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Curing Bulimic Disorders

Updated: 07/17/2009

"Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by recurrent binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors, referred to as "purging". The most common form—practised more than 75% of people with bulimia nervosa—is self-induced vomiting; fasting, the use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics, and overexercising are also common.
[...]
Bulimics go through cycles of over-eating and purging that can be very destructive to the body. These cycles often involve rapid and out-of-control eating, which may stop when the bulimic is interrupted by another person or the stomach hurts from overextension, followed by self-induced vomiting or other forms of purging. This cycle may be repeated several times a week or, in more serious cases, several times a day, and may directly cause: * Perimolysis, or the erosion of tooth enamel by gastric acids. * Oral trauma, where habitual insertion by fingers or other objects cause lacerations to the lining of the mouth and throat. * Chronic gastric reflux after eating. * Esophagitis, or irritation of the esophagus by frequent contact with gastric acids. * Dehydration and hypokalemia due to loss of fluids and potassium depletion. * Swollen salivary glands." (Wikipedia)

DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

ALOE VERA AND OMEGA 3 OIL

1 YEA

[YEA]  03/04/2007: Sophie from Canberra, Australia writes: "Hi I have had Bulimia for about 5 years but the side effects got so bad that I was forced to recover. Unfortunately,I feel I may have done some permanent damage to my stomach lining. I get bloated after eating pretty much anything and If I eat Garlic or other acidic food I feel really sick and after a few hours of severe pain will start vomiting. The remedy that has helped is drinking pure aloe vera juice and taking aloe vera supplements. This mainly relieved the stomach pains and bloating. My digestion has improved gradually. I found that essential fatty acids in oil form helped such as flax oil or fish oil, even olive oil. The ideal oil would be Udo's oil which is a combination of all these oils and more. Udo's oil is also anti inflammatory which was great. UIts usually in the fridge section in health food stores. There is alot of info about it on the net too."

11/14/2008: Cindy from L.A., C.A. replies: "I have had bulimia since I was 13. Now being 17 I finally have endured the pain and damage I have done to myself. I began to have serious heart problems, following with extreme heartburn, and constant reflux of everything I ate. Hiding this disease I blocked it out and forgot about it. A few months ago I started feeling different. Heart flutters, heartburn, I couldn't even breathe, and was prescribed albuterol, which I refused to take. Recently I came upon this site looking for some natural help with this situation and luckily I found some. I have begun a food diary and began drinking pure aloe vera juice(breakfast, lunch, dinner) it seems to be slowly healing my eating track. After lunch I follow with a huge tablespoon of flax oil. (Thanks sophie!) I believe I can overcome these health problems. It is a constant struggle, but I feel I am on the right track for a healthy body finally."

PROBIOTICS

1 YEA

[YEA]  03/04/2009: D from Lisbon, Iowa writes: "Good Probiotics will help Bulimia: I have read that bulimia is a systemic fungal condition. I was a bulimic for more than 5 years and it was not until I started a health program that included probiotics that I was able to resist the compulsion. You should be on the phase one antifungal diet, (see the FAQs on the "Know the Cause" web site). You should also look at natural antifungals, ACV, neem, caprylic acid, etc. A good probiotic is essential, I like Natren, Now PB8, Nature's Way, and Garden of Life. Find the one that works for you and take it with a big glass of water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, immediately upon awaking . Give yourself as long as possible before you eat anything else or drink anything else. Take your shower, exercise whatever. I believe the connection to artificial sweeteners and bulimia to be true, and you must stop all of them. The only sweetener I trust is stevia, (I like the sweet leaf brand with inulin). I have seen other bulimics with almost pathogenic addictions to aspartame, (nutrasweet) and this makes sense to me. It is possible to change and resist the compusion. I ruined my teeth, and I regret every minute doing it, believe me when I say I know what you are going through. Glutamine, digestive enzymes, a good multiple vitamin and aloe vera taken internally would also be really important to consider taking.

Good Luck To All "

READER COMMENTS

1 QUESTION

[QUESTION]  01/21/2009: Jenn from Toronto, Canada writes: "I need help though i am getting better but there are times when i go on purgin period for months. I was fine for 8 months and then bulimia came back in september and till now i have not been able to stop. everyday i promise today i am going to stay healthy but when i go buy food i land up buying wrong stuff. I am vegetarian so i always buy noodles and lentils ( i find they are easy to throw up) but i am getting tired and lot of time i waste doing this, instead i could be studying. please help me. there are days when i only eat fruit like 10 grapes + 3 strawberries and half a banana. can someone tell me ways i give this up bulimic episode."

01/22/2009: Rosy from Orlando, Fl replies: "Join a support group. You maybe able to meet up with people who can help you through the hard parts, and make life long friends."

01/23/2009: Gean from Salina, KS replies: "I have had some experience with bulimia, and am convinced it is caused by nutritional deficiencies (different people respond to deficiencies in different ways - depending on genetics - some get asthma, some skin problems, etc.) By deficiencies I don't necessarily mean you are not ingesting enough nutrition, though very possible, but that all the right nutrients are not being absorbed for some reason. Try large amounts of acidophilus (like at least 30 billion per day - check out Puritan's Pride on line). Increase to this slowly as the detox might be too much. This will help nutrient absorption. Also, remember that refined food such as ramen noodles and refined sugars will cause vitamin/mineral deficiencies, which causes food cravings, and the cycle goes on. Whole foods, whole grains, fruits, veges, and nuts, flax seed, daily exercise in fresh air and sunshine, plenty of rest esp. before midnight, plus the good probiotics (acidophilus) should help a lot.

I believe bulimia is a medical, psychiatric problem, due to hormonal, nutritional imbalances, instead of a psychological or spiritual problem. It's impossible to talk yourself out of asthma, same with bulimia. It's like nailbiting due to anxiety. You may cure that particular behavior with enough incentives, but it will pop up in some other area, unless you deal with the root problem. God bless you."

12/16/2008: London from Sandusky , OH writes: "Hi. I was bulimic for awhile after I had my daughter. Guys, it's bad news. I only did it for like a month and a half, but in that short time, I got a real picture of how bad it is for you. It was about 4 months after I gave birth. I gained some weight. More than what I was use too. I was a skinny girl before I had a baby. It sounds cheesy, but after watching a documentary on Bulimic girls on Cable, instead of being discouraged. I decided to try it. I was extremely neurotic about my weight gain at this time.

Anyway, First off, it's difficult to throw up, or rather, make yourself throw up, when your body is not prepared too, in other words, if your not sick, or nauseous. It was difficult, it took me a good half an hour to bring, ANYTHING UP. It was so hard. Girls, I feel so sorry for you. It sucks!! After words, I felt guilty, and went through emotional changes, negative.

I also had heart palpitations. It was the scariest feeling. They stopped after I stopped purging. Please don't do it. I gradually lost the weight over time, and now I'm skinny again. Bulimia is not the answer."

SUPPLEMENTS, MASSAGE

1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  07/17/2009: Jules from London, UK writes: "I have suffered with bulimia for 15 years, I have kept this a secret from nearly everyone. It has only been recently that I have recognised the need for help and told my doctor. I do not believe in Western medicine for many reasons and choose a holistic route to my health.

I take iodine in the form of kelp tablets to assist with chronic fatigue, I also take 50mg of zinc and 1000mg of vit c per day. I drink 2 litres of water and try not to use sweeteners as they are so destructive. I use sea salt on my food to give me potassium, without the requisite levels of salt (not processed) in your system you cant absorb water, however much you drink.

My parter practises Bowen therapy and this has done wonders for me, and has made me really want to give my disgusting habit up. I also use a bioptron lamp on my neck twice a day to assist the damage done and to improve the functioning of my thyroid. Have yours tested as it is probably underactive; leading to more horrible symptoms. Rubbing sea salt into your scalp will help with hair loss and dry hair, as does treating your hair with olive oil (cold pressed) as a hair mask.

Finally eat lots of protein to help your system rebuild and stay away from white sugar, it is evil and poisons your system. I hope some of this helps."

THE ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER LINK TO BULIMIA

1 YEA

[YEA]  06/27/2008: Susan from Phoenix, AZ writes: "During the early 80's I had an eating disorder. It was not to the point where I would throw up however I could eat a dozen donuts and then go out for pizza. It was like there was no shut off. Then I would fast and run and work out to undo the damage. One Thanksgiving I ran 11 miles in the pouring rain after dinner then went back in and ate half a pie.

I attended a health fair and there was a speaker there-a PHD specializing in anorexia and bulemia. I told her what was going on and she asked how much diet soda I drank a day. It was considerable amount. I drank it instead of eating after a binge. She told me to not use sacharrin again and the problem would go away. It affected the appetite she said.

So I stopped using saccharine and the problem cleared right up."

06/28/2008: Robn from Rural, VA replies: "Susan, I had a nearly identical experience at just about the same time. There was no end to my apetite. I was also consuming other artificial sweeteners. My favorite at the time was nutrasweet. I did however recognize that it was making me depressed and zapping my energy. I never linked my eating disorder to the artificial sweeteners, but managed to get myself out of it by changing my diet, and using the artificial sweeteners did stop with that."

WATER AND FLAX SEED

1 YEA

[YEA]  10/01/2007: Shannon from Glen Burnie, Maryland writes: "I was bulimic for ten years. I severly messed up my stomach and colon. I was taking mass amounts of laxatives and have been severly constipated. My solution is drinking 8-10 cups of water (works better than any prescribed laxative) and I eat flaxseed meal on my yogurt. I also have eliminated fats because it's the hardest thing to digest and i get violent muscle spasms after I eat it. I also eat no flour and sugar because I have a food addiction. I also have to excercise because it stimulates the colon and helps to relieve constipation. My only problem now is my chronic fatigue. I still am so weak some days- even after 2 1/2 years of not binging and purging and I don't know why I still so weak."

05/24/2009: T.K. from Hayward, CA replies: "YEA, I was builimic for several years since I moved to USA from INDIA. In humid weither in INDIA I used to drink lot of water, when I came to drink water because of dry weither.Yes water will help you . Also avoid tea, cofee, cocoa,s oda as they draw essential nutrients from your body and make you dehydrated."