It plays a major role in detoxification of harmful chemicals in the body.
5. It fights infection through immunoglobulins (antibodies) which act as the first line of defense against infection.
No minor task you might say. Yet, in the healthy state it carries out those functions as easily as a normal person walks across the street. But, when damage exists within the GI tract, its function is impaired, not unlike that person trying to walk across the street with two sprained ankles.
That’s when inflammation of the intestinal tract can cause all kinds of havoc—anywhere in the body! In the light of this knowledge, therefore, it seems a mistake to treat areas (or organs) of the body without giving the slightest consideration to the possibility of the GI tract being even remotely involved.
Signs of the Disease—What Happens When the Gut Is Inflamed?
Objective Signs
When changes in the lining of the intestinal tract take place, there are certain telltale signs that offer a clue that the patient may be suffering from a leaky gut, causing toxic elements to invade the blood stream. Objective signs (observed by someone other than the patient) include everything from skin rash of one kind or another, bloating of the stomach, and impaired growth (as in the case of celiac disease) to malaise, malnutrition, nasal coryza (as in the case of allergic sensitivity), mucous stools (as in the case of irritable bowel syndrome, IBS), as well as blood in the stools (as in the case of parasite infection).
Subjective Signs
Subjective signs (experienced by the patient) carry a wide variety of symptoms, such as: pain in the stomach and intestinal area (especially upon palpation of these areas), pain in the joints and spine, chronic constipation and/or diarrhea, headache, attention deficit, skin disease, hyperactive or under-active behavior, fever, altered blood sugar levels contributing to diabetes, toxic liver symptoms, allergies, asthma, and a myriad of other symptoms.
Dr. Leo Galland, M.D., gastroenterologist, director of the Foundation for Integrated Medicine, and author of Power Healing, is one of the foremost authorities on the leaky gut. The following list of symptoms associated with increased intestinal permeability is taken directly from his informative online article “Leaky Gut Syndromes: Breaking the Vicious Cycle” (www.mdheal.org/leakygut.htm).
Symptoms Associated with Increased Intestinal Permeability:
| Fatigue and malaise | Diarrhea |
| Arthralgias | Skin rashes |
| Myalgias | Toxic feelings |
| Fevers of unknown origin | Cognitive and memory deficits |
| Food intolerances | Shortness of breath |
| Abdominal pain | Poor exercise tolerance |
| Abdominal distension |
Dr. Galland goes on to say in the same article “Unless specifically investigated, the role of altered intestinal permeability in patients with Leaky Gut Syndrome often goes unrecognized.”
The Seven Stages of the Inflamed Gut
The seven stages of the ‘inflamed’ gut, according to the AIA Newsletter (1997), are as follows:
1. When the gut is inflamed, it does not absorb nutrients and foods properly and so fatigue and bloating can occur.
2. As mentioned previously, when large food particles are absorbed there is the creation of food allergies and new symptoms with target organs, such as, arthritis or fibromyalgia.
3. When the gut is inflamed the carrier proteins are damaged so nutrient deficiencies occur which can also cause any symptom, like magnesium deficiency induced muscle spasm or copper deficiency induced high cholesterol. [Author’s note: or gold-deficiency-induced multiple sclerosis, covered later in this book.]
4. Likewise, when the detox pathways that line the gut are compromised, chemical sensitivity can arise. Furthermore, the leakage of toxins overburdens the liver so that the body is less able to handle everyday chemicals.
5. When the gut lining is inflamed the protective coating of IgA (immunoglobulin A) is adversely affected and the body is not able to ward off protozoa, bacteria, viruses and yeasts like candida.
6. When the intestinal lining is inflamed, bacteria and yeasts are able to translocate. This means they are able to pass from the gut lumen or cavity, into the bloodstream and set up infection anywhere else in the body.
7. The worst symptom is the formation of antibodies. Sometimes these leak across and look similar to antigens on our own tissues. Consequently, when an antibody is made to attack it, it also attacks our tissue. This is probably how autoimmune diseases start. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, thyroiditis and many others are members of this ever-growing category of “incurable” diseases.” (AIA Newsletter, 1997)
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Causes of LGS
What Causes the Breakdown of the Intestinal Walls?
We know now that the inner walls (lumen) of the intestinal tract can break down to such an extent that macro (large) molecules of one type or another pass through this natural barrier and travel, along with the smaller molecular nutrients, and deposit in the blood stream via the lymphatic channels located in the walls of the microvilli of the villi.
But, what is it that destroys these walls? Get the answer to that and you have half the solution on correcting the problem, if possible. That it is possible is not so remote. The inner lumen has remarkable regenerative powers. It is the most recuperative of any organ in the body by virtue of the fact that it has a very rich blood supply that allows it to renew itself every three to six days. This is a physiological fact. The question then is why doesn’t it repair itself routinely in cases of leaky gut? As long as the irritant(s) continue to be present, it cannot repair itself. The first counterattack to the problem, therefore, is to identify the culprit(s). Once it is determined, remove it or stop it in its tracks. Just that action alone may solve a major part of the healing process. Whether the breakdown is due to destructive organisms (like yeasts), too many antibiotics, a poor diet (you may be eating good food—but for you it may be the wrong food!) will determine the course of action to take in resolving the problem.
Fig.
