Fall Series Webinars with Karen Allen CCH. Adjuncts In Constitutional Care: Constipation

Transcription

1 Fall Series Webinars with Karen Allen CCH Adjuncts In Constitutional Care: Constipation

2 Roadmap for Our Training Session Today Physiology of the bowel, definition of constipation Conventional Therapeutics Constipation: notice contributing factors and address them Water management in the body Dietary influences Prescription (or not) drug influences Ennervation musculoskeletal influence Exercise / Stasis Scarring impacting intestinal movement

3 Constipation: The Goal is Elimination Physiology of the gut... Small intestine (20' x 1 ) absorbs nutrients Large intestine (5' x 3 ) absorbs water from waste Rectum (5 x 3 ) holds stool, nerves trigger urge to pass Transit time (mouth anus) = hours (test w beets) Optimal bowels move as needed to release formed stool, neither hard nor loose, of healthy brown color If the bowels do not move, toxins sit in the organism... Maintaining cause for chronic issues

4 Conventional Diagnosis and Therapeutics CONSTIPATED IF: no bowel movement for more than 3 days stool hard / dry and difficult to pass THERAPEUTICS: Stool softeners (Dulcolax, Miralax, Colace) Laxative (Ex-lax, Magnesium citrate) Enema Herbal teas (senna, rhubarb, aloe vera, etc) Long term use = dependence, loss of normal bowel function Especially with seniors, use may have been for decades

5 Hey, Wait A Minute! Is this Constitutional? Well, it could be... Is constipation life-long for the client? Is there a family history? Water balance issues / psora? Or maybe not so much? Lifestyle issues (diet, exercise, water intake) Prescription meds (opiates / tranquilizers...) Injury / trauma to lower spine or pelvic area

6 Constipation: Water Management Water Management in the body Affected by water metabolism / intake and output (urine, sweat, respiration) Dehydration allows too little water to be left over after the large intestine does it's work dry stool is hard to pass IS THE CLIENT's CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDY ONE THAT AF- FECTS WATER METABOLISM? (e.g. kali remedies) If so, counsel client about fluid intake, monitor, add a tiny pinch of salt to a glass of water. If not, look for an adjunct

7 Constipation: Dietary Influences Standard American Diet? Difficult to shift, lifestyle change hard to make. Hahnemann says ill people cannot take advice Rather than insist on eliminating foods, ask client to include foods start with 1 apple each day IS THE CLIENT's DIET A PROBLEM? If so, ask client to write down what is eaten just observe without a need to change (which will cause change) Consider adjunct (good for transition from laxatives) 2-3 prunes / cover with boiling water before bed In morning on rising, add juice of half a lemon drink the liquid and eat the prunes Suggest client consider magnesium supplement

8 Constipation: Prescription (or not) Drugs Many prescription meds disturb bowel function Antibiotics affect microflora (consider yogurt / keifer / probiotic) Opiates make the bowel sluggish Many meds affect water balance If the client is CURRENTLY on meds that disrupt, suggest massage and prune / lemon adjunct If the client is constipated SINCE taking a med (no longer on it) consider isopathy

9 Constipation: Enervation / Musculoskeletal The rectum indicates need to defecate based on nervous system signals Enervation can be affected by pelvic trauma or back injury. Assess for this etiology... If the client has had constipation since back injury or pelvic trauma Refer for appropriate support (chiro, cranio-sacral, bowen...) Consider lesional remedy take case of only symptoms of the sequelae of the back injury or pelvic trauma, and give as intercurrent Give nervous system / gut organ support (china, hypericum etc)

10 Constipation: Exercise / Stasis Body movement is a factor in intestinal movement Assess exercise for the client is it happening? Encourage SOME exercise - just walk 20 minutes? Tai chi, Yoga, dance, anything... If exercise is not an option, encourage: Self massage (check out instructional video on Youtube) Lay on back, circular massage from lower R abdomen, up and around the belly above the umbilicus, then down the left side in smaller concentric circles.

11 Constipation: Exercise / Stasis

12 Constipation: Scarring Impacts Intestinal Movement Consider for women who have had endometriosis, anyone who had laparoscopy or laparoscopic surgery Scar tissue adheres the intestine or bowel to surround tissue Limits the bowel's ability to move, expand, affects peristalsis Especially consider if there is intestinal pain with constipation If this is part of the client's history: Consider a therapeutic adjunct for scarring (see Scarring class on the website)

13 SO... are you ready to begin? Review Your Cases If you have past cases with clients who had constipation, review their cases Investigate options and select a plan for the practice case, regardless of whether you are still seeing the client Get ready to discuss without embarrassment If you are uncomfortable, your clients will be also Practice with a colleague make up ridiculous examples... Read the stool and rectum sections of the repertory Your Questions?

14 October 14, 2014 Webinar: Adjuncts In Constitutional Care Constipation This document serves as verification that : has completed 1 hour of training with Karen Allen CCH in homeopathic therapeutics. These hours can be used to meet the pre-requisite formal training or continuing education criteria for the Council for Homeopathic Certification. Please print and keep as your record of attendance.