Ask the Doctor

Dear Dr. Carol,
I have a problem with constipation whenever I travel. Do you have any good remedies for that? Also, what do you think about cleanses and fasting? K.M., Roslyn, NY

Dear KM,
Many people have the same problem. Some people say it’s the change in the water that affects the gut that way. My opinion is that the stress of travel and encountering new situations and people throws the whole nervous system out of balance, causing the digestive tract to shut down temporarily. Whatever the cause, the cure is fairly simple. First, remember to drink lots of fresh, pure water. Eat high fiber foods, - fruit, vegetables, whole grains to provide bulk. Continue to exercise (you do, don’t you?) even if it means marching up and down the cramped aisle of an airplane for half an hour while on your way to Hong Kong. Long flights are hard on the body. Stretch as much as you can to keep the blood and lymph flowing.

Many herbs are stimulating to the colon. Aloe is one of my favorites. Aloe juice can be mixed with your favorite breakfast drink or simply drunk straight. It has very little flavor and acts to produce a natural, smooth movement within a few hours.

Next on my list is magnesium. Many people are deficient to begin with, and then travel upsets the calcium-magnesium balance even more. A dose of 250-400mg should do the trick. Magnesium citrate in a liquid form can be purchased in a drug store or health food store. Drink it cold, have half the bottle first, then the rest 12 hours later if no results.

Many herbal teas advertise themselves as “diet aids”. This usually translates to laxative effect, which does help you to lose weight. (We lose much more weight through the gut than we do through sweat.) Some helpful herbs are senna, cascara sagrada and turkey rhubarb. A cup of hot tea taken at night, with a spoonful of powdered magnesium, can be successful by morning.
In some tough cases the colon is very resistant to anything taken by mouth. A Fleet’s enema may be necessary. I would recommend a course of colonics to restore normal bowel function, and “clean the pipes” once you get home. Colonics are administered by a trained professional in an office setting, and are the equivalent of “spring cleaning” for the gut. These can be an extremely beneficial part of the treatment of many chronic conditions, including arthritis, fatigue and cancer.
As for the second question, my opinion is that it’s a good idea, for many reasons, to regularly cleanse and, or fast. A cleanse involves taking herbs or nutrients to support the function of different organ systems in the body, such as a colon cleanse (see above), a kidney or a liver cleanse. Herbal preparations are available in many health food stores and online for this purpose.

Cleanses should begin with the colon. A favorite saying of mine is “if the sewer is stopped up, the whole house smells”. Next up is the liver. Support for the liver might include the herb milk thistle, or its “active ingredient” silymarin. (One of the reasons herbs are safe and effective is because they contain many accessory compounds which can mitigate the action of the main active ingredient and prevent side effects so often found with medicinal drugs. Many herbalists recommend using the whole herb for this reason.) Nutrients used by the liver include N-acetyl cysteine (500mg a day), alpha lipoic acid (300mg.) and S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe – 400mg ad day). Use them for a month daily to support good liver function.

A kidney cleanse might include a mild diuretic herb such as dandelion, taken as a tea, and extra potassium, which is lost in urine and sweat. Plenty of water is a must with any of these regimens.
If you have a medical problem, please work with an experienced practitioner before trying these options. Everyone is different and if you have a problem I won’t be able to help you. We have nutritionists, herbalists, chiropractors and other professionals with experience and the background to help you navigate all the options safely.

Similarly, a fast may be very helpful to cleanse the whole system. A well known juice fast may be done with the following recipe:
Juice of three limes (or lemons)
Grade B maple syrup, or molasses to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste
Water

Blend the ingredients and drink all day. Your blood sugar will not fall, you will be getting your B vitamins and C, and the cayenne warms your insides so you think you’re full. Three to ten days should do it. Do not fast if you are pregnant or if you are underweight. Get some professional guidance before attempting this for longer periods of time.

Recommended further study: Health Care Alternatives, a six week course at the Dale Mabry Campus of Hillsborough Community College, taught by Joel Chudnow. I will be speaking one of the nights, as will many outstanding health care providers. This is a great community service which Joel has been performing for at least 15 years. Take advantage and continue

CAROL L. ROBERTS, M.D., Wellness Works; 1209 Lakeside Drive, Brandon and Sarasota. 813 661-3662. • www.wellnessworks.us