Irritable Bowel Syndrome

[Tolley]

I can't believe that's a long term solution for anything.

I can see it being an amazing clean out. You think about all the impacted gunk that collects in the digestive tract after years of eating junk.

Clean it out and start afresh. It could work. It certainly didn't seem to do Chris any harm.

Of course we're never going to find out because I doubt anyone else will try it.

Tropo

It is very interesting that your brought up the potato diet because the naturopath I saw mentioned that in the old days a potato diet was used to cure people with very high acid stomach which also links with the bowel and IBS.

She said they did a month on this diet.

[Mobi]

I have been trying the plain yoghurt from Villa I think I'm ready to try and make my own yoghurt.

Can someone advise how much yoghurt I will need to put with the milk? Just a spoonful or so, or more?

About how many days does it take?

Edited May 21, 2013 by Mobi

[Sheryl]

Fir a quart if milk, a heaping tablespoon is what I usually use. Stir thoroughly.

In this ambient temperature, a day is plenty. You'll know it's done when it's semi-solid in consistency.

BTW it won't work with fat free milk. Will work with low fat (though not as tasty as with whole).

[tropo]

Fir a quart if milk, a heaping tablespoon is what I usually use. Stir thoroughly.

In this ambient temperature, a day is plenty. You'll know it's done when it's semi-solid in consistency.

BTW it won't work with fat free milk. Will work with low fat (though not as tasty as with whole).

That's interesting. I always use zero fat milk to produce kefir. It works better than normal milk because it has a slightly higher lactose content.

[Thailand]

Just to add to what Sheryl said about checking what you really have.

7 years ago after a month of solely liquid bowel movements and treatment for IBS (initial treatment diarrhoea )I realized something was seriously wrong and insisted further testing was required including colonoscopy.

Following the colonoscopy it turned out I had a seriously advanced case of Ulcerative Colitis which required heavy doses of sulphasalazine for well over a year before my bowel movements reverted from liquid to something close to normal. (At one point it had reached a life threatening stage) It was completely debilitating and was an excellent way of shedding excess pounds although I did not have that many to start with!

Change of lifestyle has helped. Very little alcohol, I had already cut out smoking 20 years ago. Regular exercise and various foodstuffs in moderation.

There is no no known cure for Ulcerative Colitis although it is now under control (hopefully) with minimal medication. One of the long lasting effects,probably from a shrunken colon is that 24 hours hours a day there is discomfort in the back passage and the constant feeling that I need to sh--t. But then er indoors and others always said I was full of it so no surprise! (-:

[Jingthing]

IBS medical diagnosis is largely a diagnosis of elimination of other possible causes of symptoms. It's not an easy thing for doctors to know how far to go with testing to rule out other causes.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

I have been trying the plain yoghurt from Villa I think I'm ready to try and make my own yoghurt.

Can someone advise how much yoghurt I will need to put with the milk? Just a spoonful or so, or more?

About how many days does it take?

I've been making my own yoghurt, it's very easy.

I buy Foremost full fat milk, pour 1l into a glass jar, add two or three tablespoons of yesterdays yoghurt, stir for 10 seconds, put the top on then stand on top of my fridge (which is slightly warm to the touch) for 12-24 hours.

I bought a pint of natural unsweetened yoghurt from my local dairy to start me off. The bacteria in the 'big name' yoghurts may not be strong enough.

That's it. No heating the milk, no adding sugar, no measuring temperature.

Don't disturb the yoghurt once started, you can tip gently to see if it's solidified, but no shaking or stirring.

No metal spoons or containers to touch the yoghurt, no tasting then putting the spoon from your mouth back in.

That's about it.

Oh, Oh, if you use a big pot to manufacture, if you pour into smaller pots it will destroy the lattice (thin yoghurt).

You can thicken your yoghurt by straining through a cheesecloth or cotton. Drink the whey, sour but very nutritious.

The jar I use seems to produce 1/4 inch of whey on the top of the 1l of yoghurt, I just dip it out and drink it.

This mornings pot (glass jar 1.5l from Makro 62bht), after the whey was dipped out.

Put it in the fridge when ready, if you are as lazy as me, when 1/2 inch left in the jar, add another 1l of milk stir, leave on the fridge 24hrs.

No need to wash anything if you a careful not to infect your culture and jar.

Edited May 25, 2013 by AnotherOneAmerican

[Thailand]

Just to add to what Sheryl said about checking what you really have.

7 years ago after a month of solely liquid bowel movements and treatment for IBS (initial treatment diarrhoea )I realized something was seriously wrong and insisted further testing was required including colonoscopy.

Following the colonoscopy it turned out I had a seriously advanced case of Ulcerative Colitis which required heavy doses of sulphasalazine for well over a year before my bowel movements reverted from liquid to something close to normal. (At one point it had reached a life threatening stage) It was completely debilitating and was an excellent way of shedding excess pounds although I did not have that many to start with!

Change of lifestyle has helped. Very little alcohol, I had already cut out smoking 20 years ago. Regular exercise and various foodstuffs in moderation.

There is no no known cure for Ulcerative Colitis although it is now under control (hopefully) with minimal medication. One of the long lasting effects,probably from a shrunken colon is that 24 hours hours a day there is discomfort in the back passage and the constant feeling that I need to sh--t. But then er indoors and others always said I was full of it so no surprise! (-:

Just in case anybody is interested the medical term for the condition is "Tenesmus"

At some time or other you may need the medical term for "pain in the arse"

[balo]

A new business in Pattaya , mamakefir.com

They sell homemade kefir milk and yoghurt for 65 baht . And they advertise it as homemade with real kefir grains.

They do not sell it in supermarkets yet but you can buy it at Lindas Restaurant and other selected dealers.

[tropo]

A new business in Pattaya , mamakefir.com

They sell homemade kefir milk and yoghurt for 65 baht . And they advertise it as homemade with real kefir grains.

They do not sell it in supermarkets yet but you can buy it at Lindas Restaurant and other selected dealers.

He's been going since late 2011, but it's really gratifying to see what a few tablespoons of kefir grains I gave a guy (who I met in the old Carrefour) late in 2011 have turned into. It's an attractive site and I see he's zeroing in on the Russian trade - I hope he succeeds.

There's also some good information about kefir on his site - worth a read.

I'm not sure if he will sell the mother culture (kefir grains), but it may be worth a try.

Edited May 30, 2013 by tropo

[cardholder]

Good info tropo. Also good imagery.

I am not SO convinced about the imagery !!

[tropo]

Good info tropo. Also good imagery.

I am not SO convinced about the imagery !!

It's not a bad idea to examine your faeces from time to time.

[Sheryl]

To each his own. I'll pass.....

[tropo]

To each his own. I'll pass.....

I'm not talking about pulling them out to examine them.... just a quick peep before flushing.

[Tolley]

To each his own. I'll pass.....

I'm not talking about pulling them out to examine them.... just a quick peep before flushing.

Indeed you should regularly inspect them.

It is not silly at all but common sense.

What comes out and how it comes out is a good indicator of general health.

[Jingthing]

Just want to add two more alternative therapies that people with IBS may want to research and check out:

1. Eating virgin coconut oil

2. Fennel seeds and tea

[ChrisB87]

Fasting apparently