[YEA]  05/16/2007: Wanda from East Bay, CA writes: "Have had some digestive challenges lately. Last night, used ACV in water just prior to a bowl of oatmeal. About an hour later, I swallowed a garlic capsule. This morning after swishing peanut oil for about 20 minutes, I drank the juice of one lemon mixed with about a TBSP of baking powder and water. My nose began to run. After a breakfast of French Toast, bacon, and strong coffee, there was an almost immediate cleansing. I'm not sure which concoction did the job, or if it was the harmonious work of them all. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks and kudos for the good advice.

I feel blessed"

[YEA]  05/12/2007: Dawn from Lebanon, INDIANA writes: "I have been suffering from partial bowel obstruction from adhesions due to a liposuction that went bad back in the 90's. I have suffered from severe pain, nausea and hemerroids due to the inability to fully cleanse myself out because of the blockage. This has been on going for the past 5 years. I would have an "episode" at least once a week, sometimes 2 and 3 times a week. The pain was unbearable and would literally take my breath away. Since I started taking one shot of ACV daily I have yet to have an "episode". I now have the best movements in years! I am completely amazed! Also, I suffer or should I say used to suffer from arthritis in my hips. I have absolutely no pain at all now and I know it is from the ACV because I haven't done anything else to remedy. I wish someone would have told me about this a long time ago. It is the simpliest thing in the world to do and it is all natural! God Bless Apple Cider Vinegar! If you haven't tried it, YOU SHOULD! Also, my complexion is glowing!"

[YEA]  09/30/2008: Sue from Santa Monica, CA writes: "I was having abdominal pain and burning last week just below the belly button to the right. I kept thinking it had to be muscle pain from doing stomach crunches at the gym, but then I had a repeating dream where the image of salad kept coming up and I woke up with the words "salad tongs" on my brain -- ha ha. So I realized duh, it was probably a partial food obstruction and my body was trying to get me to move it through. I usually avoid bread because of this issue (obstruction in the small intestine), but had eaten an entire thin-crusted pizza a few days before, thinking it would be okay. Not so!

First thing I did was start drinking a ton of water and eat salad (but of course) at every meal. Then I bought DGL (licorice extract) to help the inflammation and burning. The licorice extract stopped the burning in less than 12 hours (2 capsules, one morning one evening). Then I did my newly discovered "cleanse" which is basically to induce the runs by putting xylitol in my tea (see my previous post on xylitol's unexpected side effects!). 2 teaspoons later my system was cleaning itself out for the next 3 hours of everything in the bowels. Go xylitol! I am going to continue the easy to digest foods (chicken, salad, etc) and the licorice extract for a while but things appear to be back to normal.

I had a friend who also had been eating too much bread and was wondering why her uncomfortable bloated stomach wouldn't go away even though she was passing #2s just fine (no constipation). I told her it was probably an obstruction and to clean it out! She did some acupressure massage on her stomach and took a few teaspoons of flax seed oil and that did the trick. I wish more people would be aware that bread can cause this issue!"

05/12/2011: Gean from Salina, Ks writes: "What could be a cause of someone having 5 firm, large bowel movements in one day, when the usual number is 2 or 3? There was some dizziness and "not feeling right" starting after number 4 BM."

11/17/2010: Kile from Chicago, Il writes: "Hi everybody, I recently tried liquid diet, for 3 days and it really works. First I would try antibiotics for a few days that will kill some of the bacteria that you might have. Second I would try lots of water, with juices, green vegetables and cleansing teas. No meat, no dairy. Only liquid. Sometimes the food is stuck in you for years, that food needs to come out. Also to help with removing all that waste from inside you, use natural prunelax it will help you go to the bathroom and get the old stool out. And you are going to need, 80 billion probiotics (ultimate flora) and enzymes (digest gold). This will help clean your stomach, colon, and help digest food better. Also learn about Hydrogen breath and candida. Then go to a specialist to check your stomach and colon. Also get a blood test to check for ph. You must do alot of searching. Good luck."

[YEA]  03/10/2011: Joanie from Sydney, Australia writes: "Although not a typically a "shake" the psyllium husk and hydrated bentonite clay drink is nothing short of miraculous. I've been using the program of one level tbsp of psyllium husk and the same amount of hydrated bentonite clay in a glass of apple juice (fresh and/or organic recommended) for a month now, with results including better digestion and frequent/regular/daily and easier to pass bowel movements.

Unanticipated benefits include increased energy levels, decreasing fatigue and tiredness. Sleep patterns are more uniform, improving mild insomnia - this may be due to a healthier digestive tract and the associated absorption of toxins by the bentonite clay solution. Also find skin and eyes much clearer, with a marked reduction in redness on face. Stress levels lower but this may be due to a total overhaul of diet as well as the psyllium and bentonite clay shake compliment. Recommend regime at advice of your friendly Heath food outlet, nutritionist and/or doctor. Best to start with one shake per day on empty stomach followed by water(may be warmed to stimulate intestines if wanted) and adapting a healthy(ier) diet. Over next 1-2 weeks slowly increase from 1 to 2 shakes per day."

[YEA]  10/16/2011: Simran99 from Singapore writes: "What and when it happened: I was plagued with blood in my stool almost continously for 2 weeks.

How it happened: Was feeling constipated for a week already. Usually I have bowel movements daily in the morning. There had been 2 days this week that I haven't gone for 2 days in a row. Then I had a single episode of severe constipation where the stool was very very dry and borderline impossible to evacuate. Ever since that ONE super dry bowel movement, I realized I had pain in my anal area (feels like the outside region, outer skin), so I thought it may be either a hemmorid or anal fissure, not sure which one.

More details: There was fresh red blood (sometimes dripping) each time I had a bowel movement accompanied by pain when having a bowel movement. The pain scared me each time I went to the toilet. Went to the doctor after freaking out, doctor would not give hemmoroid medicine without putting a scope up my rear end (which I declined).

Medicines I tried: Lactulose. This medicine softened the stool effectively and made for easy evacuation but didn't cure the blood in stool or the pain problem, albeit the pain was lessened. Tried this for a week and gave up. Stopped this and got constipated again.

Other stuff I tried: Psyllium husk. That didn't work. Then tried the Salt Water Flush. The flush worked as intended but made no difference to my condition. Also tried Vitagen. Didn't work. Then tried Yakult, didn't work either. When doing this, I avoided white flour or products made from them. Not working, concluded high fiber, salt water flush and probiotics are not the solution.

What WORKED (within 2 weeks) : By chance I had to go home for the semester break and being at home I got some really healthy food, unlike the shop food I had to eat when outside (no choice). My mom put me on a raw food diet (mostly FRUITS, local fruits). And within 1 week I realized there was no pain or blood when having a bowel movement. Within one-and-half weeks, I realized I was totally cured from this thing.

Results: I knew I was cured because bowel transit time was significantly reduced to around 12 hours (measured later by intake of okra, the seeds, after being cured). I was sometimes having 2 bowel movements a day!!! Yes, I was taken by surprise. :-) The stool was as soft as colgate. No pain, no blood. (and remains the same today, eating normally (unhealthy etc. ), 2 months after curing myself)

Details of the cure: Note that I am a vegetarian so I don't eat meat, eggs or fish or their products. When doing the cure, I eliminated ALL processed foods. If its not raw and FRESH (exception for tea), It doesn't get past my mouth. Simple as that.

Morning Food: One red apple, one green apple, one pear, one orange, 3 small bananas, and occasionally a whole guava (get the super soft, super ripe one, specifics: "green apple guava"). Do this for breakfast and you will get bowel movements within the same hour. This pattern becomes consistent after a week.

Afternoon: 1/5th of a Papaya 1/5th of a pineapple 2 red tomatoes half a guava.

Tea time: 1 cup Green Black Tea Combo, 2 cups of green juice (made of water a bit of each-> cabbage chinese parsley super very little leeks (strong taste) kale celery). Drink slowly based on how much liquid you can tolerate. I can finish the whole thing in one go.

Dinner time: Green juice (like tea time) again. Then food like afternoon (replace the guava with a mango).

Do this for 2 weeks...... And that's how you PERMANENTLY cure a bleeding anus. :-)

Side Effects: If you have constipation, it will be cured. Do not do this if you want to remain constipated."

02/09/2012: Jenifer from Los Angeles, Ca writes: "What is up when one's poop is viridian green?"

04/20/2010: Wanda from Ruckersville, Va writes: "Does anyone have a cure for a twisted colon. I go thru periods of severe cramping. The colon became twisted on it's own so surely there must be a way to untwist it naturally."