The American Chiropractor Volume 36, Issue 6 | Page 59

VISCERAL STRESS
MANAGEMENT
composition of mucous varies slightly in different areas
of the gastrointestinal tract, but its functions are universal:
Adheres to the surface of the food
Coats the wall of the intestine and prevents food
from directly contacting it, thus allowing the food
particles to slide easily over the surface of the
epithelium
U sed to form the fecal masses
Resistant to digestion by digestive secretions
Capable of buffering small amounts of either acid
or alkaline
Hypochlorhydria and Inhibition of Stomach Acid
Production
Reduced gastric acidity appears to make the stomach
more vulnerable to bacterial invasion. The body responds
to bacterial overgrowth by triggering an inflammatory
response that involves the release of white blood cells.

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Inflammatory responses are characterized by symptoms
of fever, redness, swelling and pain. Animal studies show
that inflammation of the stomach lining coincides with
production of pep tides, called cytokines, which stimulate
production of a hormone called gastrin. Gastrin triggers
the production of more hydrochloric acid in a futile effort

Digestive dysfunctions
cause muscle contractions
primarily in the upper abdomen.
to kill off the invading microbes. In other words, if you inhibit
stomach acid production, you interfere with the body's natural
defense mechanism.
While 75% of people with gastritis test positive for Helicobacter pylori, other species of bacteria can also trigger inflammatory changes and co-exist withH. pylori. Other major types
of bacteria identified included Lactobacillus, Enterobacter,
and Staphylococcus. But, H. pylori is the only organism in the
stomach that cannot be killed by hydrochloric acid.
Next month we move on to production of stomach acid and
its influence on involuntary muscle contractions and related
structural problems.
Dr. Howard Loomis has an extensive background