Demystifying Diverticulosis

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have diverticulosis. This is a condition where the colon (large intestines) develops small pockets that bulge outward through weak spots, similar to a hernia. About half of all people over the age of 60 have diverticulosis. The pockets form when pressure inside the intestines build up, usually because of constipation. This condition is called Diverticular Disease.

Symptoms of diverticulosis are sometimes never experienced. Although they may include mild cramps, bloating, and constipation. Other disorders, which mimic these symptoms include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers. These symptoms do not always mean a person has diverticulosis.

When these pockets become infected or inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. The most common symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain or tenderness around the left side (quadrant) of the lower abdomen. Diverticulitis can lead to bleeding, infections, perforations, tears, or blockages. These complications always require treatment to prevent them from progressing and causing serious illness. If infection occurs, the severity of symptoms may include fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping, and constipation. It is not known how infection can occur, but it may begin when stool or bacteria are caught in these pockets. An attack of diverticulitis can develop suddenly and without warning.

The most likely cause of diverticulosis is a low-fiber diet because it increases constipation and pressure inside the large intestine. Increasing the amount of fiber in your diet may reduce symptoms of diverticulosis and prevent complications such as diverticulitis.

Other causes you should consider are bowel habits, related pain, diet and medications. This is also considered a stress-related disorder. It is known that stress and smoking make symptoms worse.

Dietary fiber is an important part of our daily diet. Although most fiber is not digested, it gives us many important and healthy benefits. Fiber retains water, which allows for softer and bulkier stools, lowers pressure inside the intestines so that bowel contents can move through easily, which in turn prevents constipation and hemorrhoids Fiber binds with cholesterol and eliminates this substance from the body. A high-fiber diet can also reduce colon cancer risk as well as keep our digestive tract clean. The recommended amount of fiber is 25 to 35 grams each day.

You can increase your fiber intake by eating these foods: whole grain breads and cereals such as whole-wheat bread, cooked brown rice, bran cereal, plain, cooked oatmeal, cooked white rice; fruits like apples, pears, tangerines and peaches; vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, spinach, squash and tomatoes; and starchy vegetables like kidney beans, baked beans, lima beans and potatoes.

Foods such as nuts, popcorn hulls, and seeds including sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame should be avoided.

In some people, the seeds in tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries, raspberries and poppy seeds, may cause a problem.

People differ in the amounts and types of foods they can eat. Decisions about diet should be made based on what works best for each person. Keeping a food diary may help identify individual culprits in your diet.

Alfalfa is a great source of Vitamin K, which is often deficient in people with intestinal disorders. 2,000 mg in capsules or tincture is recommended.

Aloe Vera promotes the healing of inflamed areas. Drink 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice, 3 times a day. It can be mixed with 1/2 a cup of herbal tea, such as chamomile.

Pau D'arco is an antibacterial and cleansing herb. Drink two cups of this herb as tea, daily or as a tincture.

Green drinks or whole green food drinks contain chlorophyll and are extremely beneficial for this condition.

To relieve pain, massage the left side (quadrant) of the lower abdomen. Stand up and do gentle stretching exercises.

Better Diagnosis Series: Know Your Cranial Nerves

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

I. The Olfactory Nerve, or First Cranial Nerve, is the pathway taken by Olfactory impulses from the Nasal mucosa to the Brain. The Olfactory Tract connects the Olfactory Bulb with the Olfactory Tubercle, where it divides into a Medial and Lateral Olfactory Tract.

II. The Optic Nerve, or Second Cranial Nerve, lies just Posterior and Inferior to the Medial Olfactory Tract. It carries information from the Eye for Vision and Ocular Reflexes.

III. The Oculomotor Nerve or Third Cranial Nerve, arises at the Ventral aspect of the MesenCephalon and transverses through the Cavernous Sinus to the Orbit. It supplies all the Intrinsic Ocular Muscles and all Extrinsic Ocular Muscles except for the Lateral Rectus and Superior Oblque. The ParaSympathetic Fibers from this Nerve innervate the Ciliary Muscle of the Lens and the Sphincter Muscle of the Pupil.

IV. The Trochlear Nerve or Fourth Cranial Nerve,supplies only the Superior Oblique Muscle of the Eye, and it arises just below the Inferior Quadrigeminal Bodies of the BrainStem. It emerges from the Posterior aspect of the BrainStem and passes around the Lateral side of the Cerebellar Peduncle into the Margin of the Tentorium and into the Cavernous Sinus, where it goes to the Orbit.

V. The Trigeminal Nerve or Fifth Cranial Nerve, is the Largest Cranial Nerve, and it carries Fibers that give Sensation to the Face and Motor Fibers to the Muscles of Mastication. It exits from the BrainStem through the AnteroLateral surface of the Pons.

VI. The Abducent Nerve or Sixth Cranial Nerve, supplies the Lateral Rectus Muscle of the Eyeball and issues from the Brain at the Inferior border of the Pons, just above the Pyramid of the Medulla Oblongata.

VII. The Facial Nerve or Seventh Cranial,consists of two parts: The Motor Root, which supplies the Superficial Muscles of the Scalp, Face, and Neck. A smaller Sensory Root, which contains the Afferent Taste Fibers for the Anterior two thirds of the Tongue and the Afferent ParaSympathetic Fibers for supply of the Lacrimal and Salivary Glands The Facial Nerve arises from the Lateral aspect of the Ponto- Medullary junction.

VIII. The Auditory Nerve, or Eighth Cranial Nerve, is entirely Sensory, and consists of Vestibular and Cochlear divisions.

IX. The Glossopharyngeal, or Ninth Cranial Nerve is a Mixed Nerve consisting of an Afferent part, which supplies the Pharynx and Tongue and the Carotid Sinus and Body. The Efferent part supplies the Stylopharyngeus Muscle. It arises from the Medulla Oblongata by five or six Rootlets attached to the side of the Medulla Oblongata, close to the Facial Nerve.

X. The Vagus Nerve, or Tenth Cranial Nerve is also a Mixed Nerve, which contains a large number of ParaSympathetic Fibers and passes through the Neck and Thorax into the Abdomen. It supplies Afferent Fibers chiefly to the Pharynx, Esophagus, Stomach, Larynx, Trachea, and Lungs. It's attached by numerous Rootlets to the side of the Medulla Oblongata, in series with the Accessory Nerve below and the Glossopharyngeal Nerve above. The Rootlets unite to form a Single Tract, which exits from the Cranial Cavity through the Jugular Foramen.

XI. The Accessory Nerve, or Eleventh Cranial Nerve, consists of Bulbar and Spinal portions. It arises in series with the Vagus and Glossopharyngeal Nerve and controls Motor Function of the Sternomastoid and the Trapezius Muscles.

XII. The Hypoglossal Nerve or Twelfth Cranial Nerve, is a predominantly Efferent Nerve that supplies all the Muscles of the Tongue, both Intrinsic and Extrinsic, except the Palatoglossus Muscle. It arises from numerous Rootlets from the Anterior portion of the Medulla Oblongata. The Rootlets are arranged in double bundles and unite in the Anterior Condylar Canal, where they emerge from the Cranial Cavity.

There are several mnemonics or rhymes to help remember the 12 cranial nerves. Consider these"

"On Old Olympus Towering Tops A Finn and German Viewed Some Hops."

OOO to touch and feel gorgeous virgins, AH!

OOO to touch and feel a good vein, ah heaven.

*Info courtesy of John Hopkins University

Better Diagnosis Series: The 10 Questions

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Diagnosis is general judgement about diseases and syndromes as well as state of health of the human body by collecting and analysing clinical data on the basis of its diagnostic methods.

Diagnostics is a discipline to study the basic theories, methods and techniques of diagnosis in medicine. With its substantial content, it is regarded as the foundation of every clinical intake. Diagnosis includes diagnostic methods and differentiation of syndromes.

Diagnostic methods consist of interrogation, inspection, auscultation and olfaction, pulse-feeling and palpation. All these methods aim mainly at providing objective basis for differentiation of syndromes by collecting symptoms and signs from the patient.

Differentiation of syndromes refers to the process in which analysis and inference are made on the basis of clinical materials acquired through various diagnostic methods to determine the type of a disease. Such modes of logical thinking as concept, inference and judgement are adopted in the differentiation of syndromes. The type of a disease is drawn from a large amount of perceptual materials. As a pathological generalization of a disease in its certain stage, syndromes reflect the law and nature of a disease, serving as a basis for treatment. Therefore, they differ from symptoms.

Determining if a disease pattern is acute or chronic, more exterior or interior, more hot or more cold are some of the basic diagnosis techniques that tell you where to look next as well as what to ask when working with a patient or client.

The etiology and pathology of the disease can tell you where it may be stemming from and where it may be heading.

Asking questions is one of the strong points of an acupuncturist's diagnostic process. While many of the questions may seem irrelevant to the patient at the time, they help to form a complete picture of the patient which allows for a uniquely suited diagnosis and treatment protocol.

Traditionally the framework for asking diagnosis is the 10 questions:

» Hot, Cold, Fever, Chills
» Sweat
» Head Ears, Eyes, Nose Throat (HEENT)
» Pain: Head, Thorax, Abdomen, Below the waist
» Urine: amount color, smell, Stool: amount, frequency, const/diarr.
» Digestion, Thirst, Appetite, Taste, Diet
» Sleep: difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, nightmares
» Gynecological
» History

» History should include:
» Medical History, past, present
» Constitution, self, parents, family
» Emotional State
» Drug Use - Recreational and Prescription