[midgemcgrath]

Seems like there was a lot of support for this, so here 'tis, a thread on alternative medicine. I know that there is a lot of talk about this stuff in bits and pieces on other threads, but it seems like such a popular topic these days that it really deserved its own. Anything about herbs, naturopathy, accupuncture, nutrition, etc., bring it on!

I'll start: has anyone ever used slippery elm root for digestive problems? I bought some, but I'm scared to try it, and don't know anyone who has! It's supposed to help heal irritated digestive systems...

[midgemcgrath]

cloverbee--i used to be ibs-d, but now that i've cut out so many foods, it's usually just cramping and urgency. an improvement? i can't really say! it does suck, it's a constant struggle, but hey, what can you do but make the changes you can and deal with it?

i am on a yeast free diet as well (no yeast or fermented foods) because i have some kind of an allergy/intolerance to yeast. any little bit, and my body can't fight it--i cheat a lot eating vinegar, cause it's in everything, but i can definately feel it when i eat too much!

raskel--it's not unhealthy per se to cut out wheat, as long as you replace it with other stuff to keep your diet as balanced as possible. but unless you have an allergy/intolerance there isn't really any reason to cut it out. for some reason, some people get thinking that gluten is bad for you, but that's only true for people with gluten intolerance. cutting out refined flour and sugar on the other hand can be really beneficial whether or not you have an intolerance.

if you really think you have an allergy, i would suggest getting tested by an allergist, because cutting out wheat is a big sacrifice, and i'd want to make sure it was necessary! on the other hand, if you don't want to see an allergist, you can just try not eating (but you have to be strict!) it for a few months and see if it makes a difference, then slowly start eating it again, and see if you get sick.

if you just want to stop eating wheat, there are other breads you can have--spelt, rye, kamut, oat, rice, etc. and just read labels a lot, you will find (especially at health food stores) that there are plenty options for cookies, crackers, cereals, waffles, etc. that are wheat-free. if you are really craving something like pasta, you can try rice pasta, some brands are actually quite good once you get used to them. and you can make your own stuff by buying spelt, kamut, rice, potato, etc. flours and baking with them. plus, quinoa is an awesome multi-purpose food, you can use it in place of pasta, in casseroles, in cold salads (like tabouli)... i could go on, but if you have any specific questions on what brands of certain foods are the tastiest, or anything feel free to ask!