and soothing than tea or tincture. For details see the chapter on preparing herbs. Slippery Elm may be added to the diet or taken as tablets. The Meadowsweet will settle the stomach content and reduce the impact of over-acidity. The Golden Seal will prove beneficial for the membranes and act to tone the tissue whilst providing a general tonic action upon the body. If bleeding occurs within the stomach, American Cranesbill may be added to the mixture. If there is a stress component—and there usually is—Valerian or perhaps Hops may be considered.
The diet should be very low in fibre during the acute phase of the illness. In addition there should be little protein, thereby giving the stomach less work to do. When the symptoms recede, fibre and a variety of proteins may slowly be reintroduced. Of great importance is the avoidance of alcohol and also the avoidance of tobacco. With tobacco, withdrawal may produce nervous tension and therefore make things worse. If this is the case, then stop smoking as soon as you can; you’re hooked.
The long stretch of the small intestine is the site where most nutrition is absorbed into the body. Thus any problems in the small intestine will affect the nutritional state, causing apparent deficiencies which are really malabsorption problems. Stress has a marked impact on this part of the body as is demonstrated by duodenal ulcers. The small intestines make up the longest part of the digestive system with a total length of about twenty feet, which is divided into three sections, the duodenum, the jejenum and the ileum.
Duodenal ulcers
The duodenum, the first stretch of the small intestine, starts at the pyloric sphincter, a valve at the end of the stomach. This valve controls the release of parts of the stomach content into the duodenum, and if it does not function properly, too much stomach acid can get into the duodenum and cause problems. When too much of the highly acidic stomach juices seeps into the alkaline duodenum, the walls of the duodenum will become inflamed and ultimately develop ulcers. A number of factors can cause the seepage, but by far the most common one stems from the fact that the function of the valve is influenced by stress and tension. Considering the highly competitive and charged environment many people live in, it is surprising that more people do not develop duodenal ulcers.
The approach to healing a duodenal ulcer is threefold, consisting of a herbal treatment, dietary changes and a consideration of the cause, which in most cases means a consideration of the factors causing stress and tension. The herbal treatment is based on a number of actions. Demulcents are called for to soothe the ulcer and the surrounding tissue. If a vulnerary action can be added to speed the healing process then all the better. This may be done with Marshmallow and Comfrey Root. The specific mucous membrane healing properties of Golden Seal will aid the healing of the lining of the intestine. An appropriate astringent like American Cranesbill should be used to strengthen the tissue. As a duodenal ulcer is often accompanied by a general debility and a reduction in vitality due to toxins from the ulcer entering into the blood and lymph system, appropriate alteratives and lymphatic tonics like Echinacea should be used. A good basic mixture would therefore consist of
| Comfrey Root | 2 parts |
| Marshmallow Root | 2 parts |
| American Cranesbill | 1 part |
| Echinacea | 1 part |
| Golden Seal |
1 part  |
This tea should be drunk three times a day before meals. If you are fasting, drink it at the times you would usually eat.
The diet should be low in fibre and low in proteins as long as the symptoms persist and must be followed by a gradual return to a normal wholefood diet. An excellent soothing food to take during the peak of the problem is Slippery Elm. It can be made into the consistency of a thick gruel and will provide nutrition as well as a demulcent action on the ulcerated tissue.
To deal with stress and tension, nervines are indicated for a short term treatment. But the body is sending a signal and giving a clue by developing a symptom like an ulcer, and it is best to take the hint. Take a look at your lifestyle and purpose in life. Is your life fulfilling and meaningful? Many valuable techniques are available to help you re-evaluate your life and clear these problems, ranging from simple relaxation techniques to psychotherapy. Stress management and relaxation is discussed in the next chapter.
Herbally, a good nervine mixture to treat tension can be made of equal parts of Skullcap and Valerian, which should be made into a tea and drunk whenever needed. Other appropriate relaxing herbs, though not as strong, are Balm, Chamomile, Lavender and Lime Blossom, which can also be made into a tea and drunk whenever needed.
Chamomile
Enteritis
This name is given to an inflammation that can occur in any section of the small intestine and sometimes even over its whole length of twenty feet. When it appears in one of the sections, it can be called accordingly: duodenitis, jejuvinitis or ileitis; but the treatment will always be the same. In most cases, the guidelines and treatment suggested for duodenal ulcers will be found sufficient. However, it would be good to add one part of Wild Yam to the mixture to further ease the inflammation and pain.
Malabsorption
A very common—though frequently unrecognised—condition is a diminished ability of the small intestine to absorb food in general or specific components, like minerals. This can lead to symptoms of malnutrition, to apparent mineral or vitamin deficiencies, to anaemia and weight loss, to abdominal pain or to a more insidious state of vague ill-health.
Most commonly the malabsorption stems from an allergic reaction to particular foods which leads to problems in the lining of the intestine wall. The allergic reaction might be extreme and obvious, as in the case of coeliac disease due to a strong allergy to gluten, or it can take a mild form and not produce obvious symptoms. But in any case of suspected malabsorption, it is always worth removing potential allergens from the diet. A complete list of potential allergens would include any food, as everything can trigger an allergic reaction, but the majority of cases are found to be caused by just four types of food. The gluten-containing foods should be avoided. They include primarily all products made from wheat. Another major cause for allergic reactions is milk and milk products, like cheese and butter. Sugar and foods rich in sugar should also be considered, as should eggs. Eliminate these foods from your diet for a number of weeks and see if anything changes. If so, leave the food that is causing the allergy out of your diet; if not, see if your diet contains other foods you might suspect, like coffee or tea, or tomatoes. It is worth experimenting for a while to find out.
Herbal remedies can help to soothe, heal and renew the lining of the intestine. Demulcents like Comfrey Root, Marshmallow Root and Slippery Elm will soothe the mucous membranes.
