Signs of anorexia and bulimia are similar and include a swollen neck, erosion of enamel on back teeth from excessive vomiting, broken blood vessels in the face, underweight, extreme weakness, dizziness, cessation of menstruation, low pulse rate and blood pressure, Self-starvation, deliberate vomiting, and/or taking huge doses of laxatives. Some anorexics just quit eating, some vomit, some take laxatives, and some do all three. Laxatives can deplete the body of potassium and cause irregular heartbeats, which can lead to heart failure. Nearly all victims of anorexia die prematurely. Many cases of anorexia require hospitalization in which intravenous nutrient feedings of potassium and multivitamins are given to the anorexic.
In Bulimia, the appetite may actually be increased and vomiting is induced after eating binges, Overexercising is often a problem for bulimics. They binge on foods and then try to burn up the calories through exercise.
Royal Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment
1. Establish a regular eating pattern. Eat three small meals daily and, if possible, at the same time each day.
2. Avoid processed foods (e.g., white flour products), refined foods (e.g., white sugar products). (See “Allergy--Foods”.)
3. Increase you consumption of fiber. This can be in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables. Oat bran, brown rice, and psyllium husk are also good sources of fiber.
4. Avoid social poisons such as coffee, tea, and tobacco (See Smoking Addiction”) as these can all depress your immune system and stress your adrenal glands.
5. Check your thyroid function by measuring your basal body temperature. This is done by placing a thermometer under your arm for approximately 10 minutes before arising from bed on two consecutive days. For menstruating women, this is best done at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. The average basal body temperature should be greater than 97.8 degrees. If not, a trial of natural thyroid should be considered (See “Hypothyroidism”.)
6. Get your hormone levels checked. This includes estradiol, testosterone, and DHEA. DHEA, an adrenal hormone precursor, is often low in anorexic patients. If supplementation is needed, natural hormones are available from plants, without the side effects of synthetic medicines and can help to support the adrenal glands.
7. Bulimics need their serotonin levels elevated to reduce their cravings for simple carbohydrates. The amino acid tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin and can help to correct this problem if serotonin level is low. Tryptophan is available in the form of 5-hydroxy tryptophan from a compound pharmacy.
8. Heart rate variability testing, an assessment of heart rate variations, can reveal if an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system exists. The autonomic nervous system regulates our subconscious bodily functions such as digestion. An imbalance in the ANS can now be treated with non-cognitive biofeedback (i.e., recycling of heart rate variations).
9. Supplementing with minerals such as Zinc and Potassium is essential. A zinc deficiency can be confirmed by a zinc taste test. If zinc deficiency is suspected, then zinc should be taken in doses as high as 100 mg daily for two weeks before decreasing to a lower dose of 15-30 mg daily. Acidophilus will help replenish friendly bowel flora lost from laxative use. Free form amino acids may be needed for repair of damaged tissues. Vitamins C and B-complex can help reduce stress levels. Antioxidants A and E help aid the immune system and increase oxygen uptake for healing. Vitamin B12 and liver injections may be necessary for digestion foods and assimilation of all nutrients including iron.
10. The following herbs are appetite stimulants: alfalfa, ginger root, ginseng, gotu kola, and peppermint.
11. Homeopathic remedies to consider include: Aranea Diadema (for cramps after eating a little), Arsenicum Album (if the sight and smell of food can not be tolerated), Avena Sativa (to stabilize the nervous system), China (for weakness due to loss of body fluids), Iodum (if appetite is increased), Lycopodium (to stimulate appetite), Phosphoricum Acidum (for physical and mental exhaustion), Sulphur (for general cleansing action).
12. Gentle skin detoxification through a medical spa with steam sauna, infrared sauna, and/or contrast shower.
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