Unfortunately, most people know almost nothing about the pancreas or pancreatic enzymes and are unaware of their importance in digestion and maintaining health. Much attention is paid to the liver and gallbladder; the pancreatic gland is a forgotten organ.
Many are aware of the role of the pancreas in the development of diabetes, but have no idea that the pancreas and pancreatic enzymes break down food products into an absorbable and usable form for the body. Without proper digestion, good health is impossible. Even the healthiest diet will be of little value if the pancreas cannot produce the correct amount of high-quality digestive enzymes to break down food for optimal body function.
No matter what we eat, we consume mostly protein, fat, and carbohydrates. To convert these basic food groups into material that our body can use, we need to have three types of enzymes present in our body. They are:
o Lipase, which breaks down fat
o Protease, which breaks down proteins
o Amylase, which breaks down starch.
The pancreas is of primary importance for our digestive system, since it secretes lipase, amylase and protease. To do this, the pancreas needs minerals, trace elements, bicarbonates, and vitamins to function properly. On the other hand, the deficiency of these vital nutrients leads to pancreatic insufficiency, which generates a vicious cycle. The utilization of minerals and vitamins depends on the enzymes, and the enzymes depend on the presence of minerals and vitamins.
If pancreatic enzyme production is hampered, the entire body is affected. Life could not exist without digestive enzymes and proper digestion.
The pancreas is regulated in two ways.
First, by the nervous system.
Second, by the digestive hormones secretin and cholecystokinin.
Like Pavlov’s salivating dogs that react to the dinner bell, the pancreas is affected and activated by what we see, hear, smell, and touch with the tongue. Partially digested food (chyme) that moves from the stomach to the duodenum (beginning of the small intestine) triggers the formation of two hormones, secretin and cholecystokinin. These hormones are carried by the bloodstream to the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. The role of secretin and cholecystokinin is to carry information about the amount of undigested protein, carbohydrate, and fat found in partially digested food, as well as the amount of bicarbonate that is needed to neutralize stomach acid. The healthy pancreas provides the exact amount of its own digestive enzymes needed to finish the job.
Pancreatic enzymes work only when the pH of the intestine is slightly alkaline. Food that comes from the stomach has been acidified, so the body must also provide enough alkalinity for the enzymes to work. Smoking, alcohol, drugs, some medications, Candida yeast overgrowth, and aggressive, toxic bile suppress pancreatic cells and prevent them from producing the necessary amount of quality digestive enzymes.
In summary, the conditions that cause the pancreas to malfunction are:
o Nervous system disorders, stress and anxiety, “eating on the go”, etc.
o Problems with the manufacture and release of the digestive hormones secretin and cholecystokinin.
o Deficiency of minerals, microelements, bicarbonates and vitamins
o Severe acidosis – heartburn of the whole body
o Toxic substances inside and outside the body.
o Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
o Fatty pancreas
o Pancreatic juice backup after pancreatic duct obstruction (gallstones, inflammation, cancer, parasites)
o Trauma, surgery, cancer, etc.
Many of these problems overlap one another and can cause anything from hidden pancreatic insufficiency to complete shutdown of the functions of this vital organ. This is why the symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency are so varied. Millions of Americans suffer from a variety of gastrointestinal disorders including abdominal pain, cramps, gas, bloating, malnutrition, altered bowel habits, foul-smelling stools, etc. Many of them have pancreatic insufficiency and do not realize it. Those who suffer from this disease can eat a healthy diet, but the nutrients in the food will not be used by the body; their bodies literally starve. Without adequate amounts of high-quality digestive pancreatic enzymes, people suffer from a deficiency of essential minerals, trace elements, and vitamins. They are continually tired, develop chronic illnesses, and age prematurely. At worst, they develop pancreatic cancer.
In the United States today there is only one way to help people with pancreatic insufficiency by giving them artificial enzymes for their bodies made from plants, fungi, or animals.
However, there is an additional treatment modality that promotes proper pancreas function in people, even in severe pancreatic insufficiency.
Many European physicians send their patients with chronic pancreatic disorders to healing mineral spas or sanatoriums. Balneotherapy (mineral water treatment) is the medical science taught in European medical schools and doctors there are very familiar with it. There are numerous healing mineral spas throughout Europe and each year thousands of sick people spend their holidays in resorts with access to mineral springs. Some insurance companies even cover this procedure.
The most popular European mineral spa for pancreatic insufficiency is the Czech city of Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad). It has been a well-known international healing center since the 18th century. Patients call Karlovy Vary mineral water the “healing gift of the earth” or the “miracle mineral water”. People from all over the world have traveled to Karlovy Vary and stay there for one to six months to drink Karlovy Vary Healing Mineral Water for various types of chronic gastrointestinal, liver and metabolic conditions.
A hundred years ago, Karlovy Vary spring water was transported in barrels and bottles across Europe for those who could not afford treatment abroad. In 1764, European doctors realized that the mineral content of this water was its most beneficial property. Karlovy Vary started producing the salt from evaporated thermal spring water which made it possible to distribute Karlovy Vary thermal spring salt around the world for home treatment. The Czech doctors determined that the water made with the genuine salt from the Karlovy Vary thermal spring had the same healing actions as in the spring.
Karlovy Vary Healing Mineral Water is among the best-studied remedies in the world. Hundreds of clinical texts, articles, dissertations, and books have been published documenting the positive effects of water on both animals and humans. Most of them were published in Czech, German, and Russian, so they are unknown to American medical professionals and the public.
Researchers have concluded that this water can reduce symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency by improving the function of the pancreas. Clinical and experimental findings found that water:
o Promotes the production and release of digestive hormones in the duodenum and naturally regulates the digestive process throughout the gastrointestinal tract.
o Restores the deficiency of essential minerals and microelements such as magnesium, potassium, selenium, zinc, etc. and bicarbonates
o Promotes the secretion and elimination of pancreatic juices
o Increases the activity of pancreatic enzymes in the duodenum.
o Normalizes the acid-alkaline balance of the body and pancreas for the secretion of alkaline pancreatic juices
o Improves digestion and absorption of food.
o Decreases inflammation and swelling of the pancreas.
These effects are caused by the unique and beneficial complex composition of potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, sulfates, bicarbonates, chlorides, and trace elements such as zinc, cobalt, selenium, lithium, copper, in ionic and easily digestible form.
The mineral content of Karlovy Vary mineral water made from genuine Karlovy Vary thermal spring salt is close to the mineral content of human plasma. Fortunately, this mineral water, compared to other mineral waters, does not contain toxic heavy metals.
To successfully treat pancreatic insufficiency with Karlovy Vary mineral water, it is necessary to follow particular instructions regarding temperature, quantity of drinking water, frequency and time of consumption.
Despite its popularity with patients in Europe, this therapy is still largely unknown in the United States. Karlovy Vary mineral water treatment makes it beneficial to many different healthcare professionals: physicians, naturopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists, herbalists, nutritionists, colon hydrotherapists, and hundreds of thousands of people with pancreatic insufficiency.
The information in this article is presented for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a qualified licensed professional.
