg of vitamin C [Jini Says: use Vit. C in mineral ascorbate form - NOT ascorbic acid - if you are prone to diarrhea]
200 mg of magnesium [Jini Says: use nanoparticle magnesium if you are prone to diarrhea]

After the evening meal:

A multivitamin tablet
1,000 mg of vitamin B-3
1,000 mg of vitamin C [Jini Says: use Vit. C in mineral ascorbate form - NOT ascorbic acid - if you are prone to diarrhea]
One B-complex tablet
100 mg of vitamin B-6

All of the above supplements are safe in the recommended amounts, as well as inexpensive and convenient. There is not even one death per year from vitamins. Pharmaceutical drugs, properly prescribed and taken as directed, kill over 100,000 Americans annually. Hospital errors kill still more.

Restoring health must be done nutritionally, not pharmacologically. All cells in all persons are made exclusively from what we drink and eat. Not one cell is made out of drugs.

The most common mistake made by people who take vitamins is they fail to take enough vitamins.

The reason one nutrient can cure so many different illnesses is because a deficiency of one nutrient can cause many different illnesses.

What is Orthomolecular Medicine?

Linus Pauling defined orthomolecular medicine as the treatment of disease by the provision of the optimum molecular environment,
especially the optimum concentrations of substances normally present in the human body. Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information:
http://www.orthomolecular.org

References for further reading:

1. Hoffer A. Vitamin B-3: Niacin and its amide. http://www.doctoryourself.com/hoffer_niacin.html Also: Cheraskin E, Ringsdorf WM and Brecher A. Psychodietetics. Bantam Books, 1974.

2. Vieth R, Kimball S, Hu A, Walfish PG. Randomized comparison of the effects of the vitamin D3 adequate intake versus 100 mcg (4000 IU) per day on biochemical responses and the wellbeing of patients. Nutr J. 2004 Jul 19;3:8.

3. Hoffer A. Healing schizophrenia: Complementary vitamin & drug treatments. Toronto: CCNM Press, 2004. Also: Hawkins D and Pauling L. Orthomolecular psychiatry, San Francisco: Freeman, 1973. Also: Hoffer A. Niacin therapy in psychiatry, Charles C. Thomas, 1962.

4. Hoffer A. Healing children’s attention and behavior disorders: Complementary nutritional & psychological treatments. Toronto: CCNM Press, 2004. Also: Hoffer A. Dr. Hoffer’s ABC of natural nutrition for children. Kingston, Ontario: Quarry Press, 1999.

5. Selhub J, Jacques PF, Wilson PWF, Rush D, Rosenberg IH. Vitamin status and intake as primary determinants of homocysteinemia in an elderly population. JAMA 1993. 270:2693-2698. Also: Verhoef P, Meleady R, Daly LE, Graham IM, Robinson K, Boers GHJ, et al. Homocysteine, vitamin status and risk of vascular disease. European Heart Journal 1999. 20:1234-1244.

6. http://neon.cm.utexas.edu/williams/
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Again, to find out which brand and formulation of vitamins and minerals I recommend for people with IBD & IBS and why, see my Holistic Health Shoppe. You don’t need to buy them from here – you can just use it as a resource to copy down the product names and then get your local health store to order them in for you.

My kids have been educated on the dangers of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from cell phones, cordless phones and WiFi networks, so they were aware enough to come home and tell me how they’re unwillingly getting exposed to EMR at their school – via other kids’ cell phones and the wireless computers in the computer room.

This is the letter I put together and sent to my kids’ school, the school district and the provincial board of trustees. Feel free to copy/paste any of it if you would like to raise this concern with your own child’s school.

Dear Principal,

I’m writing with regards to cell phone usage, WiFi Internet and any other ultra-high frequency radiation devices used inside the school building.

I’ve also cc’d this letter to the Surrey School District and BC School Trustees Association, since I’m not sure who is in charge of setting school policy on these issues.

My children have told me that many children in their classes own cell phones, which are allowed to remain turned on, whilst in the classroom. Whether these phones are set to ring or just vibrate is not the issue. If they are turned on, then they are transmitting (and receiving) to the nearest cell phone tower continually and emitting electromagnetic radiation (EMR) throughout the classroom.

My son has also told me that all the computers in the computer room are wireless. Again, as computers on a WiFi network are in the “ultra-high frequency range” and nearly up to the “super high frequency” range (see attached info on radiation frequencies from NASA), this likewise is transmitting very high EMR to the children (and teachers) in that classroom.

When we were in Singapore in 2001, there was huge coverage in all the newspapers because 20-year-olds throughout the city were having heart attacks and they couldn’t figure out why. Then, someone figured out it was because it was the fashion at that time for young people to wear their cell phones on decorative cords around their necks. This meant that their cell phones were hanging right next to – you guessed it – their heart. So a warning went out in all the local newspapers, telling kids not to wear their cell phones on these cords. But funnily enough, no one I’ve spoken to in Canada (or the U.S.) ever heard about that. And no one thought about warning people not to wear their cell phones clipped to their belt, or in their pocket.

Of course there are huge revenues at stake with wireless technology and until recently, not much long-term hard data on the risks or effects. But as you can see from the first reference listed below (from the head of a cancer research institute), that has now changed, and there IS enough data in place for respected scientists and doctors to conclude that cell phone and other ultra-high frequency wireless devices are not safe for long-term, or cumulative human use – especially for children.

I have also listed my own research – including hard data from NASA’s website, that has led me to completely ban cell phone, cordless phone and wireless computer usage in my family and my house.

Many people are comparing cell phones and WiFi network usage to cigarettes – which were also once thought to be a “private” choice, but later acknowledged as a public health issue – where your choice affects my health.

I ask that you review the attached research and sources – of the thousands of references available, I have included only a few of the most pertinent as I know your time is limited – and then please let me know your thoughts/plans for school policy on these issues.

I realize that assessing your current computer set-up is a more serious (and possibly costly) endeavour, so I understand that may take time. But something that could be addressed immediately (and to me is more worrying) is the cell phone issue inside the school and classrooms.

If you could find a way to ENSURE that cell phones are turned completely off whilst inside the school, that would be great.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback on this matter.

Sincerely,

Jini Patel Thompson

p.s. I will also email this letter to make it easier to access the web links.

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Associated Press

Thurs., July 24, 2008

PITTSBURGH – The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer.

The warning from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, is contrary to numerous studies that don’t find a link between cancer and cell phone use, and a public lack of worry by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Herberman is basing his alarm on early unpublished data. He says it takes too long to get answers from science and he believes people should take action now — especially when it comes to children.

In the memo he sent to about 3,000 faculty and staff Wednesday, he says children should use cell phones only for emergencies because their brains are still developing.

Adults should keep the phone away from the head and use the speakerphone or a wireless headset, he says. He even warns against using cell phones in public places like a bus because it exposes others to the phone’s electromagnetic fields.

“Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use,” he wrote in his memo.

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CBC News

Saturday, July 12, 2008

“Toronto’s department of public health is advising teenagers and young children to limit their use of cellphones to avoid potential health risks.”

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Dr. Robert Becker, M.D., one of the first medical pioneers to study natural electrical currents in the human body and to caution about electropollution, answers the question, “Can EMR exposure cause harm?” in this interview. Dr. Becker was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

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Good summation article on CELL PHONE RISKS TO CHILDREN by Dr. Joseph Mercola

Children today will experience previously unimaginable exposure to information-carrying radio waves from mobile phones because they start out using them at a very early age.

I am absolutely convinced that the explosion of cell phone usage around the world is a health disaster in waiting, and contributing to the rapid rise in several neurological epidemics, such as autism and early-onset of Alzheimer’s.

One reason for this is that the information-carrying radio waves from cell phone base stations and cell phones make children’s exposure to vaccines and heavy metals much more dangerous than they typically are. EMR can actually trap heavy metals inside your cells, causing cellular damage and hindering your body from detoxifying. For this reason — while I realize that most people will not get rid of their cell phones because of their convenience — I would still urge you to not let your kids use them.

I am so convinced this danger is real, on par with the dangers of tobacco, which all the “experts” claimed was safe, that I’m writing an entire book on the subject, due out in 2009.

And, I’m not alone in trying to educate the public. In fact, some European countries are already working on public health campaigns designed to warn school-age children of the dangers, by putting up posters in schools and community halls.

Will Europe Ban Cell Phones for “Under-age” Use?

The Vienna Medical Association is demanding the removal of zero tariffs and the banning of mobile phone advertising targeting children and adolescents. Says Erik Huber, environment advisor for the association: “Children under the age of 16 should never use a mobile phone.”

Many scientists and government agencies in Europe have already accepted that EMF from cell phones does pose health risks, reflected in Huber’s statement, “Scientists do not argue anymore whether mobile phones are harmful, but how harmful they are.”

Don’t be Deceived – SAR is Not an Indication of Safety

Although the National Research Council’s report states that Specific Absorption Rates (SAR) for children are likely to be higher than for adults, let’s not get confused.

Because the danger from most land-based portable phones, cell phones and WiFi routers is NOT from the magnetic radiation or the microwave carrier wave for which typical SAR ratings are given on phones. Unless you have massive exposures like you might expect in a microwave oven, these thermal effects are insignificant.

So simply lowering the allowable SAR will NOT make cell phones safer.

Instead, nearly all the biological damage comes from the modulated signals that are carried ON the carrier microwave. These modulated information carrying radio waves resonate in biological frequencies of a few to a few hundred cycles per second, and can stimulate your cellular receptors causing a whole cascade of pathological consequences that can culminate in fatigue, anxiety, neurological decline, and ultimately cancers.

The density of your child’s skull is also far less than yours, and therefore their brain is far more susceptible to these information-carrying radio waves.

This Deserves Your SERIOUS Attention

The studies showing the long-term risks of cell phone use are just beginning to come in because cell phone use didn’t become widespread until the late 1990s. It typically takes at least 10 to 20 years for cancers to show up, so now is the time when these risks will become apparent.

It is almost as if NO ONE was smoking and then all of a sudden nearly 90 percent of the planet started. Of course, we would not see any spectacular increase in major damage for more than 10 years. It takes time for this damage to accumulate and be noticed.

Unfortunately, most people fail to correlate common symptoms and health problems to their exposure to cell phones and other radio frequencies, perhaps because these conditions can so easily be attributed to other causes (including so-called “unknown” causes) as well.

Take a look at these common illnesses and ailments, which have all been scientifically linked to cell phone information carrying radio waves:

* Alzheimer’s, senility and dementia

* Parkinson’s

* Autism

* Fatigue

* Headaches

* Sleep disruptions

* Altered memory function, poor concentration and spatial awareness

Although cancer and brain tumors are most often cited as the potential health risks from cell phone radiation, as you can see, cancer is not the only, or most common danger that you and your children face.

Protecting Yourself and Your Children From Dangerous RF

The best way to protect yourself would be to simply not use a cell phone and revert back to a corded phone. At the very least I would urge you to not let your kids use them or severely limit their use. Their developing nervous systems and thinner skulls are simply too vulnerable to cell phone damage.

If you choose to keep your cell phone, make sure you use a non-Blue Tooth headset. Also remember, even when you’re not using your phone, keep it as far away from your body as possible. Do not keep it on your belt or in your pocket as the radiation WILL penetrate your body wherever the phone is attached. According to a scientific study published in Fertility and Sterility in May 2007, statistically significant changes were found in men’s sperm count and health of the sperm, based on cell phone use.

Their conclusion?

“Use of cell phones decreases the semen quality in men by decreasing the sperm count, motility, viability and normal morphology. The decrease in sperm parameters was dependent on the duration of daily exposure to cell phones, and independent of the initial semen quality.”

So, make sure you stow your cell phone in a bag, briefcase, or your car’s glove compartment.

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Dr. Carolyn Dean MD ND recently shared this information:

Last September Dr. Devra Lee Davis, an epidemiology professor from the University of Pittsburgh testified before the U.S. Senate…

“Dr. Davis,” asked Senator Tom Harkin, chairman for Health & Human Services, “you said that a cell phone should not be kept any closer than an inch to your body?”

Dr. Davis nodded.

“Where does that come from?” asked Senator Harkin.

“That actually comes from the BlackBerry manual,” replied Dr. Davis, “as well as from the iPhone manual. If you read the manual– which almost none of us does — that is what they say.”

Seeing is believing… so I found a PDF copy of iPhone’s “Important Product Information Guide” online which states: “iPhone’s SAR measurement may exceed the FCC exposure guidelines for body-worn operation if positioned less than 15 mm (5/8 inch) from the body…”

The BlackBerry manual takes it 10mm further by advising: “…keep the device at least 0.98 inches (25mm) away from your body…”

So if you can’t avoid cell and cordless phones entirely — at least do what the industry’s own manuals suggest: Avoid any direct physical contact while they are activated.

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An article in the Los Angeles Times reported:

“Belgium, France, Finland, Germany, Russia and Israel have publicly discouraged use of cellphones by children. (Independent research in Sweden last year concluded there was an astonishing 420% increased chance of getting brain cancer for cellphone users who were teenagers or younger when they first started using their phones.) France has gone so far as to issue a generalized national cellphone health warning, banned cellphones in elementary schools and considered outlawing marketing the phones to children.”

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WIFI RESEARCH

You can go here to NASA’s site to get an easily understood definition of exactly what electromagnetic radiation is, and the distinction between the different types of waves.

This article tells you what wavelength/freqency wireless computer devices work with (frequency and wavelength are inter-related as explained in the NASA article):

Once we know the frequency wireless (WiFi) technology uses, we can then compare that to Radios and TVs.

FM Radio is in the 88 – 110MHz range

Analogue TV (what most people have in their homes) is at 400 – 600MHz

Digital TV is at 600 – 1000MHz.

Here’s a great definition of radio frequency and then an excellent chart showing the strength of the various frequencies:

Radio frequency is also abbreviated as rf or r.f. - any frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum associated with radio wave propagation. When an RF current is supplied to an antenna, an electromagnetic field is created that then is able to propagate through space. Many wireless technologies are based on RF field propagation.

These frequencies make up part of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum:

•           Ultra-low frequency (ULF) — 0-3 Hz

•           Extremely low frequency (ELF) — 3 Hz – 3 kHz

•           Very low frequency (VLF) — 3kHz – 30 kHz

•           Low frequency (LF) — 30 kHz – 300 kHz

•           Medium frequency (MF) — 300 kHz – 3 MHz

•           High frequency (HF) — 3MHz – 30 MHz

•           Very high frequency (VHF) — 30 MHz – 300 MHz

•           Ultra-high frequency (UHF)– 300MHz – 3 GHz

•           Super high frequency (SHF) — 3GHz – 30 GHz

•           Extremely high frequency (EHF) — 30GHz – 300 GHz

CONCLUSION: WIFI IS NOT SAFE FOR FREQUENT, ONGOING USAGE

So, based on the information gathered above, here’s where each item (cell phones, radio, TV, wireless computers) lies in terms of intensity of electromagnetic radiation:

FM Radio is 88-110 MHz –> Low frequency electromagnetic radiation

Cell phones are 824-869 MHz –> Ultra-high frequency electromagnetic radiation.

Wireless computers/internet are 2.4 GHz –> Ultra-high frequency electromagnetic radiation (but nearly up into Super High frequency range).

Therefore, surprise-surprise, wireless computers and their networks are NOT SAFE for frequent, ongoing human use!

Worrying also is current TV transmission at 400-600 MHz (Ultra-high frequency) and Digital TV in the 600-1000MHz range (also Ultra-high frequency). But at least one tends to sit a good distance away from a TV!

Now, granted, a computer is not pressed up right against your head, or in your pocket like a cell phone is. But once you know the serious damage that cell phones can cause (at the cellular level – no pun intended!), you know that there’s no way sitting a few feet away from a similar frequency of electromagnetic radiation for hours at a time is going to be good for your body.

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For lots more info on this issue, check out the EMR Network (a non-profit organization).

If your kids go to school in Vancouver or the Fraser Valley, BC, Canada, then the Citizens For Safe Technology are a local group that is trying to raise awareness and affect change. Contact them for assistance, information or to volunteer!

You can also view the School Boards response to this letter and our ongoing correspondence.

For those of you who have received my email about the AWESOME Healing Retreat we’ve got planned for people with Serious Or Chronic Illness – I would love to hear your feedback about what you think of the price, event curriculum, etc. Please leave your comments, questions, ideas in the COMMENTS section below…

I also received this email from a reader already and he brings up some very valid points – for which I am very grateful he took the time to write:

I am writing in regards to the May retreat you are offering in San Diego. While I am a fan of Jini’s work and would love to meet her one day and to also be part of this event, I find the price absolutely outrageous. I don’t doubt that people will invest in this event but for many people it makes this 2 day event untouchable. I have done week long retreats with equally knowledgeable teachers for around this
price point.

So while I was looking forward to my wife and I attending this weekend we unfortunately will not be able to at this time. As someone who has organized retreats myself I know what is involved, so what makes the
event so costly? Please consider that you limit your demographic by keeping fees at this level and after all this is about helping people heal right?

Thanks SO MUCH for your feedback. The price point was something we had a lot of trouble addressing in that it was difficult to find a venue that could accommodate the health sensitivities and dietary needs of the people who are likely to attend, AND be close to an airport so people didn’t have the stress of extra travel – especially if you are holding a retreat for more than 20 – 30 people. In fact, you can read about my difficulties finding a venue here:

http://www.ziggazag.com/biz/best-holistic-conference-center/

I can’t comment on the pricing others have set for their retreats since I don’t know a) how many people were in attendance. For example, there is a local healer (Adam Dreamhealer) in Vancouver here, who charges only $150 for a 1 day (5 hour) event – but he holds this event in his hometown (no travel, or accommodation, or childcare costs for him or his staff) and he does not provide any food – only water. Lastly, he gets 600 people in the room at a time.

Annabel and I considered holding this retreat locally – which would eliminate a substantial expense for us – but then everyone else would have to travel to Canada (international flights are more expensive), and then have either another long drive or a ferry ride + a drive AFTER a long flight = not good for ill people. Also, it is difficult to find a venue that is willing to cater so extensively to food restrictions (dairy-free, gluten-free, only cold-pressed oils, 100% natural, etc.) for a large group.

So, yes, I sure wish we could have set the price cheaper than $760 (Early-bird price,  less 10% Gold Member discount – only costs $9.95 to become a Gold Member of JPT Wellness Circle) for the evening and 2 days (8 hours/day).

We could have made it cheaper if we held it in say… a church or community hall and everyone just brought yoga mats to sit on – but would that work for 8 hours a day? It would be difficult to control the heating/ventilation and would the space feel nurturing and healing? Then they would also have to rent a car so they could drive out for food, or bring all their own food and drinks… but then we wondered if people who are already in fragile health would want to come when faced with all the “extras” and unknowns they would have to think about/plan for, or would it just seem like too much trouble, or too much discomfort?

In the end, we had to make a decision about the type of event, 3-star hotel vs. 5-star hotel, food or no food, travel, comfort, etc. So we chose the conditions that would be most conducive (we thought) to what we’re trying to effect here – relaxation, safety and healing.

We’re wide open to suggestions though – do you know of a venue that could accommodate all the elements outlined above for substantially cheaper than the Estancia La Jolla? Don’t forget, we are providing morning refreshments (fruit, granola, baked goods, and drinks), full gentle-gut catered lunch (8 dishes plus dessert and drinks) and afternoon refreshments (fruit, munchies, cookies, trail mix and drinks). We chose California since a large percentage of our customers are West Coast – thereby cutting the travel costs for them.

Oh wait, I actually did find a venue in the Napa Valley that met our health requirements and it would have been about $200 cheaper. However, when I did the final check to see past visitor’s feedback on Trip Advisor – I found out this “eco-hotel” was in the middle of town, located next to a strip mall! People said the rooms were poorly maintained and most said they would never stay there again. Plus it was a one-hour drive from the nearest airport. When I checked the visitor feedback for Estancia La Jolla – people said they felt this great peace and calm come over them the minute the taxi drove through the gates, the gardens, grounds (9.5 acres of greenery) were so beautiful and peaceful with lots of private spaces, staff was great, food was great, BEST conference space they’d ever been to, etc. etc. It was no contest.

So, I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas and likewise for anyone else reading this post, or who also would really like to attend the LISTEN TO YOUR BODY Mind/Body/Spirit Healing Retreat.

Because as you pointed out – if no one can come, then no one’s going to benefit from the powerful healing anyway!

Please leave me any and all of your ideas in the COMMENTS section below…. While I may feel I have examined every possibility, I’m sure others may be able to come up with a way to make it work better for everyone, so I really am open to any and all ideas. We REALLY would love to have this be an enjoyable, powerful, affordable healing experience for the greatest number of people possible.

Soar higher,

Jini

Before looking at treatments for constipation, it is important to first identify which kind of constipation you have. Through the course of my research, consultations with clients, feedback from readers, and my own struggle with constipation, I have come to identify two different types of constipation. Since I have not come across any labels for these in the medical literature (or perhaps I just didn’t read widely enough), I have made up my own labels to distinguish between these two different types of constipation. I call them peristaltic constipation and stenosis constipation. Of course, while most people seem to suffer from one or the other, there are people who suffer from a combination of the two.

1. Peristaltic Constipation

This type of constipation can consist of many different symptoms or factors, but the defining elements are as follows:

* You just don’t often (or rarely, never) feel the urge to have a bowel movement. You can have stool building up in your colon for days, but no urge or urgency to poo.

* If you’ve been constipated for a long time, this build up of stool may not even be uncomfortable anymore.

* When you do have a bowel movement, your stool is large and fairly wide. Even if it is in hard balls, the diameter is larger than half an inch.

Colonic massage can really help get your bowels moving and assist your body’s peristaltic mechanism.

2. Stenosis Constipation

I came up with the name for this one based on the medical label of anal stenosis (narrowing, tightness or stricture of the anal canal). Stenosis constipation means that you experience one or more of the scenarios below:

* You often feel the urge to defecate. In some cases, the urge can be frequent or continual. You may even feel the stool pushing against your anus, but when you try to poo, it is very difficult to pass stool and sometimes, or often, nothing comes out. When you do manage to poo, your stool can be any width, length or consistency.

* If you’ve had this type of constipation for a long time, then your urge to defecate may have greatly lessened, if not disappeared (remember the bowel is easily trained). However, passing stool is still extremely difficult and your anus/rectum can spasm and be very tight or narrow.

* When you manage to pass stool, the stool can be very thin, sometimes only the width of a flattened pencil. You strain and push mightily and it may feel like you’re passing a huge stool, but when you look in the toilet there’s only a very narrow or small amount of stool. Stools can be soft, hard, balls, or cylinders, but rarely larger than 1/4 inch – 1/3 inch in diameter and the maximum diameter is not usually more than1/2 inch.

Listen to my podcast for even more insights and a simple remedy:

This article was sent in by one of my readers (Amy Spiegel) to share their experience in hopes that it may help others with a similar problem. Keep in mind that WE are the cutting-edge of innovative treatments for IBD-related problems, so we need to share our experiments and results with each other. So if you try this therapy and it works, please let us know in the COMMENTS section below. Likewise, if you try it and it doesn’t work, it would also be really helpful if you let us know.

IMPORTANT: Amy’s story prompted me to do some research into laser therapy for infection and wound healing and so be sure to read my corresponding article on How Does Infrared Light Therapy Work? before testing this protocol – as it will ensure you use an infrared laser of sufficient strength.

But let’s get started with Amy’s article:

By Amy Spiegel

My son is now in remission and has been ever since I started naturopathic remedies and the Absorb Plus shakes. His main problem that lasted two years was a peri-anal abscess that WOULD NOT HEAL.

My son’s Crohn’s first presented itself with a peri-anal abscess, which was drained in the ER. While we thought that healed it, it really didn’t and it would fill up and ooze about every 10-12 days for almost two years. Now I know this was because the internal infection was still there. It would get very red and painful so I would put hot compresses on it until I could release the infection. Once we did this it would take about another 10-12 days to “fill” back up.

In the meantime I applied the oil of oregano topically, tried the FissureHeal and other suppositories the naturopath gave me, hot baths, mud packs, etc. Nothing seemed to work. His naturopath suggested trying the infrared laser pen light, as she had used it for other wound healing with success.

Her theory was that the laser penetrates deeper into the tissue. If you add a treatment to the skin first, then the laser carries that deep into the wound for healing. So we used ITIRES homeopathic ointment for lymphatic drainage and SanPharma Notatum Drops (for bacterial infections) topically prior to the laser treatment. I also would sometimes add the oil of oregano topically. I did infrared laser pen light treatments of 1-2 minutes every night for about 6 months.

I started noticing immediately that the duration between the abscess “flares” began to lengthen. It went from 10 days, to 14 days, then 18 days, then three weeks, then 45 days – sometimes backsliding to 14 days – but it kept a pattern in general of lengthening. I also noticed that the flares were less painful, less red and less pus, sometimes only a drop. This encouraged us to continue. It was very slow healing.

All the while I kept him on the oil of oregano orally and the Healthy Trinity probiotics. We then got to the point that the infection was completely gone and we stopped the infrared pen light treatments. It has now been nine months with absolutely no recurrence.

However, I felt that he needed to continue maintenance treatment, so our other naturopathic/MD doctor suggested the Lumen Photon 90 Infrared therapy product. I thought this would be better, since he is in his teen years and this is something he can do on his own. It is a pad with several laser lights and can be placed anywhere on the body (except the eyes). He does this a couple times per week (just to make Mom feel better).

He also has started placing it on his stomach. My acupuncturist states “the bad guys do not like the light.” Sounds spiritual to me. So if the light kills off the bad bacteria in the abscess why not the stomach? I hope that this can help someone else and would love to hear another success story. I don’t know how it worked but something did as it started to change and then disappeared.

Amy Spiegel (B.A. in Community Health Education) is the married mother of two boys aged 14 and 10 in North Atlanta. Before going on sabbatical to care for her children, she was a medical assistant for two surgical physicians and then the director of exercise physiology for the Texas Back Institute.  She’s dedicated the past two years to researching natural remedies and dietary wellness practices for the treatment of Crohn’s disease in response to her son’s diagnosis – who was unable to tolerate the toxic medication protocols recommended by physicians.

Now that you’ve read this article, head over to my article where I explain how infrared lasers work and what strength and intensity of laser is necessary to get good results from this treatment.

Coherent photons, which are particles of electromagnetic energy, are emitted from an infrared cold laser (also referred to as low level laser, soft laser or therapeutic laser). These particles enter the tissues and are absorbed in the mitochondria – which are tiny structures within the substance of each individual cell. The energy is converted to chemical energy within the cell.

The permeability of the cell membrane then changes, which in turn produces various physiological effects. These physiological changes affect a variety of cell types including macrophages, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and mast cells, resulting in wound healing, pain relief, reduced inflammation, drainage, etc.

When comparing lasers, two measurements are key. The first is the wavelength, which determines the color of the light and is measured in nanometers (nm). The second classification is the power of the laser, which is measured in milliwatts (mW). A laser of 500 mW or less is classified as a Category 3, cold laser. This means there is no danger of burning the skin or tissues, or causing damage from overheating. Lasers that are stronger than 500 mW are classified as Category 4 lasers and these should only be used by professionals, or in conjunction with a device that monitors the temperature of the tissue during exposure.

Another defining characteristic of laser light is that it is coherent light. This means that if you shine the light against the wall and then you back up farther and farther away, the laser point will stay the same size. If you happen to have a laser pen that is just an LED, then as you back away the light will fan out – this is the quick way to tell the difference between the two.

Simple colored laser lights have an affinity for the same color. For example, if you set up a green balloon that has a red balloon inflated inside it, and then you shine a red laser light on the balloons, the red balloon inside will pop, but the green one will stay intact. This is because the red laser has an affinity for the red balloon only.

However, infrared lasers are “colorblind” so they will penetrate deeply into tissue. An infrared laser light needs to be a minimum of 650 nm and 5 mW – at this strength it will penetrate almost half an inch into the skin. So if you have a shallow wound or an abscess, this strength is probably sufficient and infrared laser pen lights of this strength can be purchased fairly inexpensively.

After 6 Weeks of Vetrolaser Use

If you have a deeper wound or a fistula, then you may want to invest in an infrared laser that can penetrate deeper into the tissue. Unfortunately, these infrared lasers can be very expensive. The ones I found ranged from $1,200 – $13,000. How many people suffering from fistulas are likely to be able to afford that? So I went “outside the box” and I found an infrared laser – called the Vetrolaser II – that is sold for animal-use, for only $525. This is exactly the same quality, technology and strength of the expensive human-use lasers. It has three 808 nm diodes (lasers) in one unit, at a strength of 200 mW. Thus it can penetrate two inches when used on Caucasian skin (darker skin results in less penetration).

To sell or advertise a laser for human use, you have to submit it to the FDA and get approval – this is possibly the cause of the high price tag on human-use lasers. But if you specify that it is for animal use only, then you can avoid the FDA process.

I spoke with Dr. Daniel Kamen D.C, who sells this “veterinary laser” and he said that the ideal way to use the laser (to get the fastest results) is to put the laser directly in contact with dry skin. However, if the skin is wet, or the wound is open, then you need to hold it off the skin to avoid wetting the laser, but hold it as close as you can.

It’s worthwhile to note Amy Spiegel’s article about healing her son’s peri-anal abscess: She used an infrared laser pen light and the healing took six months when used for 1-2 minutes per day. We couldn’t get any information about the wavelength and power of the laser she used. But I did find a photo that looked just like it and the seller said that whilst the laser was 635 nm, it was less than 5 mW in power. So this is perhaps why her son’s abscess took so long to heal.

Interestingly the infrared laser pad Amy’s son is using now (for maintenance) contains 50 diodes (infrared lights) of 880 nm and 100mW for each diode – which a lot stronger than the pen light used to heal the fistula (and, at $844, is a lot more expensive).

Below are some places to purchase therapeutic-quality lasers at the cheapest prices I could find. And, as per usual, if you try this therapy, please let me know how it worked in the COMMENTS section below.

Infrared Laser Sources

Beurer Softlaser (635 nm, 5 mW, 1/2″ penetration) – has on/off switch

If you order this from the UK it’s cheaper than any supplier I could find in the U.S.  The price was 50 pounds ~ $82 but check what the shipping would be as the shipping (and customs duties) may be so expensive it cancels out the savings if you live in North America. If you live in Europe, then this may be a good supplier for you.

The cheapest place in the US I found, was retailing this laser at $149

Vetrolaser II – Triple Diode Infrared Laser (3 x 808 nm, 200 mW, 2″ penetration)

This is the “veterinary-use” laser I wrote about above and it currently retails for $525.
Tel: 1-800-742-8433 and Dr. Kamen can answer any questions you might have.

Okay, I need your help again! Some of you may already know about Dr. Silvio Najt, MD. He’s been quite active over at JPT Wellness Circle and I’ve also been posting some podcasts with him and articles he’s shared on this blog.

But for those of you who don’t know of Silvio, or haven’t heard his full story: Dr. Najt is a board-certified cardiologist, with an additional specialty in emergency medicine. When his daughter was first diagnosed with colitis, of course he went full-speed into medical treatment protocols.

However, like many of us, when he discovered the medical protocols didn’t work, he began researching. Although his research focused on the medical sources of information, clinical trials, etc., it was actually another MD in New York who told him to get my book, Listen To Your Gut.

In Silvio’s own words (this quote is from Ch. 1 of our new book):

“I bought Listen To Your Gut just as a possible source to help my daughter with the “minor elements” of her illness. I have to admit that from the beginning I had to fight against my “medical prejudice”. Jini Patel Thompson was not a physician, but still she was showing a radical way of treating this ailment. It made sense, a lot of sense. But I still had to fight against my medical mindset. As I got deeper and deeper into the book, it completely blew my mind and I decided to finish my “toxic” relationship with the medical world and embrace the “patient world.”

So here’s where you come in: We need help deciding on the best title for this new book!

It is co-authored by Dr. Najt and myself and we are hoping it will make these healing protocols available to a much larger audience – people who aren’t comfortable, or don’t feel safe unless a medical doctor endorses it.

But it is not just a re-hash of the protocols in Listen To Your Gut. This book tells the story of Dr. Najt and his daughter’s healing journey. It also has an entire chapter on the pharmaceutical drugs used for these diseases – absolutely fascinating info on WHY they are used and what the true effect of these drugs is, on the gut and the body as a whole.

Likewise, Silvio goes into detail, in another entire chapter, about surgical procedures, what’s really involved, what the risks really are (as evidenced by the med literature) and when surgery is indicated, but also when it can likely be avoided.

So this book will also be a valuable tool for people who:

• Want to really understand what their doctor is telling them (and the important info they’re NOT being told!).
• Want to combine medical and holistic treatments.
• Want to use natural protocols, but are unsure if what they’re doing is safe or proven.
• Need to have solid data they can take to their GI (and unsupportive family members!) to garner support and provide justification for their treatment choices.
• Want to have a more simplified treatment protocol than is contained in LTYG. Listen To Your Gut accounts for every variation or complication and that’s why it’s nearly 500 pages. But, some people find this too daunting and they want to just have a simple step-by-step protocol to follow. So the refined 5-step protocol in this new book is one I have gleaned from JPT Members and my private consult clients as being successful for the majority of people, about 90% of the time.

Okay, so now you have an overview of what the book is about and who would benefit from it, what should we call it so that the title reflects these elements?

It can have both a main title and a subtitle.

And the author credit will read:

By Dr. Silvio Najt MD

with Jini Patel Thompson

You guys gave me such great suggestions for my book on constipation, that I wanted to get your advice/ideas again. But this time, I don’t have a working title already in mind – I’m wide open to any and all suggestions.

And just to make it more fun – let’s get some prizes going….

If we use your title, as is, you’ll win an ebook and printed copy of the book (when it’s published) plus a $100 gift certificate for the Holistic Health Shoppe.

If you have the best suggestion, you’ll win both an ebook and a printed copy of the book, when it’s ready.

The 3 runner-ups will win an ebook copy of the book, when it’s ready.

Sound fun? Silvio and I are ready, so let ‘er rip!

Leave your title ideas in the COMMENTS section right underneath…

p.s. when you go to leave your comment you will be asked for your email address (which is not made public) and that’s where we’ll contact you if you win.

muchas gracias,

Jini

Before you take any medication for high blood pressure, you have to listen to this podcast! We will also explain how blood pressure works and therefore how the parameters for “high” and “low” blood pressure are determined.

And if you are currently on medication, Dr. Silvio Najt (board certified cardiologist, with a specialization in emergency medicine) gives you easily-implemented advice for how to stop taking it and lower your blood pressure naturally.

* Please keep in mind that English is Dr. Najt’s second language – although he did live and practice medicine for several years in the U.S.

Just click the play button below to get all the details…

Or, if you have an iPod or mp3 player, you can subscribe to my podcast show on iTunes. Then you will automatically get new episodes downloaded straight to your iPod.