Guide to Alternative Medicine and the Digestive System

Anil Minocha, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF, CPNSS is a nationally known physician with board certification in gastroenterology, internal medicine, and nutrition. He is also fellowship trained in clinical pharmacology and medical toxicology.  He grew up in India and received his medical school training at PostGraduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak, India. He underwent further education and training in various medical institutions in the United States, including Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and Michigan State University in Lansing.  Dr. Minocha has served in various capacities at different institutions including Director, Division of Digestive Diseases at 2 different medical schools in the United States. In addition to 6 books, he has authored or co-authored over 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals.  Dr. Minocha believes in the old adage, “We are what we eat” and that our digestive system is intimately involved with the health or sickness of systems throughout the human body. What we put into our gut, which is a micro-universe of trillions of bacteria, and how we live with respect to our surrounding environment goes a long way in determining our healthy state versus sickness.  In addition to lectures to physicians across the United States, Dr. Minocha has been interviewed and/or quoted on a variety of topics in different media on numerous occasions including TV, radio, and magazines such as Ladies Home Journal, GQ, Good Housekeeping, and Natural Health.   Dr. Minocha currently holds the rank of Professor of Medicine at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and OBVAMC in Shreveport, Louisiana.

“Dr. Anil Minocha is well-known for writing useful, practical guides for quality care. His newest text, A Guide to Alternative Medicine and the Digestive System is no disappointment. This is an eloquent and elegant evidence-based approach to a challenging area.”-Jack A. Di Palma, MD, University of South Alabama, Former President of the American College of Gastroenterology“Dr. Minocha is to be applauded for his courage in tackling an issue, CAM, that the medical profession has traditionally chosen to ignore in the hope that it would simply go away. That CAM has stubbornly refused to disappear is a testament to its popularity with the general population and demands that we take it seriously, analyze why it is used and by whom and critically assess its efficacy and risks. For providing us with an accessible, fair and comprehensive critique of CAM in the context of modern medical practice, we all owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Minocha."-Eamonn Quigley, MD, University College Cork, Ireland , Former President of the American College of Gastroenterology

• Dedication Acknowledgments About the Author Preface Section I Introduction Chapter 1 Why Patients Are Frustrated Chapter 2 Popularity and Status of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Section II Digestive System and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Chapter 3 Pivotal Role of the Digestive System in Health Section III Humans Are Superorganisms Chapter 4 A Bacterial Universe Within Our Body Chapter 5 Bacteria May Actually Help: The Science Behind It Chapter 6 Human Microflora and Chronic Diseases Chapter 7 Role of Probiotics in Health Maintenance Chapter 8 Select Probiotics Available on the Market Chapter 9 Prebiotics and Synbiotics Section IV Leaky Gut Syndrome Chapter 10 Leaky Gut: Fact or Fiction? Chapter 11 Disorders Associated With Leaky Gut Section V Types of Complementary and Alternative Therapies Used Chapter 12 Overview of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies Chapter 13 Acupuncture Chapter 14 Aquatic Therapy Chapter 15 Aromatherapy Chapter 16 Ayurveda Chapter 17 Biofeedback Chapter 18 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Chapter 19 Energy Medicine Chapter 20 Fasting Chapter 21 Homeopathy Chapter 22 Hypnotherapy Chapter 23 Manipulative and Body-Based Therapies Chapter 24 Mindfulness and Meditation Chapter 25 Prayer and Spirituality Chapter 26 Traditional Chinese Medicine Chapter 27 Vegetarianism Chapter 28 Yoga Section VI Dietary Supplements Are Not Always Safe Chapter 29 Regulation and Safety Concerns Chapter 30 Side Effects of Select Supplements Chapter 31 Potential for Hepatotoxicity Chapter 32 Herb-Drug Interactions Chapter 33 Potential for Interactions With Cancer Treatment Section VII Some Commonly Used Nonherbal Supplements Chapter 34 Antioxidant-Vitamin Formulations Chapter 35 Vitamins Chapter 36 Minerals Chapter 37 Melatonin is not Just for Sleep Section VIII Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders Chapter 38 Esophageal Disorders Chapter 39 Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy Chapter 40 Peptic Ulcer Disease Chapter 41 Helicobacter pylori Chapter 42 Functional Dyspepsia Chapter 43 Gastroparesis Section IX Lower Gastrointestinal Disorders Chapter 44 Irritable Bowel Syndrome Chapter 45 Ulcerative Colitis Chapter 46 Crohn’s Disease Chapter 47 Role of Probiotics in Diarrhea Chapter 48 Nonprobiotic Management of Diarrhea Chapter 49 Antibiotic- and Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea Chapter 50 Constipation Section X Feeding Disorders Chapter 51 Anorexia Nervosa Chapter 52 Bulimia Nervosa Section XI Cancer Chapter 53 Diet and Cancer Chapter 54 Lifestyle Factors and Cancer Chapter 55 Micronutrients and Cancer Chapter 56 Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Cancer Chapter 57 Role of Prebiotics and Probiotics in Cancer Section XII Liver Chapter 58 Phytobotanical Treatment of Liver Disorders Chapter 59 Select Ayurvedic Remedies for Liver Disorders Chapter 60 Select Chinese Treatments for Liver Disorders Chapter 61 Nonherbal Treatments for Liver Disorders Chapter 62 Prebiotics and Probiotics in Liver Health Section XIII Biliary and Pancreatic Disorders Chapter 63 Biliary Disorders Chapter 64 Acute Pancreatitis Chapter 65 Chronic Pancreatitis Section XIV Healthy Nutrition Potpourri Chapter 66 Weight Loss Diet That Reduces Mortality Risk, Too! Chapter 67 Quinoa: One Complete Vegetarian Food Chapter 68 All Yogurts May Not Be Probiotic or Equal Chapter 69 Fish Type and Risk of Mercury Toxicity: All Fish Are Not the Same Chapter 70 One Must-Have Healthy Spice/Herb in the Kitchen: Turmeric Index