autism and cancer. Th1 to Th2 skewing or immune dysregulation can be caused by medications and toxins such as heavy met- als (mercury) and pesticides.
Intrinsic Nervous System - the “king’s advisors” aka the CIA
Here comes the most interesting feature of the gastrointestinal tract. The gut is the only organ in the body that contains an intrinsic nervous system that is able to
mediate reflexes in the complete absence of input from the brain or spinal cord. We have more nerve cells in the gut than in the entire remainder of our peripheral nervous system. This is the reason for Dr. Michael Ger-
shon’s book entitled; “The Second Brain” and I call this intrinsic nervous system of the gut as “the king’s advisors, a.k.a. CIA”. The “law of the intestine” or “peristaltic reflex” is attributed to the local nervous mechanism. When the bowel distends with pressure, the bowel muscles contract and relax in a coordinated descending wave from the
esophagus to the anus. Moreover, precur- sors of neurotransmitters (“chemicals” in our brain that get out of balance and cause mood disorder) all come from the gut! The gastrointestinal tract is profoundly affected by endogenous and exogenous opioids. The gut is the “second brain”, which is
somewhat independent of, but, interactive with the brain in the cranium. The gut is a “chemical warehouse” of neurotransmitter precursors. Ninety five percent of the body’s serotonin is made in the bowel. The gut influences the brain 90% of the time, and the brain influences the gut only 10% of the time. Therefore, people with long-standing gut issues are likely to have mental instabil- ity and psychiatric illness! Corollary to this, a healthy gut leads to a healthy brain and a healthy body. If we keep our gut healthy, we can: (1) Most likely stay away from infec- tious diseases; (2) Avoid chronic illnesses and allergy symptoms ; (3) Keep our mood stable as our brains will be happier and smarter; (4) Feel stronger and healthier as we get adequate nutrition. For women, a healthy gut also means:
(1) A healthy menstrual period (normal bleeding, no dysmenorrhea, and minimal menopausal symptoms), (2) A healthy urinary tract (less likely to have bladder infections and chronic interstitial cystitis); (3) A healthy hormonal balance (normal thyroid and adrenal function). In the remainder of the chapter, I dis- cuss pertinent specialty laboratory tests to assess gut function and how to heal the gut with diet and supplementation.
Submitted by Eileen Comia, MD, Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine. She is an Integrative Medicine Specialist, practicing Functional Medicine for the past 15 years in the treatment of children and adults with special needs and chronic illness. She is the Founder and Medical Director of Advance Biomedical Treatment Center (formerly Avon Therapeutic Center) who offers services to patients from all over the world. She is a frequent presenter at St. Francis Care, state conferences, local chapter and parent sup- port groups in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Integrative Medicine. For more information or to purchase “Essential Remedies for Women’s Health,” contact Dr. Comia at
comiaoffice@yahoo.com.
14 Natural Nutmeg April 2014
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