slippery elm bark

I know this may sound crazy, but I’m willing to risk it. :-)

I developed food intollerences because of chronic yeast-I don’t have true ‘allergies’-and have what has been called ‘leaky gut’. The yeast damaged my intestines, allowing food particles to enter my blood stream where my body reacts to them.

Now, slippery elm bark is a known contact healer (healing whatever it comes into contact with), so I thought I’d see what it might do for me. Five months ago, I started taking one capsule of slippery elm bark a day. By the 4th day, I realized I felt better. Nothing I could put my finger on…I just FELT better. After about a month, I realized I could cheat a lot more than I used to be able to. Now, I have to eat problem foods several days in a row to feel pretty bad.

I have enjoyed being able to cheat more often, although now, it’s harder to stay away from problem foods, because I know I won’t feel bad unless I eat alot of them. So, I actually have renewed my mind to eating what I KNOW won’t make me feel bad and my hope it that someday soon, my intestines might be healed!

Some may say they know this isn’t real. Actually, I DID pray, asking the Lord to make this work. (I believe it was His idea!) So, if your problem is the same as mine-not a true immune response to foods but an intollerence that developed- and you’re not allergic to elm trees, think about all this.

These capsules can be purchased on the internet or in health food stores.

I was just started on glutamine for “leaky gut.” Did you try glutamine prior to the slippery elm bark? What are your thoughts on this and other treatments? I am new to this whole allergy/intolerance issue. Thanks for the information.
seacoastfan

Yes, I used glutaime too. (Don’t have any right now because I ran out.) It helped me too! Maybe the slippery elm bark helped so much because I’d taken glutaime for awhile before starting it. Who knows? But taking both is a great idea. (I need to get more.)

Oh, about glutamine…for those allergic to MSG, this MIGHT bother you, too. I found I could take 750 mg of glutamine, but no more. That’s MY personal limit. Others will have their OWN limit.

Do all glutamine supplements contain msg, because I can’t find it listed anywhere on the bottle? My bottle states no yeast, wheat gluten, soy protein, milk/dairy, corn, sodium, sugar, starch, artificial coloring, preservatives, or flavoring. The ingredients are glutamine, gelatin (capsule), cellulose and vegetable stearate.

Glutaime doesn’t contain MSG. I’d read that it’s chemical structure was enough like MSG that those who react to MSG might react to glutamine. That’s all.

By the way, where did you find this information about MSG and glutamine having similar chemical structure? I am trying talk to my doctor about this.
Thanks!

You know, I can’t remember where I read it. I’ve read many ‘allergy’ books and only saw it once. Actually, it may have been on a web site! I found it just as I started taking glutamine. I’d only been taking 750mg and had been okay, so I took 2 capsules (1500mg) to see what would happen. Sure enough, I got my MSG headache. I’m not ‘bad’ allergic to MSG, just the headache. If I was very allergic, I’d probably not risk taking glutamine.
I have a degree in Biology and the ‘chemical trivia’ of things interest me. Sorry I can’t tell you where I found it. If I come across it again, I’ll tell you.

I found some info after doing a search of MSG and glutamine.
http://curezone.com/foods/msg.asp
http://www.serovera.com/benefits-of-lglutamine.php
http://www.jigsawhealth.com/nat.aspx?&chunkiid=21749
(I think this last one is the one I read)

Greetings,

Would like to add to the discussion in this thread about MSG and glutamic acid. There is a great website called www.msgmyth.com that is very informative about the hazards of MSG and glutamic acid. Below is a brief excerpt from a book that they offer:

Monosodium Glutamate

(An excerpt from the book)

Glutamic acid is just one of many amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins. It occurs naturally in many foods such as tomatoes, milk, and mushrooms. It is also found in the cells of our bodies, including mother’s milk, and involves a wide variety of brain functions since it functions as a neurotransmitter. This natural glutamate in plants and animals is known as L-glutamic acid.

Our normal digestive process slowly breaks down this natural or “bound” glutamic acid and it is then delivered to glutamate receptors in our body and brain. Broken down this way, it is harmless. In a factory, however, the bound glutamic acid in certain foods (corn, molasses, wheat) is broken down or made “free” by various processes (hydrolyzed, autolyzed, modified or fermented with strong chemicals, bacteria, or enzymes) and refined to a white crystal that resembles sugar. This substance is known as monosodium glutamate or MSG. It is 78.2% glutamate, 12.2% sodium, and 9.6% water. It is odorless and has no distinct flavor, although some describe a salty/sweet flavor. Its chemical formulation has been modified and it is technically known as D-glutamic acid. It also contains some L-glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid, and other contaminants This factory made version causes sensitive individuals more serious reactions than any other form of glutamic acid. Keep in mind that there is no D-glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid, or other contaminants in the protein found in plants and animals, only L-glutamic acid.

(End of excerpt.)

The msgmyth.com site offers great resources to help persons allergic or hypersensitive to MSG and “free glutamates”; one resource is a listing of most of the food additives and ingredient names that one must guard against ingesting. Would recommend that ANYONE who has ANY food allergies check out the mysgmyth.com site because sometimes the problem ingredient or food-culprit is not that easy to identify.

For example, many of us take health-food supplements to boost our nutrition or try to strengthen our immune system against such food sensitivities, only to find our problems increase instead of improve. I had this experience for years until I finally realized that it was the GELATIN CAPSULE containing the various supplements that I was taking that was poisoning me on a daily basis! GELATIN is on the list of FOODS/ADDITIVES TO AVOID if you are sensitive to free glutamates. (The same is true for food substances like whey, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, modified food starch, and so on. Check their site and click the link called HIDDEN NAMES FOR MSG to learn more.)

Hope this helps.

PS Am not in any way affiliated with mysgmyth.com but have found their site very helpful and informative. Good luck!