How alternative medicine can help with Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction

How alternative medicine can help with Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction

The sphincter of Oddi, named after Ruggero Oddi, an Italian anatomist who described this structure in 1887, is the muscular valve that regulates the flow of bile and pancreatic juice into the duodenum (beginning of the small intestine). The regulation of the sphincter of Oddi occurs via the nervous system and the blood through special messenger substances - digestive hormones.

If there is no food in the intestine, the Sphincter of Oddi valve remains closed. Bile is retained in the gallbladder and pancreatic juice is retained in the pancreas. Spasms or blockages of this valve can cause bile and pancreatic juice to back up.

If a tiny amount of bile enters the pancreatic duct, serious problems can occur. The bile can activate digestive enzymes in the pancreas and these enzymes begin to digest their own pancreatic cells, causing pain, congestion, inflammation and even death of pancreatic tissue. This is called pancreatitis.

The blockages of the sphincter of Oddi caused by tumors, large gallbladder stones or scars after inflammation necessarily require surgery. The number of people with these problems is relatively small, but millions of Americans suffer from occasional, temporary spasms of the sphincter of Oddi, with pain, nausea, and bloating. In most situations, their tests are normal and these individuals are labeled with acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), stomach flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses.

Many of these individuals have Type III Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (SOD). According to statistics, the prevalence of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction in the general population is 1.5%. This may mean that 4.5 million people in the United States suffer from SOD.

Lack of proper treatment for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction can later lead to serious complications such as pancreatitis and gallbladder inflammation.

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction can affect children, women after age 40, obese people, and people after abdominal surgery. For example, statistics show that almost 20% of people with pain after gallbladder removal have sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

Why does Oddi's sphincter spasm? The answer depends on many reasons if we take into account the very complicated regulation of this sphincter by the nervous system and special blood messengers - digestive hormones. Here are some examples of what can cause the sphincter of Oddi to spasm:

• Stress, depression and anxiety

• Poor eating habits such as “eating on the go”, eating while watching TV, irregular diets, fad diets, fasting and wrong food combinations such as mixing fatty foods with starches and sugars

• Drugs, some medications, alcohol and nicotine

• Hard, intensive and repetitive “liver cleanse”

• Hormonal imbalance such as hypothyroidism or menopause

• “Aggressive” acidic bile with sand, sludge, gallbladder stones and more

Usually we can see combinations of these factors in predisposed individuals with obesity, sedentary lifestyle and stress for a long time.

The standard American diet, full of processed and acidic foods (meat, sugar, alcohol, animal fats, white flour, etc.), causes acidification of the entire body. The Standard American Diet also results in acidic conditions in the bile and pancreatic juice. The bile becomes acidic and the amount of bile acids in the bile also increases. Bile acids are very aggressive substances; they irritate the wall of the sphincter of Oddi and cause muscle contractions – spasms.

3-4 liters of mixed pancreatic juice and bile pass through the sphincter of Oddi every day. The acidification of these fluids makes them very “aggressive”, corrosive and irritating to the surrounding tissues, particularly the sphincter of Oddi. Considering that bile is a vehicle for removing toxic chemicals such as bile pigments, heavy metals, drugs, drugs and poisons from the body, and that the bile ducts and gallbladder often harbor parasites, there is no question that the sphincter of Oddi is an easy target for irritation. In addition, alcohol, unhealthy foods, irregular eating and wrong food combinations cause havoc in the normal functioning of the sphincter of Oddi.

The most common and noticeable symptom of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is upper abdominal pain. This is often felt as a sharp pain in the middle of the abdomen, just below the ribcage. Pain can be severe, sending people to the hospital and requiring pain medication. However, in many cases the pain may be mild and usually does not require pain medication. The symptoms of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction are divided into biliary pain and pancreatic pain.

Symptoms of Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction Gallary Abdominal Pain include:

• Bile pain in the middle or right part of the upper abdomen

• Pain radiating to the back at the lower tip of the scapula or right shoulder

• Pain, often accompanied by bloating, nausea and vomiting

• Pain caused by fatty foods or alcohol consumption

• Pain varying in intensity and duration between 15 minutes and 4-5 hours

Symptoms of Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction pancreatic pain include:

• Upper abdominal pain on the left or right side

• Pain radiating directly through the abdomen to the back

• Pain, often accompanied by bloating, nausea and vomiting

• Pain caused by incorrect food combinations of protein/fat/starch/sugar foods or alcohol consumption

Non-drug holistic approaches can be helpful. Holistic remedies to cure Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction Type III are used in many countries around the world.

The healing program for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction type III may include some measures:

• Healing adapted diet

• Drink healing mineral water made from genuine Karlovy Vary spring salt

• European whole body cleanse by restoring healthy intestinal flora and colon hydrotherapy

• Anti-Candida program

• Acupuncture

• Herbal medicine

• Nutritional supplements

• Chiropractic manipulations

• Visceral massage

• Relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, custom hypnosis CDs

Alternative and holistic medicine healing courses can be used separately or as complementary approaches to conventional medicine.

The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for diagnosis, treatment and advice from a qualified, licensed physician.