Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (84 page)

DGL licorice, slippery elm, marshmallow, gamma oryzanol, turmeric or curcumin, fish oils, and other herbs and supplements that are used to reduce inflammation make sense to try. (See
Chapter 9
.)

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the esophagus that is characterized by high levels of eosinophils in the blood. Eosinophils are typically elevated when people have allergies or parasites. Officially identified in 1993, this disease is emerging in many developed countries, including the United States, England, Japan, Spain, Australia, Switzerland, and Italy. It first came to medical attention in children, but now that physicians are looking, they are finding EE in adults as well. An article from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital suggests that EE is becoming the most common inflammatory digestive condition, more common than Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Despite this explosion, very little information on the disease is available, and much of the research on EE so far has gone into simply figuring out what the problem is and how to recognize it. Because the symptoms are similar to those of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease, many people are incorrectly diagnosed and treated for those other conditions instead. The disease is diagnosed by an endoscopy, an examination using a scope down the esophagus, followed by a biopsy, to look at the tissue.

Symptoms of EE include nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, failure to thrive in children (poor growth or weight loss), stomach or chest pain, regurgitation, GERD, painful or difficult swallowing, poor appetite, bloating, anemia, blood in the stool, malnutrition, and difficulty sleeping. People will often have food allergies, eczema, or asthma. Children may not want to eat because it hurts. In addition, scarring from untreated EE can make it difficult to swallow, so some of these children are shorter and weigh less than they should because they fail to eat enough. Many children with EE have white specks or plaques in the esophagus, which tend to occur when the condition is severe.

One study found asthma in one-third of children with EE; EE is being called “asthma of the esophagus” because allergic reactions to foods and also environment allergens such as mold, dust, and pollen appear to play a big role. People with EE are advised to go on a diet that eliminates all foods to which they are allergic. Physicians also encourage the use of an elemental diet, using medical foods that are
hypoallergenic. Often people who eat only this product for several months show great improvement in symptoms and at repeat endoscopy and biopsy.

One study showed an atypically alkaline esophageal environment in nine out of nine children with EE. More research on this subject is needed, but it would seem that if esophageal pH is low, you may wish to try increasing your level of stomach acid to see whether this relieves the symptoms.

I have worked with several children who have EE. One toddler began having problems immediately after an immunization, a story commonly heard from parents of autistic children. A different parent I’ve worked with began working with an autism trained physician and used biomedical approaches to heal her son’s EE. You will remember from the DIGIN model that no matter what the diagnosis, we always use the same principles to treat digestive issues.

I hypothesize that children with EE may have detoxification problems like children with autism do, but they manifest a different set of symptoms. The theory that heavy metals such as mercury play a role in this problem will either be validated or tossed out as it is put to the test.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) is similar to EE, but it takes place in the stomach and small intestine rather than in the esophagus. It is characterized by severe infiltration of eosinophils into the stomach, small intestine, or both. It is also called eosinophilic gastritis (when just in the stomach) and eosinophilic enteritis (when just in the small intestine). It was first discovered in 1937 by a researcher named Kaijser.

Half the children who have EG have a history of eczema, asthma, or food allergies. Many children and adults with EG also have more typical allergies to dust, pollen, and mold. Typical symptoms of EG include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and pain with swallowing. Often a child will refuse to eat because it hurts. Cramping and abdominal pain may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

As with children with EE, it is essential to test them for food allergies and sensitivities, especially to gluten and dairy products.

Dr. DicQie Fuller had a baby daughter, Colleen, who suffered from eosinophilic gastritis. Her daughter was failing to thrive, and she was told that her daughter would simply die. In an effort to save her daughter’s life, Dr. Fuller began giving her daughter enzyme supplements. She used digestive and proteolytic (protein-splitting) enzymes. It not only saved her daughter’s life, Colleen is now in her 40s and has been living healthfully since.

Treatments for EE and EG may include steroids, but they aren’t often used due to the long-term side effects. At this time, medical treatments aren’t that promising and the long-term implications of having EE or EG are uncertain. This leads one to really use more of an integrated approach when working with these diseases. Begin with the DIGIN model.

One resource is the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders:
http://www.apfed.org
.

If EE or EG is suspected, I recommend exploring gut health with comprehensive testing because there is little understanding of the disease’s cause. Regular IgE scratch testing or a modified RAST will reveal the true allergies but will not discover the contributions from foods that have delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Tests to consider include the following:

Food-allergy testing/IgE

Food-sensitivity testing/IgG and, if possible, IgM and IgA

Urine provocation test for heavy metals

pH test, quantitative fluid analysis, or the Heidelberg capsule test

Drugs currently used for EE include steroid medications, cromolyn sodium, and leukotriene inhibitors. Initial research shows that even with medication, restriction of allergy-inducing foods is still necessary to achieve the full benefit. The other natural healing options presented herein are my own ideas, as no research has been conducted on natural therapies for EE and EG.

Elimination-provocation diet.
See
Chapter 15
for instructions.

Quercetin.
It will diminish, relieve, and prevent allergy symptoms and protect esophageal tissue. Quercetin is very effective when combined with grape seed extract or Pycnogenol. Adults can take 500 to 6,000 mg. A child can take 200 to 1,000 mg three to six times daily, depending on the child’s size and symptom severity.

Probiotics.
This will balance gut ecology and immune system function. See
Chapter 6
for dosages and types.

Consider heavy-metal toxicity.
See
Chapter 18
. Children with EE and EG fit the profile for children who have impaired detoxification pathways. This can be tested for or observed. In addition you may want to ask for porphyrin testing to determine exactly what your child might be reacting to.