The Role of the Large Intestine in Digestion

The large intestine is the last part of the digestive tract. It has three main regions - cecum, colon and rectum. These three regions form an almost rectangular "frame", with the coils and loops of the small intestine inside it.

The cecum is a short pouch that links the small intestine to the colon and is about 5 feet long. Large intestine is connected to the small intestine through the ileocecal valve. Small intestine sends almost liquid digestive waste product to the large intestine.

Colon absorbs most of the water from this liquid product and converts it into more solid form that the body excretes as feces via the rectum and the anus.

Unlike the small intestine, the colon's long muscle does not form a complete tube. Instead, the muscle is concentrated into three bands called taeniae coli. These run the length of the colon and form pouches along the length called haustra.

The muscular movement in the wall of the colon, mix and propel feces along the digestive tract towards the rectum. The movement of feces varies in rate, intensity and nature depending mainly on the stage of digestion.

There are three different types of motions that take place within the colon, they are known as segmentation, peristaltic contractions and mass movement. While peristalsis propels chyme in the forward direction, segmentation moves chyme in both directions. Fecal material travels very slowly in the colon, compared to the small intestine, to allow for water absorption within the colon walls.

Almost all the chemical breakdown of food is completed in the small intestine. And almost all the nutrients vital for the bodily functions are absorbed in the small intestine.

Almost digested liquefied food is called chyme. Chyme passes from the small intestine through the ileocecal valve into the cecum. From there it reaches the first part of the colon, the ascending colon.

The main function of the colon is to convert liquefied chyme into semi solid feces for storage and disposal. Sodium, chloride and water are absorbed through the lining of the colon into the blood, making the feces less watery.

Bicarbonate and potassium are secreted by colon to replace the sodium and chloride. There are also billions of friendly microorganisms that live within the colon. These bacteria live in symbiotic relationship with the body.

The innermost layer of the colon is the undulating mucosa. This layer has the goblet cells in the intestinal glands, which is responsible for secreting lubricating mucus. This mucus helps ease the passage of the feces.

The rectum is around 5 inches long and it is normally empty except just before and during the defecation. Below the rectum lies anal canal, which is around 1.5 inches long. Within the wall of the anal canal are two strong sets of muscles. They are internal and external anal sphincters.

During defecation, peristaltic contractions in the colon push feces into the rectum, which triggers the defecation reflex. Further contractions push the feces along, and the anal sphincters relax to allow them out of the body through the anus.

Billions of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, live in the large intestine. These are called the gut flora. These bacteria are harmless as long as their population is within a certain range and as long as they are confined within the large intestine.

These bacteria produce enzymes which break down certain food components, especially plant fiber cellulose. Humans cannot digest cellulose. This way, the bacteria can feed on the undigested fiber in fecal material and provide nutrients for the body and help reduce the amount of fecal material.

As part of their metabolism, bacteria produce vitamin K and B. They also produce hydrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and methane gases. Most of these gases escape through the anus as flatulence. In addition, the gut flora also help control harmful microbes which may enter the digestive system. They also help the immune system in fighting disease by promoting formation of antibodies and the activity of lymphoid tissues in colonic lining.

At least one-third of the excreted fecal weight is gut flora. The gut flora and body exist in a mutually beneficial partnership.

Hahnemann - Homeopathy

Like many forms of alternative medicine, homeopathy evolved from its founder's disillusionment with current medicine practices. In homeopathy's case, the founder was a German medical doctor named Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann.

Hahnemann was born on April 10, 1755, in Meissen, a small town in Saxony, Germany. He was a brilliant student who showed considerable ability in science and languages. At the early age of twelve, he had already received great respect for these skills from his schoolmaster. By the time he reached twenty-one, he had mastered several languages, including English, Arabic, Greek, and Latin.

Hahnemann's great influence came directly from his roots. His father advised him never to take anything for granted; instead, he should reflect on everyday facts. So Hahnemann began the practice of spending hours on a subject at a very early age. This habit led to his becoming one of history's great thinkers.

In 1775, Hahnemann entered the University of Leipzic. During this time, he supported himself by translating four books from English to German, but his poverty forced him to leave school shortly before graduation. He attended a few lectures at the University of Erlanger, where he presented himself for an MD degree. In 1780, a year after graduation, Hahnemann settled in Dessau, where he opened a medical practice. Here, he published his first medical book and began to turn his attention to chemistry.

Hahnemann became a respected chemist at the Hasseler Laboratory in Dessau. While there, he published many chemical books, then was appointed district physician in the region of Gommern. Despite this prestigious position, Hahnemann became embittered with the way physicians practiced their profession. Barbaric doctors performed dentistry and surgery without sedating the patients. They also applied leeches, engaged in bloodletting, did purgative cleansing of the bowels, and prescribed drugs containing high levels of mercury. The latter caused mercury poisoning. Hahnemann was so disgusted with the medical field that one day he closed his office and abandoned his practice.

To support himself, Samuel Hahnemann applied his linguistic talents to translating medical textbooks. While translating William Cullen's Materia Medica from English to German, he came across a passage that dealt with the curative properties of the bark of Cinchoma succirubra, from Peru. The research claimed that the cinchoma bark, which was chiefly employed to cure fevers, contained powerful, fever-producing properties. The alkaloid quinine, extracted from the bark, also provided a good treatment for malaria. Impressed by this, Hahnemann began to experiment with the cinchona bark. He took two grams of the substance twice a day for several days. To his astonishment, he experienced symptoms similar to those of malaria (intermittent fever and chills). The crude substance had provoked symptoms in him similar to those produced by a parasitic infection. This experiment drove him to begin the proving (a study involving people taking a drug) of other substances. Hahnemann conducted his tests on the healthy, rather than the sick. This would give him a precise picture of the mental, emotional, and physical symptoms of a drug. He observed carefully and noted every detail.

Today, in the Homeopathic Materia Medica, we find a compiled list of therapeutic indication of proven remedies, carefully recorded by Hahnemann and his students.

Natural Remedies For Anxiety - Product Reviews

One of the best ways to reduce anxiety is to determine that anxiety does not control you. It is now the time that you take charge of your mind and use the information in this article and the links provided to learn how you'll be able to accomplish this.

One of the ways that others are accomplishing this is by consistent and daily practice. People are changing their habits by creating realistic goals about their current situation and then making plans to move forward. They are not allowing anxiety,fear, stress and the hundred other things get in the way.

Raw food lovers to even medical doctors are now encouraging the use and purchase of herbals supplements and natural products to overcome anxiety. They realize the old saying, "What you put in, you get out." With the prescription drugs having so many side effects and how they are not actually natural at all, it's no surprise people are walking away from scripts as people in the streets refer as.

Some of the natural remedies for anxiety that people are using range from extracts to daily capsules to regular daily beverages that can be purchased from the local organic shop. These extracts are completely safe as long as you know who the manufacturer is and they supply you with the label of what is in the actual bottle. More and more manufacturers in the health niche are realizing their regular meds or pills aren't doing the trick.

One of the remedies is called the Seven Source Mushroom Extract. It is a small bottle that has a dropper vile built into the lid. You simply drop 10 droplets or more into a cup of water and take daily for 90 days. Then other people are also taking this extract straight up by dropping it on the bottom of the tongues for the direct effect to the blood stream.

I would have to say that the Seven Source Mushroom Extract was good as well as a calming feel came over me for about 1-3 hours. I just was content and working away on my projects after I took it. I realize about 20 minutes later the thing that was troubling me was no longer affecting my thinking. This is very important for those who don't like thinking or worrying about certain conditions that cause the mind to be anxious.

Another remedy that consumers love taking for instant relief is called Kava Kava. This is a powerful herbal supplements for those who are entangled with daily stress,worry and anxiety. If you experience of any these issues, be sure that you only take kava kava for a short period of time. The reason for this is because it can damage your liver if you take it regularly for long periods of times like more than a month or even 2-3 weeks daily.

As you'll come to realize, this world is expanding in the commerce world with more herbal and natural remedies for everyday ailments.

What Natural Anxiety Treatments Are Available?

As many people search out solutions to their everyday problems, they are now adding another important factor to their decision making process. Many consumers who are seeking medical and health remedies are finding out if their choice includes only natural ingredients. They are now sick and tired of having to work out a budget for expensive prescription medicines, and only want it in extreme situations where they don't have any other solutions.

Usually people have been doing it wrong since day 1, literally. You see when you were born, you didn't know that you were going to be given some medications and such. Well, some of those aren't actually as healthy as we are lead to believe. And then we are told to go to see the doctor, and then as we grow up we are accustomed to taking prescription meds until we realize they're not healthy. With that being said, now is the time to learn about some of the different natural remedies for anxiety as well as other solutions that will help in getting us healthy.

I'll list some of the natural anxiety treatments here and then break them down into bit sized chunks so you can easily digest. And I promise the information below is gluten free and all natural, enjoy.

Valerian 

Kava Kava 

Seven Source Mushroom Extract 

Wood Betony 

Ashgawanda 

Dopa Mucuna

The above list are some of the herbal supplements for anxiety as well as some other common bodily and life ailments. Below is another list of some natural anxiety treatments.

Aromatherapy 

Exercise 

Meditation 

Yoga 

Diet 

Detox 

Raw Food Diet

As you quickly learn in the industry, there are many natural products as well natural anxiety treatments but with more people realizing how vital herbs are, more vendors will be offering different products. That's great news for people like me who like trying out different herbs from time to time.

Valerian 

Valerian is what I like to call good for those who need a simple and soft relaxer. Some of my friends as well as customers in general use it for a sleep aid because of the right properties that are in the capsules. It is very safe and not addicting. If you suffer from anxiety once in a while and wished you had something mild to take, then valerian would serve you well. Or if you need help with sleeping better or falling asleep quicker.

Kava kava 

Kava kava is very powerful and is claimed to not even be taken for long periods of time. It is good for serious headaches and when you have a lot of anxiety. It would be wise to seek a herbalist so you can let him or her know the level of anxiety you are experiencing. One of the reason that kava kava can only be taken for a short period of time is because it can cause liver damage if taken for too long. I do not know how accurate this information has been presented or to what magnitude it would even cause damage to the liver. Less than alcohol I would be assume.

Warning: For very powerful and instant effects from one of nature's wonderful herbs, try Kava Kava.

Seven Source Mushroom Extract 

The Seven Source Mushroom Extract is a smart natural anxiety treatment because it helps with anxiety but also with your heart and stress and mild headaches.

Wood Betony 

Wood Betony was one of the first herbal remedy I took for anxiety. It comes in a little bottle and you can take it directly to your mouth with the included dropper. Or you can squeeze out some 20-30 drops into a glass water and take each morning. I recommend whatever you prefer.

Ashgawanda 

Ashgawanda is another powerful herbal extract. It is like Wood Betony, however it tastes better. And the directions are the same. I find that when I take it when I am feeling nervous, it takes my mind somewhere else to a calm place and I'm still working or whatever I'm doing, but then I realize the different about an hour or so later. Sometimes sooner, but it feels good because I feel good that it is no longer hindering me while I'm working or trying to think.

Dopa Mucuna 

Also known as the velvet bean extract, this herbal supplement has a very powerful effect on the dopamine levels of the person taking Dopa Mucuna, or Mucuna Pruriens. If you believe you need to increase your dopamine levels naturally and safely than Mucuna is right for you. Dopamine provides that sense of "I feel real optimistic about my life" type of outlook.

Conclusion 

Anybody who is serious about getting a natural anxiety treatment will definitely being one of these above if not trying all of them. Just remember to ask your doctor as well as talk with a herbalist that knows about anxiety. There are of course many, many more natural remedies for anxiety and this is just a small list to get you going on the right foot in case you don't need to talk with anyone and just need to know which ones are available. As for the other treatments I listed above, that will be in another article.

Recommendation 

If you wanted to have a quick fix for your ailment for anxiety until you learn how to get over anxiety, the list above is the best place to start. I would recommend the Seven Source Mushroom Extract because they taste the best out of all of them. Plus you only need a half vile and take it whenever you need to or once per day. Once per day should be enough, but just carry it around with you just in case. You could also try some of the othernatural anxiety treatments as well if you are looking for more ways to overcome anxiety.