The Sphincter of Oddi is a central gate to many liver,
gallbladder and pancreas problems. Many scientists believe that the
Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (SOD) is a culprit of the pancreas
diseases and it is the common source of chronic pain after gallbladder
removal.
Around the common bile duct, pancreatic duct and the
duodenum wall there is a muscle valve called the Sphincter of Oddi. The
Sphincter of Oddi, named after Ruggero Oddi, an Italian anatomist who
discovered this structure in 1887. The Sphincter of Oddi controls moving
of the bile from the liver, and gallbladder and pancreatic juice from
the pancreas into the duodenum.
Normally, when semi digestive food
moves from the stomach into the duodenum sphincter of Oddi opens. Large
amount of the gallbladder bile and alkaline pancreatic juice is
released to digest this food. When no food in the duodenum, sphincter of
Oddi is closed so the bile from the liver is collected in the
gallbladder.
Regulation of this complicated work is under control
of nervous system and special blood messengers - digestive hormones.
Stress, fasting, "harsh" liver cleansing, gallbladder removal, bad
eating habits, alcohol, some medications, and recreation drugs badly
influence in proper regulation and work of the sphincter of Oddi.
Spasm
or blockage of this muscle valve may cause pancreatic juice goes
backward, thereby increasing the pressure inside the pancreatic duct.
Digestive enzymes shut inside the pancreas, begin to digest their own
pancreas, initiate inflammation, pain, and finally the death of
pancreatic tissue. Thus, chronic pancreatitis is developed.
Tumor,
gallbladder stone, or scaring can make an anatomical blockage of the
sphincter of Oddi. It happens relatively rare. However, more often can
be functional, temporal spasms of the sphincter of Oddi without any
abnormality in the tests. The common reason for sphincter to be
spasmodic is irritation of it by the "aggressive" bile and pancreatic
juice.
What could make bile and pancreatic juice "aggressive", corroded, and irritated? Let's explain that.
The
liver's most important functions are producing and releasing bile and
removing the toxins from our body by dividing them into water-soluble
and fat-soluble wastes.
Water-soluble wastes move into the blood and the kidneys eliminate them from the body.
Bile
serves to eliminate a variety of the toxic, fat-soluble wastes
substances from the body. These substances include cholesterol, bile
pigments, toxic chemicals, drugs, heavy metals, etc.
Hepatitis,
fatty liver, Candida-yeast overgrowth, parasites, congestion,
inflammation, infection of the gallbladder, high body's acidity, poor
eating habits, alcohol can cause the bile to be thick and acidic,
therefore make it difficult for it to move through the ducts.
When
the bile and pancreatic juice are getting acidic, they also become very
"aggressive", irritated, and corroded for the ducts, sphincter of Oddi,
and small intestine causing jerky movement; "wrong way traffic" -
bile/pancreatic juice refluxes in the stomach, ulcers and even cancers.
No
surprise, it causes loss of appetite, nausea, gas, bloating, heartburn,
attacks of pain, especially after "bad" foods or bad food combination.
Pain can be last for 30 minutes to several hours and even bring person
to ER.
Therefore, the goal of treatment has to be focus on root of
the problems such as biochemical, acidic changes in the bile and
pancreatic juice. In the normal situation, the bile and pancreatic juice
are very alkaline fluids. However, if whole body is getting acidic, the
bile and pancreatic juice also became acidic and "aggressive".
Checking
saliva and urine pH with litmus paper at home may show acidic condition
of the body especially if saliva and urine pH repeatedly less than 6.6.
What can naturally normalize the alkaline condition of the bile and pancreatic juice?
Only minerals and bicarbonate from food and water can naturally neutralize the whole body acidity.
For
this purposes, European doctors have used healing mineral water for a
long time. Treatment with healing mineral water (balneology) is a part
of education in some European medical schools. There are many healing
mineral spas all over the Europe.
Most famous and researched
mineral water is water from hot spring in the small Czech town Karlovy
Vary. Karlovy Vary healing mineral water attracted millions visitors all
over the globe. It was distributed by barrels and bottles many years
ego. Demand of this water was so high hence, the mineral salt had
manufactured there by vaporizing the spring water in 1764. It was a good
option for people, which cannot visit Karlovy Vary or wanted ongoing
the healing course at home.
Dissolving this salt in the water produces mineral water with the same healing value.
Karlovy
Vary healing mineral water has been object for serious medical study
for hundreds of the years. First medical book about that water have a
laxative effect was dated by 1522. Later, a large number of medical
papers confirmed the healing action of this water in many digestive
disorders.
European doctors showed that drinking mineral water
makes bile and pancreatic juice less acidic, liquid, and less
"aggressive". It naturally improves digestion, alleviates the pains and
cramps, and lessens gas and heartburn.
This water may dissolve the
gallbladder stones and expel them; it also is very beneficial for
persons with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, chronic pancreatitis, and
hepatitis.
What else can make the bile and pancreatic juice less irritated for the sphincter of Oddi?
Herbal
medicine is the oldest way to eliminate digestive problems. Chinese
medicine, Hindu system - Ayurveda, European herbology offer many healing
herbs for digestive disorders. Some of them increase amount of the
bile, promote its easy elimination, decrease spasms and pain. The simple
example is peppermint tea. Knowledgeable medical practitioner can
customize the herbal remedies for any digestive problems.
No question, food is the important, safe and cheep medicine for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.
Food
needs to be alkaline and full of the natural digestive enzymes. Some
vegetable blends or juices are good for these purposes. Warm vegetable
soups are also helpful for many digestive problems. Some persons with
sphincter of Oddi dysfunction suffer from Candida-yeast overgrowth, food
sensitivity, and allergy. Appropriate diet changes are necessary to
correct these conditions.
Stress can lead to spasm of the
sphincter of Oddi as well. Worsening sphincter of Oddi dysfunction after
mental or physical stress can be seen very often. Consulting,
relaxation, meditation, medical hypnosis, listening the custom hypnoses
CD at home, acupuncture, massage are some natural ways to alleviate the
stress.
It would be wise to stop drinking alcohol temporary for a
few months to improve condition because the alcohol interrupts the
normal function of this muscle valve. Upper abdominal pain after alcohol
consumption is typical for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.
Unfortunately,
there is not simple and safe test for diagnose early stage of the SOD
now. Therefore, any kind of pain in the upper stomach area after heavy
meals can be the alarm bell of the sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.
By
author's opinion, strategic position of the sphincter of Oddi involves
it in many digestive diseases and disorders. On the other hand,
sphincter of Oddi dysfunction by itself leads to many digestive
symptoms.
Natural treatment of the early stage can avoid serious problem in the future and improve the quality of life.
It is important to work with a knowledgeable, licensed medical professional.
The
information on this article is presented for educational, informational
purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis,
treatment, and advice of a qualified licensed professional.
Peter Melamed, Ph.D. received his medical education first as a
registered nurse and then as a medical doctor in Russia. He took
specialized training in anesthesiology, intensive care, and internal
medicine. Working as a physician he became interested in holistic
healing through his clinical experience with herbs, acupuncture, healing
mineral water and internal cleansing. He was granted a license to
practice acupuncture in Russia in 1978, and from that time he combined
conventional Western medical treatment with herbs, acupuncture, and
other non-drug healing therapies.
In 1975, Peter Melamed
established Biotherapy as a natural holistic approach to healing.
Biotherapy combines the wisdom of traditional Russian folk medicine,
ancient Oriental medical therapies, and European naturopathy with
cutting-edge Western technology. After immigrating to the USA and
passing all the exams Peter Melamed succeeded in starting up a private
practice in 1996 at the Biotherapy Alternative Medicine Clinic of San
Francisco Bay Area. He is author of two books:
1. Natural European Way of Whole Body Cleansing. Karlovy Vary Mineral Water for Healing and Rejuvenation.
2. Healthy Pancreas, Healthy You.
