Hi Good Buddies!
I read Gloria's post about her GI visit with interest. It sounds as if she is doing a good job educating him! I wanted to report on my GI visit yesterday.
I had made the appt. several mos. ago when I was having some D. Turns out the D disappeared after eliminating eggs, but I kept the appt. to see if anything is new on the MC front. I love my doc - she is interested in learning from her patients and very open-minded. We spent over one hour just talking.
She told me that some believe that boswellia (an extract from a tree) may help IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). In fact, she has at least one patient (with Crohn's I believe) where this is the case. I noticed that Beverly mentioned boswellia in her post yesterday. Does anyone here know any more about it?
Also, my doc said that it is now thought that taking adequate doses of vitamin D can prevent the formation of polyps in the colon. These are what often lead to cancer, I believe, so this is really important. Another benefit of that amazing vitamin!
I was on an every-5-year colonoscopy schedule, but she wants me to have my next one in Jan., after only 3 years. Mainly because I had polyps removed on my first 2 colonoscopies and the fact that my dad died from colon cancer. If I take my vitamin D religiously, perhaps I won't develop any more polyps. Anyway, I will not look forward to the cleanout with swamp water (Nulytely), that's for sure.
Have a great day,
Polly
My GI Visit - boswellia and more on vitamin D
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
My GI Visit - boswellia and more on vitamin D
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Polly,
Wow! Great find! This is Indian frankincense, an ancient herb long used in ayurvedic medicine. Apparently it produces the therapeutic effects of NSAID's, without any of the nasty side effects.
For anyone interested, here's what seems to be a good straightforward discussion of what it is, and how it works, in layman's terms:
http://www.suite101.com/blog/daisyelain ... flammation
Here is Sloan-Kettering's discussion on the substance, and it's therapeutic effects, for a slightly more technical presentation. This also includes a summary of results of a small study where patients with chronic colitis were treated:
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69149.cfm
It doesn't say, (unless I overlooked it), but I would presume that these patients had UC. You can read an abstract of the study here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1148 ... t=Citation
Tex
Wow! Great find! This is Indian frankincense, an ancient herb long used in ayurvedic medicine. Apparently it produces the therapeutic effects of NSAID's, without any of the nasty side effects.
For anyone interested, here's what seems to be a good straightforward discussion of what it is, and how it works, in layman's terms:
http://www.suite101.com/blog/daisyelain ... flammation
Here is Sloan-Kettering's discussion on the substance, and it's therapeutic effects, for a slightly more technical presentation. This also includes a summary of results of a small study where patients with chronic colitis were treated:
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69149.cfm
It doesn't say, (unless I overlooked it), but I would presume that these patients had UC. You can read an abstract of the study here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1148 ... t=Citation
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Polly, that's pretty amazing! I think it shows that we're always learning about our intolerances. I've been hoping that I can eventually add eggs back into my diet, at least in baking, but maybe not. Keep us posted about any food you've been able to add back now that you're not eating eggs.Turns out the D disappeared after eliminating eggs
Your GI sounds great. I'm going to read Tex's links later.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
<--------Still love that Icon!!!!Tex,
Maybe boswellia would be useful for MCers with pain who don't want to use NSAIDs. It's hard to find good painkillers, and some find little relief with Tylenol (like me).
Babsey,
I would recommend at least 1000 I.U.s total per day from all of your vitamin D supplements. Even better is 2000 per day. I am taking 3000 units per day.
Polly
Maybe boswellia would be useful for MCers with pain who don't want to use NSAIDs. It's hard to find good painkillers, and some find little relief with Tylenol (like me).
Babsey,
I would recommend at least 1000 I.U.s total per day from all of your vitamin D supplements. Even better is 2000 per day. I am taking 3000 units per day.
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Babsey,
If you're using Citracal® Caplets + D, or Citracal® 250 mg + D, you're getting 400 IU of vitamin D with each "serving". That's the old recommendation for RDA. As Polly suggests, we need much more. Residents of higher latitudes, (such as yourself), may need even higher dosages, to counteract the effects of less sunlight, particularly during the winter months.
Tex
If you're using Citracal® Caplets + D, or Citracal® 250 mg + D, you're getting 400 IU of vitamin D with each "serving". That's the old recommendation for RDA. As Polly suggests, we need much more. Residents of higher latitudes, (such as yourself), may need even higher dosages, to counteract the effects of less sunlight, particularly during the winter months.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Babsey,
Yes
Polly,
I'm sure you're right, and according to the articles, it should be beneficial for virtually any and all autoimmune issues, including both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It's even been shown to be beneficial for issues such as asthma. I'm going to check it out, the next time I get to a HFS.
Tex
Yes
Polly,
I'm sure you're right, and according to the articles, it should be beneficial for virtually any and all autoimmune issues, including both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It's even been shown to be beneficial for issues such as asthma. I'm going to check it out, the next time I get to a HFS.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Dee,
From the first reference that I cited above, supposedly a product called 5-LOXIN would be the "best" choice, since it is concentrated, to make it about 77% as effective as ibuprofen, without any of the side effects of ibuprofen.
http://www.plthomas.com/PLTbrands/5loxinmain.htm
That's not to say that there might not be a better formulation on the market by now, of course.
Love,
Tex
From the first reference that I cited above, supposedly a product called 5-LOXIN would be the "best" choice, since it is concentrated, to make it about 77% as effective as ibuprofen, without any of the side effects of ibuprofen.
Interestingly, they seem to be advertising that product to promote good joint health, rather than for any of the other potential uses.Several years ago, researchers developed methods to prepare a compound with concentrations of AKBA greater than 30%. The resulting product has been found to be safe and well-tolerated. This product is patented and trademarked under the name 5-LOXIN. To date, 5-LOXIN inhibits 5-LOX more effectively than the highest quality boswellia formulations. In studies 5-LOXN produced a 27 percent reduction in inflammation compared to 35 percent with ibuprofen that was free of the side effects associated with ibuprofen and other NSAIDs.
http://www.plthomas.com/PLTbrands/5loxinmain.htm
That's not to say that there might not be a better formulation on the market by now, of course.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Okay, I just ordered a bottle of this stuff: NSI 5-Loxin®-AKBA Boswellia Serrata Extract -- 150 mg per serving -120 Capsules
We'll see if I can find any uses for it. I'm in remission, so I won't be able to test it on MC issues, but since I have arthritis, I should be able to see some effect there, (if it works). I'd like to test it as a painkiller, also, so maybe rather than taking it every day for joint health, I'll just wait until I get a headache or some other pain, and test it out for that, first.
What the heck - we'll get this show on the road. LOL.
Love,
Tex
We'll see if I can find any uses for it. I'm in remission, so I won't be able to test it on MC issues, but since I have arthritis, I should be able to see some effect there, (if it works). I'd like to test it as a painkiller, also, so maybe rather than taking it every day for joint health, I'll just wait until I get a headache or some other pain, and test it out for that, first.
What the heck - we'll get this show on the road. LOL.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Oh goodie!
Here Tex goes again volunteering to be our guinea pig. This is great!
I'll be very interested to hear about your findings/impressions. I think you are like me in that Tylenol doesn't help you much as a pain reliever - so I'll be especially interested in what you find out. Now let's just hope the prep does not contain any gluten or casein. 
I'll stay tuned with baited breath!
Re vitamin D......don't forget to get D3 (cholecalciferol) and not D2!
Love,
Polly
Here Tex goes again volunteering to be our guinea pig. This is great!
I'll be very interested to hear about your findings/impressions. I think you are like me in that Tylenol doesn't help you much as a pain reliever - so I'll be especially interested in what you find out. Now let's just hope the prep does not contain any gluten or casein. I'll stay tuned with baited breath!Re vitamin D......don't forget to get D3 (cholecalciferol) and not D2!
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Polly,
I checked the inactive ingredients before I placed the order, and they're:
Other Ingredients: Kosher gelatin (capsule), rice flour, silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate.
That looks OK to me, (though the sand doesn't strike me as particularly appealing, LOL).
Love,
Tex
I checked the inactive ingredients before I placed the order, and they're:
Other Ingredients: Kosher gelatin (capsule), rice flour, silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate.
That looks OK to me, (though the sand doesn't strike me as particularly appealing, LOL).
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.