An abbreviation for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is SIBO. Symptoms of this condition are bloating, gas, a feeling of high abdominal pressure and volume, diarrhea or constipation, stomach cramps / pain, especially after meals. Many SIBO patients have a history of taking many cycles of strong antibiotics, have undergone abdominal surgeries, and are generally fatigued and depressed.
Thanks to relatively new diagnostic tests that measure hydrogen in exhaled air, more SIBO can now be detected. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is not new. Hundreds of years ago, European doctors treated gas, flatulence, problems with stools, and pain after overeating. The name for this condition was dyspepsia, which means “poor digestion” in Greek. In the United States, this condition is also known as an upset stomach or indigestion. During the last decade many medical articles have been published revealing a close connection between SIBO, functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Millions of Americans suffer from FD and IBS; taking many over-the-counter or symptomatic medications. Some of them are labeled psychosomatic and are treated accordingly.
Why does the bacteria reside in the small intestine? Under normal conditions, the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum, does not have living organisms. Mother Nature prevents harmful hungry invaders from gobbling up our food and the nutrients in our food to starve us. Therefore, the small intestine is designed for the digestion and assimilation of food and not for the life of microorganisms.
The human body has complicated interrelated mechanisms to keep the duodenum nearly sterile. The first strong protector of the gastrointestinal tract is stomach acid. Everything we eat goes to the stomach. Our food and water can have some bacteria, yeast, and parasites. The high acidity in the stomach kills the little microorganisms that can survive in this hostile acidic environment. If stomach acid production is suppressed, or a small amount of stomach acid is manufactured, bacteria, yeast, viruses, and parasites can pass into the small intestine and cause many digestive problems.
The second guards are the pancreatic digestive enzymes and bile. Half of the proteins and carbohydrates in our food and ninety percent of the fats are digested in the small intestine by the digestive enzymes of the pancreas and bile. The mixture of pancreatic digestive enzymes and bile processes everything that does not belong in our body, including unwanted visitors such as microbes, yeasts, viruses and parasites. It occurs only if the liver and pancreas produce the proper amount and good quality of alkaline bile and pancreatic digestive enzymes.
The liver and pancreas are alkaline glands that produce highly alkaline pancreatic juice and bile. The alkalinity of these fluids is the core of proper digestion, on the contrary, acidity kills the pancreas in many ways. It is known that pancreatic digestive enzymes and bile can only function in alkaline conditions. The alkalinity of pancreatic juice depends on the content of bicarbonate and minerals within this fluid and on the proper slightly alkaline acid-base balance in the blood.
To survive and make our heart beat, lungs to breathe, and brain to think, the human body has to maintain a constant slightly alkaline pH in the blood. The proper acid-alkaline balance of the body is vitally dependent on minerals and bicarbonate, which we can obtain mainly from food and water. Unfortunately, modern populations have an acidic lifestyle. We eat acidifying foods such as meat, sugar, white flour and dairy, we consume a lot of alcohol, medications, drugs, and we lead a sedentary life. It causes heartburn throughout the body, called chronic metabolic acidosis. The major victims of chronic metabolic acidosis in the body are the alkaline digestive glands such as the liver and pancreas. Chronic metabolic acidosis causes biochemical changes in bile and pancreatic juice; therefore, the antimicrobial actions of digestive and pancreatic enzymes are decreased so that harmful bacteria, yeast, and parasites can thrive in the duodenum. Due to the low quantity and low quality of acid bile and pancreatic digestive enzymes, food is not digested, is fermented by bad bacteria and yeast, accumulates in the small intestine and causes gas, irritation of the intestine and its porosity, poisoning internal and all symptoms of indigestion. ; dyspepsia.
The third guard of the small intestine is the regular movement within the small intestine. In a healthy situation, 2.5 quarts of bile, 2.5 quarts of pancreatic juices, 2 quarts of intestinal juice, and drinking water pass into the small intestine every day. It eliminates bacteria, yeasts and parasites from the small intestine so that they cannot inhabit the intestine. Both dehydration and chronic constipation can delay the intermittent actions of the intestine, so there is a potential for harmful bacteria to colonize the small intestine.
The fourth guard of the small intestine is the immune system. The healthy immune system destroys hostile microorganisms within the intestine. In small intestine bacterial overgrowth, the immune system is depleted causing many allergic reactions and food sensitivities. Whole body acidity, alcohol, smoking, some medications and drugs, diabetes, chemotherapy, AIDS, Candida yeast overgrowth, etc. all devastate and weaken the immune system. Low immune system function leads to bacteria, yeast, and parasites taking over the small intestine. Therefore, a bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine occurs.
The fifth and very important protector of the small intestine is the friendly intestinal flora, such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus, which lives at the end of the small intestine, near the large intestine. The friendly intestinal flora suppresses the growth of bad bacteria and yeasts. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: SIBO occurs if the proper balance between friendly gut flora and opportunistic infection is disrupted.
All the factors that keep the duodenum sterile are closely interrelated, so healing actions should focus on all the factors that lead to SIBO.
The common medical approach to microbial overgrowth is to kill it with strong antibiotics.
It can provide temporary relief. “Search and destroy” is not this case. Killing bacteria in the gut without restoring all the natural ways that control small intestine bacterial overgrowth makes this condition relentless.
Over time, many non-pharmacological methods have been developed for the treatment of indigestion. Today, herbal remedies, healing diets, acupuncture, warm baths, abdominal massages, nutritional supplements, and many cleansing techniques have been used successfully to help people with indigestion. The main goal is to restore the proper function of the largest digestive glands: the pancreas and the liver.
European doctors have treated patients with dyspepsia, excess gas, regular abdominal bloating, diarrhea or constipation, and abdominal pain for hundreds of years by drinking healing mineral water. This healing modality is almost unknown in the United States.
There are numerous healing mineral spas in Europe. Europeans have healthy vacations there. The famous healing mineral spa is located in Karlovy Vary; the small town in the Czech Republic. Since the 18th century, drinking spring water or drinking water made from genuine Karlovy Vary spring salt has relieved the symptoms of indigestion. Karlovy Vary Healing Mineral Water has strong evidence-based and scientific support for its efficacy and safety.
European doctors found that Karlovy Vary Healing Mineral Water increases the production and elimination of bile, increases the quantity, improves the activity of pancreatic digestive enzymes and makes these fluids alkaline. This water hydrates the body, repairs damage to the GI tract, relieves chronic constipation, and promotes the growth of friendly intestinal flora.
All of these actions can restore the correct mechanisms to keep the small intestine clear of bad bacteria, yeast, and parasites. Drinking water prepared with genuine Karlovy Vary spring salt may be beneficial in the treatment of SIBO, which generally accompanies chronic pancreatitis, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, indigestion after gallbladder removal, after surgery for the upper abdomen, including bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery). ), and dyspepsia after multiple courses of antibiotics, steroids, and chemotherapy.
Restoring the proper balance of friendly gut flora is critical to healing SIBO.
In case of SIBO, the recommendation to drink yogurt or take probiotics does not make practical sense. At that time, bad bacteria, yeast, and parasites occupied the walls of the intestine. If the parking lot is full of “bad guys” who don’t want to get out, simply towing can help.
Some cleansing techniques, such as drinking the healing mineral water that is prepared with genuine Karlovy Vary spring salt, colon hydrotherapy, healing diet, cleansing herbs and heavy consumption of human strains, live probiotics can help to restore the natural and proper balance of health. intestinal flora. It is a process without a “quick fix” process, and has to be done under the supervision of knowledgeable professionals. ‘
The information in this article is presented for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, and advice of a qualified licensed professional.