CLASSIFYING THE IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME: TRYING THE COMMON-SENSE APPROACH – MASSAGE EXTERNAL & WIND – MOUNTING PRESSUREMassage ExternalMassage with oil (olive is good) from the right groin up and above the navel then down the left side; continue for ten minutes. This also helps to break down and eliminate toxins. Another way is to rub the abdomen with the lightest possible touch in a clockwise circle; there is no need to undress. It is surprising how much gas is released from the stomach with this simple exercise.InternalLaughing is a good internal massage, but if you are full of wind your sense of humour will probably have deserted you. Controlled abdominal breathing is also helpful.Wind – Mounting PressureIt is not only trying to pass a hard motion that causes pain; a colicky pain can be experienced when the bowel is trying to move the hard faeces through the colon, or when wind which cannot escape causes the bowel to stretch to a point where it contracts in protest and causes a sharp pain.In a Yorkshire churchyard apparently there is a headstone which offers words of wisdom on this subject:Wherever ye be let the wind go free For stoppage of it was the death of meSound advice, but not always possible when you are constipated.*14\326\8*

A. Correct. The rectum is simply a continuation of the large bowel or colon, and is the storehouse of the remnants of the food we have eaten, minus the nutrients and water which have been sucked up by the blood stream and used by the system. Material will remain in the rectum until a convenient time arises when it may be eliminated. This is termed defaecation, and the material excreted is technically referred to as faeces, or stools. It is interesting to note that faeces comes from an ancient Latin word which means “the dregs” — for correctly, it represents the dregs which were useless to the system. It is also commonly known by a more euphonious word stools, which comes from an ancient Anglo-Saxon word “stol” which means seat — for most Australians use a seat when defaecating — although in many eastern countries they still squat.

This, in reality, is a more natural method of elimination, and allows the muscles to work far more normally and naturally. Some eastern toilets are a cultural shock to Australians who travel abroad. Foot plates are present, so is a hole in the floor, but no seat — you simply squat down and hope for the best!

Q. Isn’t cancer becoming a major hazard with the large bowel?

A. The answer is a very definite ‘Yes’. In fact, many doctors claim that numerically speaking, cancers in this situation are growing quicker than in any other organ. Cancer, or carcinoma (to use the doctor’s term) is fairly common in the colon, as well as the next part of the bowel, the rectum. It is more likely in older people, specially those 45 years and more. That is the bad news. The good news is that we have on hand extremely effective methods of diagnosis today. We use x-rays, plus an ingenious device called the colonoscope. This enables rapid, early diagnosis, and it also enables effective treatment which in many early cases is extremely effective and definitely life-saving.

Q. What about diverticulosis. We seem to hear a great deal about this today.

A. That is another disorder of the large bowel. It means that small outcroppings like little balloons occur along the walls of the colon. The condition is called diverticulosis. Sometimes, if food and germs are trapped in the pockets, they become infected. These may produce considerable pain, a bit like appendicitis. Early diagnosis and treatment are effective, but it may be recurring and cause a lot of discomfort. I might add that the modern day use of unprocessed bran — chook food (as I call it), or fibre, which sounds much more euphonious, is often effective in checking symptoms from developing.

Q. What about the anus?

A. The rectum leads into a narrow tube called the anal canal, at the end of which is the anal sphincter or valve. This opens and closes voluntarily, so that material may be excreted under one’s conscious will. Sometimes if the contents are very watery, and there is excessive bowel activity (called peristalsis) such as with severe bowel infections, it may be difficult to control the valve and accidents may take place.

This is also common in infants, and it takes babies some time — usually around 18 to 30 months — to develop voluntary control over the anal valve. Incidentally, there is a great deal of social one-upmanship on baby’s bowel actions. Many young mothers claim they have “trained” their infants by the age of six months. But they are really fooling themselves. Simply because they manage to place a potty under little Sean just as he defaecates, this is not an indication of successful training. His nervous system has not developed to this point before at least the time span given above. So, good though these efforts are, little Sean will be like most of the other little fellows in the neighbourhood, and will learn proper bowel control when Nature decrees!

Q. So that is the story of the G.I. system, and some of the events that take place on a regular basis.

A. Correct. It is a wondrous system. The remarkable fact is that despite the way in which it is abused by the owners, it will continue to function in a magical manner. Heave down a terrible array of foodstuffs and fluids, and it will continue to stoically perform year in and year out. Finally it may rebel, but usually only when major abuse takes place for many years. In the main, it functions smoothly.

Q. Well, what now?

A. We plan to discuss some of the more common and more important disorders of this wondrous system. Because it affects so many people, it is our plan to concentrate for some time on the stomach and duodenum, and speak specifically about peptic ulcers. So, stay with us, for if you are an average Australian, there are very high chances that you will be an ulcer victim. It may only be a matter of time. In fact, you — the person reading this booklet right now — probably have an ulcer gnawing at your vitals!

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