Coeliac Sprue

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Coeliac Sprue-hit patients should not eat gluten-based food.

 

Coeliac sprue is a genetic condition and involves irritability and allergic response of the small intestine to gluten.


It may sound very familiar to many, of the bloating sensation of the abdomen after eating a little, an urge for stool immediately, and in some cases constipation or vomitings. More often than not if these symptoms were to last for a while one would be treated for Amoebiasis and if a trigger were to be found in the form of a particular food when taken; would probably termed as an Irritable Bowel Syndrome.


Fair enough these are all the symptoms which fall into the usual syndrome. But if under regular medication if there is not much respite and there is a recurrence and a loss of weight of the individual inspite of eating well your physician would well consider the possibility of Coeliac sprue.
Say no to gluten


Coeliac sprue is usually a genetic disease running in families and involves irritability and allergic response of the small intestine to a substance called gluten. This is found in wheat, rye and barley and thereby a person with this response cannot eat the regular grains, pasta, cereals and many processed foods.


The lining of the small intestine which contains fine protrusions called villi absorb the nutrients from the broken down foods and promptly transfer them to the blood stream to the appropriate places of body building and nutrition. But in persons with this condition the villi are damaged by an auto immune response wherein the metabolism wrongly identifies it as something deleterious to them and destroys it. This causes the lack of the particular nutrients from the body and over a period of time there is a nutritional disturbance.


The iron deficiency leads to unexplained weakness, fatigue, anaemia. Since calcium is not properly absorbed it leads to bone pain and thereby early arthritis or degeneration of the joints.


The lack of enough Vitamin B causes recurrent mouth sores, tingling and numbness of the feet and later even depression and anxiety. Folic acid is not properly assimilated which causes missed menstrual periods, infertility and even miscarriage.


With all the complications that it can cause it is imperative that sprue needs to be treated. As such to start with foods rich in gluten like barley, rye and wheat be avoided. Other wheat products like flours should be avoided even as processed foods like candies, potato chips, soups and sauces which contain this ingredient should be abstained from.

 

Homoeopathic medicines like Ars alb, Merc sol, Sulph, Calc phos etc. have been known to help in healing of the affected villi of the small intestine while also gradually reducing the auto immune response of the body. Meanwhile remedies like Hydrastis, Kali mur and Kali chlor help in gradually improving assimilation. Even as the patient is under medication wheat alternatives in the form of rice, sago, potatoes, nuts, legumes, soy and seeds can be taken which will prevent any nutritional deficiency.

 


Dr.Venugopal Gouri
drvenugopal@gmail.com
92463 72625 (mobile)