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Natural Health Q&A

Please address your queries to hugh@biocytonics.com or visit our continually updated website at www.biocytonics.com.

Nothing in this newsletter should be construed as medical advice and, as always, you should consult with a physician concerning your health.

Let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas. Diana and I love you all and pray for your precious gift of health above all things.

This month’s first question comes from JP in California.

Q. “My doctor is insisting that I have a colonoscopy done. What do you think of these?”

A. My difficulty with a colonoscopy is that it is an invasive technique that has hidden dangers in both the procedure and the “cleansing” agents used prior to the actual colonoscopy itself. Furthermore, it is the lack of proper disinfection that also bothers me. Perforation of the colon and spleen are not uncommon and it is not unusual for individuals to visit me with “clean” bills of health after a colonoscopy only to find severe leaky gut syndrome. Remember, nothing is 100% (not even me).

Hospitals do not sterilize these instruments. I understand that may come as a shock, but colonoscopy equipment is bathed in a disinfectant solution. They're not scrubbed. Not disassembled. Not heated. They're rinsed in an ineffective bath. Furthermore, the disinfectant, Gluteraldehyde, used in the endoscopic bath, if not rinsed off thoroughly, has been cited as a possible cause of Colitis.

For those unfamiliar with the mechanisms of an endoscope, a bronchoscope, proctoscope, sigmoidoscope, or a colonscope, they are invasive instruments intended to examine our esopha­gus, lungs, or our colon.  Mechanically, they are flexible and have moving integrated parts in­cluding, valves, joints, intricate channels, crevices, and pores.

Without proper sterilization it is impossible to remove fecal matter, blood, tissue, and mucus from prior patient examinations. According to David L. Lewis, PhD, research microbiologist at the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Exposure Research Laboratory in Athens, GA., when these instruments are examined under close scrutiny, it is not uncommon to see heavy encrustations of dried blood and tissue matter.

Public Citizen, a Washington DC-based international, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1971 to represent consumer interests in Congress, the executive branch and the courts, has posted information on its website, www.WorstPills.org, indicating some bowel-cleansing products used prior to colonoscopies have now been linked to chronic kidney failure.

In its web posting, the group cited a recent study from the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology which showed that certain bowel-cleansing products containing sodium-phosphate can cause chronic kidney failure.

In the cited study, researchers at the Columbia Collage of Physicians and Surgeons reviewed all of the kidney biopsies received at the facility between January 2000 and December 2004. They found that 31 patients had kidney damage that was indicative of phosphate toxicity. Of those 31 patients, 20 had taken an oral phosphate solution prior to a colonoscopy.

According to Public Citizen, the prescription oral medication Viscol and the non-prescription product Fleet Phospho-soda are two common bowel-cleansing drugs that contain sodium phosphate.

Factors such as inadequate hydration, a history of high blood pressure, and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as ibuprofen and Celebrex (a COX-2 inhibitor) may increase the possibility of the development of kidney problems when a sodium-phosphate bowel cleansing product is used.

I understand the concern regarding early detection of colon cancer is the issue, but let me quickly point out that in so-called third world countries where the diet is heavy in fiber, colorectal cancer is nearly non-existent. In other words, increase your dietary fiber, folks.

The human body needs around 45 grams of fiber per day and a supply of probiotics and enzymes to remain healthy.

And this leads us to our second question from LM in Arizona.

Q. “Dr. Smith, how do you feel about colon hydrotherapy (colonics)?”

A. Colon cleanses have become the newest “Hollywood: rage and, in the case of severe problems, such as cancer I am in agreement with these high tech enemas. When I was a kid, you had two choices when you were ill, Epsom salts as a purgatory and/or enemas. (I opted for anything but the enemas!).

The difficulty that I have with these procedures is first, like colonoscopies, if the equipment used to flush out your colon is not clean, you could end up with a bacterial infection. This is not the case with licensed colon hydrotherapists who use new sterile devices for each patient.

Another possible problem is that people who get this treatment may absorb too much water. This could lead to a chemical imbalance in the body, feeling sick to your stomach, vomiting, heart failure and fluid in the lungs. There is also the risk of breaking the wall of the colon, which could kill you.  Again, these are concerns you should ask a qualified practitioner.

I am also concerned about colonics because most people in this country already have a delicate colon due to our highly refined and chemical laden diets. Again, for those who have seen me in the clinic and over the years, can attest that leaky gut syndrome is a fact and the reality is that a colonic could make the condition worse.

However, and this is important, if a patient is facing a critical condition like cancer, then I would highly recommend a cleansing of this type with a provider who is licensed and comes highly recommended.

Let me also say, that I have seen some pretty difficult conditions (such as narcolepsy) overcome with colonics. But, the best thing to do is take care of your colon before you need these alternatives and make certain what you put in it and through it. May I suggest you visit http://www.colonic.net/directory.asp the colonic network for locations of hydrotherapists.

Keep those questions coming and see you in the New Year.

Dr. Hugh and Diana

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The purpose of this newsletter is to give individuals with questions regarding natural health a forum where their questions can be answered. Dr. Smith has 30 years of experience helping families and individuals live healthier lives. Their complaints range from fibromyalgia and deep vein thrombosis to arthritis and cancer.

Nothing in this newsletter should be construed as medical advice and, as always, you should consult with a physician concerning your health.

The forum is simple. Send us a question and we will endeavor to answer it in as simple a manner as possible in the upcoming issue. I have always believed that simple is usually the answer.

If you are buying into the “let’s treat every symptom now” routine, you are probably going to be disappointed. I have seen people leave a “natural care” practitioner’s office

with hundreds of dollars of supplements only to have nothing happen except a somewhat lighter bank account. As always, buyer beware and remember that natural healing is a process that can take some time.

There are many factors that lead up to a chronic condition and, without seeing a client, it is often difficult to make hard and fast rules and solutions. So please understand that we will try to give you the answer with the available information you supply.

Please address your queries to hugh@biocytonics.com or visit our continually updated website at www.biocytonics.com.

Thank you

Dr. Hugh

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