What exactly is Leaky Gut? Leaky gut syndrome (LGS) is a clinical disorder associated with increased intestinal permeability (leakage through the intestinal walls). "Disease enters and leaves man as through a door," wrote French philosopher Georges Canguilhem more than half a century ago - illustrating the notion that still exists today that disease is a distinct "thing" that exists apart from the human body.

Sadly, this same view prevails today towards the millions afflicted with the invisible disorders stemming from digestive disorders and chemical exposures.

While our ancestors attributed their maladies of unknown origin to demonic possession (evil spirits), we now openly discuss disease-generating microorganisms and their consequences. With multiple allergic response syndromes (MARS) and environmental illness, a not so different opinion has emerged among conventional physicians, families, insurance companies and employers - an opinion that those suffering the symptoms of MARS have some sadistic demon that brings on these "invisible" symptoms, therefore, the illnesses cannot demand recognition in a conventional medical world that must have double-blind studies, an "official" clinical name, and a drug for it's symptoms before validating its existence.

The generalizations and varied symptomology makes for a confused patient and healthcare provider.

With MARS, a very different opinion is finally emerging - that disease is not a separate entity, but a changed state of the organism, a disturbance of the natural equilibrium or harmony of the body systems. This is not a novel new idea. Since the time of Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, various remedies were prescribed to restore the body's natural balance. Although these two views of disease appear to be incompatible, both are valuable in understanding how to reverse MARS. What is equally important to note is that the insight of the past decade declares that all diseases are both genetic and environmental.

Most individuals that have acquired MARS are looked upon as chronic expostulates (complainers) - nothing a prescription for an anti-depressant medication wouldn't cure, according to most conventional physicians! The few physicians and healthcare practitioners specializing in environmental medicine mostly deal with the patients' symptom-care, neutralization medications and environmental modifications. What is grossly overlooked is the importance of detoxifying the internal organs of the liver, intestines (large and small) and the lymph system of toxic substances.

Equally important is the purging of often-repressed emotions of pain, grief, anger and unresolved traumas - reducing the overall toxic load of the individual, mind, body and spirit.

Only when detoxification of these organs and emotional traumas are addressed and resolved can there be true lasting reversal of symptoms and a return to the natural equilibrium of the body systems. As expressed by the late Dr. Hazel Parcells, "cleanse the body and mind, give it the right building materials and nature will heal and rebuild."

The most overlooked organ that must be cleansed in order to treat the underlying symptoms of MARS and facilitate reversal of the disorders associated with the resulting maladies of leaky gut syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), psoriasis, and chemically induced immune system disorders is the large intestine. This organ, of approximately five feet in length in the average adult is a virtual breeding ground for toxic substances to which the body is subjected. The digestive system, which includes the small and large intestines, is a direct connection to all allergies, not just food allergies. Proper digestion assists the body in clearing out toxins. When digestion becomes impaired, or in leaky gut syndrome where toxins are distributed into the blood, the body loses its ability to dispose of foreign substances and the immune system become overwhelmed and reactive.

Attention has been focused on the small intestine and the connection to MARS, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, especially as it relates to the disorder of leaky gut, clinically known as intestinal permeability. This is where the villi (brush borders) of the small intestine are weakened and allow toxic material and food particles to permeate and enter the bloodstream. What is not often discussed is the leaking of toxic matter from the walls of the large intestine (colon). Celebrities will go on national television and allow the country to view a colonoscopy being performed on them, for the sake of early detection and education; politicians do television commercials discussing the latest drug for erectile dysfunction (ED), and we now openly discuss breast and prostate cancer, safe sex and menopause. However, our colon is a subject most are not comfortable discussing. The colon is intimately connected through an elaborate system of veins and venules into the liver, through a portal venous system, and the lymphatic system through the cisterna chyli. The more appropriate name for leaky gut syndrome would be auto-intoxication.

Leaky gut is the process by which the body literally poisons itself by maintaining a cesspool of decaying toxic matter in the colon. There are trillions of cells associated with the human body - 90% are bacteria and micro-flora microorganisms living in the large intestine. According to the late nutrition expert, Dr. Bernard Jensen, "Bacteria in our intestinal tract weigh nearly 3 ½ pounds, and are metabolically active." The toxins released by the decay process circulate into the bloodstream and travel to all parts of the body. Every cell is affected, and because the toxins weaken the entire system, autointoxication and many forms of "incurable and diagnose defying" diseases get their start in the colon. Still another source of intestinal poisons is putrefaction of the portion of the proteins from food that fail to undergo absorption as a result of an enzyme deficiency.

Intestinal poisoning not manifesting immediate visible effects present themselves in invisible disorders such as MARS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, lupus, arthritis, and gulf war syndrome to mention a few. Eventually the chemicals produced by putrefaction are so poisonous they irritate the delicate lining of the large intestine and destroy the protective barrier keeping out the invading toxins. Damage from the chemical toxins is so destructive the colon walls become leaky and allow penetration through the damaged barrier into the lymphatic and circulatory systems, especially through the hepatic portal vein directly into the liver.

The lymph nodes acting as filtering stations, detect foreign and potentially harmful substances in the lymph fluid. The lymph nodes act like spongy filter sacks, and are part of the lymph system. Lymph fluid in an adult equals one to two quarts, and accounts for 1% to 3% of total body weight. This is basically the body's secondary circulation system, and thus toxic substances are circulated throughout the system directly through the lymph ducts and nodes connected to the small and large intestines. Lymph vessels are located throughout the body and are more numerous than blood vessels. The lymphatic system, four times larger than the blood circulatory system, provides the means for each individual cell to get rid of waste. Lymph handles only cell wastes; however, when the blood is also dumping waste toxins from the intestinal tract into the lymph system via the liver, the lymph becomes overworked and its filtering/neutralizing function is dramatically decreased. This buildup of toxic lymph fluid is what contributes to the inflammation and pain in the soft and connective tissue disorders as in fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndromes.

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