How AMP Works and Helps

AMP stands for Aloe mucilaginous polysaccharides. You've probably heard about the healing properties of Aloe Vera, so that covers the "Aloe"” part. "Mucilaginous"” basically means "sticky"”, but that doesn'’t sound as scientific. If you'’ve ever broken open a leaf from an Aloe Vera plant, you’ve seen the clear goo that the word is describing. And the word "polysaccharides" is a combination of "poly" meaning "many"” and sugars. What that means is that AMP’s are a long chain of sugar molecules, made up of individual mannose and glucose sugar molecules that are connected together in a sticky substance.

These AMP molecules are but one of approximately 200 ingredients found in the Aloe Vera plant, but AMP is the only ingredient responsible for all the healing properties attributed to Aloe.

This is a major breakthrough for uses of natural Aloe in the autoimmune and gastrointestinal areas of medicine, (diverticulitis, diverticulosis, ulcerative colitis, crohn's, acid reflux...) because the human body stops manufacturing it'’s own mucopolysaccharides after puberty. After that, we have to get the mucopolysaccharides from other sources to perform the many key functions they provide for our health, including growth and immune system functioning.

Fortunately, mucopolysaccharides and their many benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects, are available in large amounts from our proprietary prepared formula, SEROVERA® AMP 500. Plus it's all natural, 100% organic, non-toxic and has no side-effects!

Natural Remedies for Candida

Candida is a genus of yeasts, the most important being Candida Albicans, that can cause fungal infections ("candidiasis"). Candida albicans is a yeast that normally lives harmlessly in small numbers in the body, controlled by beneficial bacteria in the body and the immune system. But if the beneficial bacteria are killed by antibiotics, or if a person's immune system becomes weakened, Candida can grow unchecked and cause symptoms.

Localized infections, such as oral thrush, skin infections like diaper rash, and vaginal yeast infections in women can result. Widespread infection can occur in immuno-compromised people. Candida overgrowth in the intestines is thought to activate the immune system, resulting in fatigue, headache, mood swings, poor memory and concentration, cravings for sweets, and has been linked to conditions such as fibromyalgia.

Natural, holistic treatments usually involve a combination of diet and supplements. Perhaps the most important supplement is Acidophillus. The beneficial bacteria acidophilus (also known as a probiotic) is thought to control candida by shifting the balance between the unfriendly and helpful bacteria.

Other helpful supplements include fiber drinks that have psyllium husks and flaxseeds, or enteric-coated capsules containing garlic, oregano oil or peppermint oil, but there are others as well. Dietary changes mainly involve limiting sugar, as well as carbohydrates, which turn into sugar and feed the Candida. Foods that are low-carb include protein foods such as meat, chicken, turkey, shellfish, some nuts, and non-starchy vegetables.

Celiac Disease is Manageable

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods, but is also found in products we use every day, such as stamp and envelope adhesive, medicines, and vitamins.

Celiac disease affects people differently. Symptoms may occur in the digestive system, or in other parts of the body. People without symptoms are still at risk for malnutrition. The longer a person goes undiagnosed and untreated, the greater the chance of developing complications like anemia, delayed growth, and excessive weight loss.

The only treatment for celiac disease is to follow a gluten-free diet, which is challenging, but manageable. Meat, fish, rice, fruits, and vegetables can be eaten freely, and alternate grains can replace the regular bread and pastas. Gluten is often hidden in additives such as modified food starch, preservatives, and stabilizers, and in some vitamins and supplements. But many health-conscious companies offer gluten-free alternatives, like Serovera’s Soy Lecithin formulation.

For most people, following this diet will stop symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage, and prevent further damage. Improvements begin within days of starting the diet. Being healed means a person can absorb nutrients from food into the bloodstream. In order to stay well, people with celiac disease must avoid gluten for the rest of their lives. A dietician can offer the best advice on a gluten-free diet.

How Serovera Helps With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a common and complex chronic pain disorder that affects people physically, mentally and socially. A syndrome rather than a disease, it is a collection of signs, symptoms, and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause.

Along with pain, fatigue and sleep problems, FMS sufferers often experience irritable bowel syndrome.

Probiotics, dietary supplements like our SeroLife® that contain potentially beneficial bacteria or yeasts, can assist with the breakdown and proper absorption of food to help improve digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome - a common symptom of fibromyalgia. Some of the ways probiotics are used include treating diarrhea, and preventing and treating infections of the urinary tract or female genital tract.

There are other herbs and natural supplements that people say have helped manage fibromyalgia symptoms. They include echinacea, black cohosh, cayenne, lavender, milk thistle, B vitamins and Aloe Vera.

Aloe Vera can help in a few ways. First, Aloe Vera saccharides like those in our Serovera AMP, have been shown to have antiviral qualities and the ability to enhance the body’s immune response. Secondly, enzymes in aloe produce anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

The SEROVERA® Advantage program is the only program of its kind to combine the potent healing benefits of AMP (Aloe Mucilaginous Polysaccarides) and Probiotics into one daily course of therapy, for fibromyalgia sufferers as well as many others.

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux, more properly known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, happens when the sphincter muscle at the bottom of the esophagus that acts as a valve between the esophagus and stomach doesn’t close properly. That causes the stomach contents (including digestive acids) to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus.

The acids cause a burning sensation in the chest or throat, commonly known as heartburn. If it can be tasted at the back of the mouth, it’s considered acid indigestion. It can happen to anyone at any age, and occasional heartburn is common, but if it occurs more than twice a week, it may be GERD. Some people don’t experience heartburn but have other symptoms like pain in the chest, hoarseness in the morning, or trouble swallowing. It may feel like you have food stuck in your throat or like you are choking or your throat is tight. GERD can also cause a dry cough and bad breath.

Getting to the root of the problem and then taking the most natural approach is usually the healthiest way to manage any health challenge, so doctors usually recommend lifestyle and dietary changes to relieve heartburn. Avoiding certain foods associated with reflux events, like citrus fruits, chocolate, drinks with caffeine, fatty and fried foods, garlic and onions, mint flavorings, spicy foods, and tomato-based foods, like spaghetti sauce, chili, and pizza, may help. For more tips, read this informative article entitled “Acid Reflux: What’s Eating You?”.

About Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s Disease is named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn who was the first to describe the symptoms. In 1932, Dr. Crohn and two colleagues, Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr. Gordon D. Oppenheimer, published a landmark paper describing the features of what is known today as Crohn's disease. Crohn's and a related disease, ulcerative colitis, are the two main disease categories that belong to a larger group of illnesses called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Studies have shown that about 20 to 25 percent of patients may have a close relative with either Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, so genetics are a factor, as are ethnicity and environment. And depending upon what part of the intestinal tract is inflamed, the symptoms and complications of Crohn's disease will differ.

Regardless of which type you may have, good nutrition is especially important in Crohn's disease because 1) the appetite is often reduced 2) chronic diseases tend to increase the caloric needs of the body 3) Crohn's is associated with diarrhea and poor absorption or dietary protein, fat, carbohydrates, and water.

All these symptoms rob the body of fluids, nutrients, and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Restoring and maintaining proper nutrition is a vital part of the medical management of Crohn's disease. Certain supplements including aloe vera and probiotics have also been shown to ease symptoms and aid healing.

Crohn’s Disease is manageable. For more information, visit The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.

Healthy Colon, Healthy You

Your colon, or large intestine, is the main hub of your digestive tract. Keeping your colon healthy, helps strengthen your body's immune system and helps prevent colon cancer.

Your colon has three main functions: the final digestion of food, eliminating digestive residue and discharging toxins and wastes from your body. This accounts for seventy percent of your entire immune system, which makes your colon’s health central to your overall well-being.

When your colon is clean and functioning normally, you experience good health and the well-being that comes with it. When your colon gets congested, stagnant wastes build up only to send poisons back up into your system, polluting your inner environment.

A good and balanced diet, helpful supplements, proper exercise, adequate rest and stress relief all contribute to your colon’s (and therefore your) overall health and well-being. But improper diet, insufficient exercise, stress, overeating and ignoring “the call of nature” can all lead to bowel problems.

Foods like meat, dairy and processed flour make it difficult for the colon to do its job. When fermented waste combines with the body’s own bile acids from the liver, carcinogens can form, which can ultimately develop into colon or rectal cancers-- the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world.

Most of us know from experience that an unhappy colon makes it very difficult for us to enjoy life fully. So take care of your colon and it will take care of you.

Aloe Vera Soothes

In an earlier post entitled “What Alternative Medicine Offers,” we mentioned that Aloe Vera has been found to be the most widely used herbal therapy by patients with active ulcerative colitis.

Aloe vera has been used all around the world to treat various conditions for centuries. The plant is commonly kept in household kitchens because it is known for its ability to quickly soothe burns and cuts. It is a desert plant that can be grown easily indoors, but is also available in gels, sprays, creams, capsules and as a liquid.

Many people are surprised to learn that, in addition to being rubbed onto the skin, aloe vera can be taken internally. Aloe vera helps to aid digestion and works as a laxative when consumed. The anti-bacterial properties of aloe work as a natural colon cleanser. Aloe vera taken internally is also believed to improve circulation and aid in bone and joint health.

A study conducted by the University of Texas Health Science Center's Department of Physiology showed that rats who ingested aloe vera experienced a 10 percent increase in life span and had a lower incidence of disease than the average rat population. The rats suffered no ill effects from ingesting the aloe.

Remarkably and very fortunately, the aloe polymannans (AMP) are not digested by the enzymes of the digestive tract, but rather, they remain intact as long chain molecules, creating a mesh-work of protection throughout the digestive tract.

Information from eHow.com.

Probiotics for Inner Balance

Where anti-biotics kill bacteria, including the friendly ones, pro-biotics work with the existing inner ecosystem to restore the balance.

Probiotics are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. That’s why when you look at yogurt containers you want to find the ones that have *live* cultures. They are also called "friendly bacteria" or "good bacteria."

The world is full of microorganisms (including bacteria), and so are people's bodies—in and on the skin, in the gut, and in other places. Friendly bacteria are vital to proper development of the immune system, to protection against microorganisms that could cause disease, and to the digestion and absorption of food and nutrients.

Probiotics have been known to help with:

• Diarrhea
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease)
• Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium that causes most ulcers and many types of chronic stomach inflammation
• Tooth decay and periodontal disease
• Vaginal infections
• Stomach and respiratory infections that children acquire in daycare
• Skin infections

Available in foods and dietary supplements, they can easily be added to your diet. Some foods containing probiotics are: yogurt with live cultures, fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, and some juices and soy beverages.

Information from MedicineNet.com.

Psyllium isn’t so Silly

Psyllium is a soluble fiber used primarily as a gentle bulk-forming laxative in products such as Metamucil. It comes from a shrub-like herb called Plantago ovata that grows in parts of Asia, Mediterranean regions of Europe, and North Africa. Each plant can produce up to 15,000 tiny, gel-coated seeds, from which psyllium husk is derived.

The soluble fiber found in psyllium husks can help lower cholesterol, relieve both constipation and diarrhea, and is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, and other intestinal problems.

When psyllium husk comes in contact with water, it swells and forms a gelatin-like mass that helps transport waste through the intestinal tract. It soaks up a significant amount of water in the digestive tract, making stool firmer and slower to pass. Several large population-based studies also suggest that increased fiber intake may reduce risk of colon cancer.

Some physicians recommend psyllium for mild-to-moderate cases of diarrhea from either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. In one study of people with ulcerative colitis, psyllium was as effective as the prescription drug mesalamine (Pentasa, Rowasa, Asacol) in maintaining remission, but with the benefit of being 100% natural.

Work closely with your doctor to decide how much fiber is right for you, but generally for irritable bowel syndrome, an initial dose of 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of psyllium per day is gradually increased to 4 doses per day.

Information from the University of Maryland Medical Center

How Flax Seeds Help

In some of our earlier posts, we recommended the use of Flax Seed Oil, but the seeds themselves may also offer relief for those with an irritable bowel. Here’s how:

Flax contains high levels of lignans, which are natural compounds that help prevent many types of cancer, including colon cancer.

Your body cannot make the essential fatty acids, Linoleic (Omega-6) or Linolenic (Omega-3) which help to ease inflammatory disorders. Instead, they must be consumed as part of your daily diet. Research has indicated that we consume too much Omega-6’s and not enough Omega-3’s, but flaxseed contains these essential fatty acids in perfect balance.

Flax is high in both soluble and insoluble fiber, which helps to absorb water, thereby softening the stool and allowing it to pass through the colon quickly, promoting regular bowel movements. (One ounce of flax provides 32% of the USDA’s reference daily intake of fiber.)

Studies have shown that just 2-3 tablespoons of flax daily helped over 60% of severely depressed women bounce back within eight weeks. Flax has a mood boosting ingredient: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that is essential for the proper function of brain cells.

You can sprinkle ground flax seed onto your cereal and salads, or buy products that have included flax. Combined with the food and other supplement recommendations on the Colitis Diet, you can manage your bowel disease comfortably.

Fish Oil and Inflamed Intestines

Recent studies have shown positive benefits of fish oil in Irritable Bowel Syndromes such as Crohn's Disease and Colitis. It seems the Omega 3 fatty acids, particularly EPA, have an anti-inflammatory affect throughout the body and are able to heal the inner lining of the inflamed intestines.

Other health benefits attributed to fish oil include its ability to aid in heart diseases, reducing high cholesterol, weight loss, easing depression and anxiety, and improving attention spans for those with ADHD. It’s known to boost overall immunity, be an effective aid against cancer, help with healthy pregnancy, and eases the effects of diabetes, arthritis, AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, eye disorders, macular degeneration, psoriasis, acne, ulcers, and infertility.

Most of the these health benefits of fish oil can be attributed to the presence of Omega 3 essential fatty acids such as Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Other useful essential fatty acids include Alpha-linolenic acid or ALA and Gamma-linolenic acid or GLA.

Patients suffering from Crohn’s disease find it difficult to absorb vitamins, fats and essential supplements, but fish oil supplements are effective for such patients. For those with ulcerative colitis, fish oil prevents the accumulation in the colon of leukotriene—the substance which may be responsible for the inflammation.

Research is also being conducted to enhance the anti-inflammatory action of fish oil by addition of other dietary supplements and drugs.

What Alternative Medicine Offers

Up to 50% of people with inflammatory bowel disease seek “alternative" treatments. Known as “Alternative Medicine” because it falls outside the realm of conventional medicine, it includes chiropractic care, naturopathy, homeopathy, herbalism, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, meditation, yoga, acupuncture and diet-based therapies, among many others. These practices may be based on traditional medicine, folk knowledge, spiritual beliefs, or newly conceived approaches to healing. When they’re used in conjunction with conventional methods they’re also known as Complementary Medicine --the umbrella term is “CAM” for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Complementary medicine offers a way to take back some control over our bodies and be more involved with our own health. It also offers a means of addressing the root of the health problem rather than just focusing on the symptoms.

For people with any Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, or IBD’s, we can recommend a few things that have been known to help:

• Some studies have found that fish oil and flax seed oil may be helpful in managing IBD.

• Some also suggested the role of prebiotics such as psyllium in the healing process.

• Probiotics (live culture) may also be helpful in aiding recovery of the intestines.

• Aloe Vera has been found to be the most widely used herbal therapy by patients with active ulcerative colitis.

But ultimately, the choices are up to you as to what feels right to you, and what eases your symptoms.