I’m always happy to receive feedback from readers and customers. And of course, I get asked a lot of questions about my natural remedies for Crohn’s disease, colitis, diverticulitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. So although I am legally prohibited from giving personal health advice, I am free to talk about my own experience and my protocols on my blog.

I also have a large, experienced customer service team who can quickly point you to the blog post, video, teleseminar, etc. that answers your question. We have also compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions over the years.  If you do not find the information you are looking for below, feel free to use the CHAT box on the site, or contact us via email or phone.

Healing IBD & IBS

In Listen To Your Gut, Jini Says: The fastest way to stop intestinal bleeding is to go on a completely liquid, pre-digested diet – this produces minimal fecal matter and gives the bowel a chance to rest and heal. A powerful herbal implant enema (Jini’s Healing Implant Enema) is also very effective for colonic bleeding. For small intestine bleeding, using supplements like MucosaCalm, aloe vera juice (no preservative, no additives and all the bitter/laxative components removed) and L-glutamine and NAG is also helpful. These same supplements also help heal the mucosal lining in the large intestine. See the Intestinal Bleeding symptom page for detailed instructions.

Jini Says: People with IBD have to be very careful when trying to clear infections or detox. Since their systems are so sensitive, protocols that are fine for most people will trigger a flare. Hence we want to stick with very specific supplements that have already been trial-tested by thousands with colitis or Crohn’s disease and proceed at a slow, gentle pace. You can use either Jini’s Wild Oregano Oil Protocol, followed by high dose probiotic supplementation, or olive leaf extract, or caprylic acid to accomplish this. See the Candida Yeast Infection symptom page for details.

Jini Says: Once I found formulas for both internal and external hemorrhoids that worked well for myself and my family, I called them HemorrHeal and gave them to my Wellness Circle members for further testing. In our experience, hemorrhoids are completely healed in most cases, but at the very least substantial relief is obtained. My own internal hemorrhoids (which I’d had for 6 years after the birth of my daughter) were completely healed in 7 days. It is now over a year and a half later and they have not come back, so I think it’s safe to say that HemorrHeal is also a long-term remedy! See the Hemorrhoids symptom page for all the instructions.

Jini Says:  Yes, we do have a tried and tested procedure you can use for abdominal strictures and adhesions, using DMSO, aloe vera, colloidal silver, potassium iodide and castor oil, that has worked for many to relieve pain and release an obstruction (especially when paired with the liquid or elemental diet for a few days). People who do both the internal and external treatments have been able to actually dissolve their scar tissue. See the Intestinal Stricture and Bowel Obstruction symptom page for full instructions. If you have a rectal or anal stricture, then see the Anal Stenosis and Stricture symptom page (go to HEAL YOUR SYMPTOMS).

Jini Says:  We have an awesome protocol for this using wild oregano oil – both oral and syringed – that has been trial-tested by hundreds of my readers. If you really want to speed healing, you also treat the fistula or abscess once or twice a day with an infrared laser. See the Anal Fistula page for full instructions.

Since MAP is present even in the water – it is not so much about strictly avoiding it, but in treating the dormant/active lifecycle and continuing to strengthen the gut microbiota so that even if briefly exposed, the gut is resistant. So you want do Jini’s Wild Oregano Oil protocol (can do this alongside colloidal silver) every 3 months, or whenever symptoms rise again (indicating an active phase) and continue with the high dose Natren probiotics. Having said that, the worst infestation of MAP is in commercial milk. So only use RAW grass-fed dairy and beef, raw cheese, etc. There are many suppliers on the internet, or you can check here: www.realmilk.com

The solution must NOT be refrigerated. Just keep it at room temperature. It’s best to seal or cover it well, so nothing else gets in there. But we don’t know what will happen to the solution if exposed to air… perhaps it will degrade, perhaps not. We don’t know. Jini has always kept the solution in dark glass dropper bottles or a dark glass bottle with a screw top lid.

If you don’t have any dark bottles, you can use a clean jar and then tape black construction paper around the outside to block out the light.

We’re very sorry, but Jini is not a licensed healthcare provider and is not legally able to give personal consultations.

You can, however, consult with a doctor or health practitioner who is familiar with Jini’s protocols:
http://shoppe.listentoyourgut.com/private-health-consults/

Also, this blog post may be helpful for you:
http://blog.listentoyourgut.com/confusing-supplement-schedule/

And lastly, Jini recently created this Short Sheet for how to work in all the supplements, if you are on The IBD Remission Diet, that many find really helpful:
http://signups2.s3.amazonaws.com/ibd-remission-shortsheet.pdf

Absorb Plus and Absorb Element+

Yes, Absorb Plus can be taken with all ongoing prescriptions and herbal supplements. However, it’s always best to consult your doctor as a precaution.

No. However, it’s a very good idea and we do encourage you to add organic, unrefined, cold-pressed, flax seed oil to increase Omega-3 and ‘good fat’ (Essential Fatty Acid) levels in your body, if you wish. We haven’t included any flax oil in Absorb Plus for three reasons: Firstly, we wanted the product to work for people who have a complete fat intolerance, secondly, any cold-pressed oil needs to be kept refrigerated and in a dark container at all times or the fat denatures and becomes rancid. This would pose serious problems in shipping the product to you, so we chose instead to keep the product fat-free and encourage you to add your own from a bottle of flax oil you can buy refrigerated at the grocery store and then keep in your fridge. Thirdly, as different people can tolerate different levels of fat (dependent on type and location of illness and degree of inflammation), we felt it best to allow you to add the level of fat that’s right for you.

We suggest you start with 1 teaspoon of organic, cold-pressed flax oil per shake (whip with Absorb Plus and water in the blender) and gradually increase to 1 tablespoon of flax oil per shake. Flax oil is a very delicate, unstable oil, so make sure you only buy an organic, cold-pressed brand that’s been kept in the refrigerator (Spectrum Naturals is the best brand). Be sure to buy a small bottle and keep it refrigerated, use it up within 4-6 weeks of opening so it doesn’t start to oxidize (become rancid) and irritate your gut. If you’ve been hemorrhaging or are very sensitive to oil, you may want to keep your bottle of flax oil in the freezer (it doesn’t solidify completely) and squeeze it out as needed – this reduces the oxidation by 95%. If you find you’re still sensitive to flax oil, then try the Udo’s Choice Perfected Oil Blend – you may find it better tolerated. Also, if you’re going to buy a brand of flax oil other than Spectrum Naturals, contact the company to ascertain whether they cold pasteurize the oil. If they don’t and you’re highly sensitive, you may react to the tiny mold spores or parasites that may be present in oil that hasn’t been cold pasteurized.

Depending on your level of health (liver function, antioxidant capability, etc.) you’ll be able to consume more or less oil. So let your body and your symptoms be your guide and find the level of supplementation that’s right for your body. You can also use hemp oil, but the taste is quite strong so you may not like it. You may want to use flax oil in one shake, then Udo’s in the next, and so on throughout the day. The Udo’s is more expensive though, so if cost is an issue, then just use the flax oil. If you’re completely intolerant of any liquid oils, then take enteric coated capsules of either flax oil, or fish oil (make sure the company tests for fish oil toxicity though) to get your anti-inflammatory Omega-3 and other essential fatty acids.

Most of the fat we consume is in unusable forms, which irritates our digestive system. Cold-pressed flax oil is absorbed very quickly and even people with a marked ‘fat-intolerance’ have no problem with it. Since the 1950’s, most westerners have been severely deficient in Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) which leads to a wide variety of problems in the body. Regular ingestion of flax oil cures this deficiency. You can safely supplement up to 8-10 tablespoons per day of flax oil and a good maintenance dose is 2-4 tablespoons per day.

Flax oil has a very mild, unobtrusive taste and is also great in salad dressings, drizzled over cooked vegetables, or stirred into dips, salsa or yoghurt. However, do not heat the oil or use it to fry foods as this destroys the Essential Fatty Acids. Cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring also contain high levels of Omega-3 and other ‘good fats’ (EFA, GLA) needed by the body. If you try to work flax oil (Essential Fatty Acids) into these other areas of your diet it will soon be easy and delicious to get the amount you need each day. The other major benefit is that Omega-3 is a powerful anti-inflammatory and has been used solely in double-blind, placebo controlled studies to induce remission in patients with Crohn’s Disease (The New England Journal of Medicine, June 13, 1996).

No, do not consume the desiccant pouch inside each jar of Absorb Plus. It is a harmless moisture and odor absorbent to keep the product at maximum freshness until you open it. Simply throw it away after opening the jar, or when you’ve finished the contents – whichever you prefer. If you’ve blended it into a shake by mistake, don’t drink it and throw that shake out.
Approximately 10 servings per jar – sometimes a little bit more, sometimes a little bit less as Absorb Plus is packed by weight and there can be some settling during shipping and storage.
Absorb Plus has not been tested on pregnant women. However, none of the ingredients contained in Absorb Plus are contraindicated for pregnant or nursing women. Jini Patel Thompson (the formulator of Absorb Plus) consumed 1-2 shakes per day off and on during both her pregnancies and whilst breastfeeding. We did have one customer who went on a semi-elemental diet during her pregnancy – using Absorb Plus as her primary source of nutrition, but she also consumed fresh pressed vegetable juices to provide other essential nutrients. Her baby is 1 year old now and thriving. Please try to add Udo’s Oil or flax oil to the shakes as they are key for brain development in the fetus and also for your health. The only instance where you would need to exercise caution is if you’re diabetic – as the carbohydrate component of Absorb Plus goes into the bloodstream very quickly. In this case, please consult with your physician.
Yes, because Absorb Plus can be used in three ways:

1.to maintain your current weight whilst increasing your level of nutrition

2.to resolve malnutrition and gain solid, healthy weight (not fat)

3.to control calorie intake and lose weight whilst still getting good nutrition

Whether you want to lose weight, gain weight, or simply maintain your existing weight, is simply a matter of calories ingested. One serving of Absorb Plus, with 1 tbsp. of Udo’s Oil added = 485 calories. You need 15 calories per pound of body weight, per day, just to maintain your existing weight. If you want to gain or lose weight, 1 pound = 3000 calories. Therefore, if you add 3000 calories per week to your existing diet, you’ll gain 1 pound per week. If you subtract 3000 calories per week from your normal diet, you’ll lose 1 pound per week.
E.g. Mary weighs 100 pounds. Therefore, to maintain her current weight she needs to consume 1500 calories per day. She could have an Absorb Plus shake for breakfast or dinner, and have her other 2 meals total 1015 calories per day.

To gain weight (1 pound per week) she needs to consume 1928 calories per day. So she would need to drink 1 Absorb Plus shake per day in addition to her current/regular diet. Or, she could have 2 Absorb Plus shakes per day and have her other food equal 958 calories per day.
To lose weight (1 pound per week) she would need to consume no more than 1072 calories per day – she could do this by eating 2 small meals (totaling 587 calories) and having an Absorb Plus shake for breakfast each day.

To ensure weight loss is long-term, make sure you don’t lose too much weight, too quickly. One pound per week is really the maximum you should lose if you want to prevent a “famine response” in your body and lower your metabolism (the lower your metabolism, the more quickly you’ll gain weight in future). To keep your metabolism at a good rate, ensure your endocrine (hormonal) system is healthy, exercise regularly, and eat at least 3 meals per day.

We contacted Natasha Trenev, the founder/owner of Natren probiotics and asked her your question. She replied that yes, you can mix Natren probiotic powders with Absorb Plus, but you must follow these directions:

  1. Whip up your Absorb Plus shake in the blender first as usual
  2. Take out 2 ounces of shake and mix in your probiotics with a spoon, to form a smooth paste
  3. Add the paste mixture back to the rest of the shake and stir well with a spoon to mix thoroughly
  4. Drink as usual

“Pre-digested” means that the nutrients have been broken down into components that are much easier for your body to digest and absorb.
The process of digestion involves breaking down food into nutrients that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Hence the digestion of carbohydrates in the stomach takes about 1.5 hours, and protein takes about 2 hours.

With Absorb Plus, since a lot of the “digestion” or breaking down has already been done, the nutrients are in your bloodstream about 20 minutes after ingestion.

If you’re just mixing Absorb Plus with water, then waiting 1 hour after consumption should be fine. If you’ve added oil to your shake, then you’ll need to wait 2 hours.

Absorb Plus was formulated by Jini Patel Thompson, the author of LISTEN TO YOUR GUT: Natural Healing & Dealing With Inflammatory Bowel Disease & Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

After a bout of severe intestinal haemorrhaging, Jini’s weight dropped to 99 pounds (she’s 5’7″) and her albumin levels showed she was severely malnourished. After receiving a blood transfusion, her doctor advised complete bowel rest – to allow the intestine heal. Continuing to eat regular food simply re-opened the wounds and started the bleeding again. Therefore, her nutrition needed to come from a completely elemental (pre-digested) liquid source.

Jini tried each of the elemental (pre-digested) products provided by the hospital, but found the taste and ingredient list unacceptable. Rather than undergoing an operation to have a tube inserted in her stomach and the elemental products pumped in, she set out to find a natural, healthy, alternative.

After an extensive search of health stores and the Internet, Jini devised her own elemental formula by mixing together 6 different products. She did this 8-9 times a day to give her body the nutrients it needed in elemental (pre-digested for maximum absorption) form. Using this formula, Jini gained 36 pounds of solid weight (not fat) in six weeks and her albumin levels were restored to normal. She went from being so weak she could barely move around her apartment, to cycling and lifting weights at the gym by the end of the six weeks at a healthy weight of 135 pounds.

Jini included directions for mixing up these elemental shakes in the first edition of her book LISTEN TO YOUR GUT (Caramal Publishing 2000). In addition, as word spread through family and friends, people with a variety of afflictions (cancer/chemotherapy, trigeminal neuralgia, age-related malnutrition and loss of appetite, etc.) began contacting Jini for her weight gain and maintenance program. However, many of these people and her readers commented that they found it too difficult and time-consuming to mix together so many different products. Having done it herself, Jini could sympathise with them! Fortunately, a year later, she met one of the founders of and he asked her to replicate her formula in one product. She happily agreed and the result is Absorb Plus.

We know of no other product comparable to Absorb Plus in quality and composition, that is also elemental (pre-digested for maximum absorption). In addition, our own trials, and letters from our customers show that Absorb Plus really works.

Protein: composed of cold-extracted whey protein isolate only (no allergenic casein or egg albumin) and 99.8% of the lactose has been removed.
Amino Acids: Absorb Plus contains an extensive array of free-form amino acids.
Carbohydrates: The carbohydrate mix is composed mostly of maltodextrin, which has a slower uptake into the bloodstream than glucose or fructose. This helps you avoid getting a ‘sugar rush’ with the resultant high-low mood cycle.
Fat: Absorb Plus doesn’t contain any fat – for 3 specific reasons. However, we do encourage you to add as much organic, cold-pressed flax oil as you can tolerate.
Natural Sweetener: A natural fruit-source monosaccharide sugar called Fructose. This is the natural sugar found in all fruits and some vegetables.
Vitamins and Minerals: Our vitamin/mineral profile is unusually extensive and specifically formulated for those with stomach and bowel sensitivities. Each vitamin/mineral is present in its most easily absorbable form.

Natural Flavors
Absorb Plus is one of the few products on the market containing 100% natural flavoring. Our unique natural flavor blends include French Vanilla, Mixed Berry and Chocolate Royale and are truly yummy. Suffice it to say, we have spent considerable time and effort getting each flavor to taste absolutely delicious!

People with Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticulitis, Colon Cancer, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
People who have trouble chewing, swallowing, digesting or absorbing their food.
People recovering from illness and/or surgery and cancer.
Easy & gentle on your stomach and digestive system – Absorb Plus contains natural, elemental (pre-digested) ingredients, which are easily tolerated by even the most sensitive stomach and intestinal tract. This helps minimize the pain and discomfort commonly associated with digestion.

Maintain or gain solid weight (not fat) – Absorb Plus contains the right amounts and forms of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for gaining solid weight and NOT FAT. Many competing products contain mainly fat and sugar resulting in an increase in body fat. For weight gain, we recommend adding Flax oil providing you with more calories and Omega-3 essential fatty acid.

Daily nutritional support – Absorb Plus contains an extensive list of key ingredients, including protein, carbohydrates, free form amino acids and vitamins & minerals, allowing the ongoing healing of your condition to be supported and assisted nutritionally.

Delicious taste – Absorb Plus is a liquid shake available in three delicious tasting, all natural flavors: French Vanilla, Mixed Berry and Chocolate Royale. Taste the difference!

Mixes properly – Absorb Plus uses a special ‘agglomerated’ high quality whey protein, that enables the product to mix easily, with no lumps! Simply add to water and stir for 20-30 seconds!

Feel more energy and sleep better – Absorb Plus contains totally elemental (pre-digested) ingredients which require minimal digestion by your body. This gives your digestive system (particularly your bowel) a chance to rest and heal by itself. Over time, drinking Absorb Plus can therefore help you feel more energy during the day and get a more restful sleep at night.

Convenient and easy to use – Absorb Plus mixes so easily, it can be taken with you anywhere, whether to work, traveling and so on. It also mixes very well with other supplements, if desired (view Recipes).

Absorb Plus tastes better, mixes better, absorbs faster, is better tolerated, is natural, and is not just fat & sugar!

Most elemental weight gain/maintenance products are available only in hospitals, pharmacies, or on prescription from your doctor. They are composed predominantly of fat (oil) and sugar. Unfortunately, the weight that is gained from these products tends to reflect the key components – ie. fat. It is very difficult to drink a sufficient amount of calories from these products as many people simply can’t tolerate the high oil content, or the taste. In addition, most contain artificial flavors and sweeteners – which research has shown to be harmful to the body. For people in extreme states of malnutrition, these products are usually pumped directly into the stomach via a ‘shunt’ or tube inserted through the skin into the stomach itself due to their unpalatable taste and composition.

There are many whey protein or food supplement products on the shelf in health stores or natural food stores, but they are rarely elemental (completely pre-digested) and thus they are less easily absorbed. And they too usually contain artificial flavors and sweeteners.

In contrast, Absorb Plus is composed of natural ingredients, flavors and sweeteners in elemental (pre-digested) form. Our customers constantly comment on how light and fresh tasting it is and we even have completely healthy people using it as their daily breakfast shake just because it’s such a nutritious, great-tasting product! Absorb Plus contains no oil so it’s ideal for people with a fat intolerance. But we do encourage our customers to add the amount of organic flax oil that they can tolerate (between 1 tsp to 1 tbsp. per shake) to reap the benefits of the essential fatty acids (EFAs) and anti-inflammatory action of the Omega-3s contained in this good fat. Due to the quality nutrition contained in Absorb Plus, you’ll gain solid weight (muscle, not fat!) if that’s your goal – of course, you can also use Absorb Plus to simply maintain your existing weight.

This depends on your body weight and whether you wish to maintain or gain weight. Do not consume more than 12 shakes per day.
Please refer to the Absorb Plus USAGE AND CALORIE CHARTS.

If you wish, or if you’re traveling, you can just add 4 level scoops of Absorb Plus to 1 cup (8 ounces) of spring or filtered water and stir briskly till dissolved – it mixes easily with no lumps. However, to get the best taste from Absorb Plus, we recommend the following:
Directions for use – Absorb Plus (all flavors):

POUR 1 cup (8 ounces) of water* into a blender
ADD 4 level scoops of Absorb Plus
Add 1 tsp. – 1 tbsp. Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend** (preferred), or, organic, cold-pressed flax oil (vary amount of oil according to tolerance – the more, the better) and whip on high speed for 10 seconds
Pour over lots of ice, use a straw, and drink slowly for maximum nutrient absorption

*Use cold or room temperature water (spring or filtered). You can also use milk (cow’s, rice, almond, etc.) if you prefer – but then the shake will not be elemental. Do not use hot liquids as this will denature the ingredients.
**Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend is available at health and organic grocery stores or at www.udoerasmus.com.

We recommend you add Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil blend (preferred), or, organic, unrefined, cold-pressed, flax seed oil to your Absorb Plus shakes, to increase Omega 3 and ‘good fat’ (Essential Fatty Acid) levels in your body. Good fats are an essential part of a healthy diet and body. Adding Udo’s or flax oil to Absorb Plus will increase the calorie count per shake and also result in a tastier shake. We haven’t included any oil in Absorb Plus for three reasons:

Firstly, we wanted the product to work for people who have a complete fat intolerance.
Secondly, any cold-pressed oil needs to be kept refrigerated and in a dark container at all times or the fat denatures and becomes rancid.
Thirdly, as different people can tolerate different levels of fat (dependent on type and location of illness and degree of inflammation), we felt it best to allow you to add the level of fat that’s right for you.

There is no fat in Absorb Plus, therefore, you really should add the Udo’s or flax oil if at all possible (1 tsp – 1 tbsp per shakedepending upon tolerance, the more the better). Adding Udo’s Oil and pouring over lots of ice also improves the taste. As well, some people prefer mixing the flavors and feel that tastes better than a single flavor: 2 scoops of Chocolate Royale and 2 scoops of Mixed Berry, for example. See RECIPES for more ideas.

You can start to feel the benefits of Absorb Plus in as little as 1 week.
The majority of people with a milk allergy are allergic to either lactose, or a dominant milk protein called casein. Cow’s milk is composed of 80% casein and 20% whey. Absorb Plus is 99.8% lactose free and does not contain any casein. The protein component of Absorb Plus is a natural, cold-extracted whey protein isolate – ALL of the casein has been removed. Therefore, Absorb Plus may be safe and well tolerated even by those with a ‘milk allergy’ – as we’ve removed the commonly allergenic components.

*Please test a small amount first to be sure and if your allergy is severe, then don’t consume, or only do so under the supervision of your physician.

We have a 30-day, 100% money back guarantee for unopened product. If you’ve never tried Absorb Plus, we recommend you start by purchasing an Absorb Plus 3-Flavor Sample Pack. This gives you the chance to try the different flavors, and also see if you tolerate the product before purchasing larger tubs.
The Berry Fusion flavor is colored with a natural pink coloring that may be seen in the stool if you’re drinking a lot of it or if you’re using it as part of an elemental diet. When you’re on an elemental diet, your stool is very minimal and only liquid, therefore the natural color passes through easily to the stool and can vary in color from light pink to red. It will clear in 2-3 bowel movements after the last Mixed Berry shake you’ve drunk and your stool will return to its normal color.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is characterized by chronic abdominal pain or discomfort, a change in bowel pattern, such as loose or more frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, and/or constipation. It is understood as a multi-faceted disorder. Sometimes Irritable Bowel Syndrome is referred to as spastic colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis, nervous stomach, or irritable colon.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, is a chronic inflammation disorder of the small and/or large intestine. The most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, and Diverticulitis. The mucous membranes lining the colon become inflamed and develop ulcers, fissures, or blockages (from thickened scar tissue) causing bloody diarrhea, pain, gas, bloating, and sometimes hard stools. Ulcerative Colitis is limited to the mucosa and submucosa, which are the first two layers of the lining of the bowel. Crohn’s disease involves those two layers and also the next two layers below, the muscular layer and the connective tissue layer. The factors causing the two problems appear to be parallel. Since so many similarities exist the details of differences are not covered here. Diverticulosis is the condition of having small pouches in the bowel wall, usually in the colon. When these small pouches become inflamed or infected the condition is called Diverticulitis.

The easiest way to answer your question would be for you to read our detailed description of each of the ingredients of Absorb Plus – and compare them to the ingredient list in the products you’re talking about. Right there you’ll see the reason for the price difference. In whey protein alone (for example) there is a huge difference in protein quality, purity and bioavailabilty (i.e. how much the body can actually use and absorb), dependent upon the method of extraction used and the composition of the final whey isolate. Obviously, the better quality ingredients cost more, but the health benefits to you will be much greater.

The second issue to take into account is how much it would cost you to purchase all the same ingredients separately and mix them together – we researched this ourselves and it would indeed cost you much more. Then, if you add the cost of the all-natural flavors that Absorb Plus contains, the cost is even higher. So, basically, feel free to do your own research on the quality of our ingredients and you’ll realize that for the level of nutrition and bioavailabily (absorbability) you’re receiving, Absorb Plus is actually very fairly priced – and if you utilize the volume discounts available, it’s quite a good deal.

Absorb Plus is a completely gluten-free product. The maltodextrin in Absorb Plus does not contain gluten and is not related to barley-derived malt.
Unfortunately, we can’t tell you the osmolarity rating of Absorb Plus as we have not had it analyzed for that. However, we can tell you that maltodextrin (a major component of Absorb Plus) tends to absorb a lot of water so we expect the osmolarity rating of Absorb Plus would be high. Hence we advise people to drink an extra glass of spring or filtered water between shakes if you’re drinking several or more per day.
Absorb Plus does not actually “go bad”, rather, the vitamins simply begin to lose their potency after 2 years (2 years being the standard freshness period of Absorb Plus). In the 3rd year from the date of manufacture, Absorb Plus’ vitamins are probably at 80% of label claim, and the “freshness” of the flavour may also begin to lessen. The minerals, protein and other ingredients will still be within label claim for the 3rd year. Refrigeration is not necessary after opening and the product remains stable even after the cap is opened. Store in a cool, dry place.
Update: We have formulated an Unsweetened Vanilla Absorb Plus flavor.

Previous Response: We empathise with your problems, however, there are a few difficulties in formulating the type of product you are requesting:

1. ALL carbohydrates are sugars. Even the most complex carbohydrate, vegetable matter, plant matter, etc. when broken down (during the digestive process) is turned into a sugar. Therefore, it is not possible to remove the sugars from a nutrient shake, unless you remove the carbohydrate component – and then you might as well save yourself some money and just consume straight whey protein. You may wish to do this and it is possible to buy unflavored, unsweetened whey protein.

2. Also, just so you know, maltodextrin (a carbohydrate) is a specific molecular compound known as a glucose polymer – yes, in essence, a sugar, albeit one with a slower uptake into the bloodstream than glucose or fructose.

3. Your suggestion for an unsweetened Absorb Plus is a good one and we are looking at sweetening with Stevia (a herb that actually helps with blood sugar regulation). We have been unable to do so thus far due to FDA ruling, however, you never know what can happen…. Keep in mind though, that the product would still contain maltodextrin as in order to be a full nutrient shake, it must have a carbohydrate (sugar) component.

Have you looked into Wild Oregano Oil for controlling/ eliminating your Candida problem? It is extremely effective and also an anti-inflammatory, so good for people with IBD. You can find out all about it (and what specifically to look for when buying Wild Oregano Oil) by going to: www.joyofthemountains.com

No, it’s not really possible to make an elemental shake product that complies with the SCD. However, if you need some extra nutrition that’s still easier to absorb than a regular meal, the easiest thing would be to purchase just straight whey protein (we recommend Proteins+) and whip it in a blender with 1 tsp. – 1 tbsp. of Udo’s Oil and some allowable fruit and home-made yoghurt or water.
Absorb Plus is a pre-digested, liquid food product. Therefore, whilst consuming it, you will have liquid bowel movements – that feel and look like diarrhea, but actually are not. Also, liquid bowel movements feel more urgent and are often explosive. Again, this is not diarrhea, they are merely characteristics of having liquid bowel movements, because you’re consuming a pre-digested, liquid food.

If you take Natren brand probiotics (www.natren.com) whilst consuming the shakes, this can often reduce the urgency and explosiveness of bowel movements. Take as directed on the bottle(s).

You’re still gaining weight because you’re not actually having diarrhea (characterized by undigested, unabsorbed food passing rapidly through the GI tract). You’re still absorbing all of the high quality nutrients in Absorb Plus, thus your body is putting on good, solid weight. You’re simply having liquid bowel movements since you’re consuming liquid food.

The problem with an ELEMENTAL (pre-digested) product is that all the ingredients MUST be broken down into components that assimilate very quickly into the bloodstream (requiring very minimal digestion). ALL carbohydrates, when broken down, are composed of sugars. So unfortunately, there’s no way round this. If you leave out the carbohydrate component, then it’s very difficult to maintain your weight on it, and almost impossible to gain weight. Most people in need of an elemental product need to at least maintain their current weight and the majority need to gain weight. Hence Absorb Plus contains 56 g Maltodextrin (a glucose polymer) and 15 g Fructose (a monosaccharide sugar) per serving. The amount of Fructose in one serving of Absorb Plus is equivalent to that found in a medium size apple.

Because fructose must be changed to glucose in the liver in order to be utilized by the body, blood glucose levels do not rise as rapidly after fructose consumption compared to other simple sugars or even complex carbohydrates. For example, the glycemic load calculation for 10 grams of fructose is only 2. In comparison, the glycemic load for a slice of bread is 10, an apple is 7, and a cup of white rice 26. Fructose is not transported directly into the bloodstream after digestion and absorption, but is converted into glycogen in the liver where it is stored and used for energy at a later time. A recent trial demonstrated that no increase is seen in blood glucose after ingestion of fructose at 15 grams or less. This lowered glycemic response with fructose ingestion appeared to be most effective in those individuals who had the poorest glucose tolerance profiles. In non-diabetic individuals, fructose consumption results in little to no discernable rise in blood insulin levels.

References:
1.nsminger AH, Ensminger ME, Konlande JE, et al. Foods and Nutrition Encyclopedia .Clovis ,CA : Pegas Press; 1983.
2.Mann JI. Simple sugars and diabetes. DiabetMed 1987;4(2):135-39.
3.Uusitupa MIJ. Fructose in the diabetic diet. Am J Clin Nutr 1994;59(3 Suppl):S753-S57.
4.Shi X, Schedl HP, Summers RM, et at. Fructose transport mechanisms in humans. Gastroenterology 1997;113(4):1171-79.
5.Moore MC, Cherrington AD, Mann SL, et at. Acute & fructose administration decreases the glycemic response to an oral glucose tolerance test in normal adults. J Clm Endocrinol Metab 2000;85(12):4515-19.
6.Nuttall FQ, Khan MA, Gannon MC. Peripheral glucose appearance rate following fructose ingestion in normal subjects. Metabolism 2000;49(12):1565-71.
7.Moore MC, Mann SL, Davis SN, et at. Acute fructose administration improves oral glucose tolerance in adults with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2001;24(11):1882-87.
8.Osei K, Bossetti B. Dietary fructose as a natural sweetener in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: a 12-month crossover study of effects on glucose, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein metabolism. Diabet Med 1989;6(6):506-11.
9.Daly ME, Vale C, Walker M, et al. Dietary carbohydrates and insulin sensitivity: a review ofthe evidence and clinical implications. Am J Clin Nutr 1997;66(5):1072-85.
10.Dr. Michael T. Murray’s Natural Facts Newsletter 2/3/2004

Flora, the company that manufactures Udo’s Oil, provided us with this information in response to your question:

“This research was done in Germany, requested by FMD Ltd Independent lab testing certifies that the gluten level in Udo’s oil is about 3.6 ppm. At the moment the Codex Alimentarius (the UN/WHO’s expert body on nutrition) ruling is: Foods with less than 200 ppm of GLIADIN are “gluten-free”. Gluten is not one single protein as such, but a group of very similar proteins found in grains that are ‘sticky’ by nature. These proteins are called ‘glutenins’, but most of the time, people just use the term ‘gluten’ when describing them. It is not the gluten as such, that is toxic or allergenic to celiacs, but the gliadin in it. Gliadin is part of a gluten molecule, but exactly what percentage can vary between different glutenins. It is never more than a sub-fraction.
This means that according to the Codex, any foods with less than 200 ppm gluten can be considered gluten-free (from their point of view), because in order to get this amount of gliadin, you need a much higher gluten concentrations, as the gliadin is just a component of gluten.
So – at the moment – foods with less than 200 ppm gliadin can be called gluten free. There is some discussion on whether this limit should be lowered further, but right now, it does not seem possible to detect gliadin at levels lower than 20-40 ppm.”

And Udo Erasmus himself, (the formulator of Udo’s Oil) provided us with this information in response to your question:

1. The amount of oat germ/bran we use is very small. We use it in the oil blend to obtain phytosterols, which block cholesterol absorption and improve immune function. The oil blend contains 65mg of phytosterols—from several seed sources—per tablespoon of oil. Phytosterols are oil-soluble, and are therefore dissolved in the oil.
2. Proteins are not oil-soluble, and therefore remain primarily in the seed cake—the hard seed leftover that remains after oil has been pressed from seeds. Therefore proteins are not found in Udo’s oil, although a very small amount of protein-like material may be present.
3. The total amount of protein-like material in unrefined oils (as opposed to grains or seeds) is 0.05% or less.

In Udo’s Choice Oil Blend, the amount of protein-like material derived from oat germ and bran is miniscule, because oat germ and bran make up less than 2% of the total ingredients in the oil. At a tablespoon per 50 pounds of body weight per day, a 150-pound person would take 3 tablespoons, which would weigh 42 grams or 42,000mg. Of this, less than 840mg would be from oats. And of that, one half of one tenth of one percent (0.05%)—0.42mg or less—might be protein-like material from oats. And of that, a maximum of only 15% would be protein that could ‘offend’, which brings ‘offending protein down to a maximum of 0.07mg. Finally, that tiny amount of protein-like material is less offensive than an equal amount of offensive protein from wheat, rye, or barley.

Given the small amount of oats used, oat contamination by wheat is negligible. At worst, Udo’s Choice Oil Blend might contain a few nanograms (billionths of gram) of protein-like material from wheat.

If you have any further questions, you can either search the subject on PubMed Medline (there’s new research on oats and gluten), or contact Flora Manufacturing directly: www.florahealth.com

We have had several customers who experienced a rapid hearbeat on Absorb Plus shakes. Some doctors have theorized it’s due to the very rapid uptake of nutrients to the bloodstream. For all of the customers who experienced this, it was a temporary thing that resolved automatically when they stopped drinking the shakes (many were on an elemental diet, so consuming 6-8 shakes per day). However, please consult your doctor for more advice and to make sure it is not due to any other factor.
Consuming food in strictly elemental (pre-digested) form often causes bloating. However, this is temporary and disappears once you taper down the shakes and begin eating regular food again. Ways to minimize the bloating include supplementing with probiotics, and consuming the shakes at room temperature.
We have not had any reports of people’s blood pressure increasing from ingesting Absorb Plus. But if you’re concerned about it, the best thing would be to check with your doctor – since everyone’s condition is different.

The sodium level in Absorb Plus is set to provide a balanced profile of electrolytes – since many people consume Absorb Plus as their sole food source for several weeks, or months.

If you’re combining usage of Absorb Plus with regular food, then you may just want to decrease the amount of salt in your other foods, if this is a concern. But again, if you’re not sure, then please check with your doctor.

Many of our customers use Absorb Plus to recover from intestinal bleeding. And iron can trigger or exacerbate intestinal bleeding. This is why it has been left out of the formula and people can then supplement as needed.

Also, depending on the person’s size, they will consume anywhere from 3 to 10 shakes per day. Since iron is a very powerful substance, it would be very hard to set an amount that suited everybody and wouldn’t lead to iron toxicity for some.

We have a customer whose colon had been removed, plus he had short bowel syndrome (where a lot of the small intestine has been removed). Needless to say, getting enough nutrients is a challenge for him. He has used Absorb Plus regularly and ongoing for about 3-4 years now.

However, what he found helped was to also take some psyllium seed powder at the same time, to slow down the transit and bulk up the liquid. Otherwise the Absorb Plus would go through his system very rapidly. He would also take some L-Glutamine on an empty stomach to further assist – but he found the psyllium worked better for him than the L-Glutamine (which makes sense since L-Glutamine’s water-absorption activity is primarily in the colon). You could try this and see how it works for you.

No, the maltodextrin in Absorb Plus is derived from tapioca, not corn. However, when people have an allergy, it is usually the protein component of the food that they are allergic to. Hence an allergy to corn is usually to the protein component of corn. Maltodextrin contains no protein, only carbohydrate. Thus, many people with a “corn allergy” can tolerate Absorb Plus, since it does not contain any of the protein portion of corn. However, since everyone’s body is different, the only way to know for sure is to test it and see.
Thousands of people have successfully used Absorb Plus to date (and pretty much all people with IBD have some degree of Candida overgrowth).

Candida albicans is a yeast organism. And it is a natural and beneficial resident throughout our entire bodies – as long as it is in a healthy balance with other microorganisms.

The problem occurs when there is a Candida overgrowth. This happens for numerous reasons but it is often triggered by drug antibiotic or steroid use. These drugs kill off the good bacteria in the gut, which normally keep Candida in balance.

Like many microorganisms, simple carbohydrates (sugars) are also the preferred food of yeast organisms like Candida albicans.

Now, when it comes to healing gut disorders, the healing often has to occur in layers, because you just can’t treat everything at once – the body can’t handle it. So, compared to intestinal bleeding, malnutrition and malabsorption, continual pain, etc. Candida is definitely a ‘lesser stage’ problem and can be dealt with after the more serious symptoms are resolved.

This is because there is NO elemental product in existence that will not feed Candida – because ALL carbohydrates are broken down into sugars. So even if you ingest a fructose-free elemental product, the maltodextrin (or whatever else the carbohydrate source might be) will still feed the Candida.

Wild oregano oil and high dose probiotics combined should be sufficient to keep Candida in check whilst on an elemental diet – for some it is even enough to resolve the Candida issue.

If it doesn’t resolve the Candida issue, then the Candida overgrowth can be fully addressed after completing the elemental diet. My recent teleseminar with Dr. Carolyn Dean MD ND (Candida, Detox & More!) gives you exact instructions for how to accomplish this. Also, please see my blog post for an even more complete answer to this question.

No, there is no gluten in Absorb Plus. The maltodextrin in Absorb Plus does not contain gluten and is not related to barley-derived malt.
Whey protein isolate is not a whole protein, it is a peptide. According to some medical dictionaries, whey isolate is considered “elemental”, but according to others it is considered “semi-elemental”. While free form amino acids are considered elemental and more “hypo-allergenic”, they are often not useful for inducing disease remission, because the person cannot gain weight and address malnutrition using only free form aminos, which need to “piggyback” on a di-peptide (or higher) protein to be used for muscle growth. Many find they can tolerate our whey – because it is isolate and has no casein or lactose (the most highly allergenic components of normal whey). We do have sample sizes available for you to test.
We use a manufacturer who is cGMP (Certified Good Manufacturing Practices), they are also accredited with the NPA (Natural Products Assoc), have Kosher and Halal certifications, and they hold an Organic Food Processor Certificate (USDA Organic).

More info on ingredients is here:
Jini also wrote a detailed a detailed post on how our whey isolate is made:
Jini gives instructions about how to create your own elemental shake on pages 47 to 49 of her book, The IBD Remission Diet.
There is 18 mg of caffeine per serving (4 scoops) of Chocolate Royale. You can reduce this amount (if you’re avoiding caffeine) by using 2 scoops of Berry Fusion or Vanilla and only 2 scoops of Chocolate Royale. Many of our customers enjoy just 1 scoop of Chocolate Royale (7 mg caffeine) and then use an alternate flavor(s) for the other 3 scoops. By comparison, a Starbucks Tall Cafe Americano coffee contains 150 mg of caffeine. Green tea contains approximately 45 mg of caffeine per 8 oz serving.
That is because Tapioca Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate (a glucose polymer) and thus registers a “sugar” count on the nutritional profile. But there is no added sugar to Unsweetened Vanilla.
We asked our supplier the same questions and we were assured of the quality of the folic acid from their response:

“Regarding Folic Acid and Folates, there seems to be a common misconception that Folic Acid can only be synthetic. The misconception may have arisen from prior synthetic supplements being exclusively folic acid. The reality is that Folic Acid is simply one hydrolyzed form of folates.

Our product is a 100% USDA Organic extract of Organic Lemon Peel, stadardized to 5% Folic Acid. In this water extract, there are numerous different naturally occuring folates. These naturally occuring folates can spontaneously change to hydrolyzed forms of folates (such as folic acid) if the environment arounf them contains acidity or moisture. They can also spontaneously dehydrolyze if the moisture is removed and the pH rises.

The most advanced analytical lab testing currently available unfortunately alters the folates due to the relative ease with which they hydrolyze The results from that testing then are not accurrate for folates. They are, however, accurate for Folic Acid. That is why it is easier for us to standardize to Folic Acid (and call our product Organic Folic Acid), since the Folic Acid is easily detectable when the folates are hydrolyzed with the testing. Rest assured, the anhydrous form will have the naturally occuring folates.”

LTYG Shoppe

Every item we offer reflects our commitment to give you the best quality, service and value. If you’re not satisfied with your purchases for any reason, simply return any UNOPENED product (seal must not be broken) with a copy of the invoice within 30 days from the date of purchase for a prompt refund or credit, less original shipping charges. Product must be returned to this address only:

Listen To Your Gut Enterprises Inc.
1124 Fir Avenue, #202
Blaine, WA, 98230
USA

Important: We do not offer any refunds on items that were sent to you on ice (refrigerated shipping), like Natren probiotics, liquid fish oils, etc., due to the cold-storage requirements of the products.

This depends on whether you ordered products that require refrigerated shipping, or not.
If none of the products you ordered require refrigerated shipping, then your order will be sent out within 24 hours (weekends and holidays not included). Your order will arrive according to whichever shipping option you chose on the Order Form.
If you ordered a product like Natren probiotics, that has to be shipped on ice and arrive within 3 days time, the shipping schedule is as follows:

Refrigerated Shipping Required
Mid to West Coast USA orders are sent out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Mid to East Coast USA orders are sent out on Monday and Tuesday only.

International orders are sent out on Monday and Tuesday. We are willing to ship on Friday upon request to Australia, Asia, or the Middle East as well.

Yes, we do ship worldwide. For International orders, the following rules and restrictions apply:

1.We are prohibited by law from shipping some products to certain countries – we will contact you if you have ordered a product that we know we cannot ship to you. Otherwise, see point 2 below…

2.Do not order items that are illegal to import into your country. Laws vary from country to country. It is your responsibility to check with your Customs office to see if your country permits the shipment of our products.

3.If the package is seized by Customs for any reason and we do not receive the package back, we will not issue you a refund. If we do receive the package back after being seized and the products are in perfect condition, we will credit you the product cost, but you are still responsible for the shipping charges.

4.You are responsible for any customs duties or fees on your order, imposed by your country’s customs office. All orders are shipped from the USA.

Current countries we ship to include:

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bermuda
Brazil
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Guam
Guatemala
Holland
Hong Kong
Ireland, Republic of
Israel
Italy
Japan
Lebanon
Luxembourg
Mexico
New Zealand
Panama
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Singapore
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Venezuela

5.We have to calculate the cost for shipping Refrigerated or International orders (including Alaska and Hawaii) on a case-by-case basis – since it varies widely from state to state and from country to country. Therefore, our policy is to calculate the cost of shipping your order and automatically charge your credit card the cost of shipping so we can get your order out to you without delay. The charge typically varies from $36 – $110, depending on your state, country and the size of your order. If you wish to have a quote for the cost of shipping prior to ordering, please phone our customer service team at: Toll Free 1.888.866.7745 (US/Canada), or 1.360.977.5357 (Int) or email us at: service@HolisticHealthShoppe.com and we’ll be happy to give you an approximate quote.

You will receive an order confirmation email within 24 hours of placing your order. This email will provide you with the details necessary to locate your order. If you did not provide us with an email address, please keep your Order Confirmation number readily available from time of purchase. This will help us track your package for you. Additional charges will be applied if the delivery address is incorrect, or if the package needs to be forwarded to a different location.
We regularly stock every item we carry. Although every attempt is made to maintain inventory of each product, occasionally a product may be on back order. If any product is not in stock for an order, we will hold the shipment of your entire order until all products are available. All backorders will not be held after five business days. Any order placed on the weekends (or after 2pm on Friday) will be shipped on the next business day. Business days are Monday through Friday.
The easiest & quickest way is to order online.

If you are hesitant about placing your order online, you can phone in your order (operators on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days per week) to:
1.888.866.7745 (USA/Canada) or 1.360.977.5357 (Int)

Or you can fax your order to: Fax: 1.360.542.2250

Be sure and include your full contact information, mailing address and credit card information in your fax.
Please Note: The charge on your credit card will appear as Listen To Your Gut Enterprises Inc. – please make note of this to save us both time and hassle!

LTYG Books

Our in-store distribution network is not very large at this time. You can try your local alternative health pharmacy or metaphysical bookstore, but your best bet is still ordering directly from us.
We’d be delighted to give you a bulk/volume discount price on whichever books you order. The more books you order, the greater the discount. You can then sell the books at their regular price and pocket the difference. That way you make money, we make money and your customers/clients are satisfied. Please visit our Wholesale page for more information.
No, we’re sorry, we’re not accepting any manuscripts at this time.
Our discount rate for bookstores or wholesalers is 30% plus shipping (i.e. the bookstore pays the shipping cost), or, with a minimum order of 5 units, you will receive a 40% discount. Please quote the title, author, and ISBN number when ordering and send your order to:

Listen To Your Gut Enterprises Inc.
986 West 2nd Street
Building 12A, Bay 4
Ogden, UT, 84404
Tel: 1.888.866.7745 (US/Canada only)
email: service@listentoyourgut.com

In that case, Listen To Your IBS would be the most tailored for you – however, it is currently only available in ebook format (and it is a large book – about 400 pages). So, if you prefer a hardcover book, then you could buy Listen To Your Gut and we can send you the Listen To Your IBS ebook free of charge. Then you could just look at, or print, the few sections in Listen To Your IBS that are not in Listen To Your Gut.

Whichever book you buy, you will also receive free membership in JPT Wellness Circle for one month, so be sure to download the teleseminar Jini did with Dr. Carolyn Dean MD ND on Candida, Detox and More! as that will be very helpful for you.

I often get emails from people who are newly diagnosed, or they have just come across my stuff and they want to know how to proceed. So here’s what I generally recommend… These diseases are quite complex, so you have to do a lot of learning before you can formulate a treatment plan:

Go to ListenToYourGut.com and sign up for all my FREE STUFF, and subscribe to my blog. This will give you a good idea of my protocols and if this approach is right for you. You can download this Infoletter (from JPT Wellness Circle), which contains articles on common topics of interest and concern like:
* Chronic Illnessand the Family Dynamic
* What Initially Causes Serious Illness?
* Osteoporosis & Chronic Diarrhea
* Gluten-Free: Should You Be?
* Do You Have A Strong Enough Why? (to pursue holistic healing)
* How To Get Excellent Medical Care
The articles in this infoletter will also give you some good background and ideas: infoletter_issue_no3.pdf 
If my approach/protocols clicks with you, then buy the book, Listen To Your Gut and read it and use the Workbook that comes with it on the CD-Rom. This workbook takes you through the book chapter by chapter and by the end of it, you should have your treatment plan in place.

FissureHeal

FissureHeal suppositories are ultra-thin (only 1/4″ in diameter) for easy and comfortable insertion into even the most sore and traumatized rectum. We also made them extra-long (2″) so they can reach a tear or fissure that may be high up in the rectal canal. However, if you have a tear or fissure, or hemorrhoid that’s just in the anal area, you can simply break off the suppository to the desired length. This way, you can actually get 2-3 suppositories out of one 2″ suppository! To break the suppositories, simply snap off a piece with your fingers at the desired length, or, cut with a sharp knife.

1.Remove one suppository from the package. Leave as is, or, break off to the desired length.

2.Slide the suppository gently into your rectum using your fingers, either sitting on the toilet, or lying down on your side in bed. Push the suppository as high as it needs to go to reach the area of your rectal fissure. If your fissure or hemorrhoid is in the immediate anal area, then insert just into, or, slightly past your anal sphincter muscle (depending on where your wound is). Also gently push hemorrhoids back up inside the rectum, prior to insertion, if possible. If your fissure is near the opening of your anus, you may get some leakage, so wear underwear, or, sleep on a 100% cotton towel or pad.

3.The tip of the suppository will begin to melt within seconds of coming into contact with your anus, thus providing lubrication for insertion. However, if you find insertion difficult, then first coat your anus and the tip of the suppository with a lubricant like Vitamin E oil (recommended), an herbal salve, or KY Jelly. Do not use Vaseline or other petroleum-based lubricants.

We recommend you insert FissureHeal just before you go to bed at night (ideally after you’ve emptied your bowels). This way, the healing herbs have the entire night to work undisturbed. If your anal sphincter muscle is loose, you may need to sleep on a 100% cotton towel or pad to absorb leakage. You can also use up to 5 FissureHeal suppositories during the day in addition to the night time. Do not use continuously for more than 4 months at a time, then take a break of 2-4 weeks to allow your liver time to cleanse, and then resume usage if needed.

1. Store suppositories at room temperature (70 degrees Fahrenheit) or cooler, or refrigerate.
2. Keep out of reach of children.
3. Do not use more than 6 suppositories per day, or for more than 4 months continuously.
4. Each suppository is handmade with care, so shape and color may vary slightly.
5. Do not use if pregnant.

Each box of FissureHeal contains 12, 2″ long suppositories. If you have a rectal fissure, you’ll likely need to use the whole length of the suppository. However, if you only have an anal fissure or hemmorhoids, you can easily break each suppository to get 2-3 suppositories out of every one. Therefore*:

For Rectal Fissures or Fistulas:
1 suppository/night
12 day supply per box
For Anal Fissures or Hemorrhoids:
1/2 suppository/night
24 day supply per box

Professional herbalists and naturopathic physicians take a very different stance on Comfrey use from the established authorities. Many herbalists and NDs feel it’s safe to use Comfrey as long as you don’t use it continually, long-term. Therefore, they recommend you use it in moderate doses for 3-6 months, then take a break of 1 month to allow the liver to cleanse properly, then resume use for 3-6 months, etc. ongoing. Typical usage of FissureHeal suppositories should not exceed 4 months continually. Then, take a break of 2-4 weeks to allow your liver to cleanse, and resume usage if needed.
No, the Comfrey Root in FissureHeal is not generally recommended for use by pregnant women. However, you may want to consult your herbalist or naturopathic physician for further guidance.
Yes, it is. And it’s ultra-thin diameter means easy and comfortable insertion for even the smallest child – just break off at the desired length. However, do not use for more than 3 months uninterrupted. If you wish to use for longer than 3 months, then take a break of 4 weeks before resuming use. For babies under age 2, please consult your doctor before use.
2% of the population are allergic to any given substance. So, yes, when trying any new product or food, be alert for an allergic reaction and discontinue use if one appears.
Legally, because of the controversy over comfrey, we have to state on our label that FissureHeal is not for use by pregnant or breastfeeding women, and that’s our official answer.

However, please keep in mind that as the comfrey is in the rectum only, it does not go through the digestive system.

Also, I can tell you that Jini Patel Thompson – the formulator of FissureHeal – used it when needed whilst both pregnant and breastfeeding (she has 3 kids) with no ill effects. Obviously, this in anecdotal evidence only.

For safe usage guidelines, please consult your naturopathic doctor for his/her opinion (or a herbalist).

Yes, but please adhere to the following precautions. Try to push the suppositories to the right height inside the vagina and rectum so they lie right outside the wound on either side. If you get vaginal itching or other irritation, or suspicious discharge, either discontinue use, use less frequently (or break suppository to make it smaller), or douche with a warm/hot water solution every morning to cleanse the area and remove the residue. If itching or discharge persists, see your doctor to check for yeast or bacterial infection (which can be caused or exacerbated by too much moisture in the vaginal canal). Try to avoid intercourse to allow your fistula the chance to heal undisturbed. But if you do have intercourse, keep in mind that the ingredients may degrade latex condoms, so use additional birth and/or STD control. Do not use suppositories in the vagina (or douche) whilst pregnant.

MucosaCalm

Yes, it is. The herbal ingredients in MucosaCalm have to go straight to the intestinal lining, uninterrupted by the digestive process in order to be really effective.

Yes, it is. Please see our Usage Instructions for specific directions on dosage amounts for children, or, consult your healthcare practitioner.

2% of the population are allergic to any given substance. So, yes, when trying any new product or food, be alert for an allergic reaction and discontinue use if one appears.

To be on the safe side, you may want to continue on the maintenance dose for another month (just to cement your healing). And then for the next month, take the maintenance dose every other day. And thereafter, just take it when you feel you need it: if you eat foods that are hard on your system, or drink alcohol, or are going through some stress, then take MucosaHeal again for a week or so, just to help your digestive system protect and restore itself.

Yes, you can take MucosaCalm along with any prescription medications. Regular licorice is contraindicated for steroids, but MucosaCalm contains only Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice, so it is safe to take with any drug.

If you want to wean off the drugs (always wean gradually and slowly – consult your doctor about this) then you would take the maximum recommended dosage. Otherwise, just follow the dosage instructions according to your symptoms.

MucosaCalm provides excellent demulcent and mucilage activity for the mucosal lining of the small and large intestine. It is a 100% natural, herbal preparation that is ideal for people with Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticulitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, then you may benefit from using MucosaHeal: Inflammation, Intestinal bleeding, Pain, Cramping, spasming, Ulceration, Fissures, Fistulas

Usage of MucosaCalm should vary according to the severity of symptoms you’re experiencing. Many natural health professionals classify severe symptoms as those including intestinal bleeding and severe inflammation. Moderate symptoms are classed as those including minimal or sporadic intestinal bleeding and moderate inflammation.

MucosaCalm must always be taken on an empty stomach (1/2 hour before meals, or 2 hours after). If you can’t swallow pills, you can empty the contents of the capsules into water, or a non-acidic juice like apple or pear, mix well and drink on an empty stomach.

a. To help with severe symptoms:
Take 2 capsules on an empty stomach, 3 times a day. Then, take 3 capsules on an empty stomach right before bed. Ideally, empty your bowels before taking the 3 capsules at night.
b. To help with moderate symptoms:
Take 1 capsule 3 times per day, on an empty stomach. Then, take 3 capsules on an empty stomach right before bed. Ideally, empty your bowels before taking the 3 capsules at night.

Once your major symptoms/concerns have been resolved, or, if your symptoms are mild to begin with, take 2-3 capsules before bed, on an empty stomach. Ideally, empty your bowels before taking the 2-3 capsules at night.

For Children aged 2 and older, it is necessary to adjust the amount ingested in proportion to the child’s age. This can be ascertained using a popular formula called Young’s Formula:

Age in years
Age + 12= portion of adult dose

e.g.: correct usage for a 6 year old child would be:
6
6 + 12 = 1/3 of adult dose

Consult your health care practitioner for specific guidelines. For children who can’t swallow capsules, empty the contents of the capsules into water, or a non-acidic juice like apple or pear, mix well, and drink on an empty stomach.

Each bottle of MucosaCalm contains 90 capsules, therefore:

For Severe Symptoms:
9 caps/day, 10 day supply per bottle

For Moderate Symptoms:
6 caps/day, 15 day supply per bottle

Maintenance dose:
3 caps/day, 30 day supply per bottle

eBooks and Reports

First, try right-clicking on the link we sent to see if that gives you the option to open the document. If that doesn’t work, make sure you have the latest version of Adobe Reader (free download at get.adobe.com/reader). If you’re still having problems, here is a link to a Help page on Adobe.com.
If it is a zip file (the name ends in .zip), you should be able to open it by double-clicking it. Here’s an example of How to Unzip a File. If this doesn’t work, make sure that you have software such as WinZip or jZip (a free alternative) to open zip files. Or contact us at service@listentoyourgut.com, and we’ll be glad to help you.