Fecal Transplants

Fecal transplants, also called fecal microbiota transplants are a way to change the micro flora of large intestine. Healthy donor stool is collected, suspended in water, normal saline or milk and given to the patient through enema, nasogastric tube, or other scopes or tubes.

I first heard about fecal transplants about six weeks ago at a naturopathic gastroenterology seminar. It was presented by a young naturopathic physician, Mark Davis. He had only been a licensed ND for four months, but had been researching this while he was a student.

Fecal transplants are not a new thing. The earliest documented use in humans goes back to 1958, when Ben Eiseman, MD and William Silen, MD coauthored “Fecal enema as an adjunct in the treatment of pseudomembranous enterocolitis”.

Since then there have been several articles written about how it has helped cure ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and hospital acquired clostridium difficile. I could cite them all, but that would make a very boring blog post!

It sounds quite gross but it makes a lot of sense.  Probiotics in yogurt or supplements have 1 to 15 of the microbes that the feces have and they help somewhat in many types of digestive disturbances. Donor stool will have 500 to 1,000 species. From what I’ve read, 85 to 95% of C diff colitis patients treated with fecal transplant have been cured, and 50-90% of IBD and IBS patients respond.

Of course you want to have a healthy donor that has been tested for communicable disease and no history of gastrointestinal issues, no recent antibiotic or immunosuppressive or systemic anti neoplastic drug use, food allergies or several other issues.

If you wanted to have a fecal transplant done, you would visit your open-minded gastroenterologist or naturopathic physician in Oregon. Dr. Davis has an at-home protocol as well.

Fecal transplants are not a federally approved treatment as there really isn’t a way to give synthetic feces. (Yet! I’m sure a big pharm place is working on it!) I’ve heard of some studies that are ongoing in Europe and also Seattle, WA.

I think that if I had bowel issues that couldn’t be treated with the usual natural remedies and diet or gentle antibiotics, I would consider getting a fecal transplant.  What about you, too gross or possibly a treatment?


-Seminar Notes “Treat the Gut. Addressing CDI, UC, IBS and more with Fecal Microbiota Transplantation” by Mark Davis, ND January 21, 2012

-http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13592638

-http://brightmedicineclinic.com/bright_medicine/home.html

Could you live without shampoo?

I attended a gastroenterology conference this weekend, and, as usual it fired up all sorts of brain cells. I always have to take some time to “digest” information I learn at these conferences before I can tell others about it. You’ll be told eventually, even about the Fecal Microbiota Transplant. (It is sort of what you think.)

But, I’m not ready yet. Last night I was catching up on all the blogs I read and I came across a post about not using shampoo. Well, it was a link to simplemom.net in a post by already pretty’s Sally McGraw.

Commercial shampoos and conditioners have all sorts of chemicals in them. Chemicals that really shouldn’t be near your skin. They also may have “natural” extracts and molecules which may not be good for you. During the conference I learned that some even have gluten, to which many are sensitive. In simplemom’s blog article she writes about going shampoo (and conditioner) free after reading about it several times.

Why stop shampooing? Shampoo is a detergent and it strips the oils from your hair.  Simplemom goes on to explain “Most shampoos also contain mineral oil, which is a byproduct when gasoline is distilled from crude oil. It’s added to shampoo (along with hundreds of other products) to thickly coat the strands, giving hair an artificial shine. And since it can’t absorb into skin, like the other ingredients, it acts as a barrier on our scalp, preventing oil from being released — thus requiring more shampoo to strip away the grease. This is why the more shampoo you use, the more you need.”

How does one clean hair without shampoo? It sounds like you can pretty much make up your own recipe depending on your needs but the simple version is baking soda and apple cider vinegar. (Separately, can you imagine the chemical reaction if you used both at the same time?) Now you don’t have to imagine it, see it on youtube!

First, mix one tablespoon baking soda with a cup of water. You can even reuse your old empty shampoo bottle for this. In another container mix one tablespoon apple cider vinegar in a cup of water. Then, wet your hair thoroughly. Apply the baking soda water to your scalp, starting at the crown and mainly focusing on the scalp. You shouldn’t use the whole amount unless you have a lot of hair. After a few minutes, just rinse. Then apply the apple cider vinegar water to areas of your hair that are dry, usually the ends, wait a few minutes and rinse it out.

When I told Mr. Inappropriate about this, he said something about “crunchy granola blah blah blah” and the guys at work laughing at him. But the more he thought about it, the more he was willing to experiment with it. Think of the savings on shampoo and conditioner if it works! So we will try the no shampoo experiment next week. I’ll let you know how it goes!

New Years Revolution!

Happy New Year! Unlike many of my friends I love days like New Years, birthdays and Thanksgiving. I use these types of transitional days to clear my head, to look back and learn from my mistakes, to look forward at what I may do in the future and to be thankful for what I have in the present. I dislike the commercialization of these days and I really wish more people understood the historical background for days like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Some people are bummed by the new year because, even though they say “Happy New Year”, they are focused on what is NOT happy, what they DIDN’T do and they feel the new year will bring more of the same.
I used to make New Years resolutions until a few years ago. They were usually along the lines of losing weight or “finding my true love”. When that didn’t happen by the next year, despite my best efforts, I would feel like such a loser. No matter that I managed to start a business on my own or supported myself, paid my bills, ate my veggies and exercised!
Goals are a good way to change what you want to change in your life, but some things are more obtainable than others. Research shows that most people can’t lose weight and keep it off. However, I can exercise 30 minutes per day and try to eat at least five servings of vegetables per day and that will impact my health positively! I can give someone a break when they are having a bad day and forgive them for tailgating me or messing up my order.
My New Years revolution for 2012 is to find ways to make other peoples’ lives better. I’m not sure what that will be beyond what I do already, but I’m willing to try and keep trying. The revolution is that the goal is really about other people and not myself.
What is your revolution for 2012?

Are there hormones in your cosmetics and creams?

This summer I went to a seminar put on by a saliva testing lab, Diagnos-Techs. (http://diagnostechs.com/)  I learned a lot about saliva testing at this seminar but Director of Medical Support John White, MD, CM mentioned something that concerned me:   90-95% of submitted face creams tested positive for progesterone.  This testing was done a couple years ago back when they offered anonymous testing of face creams for clients and they don't do it now.  He also mentioned that there were estrogens and androgens in many of these face creams. 
Diagnos-Techs has noted elevated progesterone levels in women that were not taking prescribed hormones. 
Face creams and shampoos are classified legally as cosmetics and are not under FDA supervision.  Manufacturers can add progesterone to their products (up to 4%) without reporting it on their labels. 
Well, I just did my saliva hormone panel and my progesterone was low.  Hopefully that means that the shampoo and SPF face cream I use do not contain hormones.
But wait, there's more.  Besides actual hormones, there may be other chemicals in your cosmetics that interfere with the body's endocrine system.  Phenols, phthalates, and phytoestrogens have been associated with earlier onset of puberty in females with possible increased risk of diabetes and breast cancer later on in life.
Phthalates can be on an ingredient list as "fragrance" so you might not even know if it is in any of your products.  This labeling stuff is so frustrating!
So what can you do about hormones in face creams and cosmetics?  You could have an outside lab test your product. (http://www.adamsonlab.com/cosmetics.htm).  You can do an internet search.  I came up with this list from ehow.com:  http://www.ehow.com/list_7161229_face-creams-hormones.html.  Remember that just because the label says "natural" does not make it so.  Also, some natural ingredients such as soy, tea tree oil and lavender can disrupt hormones in women and men.
If you are a teen, have breast, ovary or uterine cancer or have recovered from such I think you should really take a look at what you are putting on your body.  The rest of us should too, but at some point you just can't find the information and the stress on you may be worse than the chemicals or hormones.


http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=290
http://chronicfatigueandnutrition.com/hormones/hormones-cosmetics/
http://www.bellasugar.com/Phthalates-Cosmetics-Linked-Earlier-Puberty-Mount-Sinai-Study-8019908

http://truthinaging.com/body/what-is-it-estrogen-in-my-face-cream

Interview with Voicewize Blog!

I was recently interviewed by Voicewize Blog about reflux.  You can find it at this link:  http://blog.voicewize.com/2011/09/14/alternative-reflux-treatment/

Buzzing Brain

I have all sorts of things buzzing around in my brain, but I have yet to put it on paper.  Some of these things include:  how diabetes, elevated cholesterol and hypertension interact, hormones in cosmetics, importance of trying to be happy and keeping the flu at bay.  I hope by next week to have something for you.  Do you have other suggestions for posts?

Hiyashi Chuka or Cold Ramen Salad

Now that we are in to August, I feel like I need a cool, refreshing main dish that's not too difficult to make.  I first had Hiyashi Chuka in Japan over 20 years ago.  I've made it many times and my sister requests I make it whenever I visit her in the summer.
I usually use ramen noodles but you can use Chinese egg noodles if you wish.  Once you have the noodles, you can pretty much put whatever vegetables that you like or have around, into the mix.  Here's what I made last week.

Ingredients:

2 packages of ramen noodles
1/2 pound roast beef   (You could use ham, chicken, turkey, etc.) Cut into strips.
1/2 English cucumber, cut into match sticks
2 eggs
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup grated carrots
sliced green onion (I like lots, adjust to taste.)

For dressing:
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon roasted sesame oil
My original recipe calls for 1/3 cup water in this dressing, but I like the strong taste of it without the water.

You may want hot yellow mustard (karashi) and or beni shoga (pickled red ginger) but I did not have it on hand this time.


First, you want to make the egg.  Beat eggs in a bowl and add sugar, then mix well.  Heat some oil in a small frying pan and pour 1/4 to 1/2 the egg mixture over the pan.  Spread the egg thinly, like a crepe, and fry for one minute. Turn and cook for about 30 seconds more.  Take out of the pan and place on cutting board to cool.  Repeat with the rest of the egg mixture. Slice the crepe into thin strips.

Make the dressing by mixing all the dressing ingredients together.  Usually I put it in a container with a lid and just shake it.

Put your noodle water on to boil.  For two people's amount of ramen, you will need a medium large pot, around 3 quarts.

As the water is heating, cut up your meat and vegetables into strips, slices or grated, as above in the ingredient list.  You can arrange it all nicely on a platter if you want those you are cooking for to place their own ingredients on the noodles.

Once the water is boiling, cook your noodles according to package directions and drain.  Pour cold water over them quickly to cool them and let them drain again. 

Put the cold noodles on a plate, arrange toppings on top and pour dressing over the noodles just before serving.

This recipe feeds two very hungry people or four not so hungry people.