Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the excessive and frequent evacuation of watery feces and is commonly reported in those patients with Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disorder, and other disease caused by infections of the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract contains so many bacteria that some researchers have argued (unconvincingly) that the gut is the only place that the body contains bacteria.

Symptoms of diarrhea could be due to immunopathologyA temporary increase in disease symptoms experienced by Marshall Protocol patients that results from the release of cytokines and endotoxins as disease-causing bacteria are killed., that is, bacterial die-off. Or, it could be exacerbated by:

• natural light exposure
• vitamin D ingestion
• diet: herbs, spices, roughage, and other irritants
• food or water contaminants
• anxiety or stress

Marshall ProtocolA curative medical treatment for chronic inflammatory disease. Based on the Marshall Pathogenesis. (MP) patients who have routine diarrhea should be receptive to how even small amounts of light exposure can contribute to a flare in symptoms.

Evolutionary biologist Paul Ewald has suggested that at least some cases of diarrhea endow pathogens with an evolutionary advantage, allowing them to persist and infect others.

There are a number of generic strategies for managing immunopathology. The following measures, particular to diarrhea may also be helpful:

• Take plenty of fluids – Diarrhea can quickly cause dehydration which may result in the need for emergency care. The fluid and electrolytes lost during diarrhea need to be replaced promptly because the body cannot function without them Although water is extremely important in preventing dehydration, it does not contain electrolytes. Broth and soups that contain sodium, and fruit juices, soft fruits, or vegetables that contain potassium, help restore electrolyte levels.

• Take antidiarrheal medication – Antidiarrheal agents such as Lomotil or Imodium may be used on the MP. If diarrhea is due to food poisoning or other acute infection, it is not advisable to stop diarrhea unless it is causing dehyration or the cramping is intolerable. Diarrhea assists in removing the pathogens and toxins from the gut. If in doubt, patients should speak with their physician.

Physicians should be aware that when diarrhea is caused by Clostridium difficile, Lomotil or Imodium are not used for managing diarrhea. C. difficile is an infection usually acquired in a hospital setting following standard dosing of broad-spectrum, macrolide antibiotics. The MP antibiotics are not known to cause C. difficile.

Some patients have reported symptom palliation from probiotics. Unless immunopathology is intolerable, patients on the MP should avoid probiotics as their palliative effect seems to come from overloading and distracting the innate immune system in the GI tract.

[While on the MP]… the old irritable bowel syndrome and colitis symptoms came back and were quite intense, with bouts of diarrhea. In fact, different parts of my body reacted with more intense symptoms followed by relief of symptoms. Usually worse before better. Other symptoms that flared but then went away were a burning feeling in my tongue and also an increase in discomfort in my jawbone around my teeth.

At times the immunopathology made me feel weak and fragile, and during those periods sometimes I did wonder, “Will I ever get over this?” Worse than dealing with the pain was the fact that when I felt weak, I hated to view myself as an old, chronically ill lady. But as I killed enough of the bacteria causing my symptoms I got my drive back. I turned a corner and now those images of weakness and disease have dissipated.

Melinda Stiles,