Question about ND prescribed supplements

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:44 pm

At my appt today with my ND she gave me two supplements, but I am worried about some of the ingredients and would appreciate some opinions before I start taking them.

The first is called ProGreens. The first few ingredients jumped out at me: organic barley grass powder, organic alfalfa grass powder, organic oat grass powder, organic spirulina powder, suma root powder, soy lecithin, wheat sprout powder (says gluten free), flax seed powder. There are 32 total ingredients. My first instinct is to not take this. Her purpose is to give me the nutrients I am missing from vegetables, without having to digest the actual vegetables.

The second supplement is Gastri-Gest which is supposed to help me start being able to digest vegetables and fiber. It contains papain, protease, sucrase, lactase, maltase, amylase, lipase, cellulase and acidophilus. Just reading this list of ingredients makes me fear a massive D flare, but I don't know what half of them are.

If all the reading I've done on this board, along with all the independent research I've done is correct, introducing these supplements to my inflamed gut will not have the effect intended. I believe I need to fully heal before even attempting to take these, and I am just 6 weeks out from my diagnosis and going GF. Thoughts or recommendations? Thank you!

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:51 pm

Both of those scare me, not to mention her logic. Why would taking processed dry grass powders help you learn to digest real vegetables? I say stick to the real thing. Barley and wheat grass are scary enough. Regarding the second supplement, I think digestive enzymes can be a good idea, but acidophilus is generally made with dairy, so that could be an issue if you are dairy-free.

Update...just checked the ingredients. Wow, could be an MC disaster!!!
Wheat sprouts? Fiber? Multiple probiotics?? At least only commit to a sample if you are willing to try it.

http://www.nutricology.com/ProGreens-Pw ... 16410.html

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:40 am

I wouldn't touch the stuff. Too many questionable ingredients in the ProGreens. Gastri-Gest is digestive enzymes and some people have problems with them while others can take them. Then there's the probiotics in both which could also cause problems. Even with supplements I tend to stick with single ingredient products. Better safe than sorry.

Jean

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 6:54 am

Sorry to say but I don't think she is really tuned into MC. The ProGreens sound like a disaster waiting to happen for your system - I know it would be for mine - wheat grass, barley, oats - Result is explosion of my system.

Hope you go another route.

Love, Maggie

nancyl · Post by **nancyl** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 8:14 am

Leslie,
I have to agree with everyone else. Have you ever thought of going to an acupuncturist? I have been going for almost a year now and feel she has helped quite a bit. There are a few others here who also have had good luck. With the foods, I would just go with the actual veggie almost overcooked and a little at a time till you find out which ones work for you.

Nancy

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 9:03 am

Thank you for your responses. Being new to MC, I really value the opinions and knowledge of everyone in this forum. My gut (pun intended) was telling me not to take these.

Nancy, yes I do acupuncture and I think it helps with a lot of symptoms. My ND is also an acupuncturist.

I'm planning to take a copy of Wayne's book with me when I return the unopened supplements to my next appointment.

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 9:03 am

I totally agree with everyone else. That's way too much stuff!! Less is better while we are healing. It's hard to eat healthy and get all the proper nutrients we need until our guts have healed more. It's unfortunate that these doctors don't know much about the diet for MC!

Hang in there!

Terri

Post by **tex** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 1:35 pm

With 32 ingredients, there is no way that most of us could avoid a reaction. Statistically, probably at least half a dozen of the ingredients would prove to be a problem for most of us, on the average. Any product with more than 5 ingredients should be scrutinized veeeeeerrrrrry carefully — as a rule, too many of them just don't work for us.

You've probably already read an old post about my own reaction to a digestive enzyme mix that I once tried while I was recovering (but already in remission). 1 capsule was all it took to convince me to never, ever try that again. The nausea and vomiting lasted for most of a day, and the burning pain in my stomach lasted for about 4 days. Of course, YMMV.

Your doctor has good intentions, but doesn't understand MC.

Tex

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 10:53 pm

Thanks, Tex. i completely agree and I appreciate your response.

Stanz · Post by **Stanz** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:29 pm

Leslie,

I see you are in Oregon, as am I. If you are anywhere near Lake Oswego/Portland, I highly recommend my ND, Noel Peterson. I wouldn't take this stuff either, cannot understand the logic she used in recommending them in the first place.

Connie

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:43 pm

Hi Connie
We divide our time between Bend and Portland until my husband retires next year and we make Bend our permanent home. We are very close to LO, in the John's Landing area of Portland. Thank you for the recommendation. Does your ND have an understanding of MC? My ND in Bend is great, but I don't think she fully understands the food sensitivity piece of it. I'm gifting her with a copy of Tex's book at my next appointment ;)

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:59 pm

I agree with all the others re: the ingredients. Does your ND understand the need to be GF? So why would she recommend supplements with a high degree of gluten?

To get the nutrients from veggies without the fiber many of us juice. I have a real problem gut, and never seem to be able to heal and reach N. After a year of struggling I decided to try juicing to see if it made my situation worse. It didn't, and I do manage to process the nutrients gained from the juice and occasional fruit smoothies.
I would recommend doing the tests via Enterolabs to establish your sensitivities and to go from there.

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:05 pm

Hi Lesley

Thanks for your insights! I have been giving a lot of thought to juicing, but I am waiting for my Enterolab results which I just sent in last week. My ND also had me do some adrenal tests - urine and saliva, but I won't get those results until the 31st (next appt). Whoever coined the phrase "patience is a virtue" must've been suffering from MC.

I sure can relate to your experience with the grandbaby. I also have back issues and the stooping, bending, lifting and carrying is really difficult sometimes. I come home tired to the bone and hurting all over. Hope you recover quickly from your travels and your cold.

Stanz · Post by **Stanz** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:04 pm

Leslie,
We are practically neighbors. Dr. P is a true healer, he respects my input and is a true collaborator. I don't know what I'd have done w/o him in the last 4 years dealing with all of this. I have a very physically demanding job and have had joint issues that have been resolved by Prolotherapy. I couldn't still work were it not for that. I will PM you w/my phone # should you want to talk about him further, but he has a website: http://myctm.org/new/

I'm glad you've ordered the tests from Enterolab. It's just nice to have things confirmed one way or another. I've been absent from here for a long while, but you are in the company of people who care and who have been there. I'm one who never used drugs, I still have my stress-related relapses, but at least I know cause and effect now.

Call me if you want to talk.
Connie

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:16 pm

Connie, thank you so much! I will check out the website and call you if I have questions. I appreciate your kindness.