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What Causes Mystery Stomach Pain?
by Jaime
A. Heidel 8/17/11
When you're suffering with any type of mystery symptom, the last thing you want to
hear is it's all in your head. It's not in your head, it's in your stomach and it
hurts. If you're suffering with mystery stomach pain, this article will help explain
the common and not so common causes and what you can do to heal.
Gluten Intolerance
Gluten intolerance is a very common cause of mystery stomach pain. It is estimated
that 1 in every 131 people in the United States suffer from gluten intolerance. It
was only a couple of years ago that the word 'gluten' came into medical and mainstream
conversation.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barely, rye and oats. In those with an intolerance
to this protein, it can cause a wide array of troubling symptoms including:
Abdominal Pain
Chronic Flatulence (Gas)
Distended (Bloated) Stomach
Chronic Diarrhea
Hair Loss
Unexplained Weight Loss or Gain
Brain Fog
Feeling of Being "Sick all Over"
Irritability, Anxiety, Insomnia
The best way to test for gluten intolerance is to avoid the protein completely for
one month. Blood tests are often inaccurate. If your symptoms improve, you've found
the source of your mystery stomach pain.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose is another common cause of mystery stomach pain. In people with lactose intolerance,
their digestive systems are unable to digest the sugar in milk and this intolerance
can result in symptoms such as:
Abdominal Pain
Diarrhea
Flatulence
Tummy Bloating
Nausea
To test for lactose intolerance, remove all lactose products from your diet (including
medications that may contact a lactose base) for one month to see if symptoms improve.
If they do, you've found your cause of mystery stomach pain.
Bowel Diseases
Bowel disease such as crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis
can cause mystery stomach pain. Let's look at each of them in detail:
Crohn's Disease - Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by
inflammation in the intestines that cause ulcerations or tears in the digestive lining.
This mostly occurs in the large and small intestine but can affect any part of the
digestive tract from the throat to anus.
Symptoms of crohn's disease are:
Abdominal Pain
Diarrhea
Bloody Stools
Night Sweats
Sudden Rapid Weight Loss
Fever
Rectal Pain
Ulcerative Colitis - Ulcerative colitis is similar to crohn's disease only in UC,
the inflammation is usually limited to the colon.
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis are:
Abdominal Pain
Rectal Bleeding
Diarrhea
Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Unlike crohn's and ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel
syndrome doesn't cause as much tissue damage. It is characterized by the following
symptoms:
Abdominal Pain
Bloating
Frequent Diarrhea or
Painful Constipation
Irritable bowel syndrome is thought to be caused by the body's reaction to certain
foods and stress.
Though these bowel diseases can be treated with prescription medication, they don't
address the cause of the problem.
These natural treatments for mystery stomach pain may help provide lasting relief
from symptoms.
Probiotics
Probiotics are the live, active cultures found naturally in the digestive system.
They are also found in yogurt, kefir and fermented foods. Those suffering with chronic
bowel diseases often have an imbalance in intestinal flora. Adding a top-quality probiotic
containing at least 5 billion colony forming units can rebuilt intestinal flora and
heal the intestinal tract. It can also help you better absorb nutrients from food.
Digestive Aids
Those with celiac disease and other digestive disorders often aren't able to properly
digest their food. This not only leads to mystery stomach pain, it can also lead to
other health problems down the road. Digestive enzymes can help a weakened digestive
system process food and absorb necessary nutrients.
Bulk Fiber
People living with digestive problems often have difficulty evacuating wastes from
their body. Even those with chronic diarrhea are still not eliminating waste products
properly. Bowel movements should occur at least twice a day and stool should be solid
and formed. Bulk psyllium fiber can absorb built-up toxins and waste and flush it
from the body.
Intestinal Parasites
Another cause of mystery stomach pain is intestinal parasites. Most people think the
only way you can get intestinal parasites is to travel to a foreign country and drink
the water. Nothing could be further form the truth. It is estimated that over 50%
of the American population is infested with parasites. They can be picked up from
meat, gardening, pets, tap water or sexual contact with an infected partner.
Common symptoms of intestinal parasites are:
Abdominal Cramping
Gurgling Intestines
Chronic Diarrhea
Multiple Food Allergies
Bloating
Foul-Smelling Gas
Yeast Infections
Anal Itching
Anxiety, Irritability, Insomnia
Sudden Weight Loss
As gross as this may sound, you may also see parasites in your stools. Even if you
don't, however, it doesn't mean you don't have them.
Some natural cures for parasites are:
Garlic
Pau d'Arco
Black Walnut Hulls
Wormwood
Cloves
These five items are all powerful natural antifungals that can help clear your body
of intestinal parasites. Eating chopped, raw, organic garlic is the best way to get
its maximum benefit. Pau d'Arco can be brewed in tea or taken in capsule form. (Those
with bleeding disorders should not use this herb.) Black walnut hulls, wormwood and
clove oil can be found online or at your nearest natural health store.
Living with mystery stomach pain is difficult. It's especially hard when nobody believes
you or can figure out what's causing it. This article may help you get to the bottom
of your mystery stomach pain and get better.
Jaime A. Heidel is the founder of http://itoldyouiwassick.com dedicated
to validating those suffering with mystery symptoms and helping them find alternative
ways to heal.
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