The pancreas is an elongated and tapered gland that lies across the back of the abdomen behind the stomach in the loop of the duodenum. It secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum and hormones, such as insulin, into the blood stream.
Digestive enzymes are released from the cells of the pancreas into a network of ducts, including the pancreatic duct. The pancreatic duct joins the common bile duct at the Sphincter (valve) of Oddi, where both ducts flow into the duodenum. That is why all inflammation or difficulties with bile elimination influence pancreatic functioning.
The enzymes secreted by the pancreas aid in digesting proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Most of these enzymes are secreted in an inactive form and are activated in the duodenum. The pancreas also secretes large amounts of sodium bicarbonate, which protects the duodenum by neutralizing the acid that comes from the stomach.
Abundant digestive enzyme production and elimination are crucial for maintaining optimal health. Our diets are composed of protein, fats, carbohydrates, sugars, and fiber. We need the appropriate enzymes (protease, lipase, amylase, and cellulase) for digestion. The enzymes break down the foods we consume into particles small enough to pass through the intestinal wall and be absorbed by the cells.
Within the cells, the molecules of food are converted into usable energy. If the Pancreas diminishes digestive enzyme production, none of the food we eat can be properly absorbed and assimilated by the body. A full plate does not always translate into a healthy body and vital life, particularly if adequate pancreatic enzymes are lacking.
Pancreatic enzymes serve several other important functions. For example, the proteases are largely responsible for keeping the small intestine free from parasites, including bacteria, yeast, protozoa, and intestinal worms (1). Pancreatic enzymes also facilitate recovery from tissue damage, injury, and inflammation. They are essential in breaking up inflammation caused by trauma, infections, allergens, and toxins.
- The production of digestive enzymes is diminished by the following:
- Deficiency of essential minerals, trace elements, bicarbonates, vitamines
- Processed and refined foods that contain preservatives, chemicals, and pesticides
- Saturated fat, “trans” fat, sugar, and animal protein accelerate the aging of the pancreas
- Age
- Alcohol, certain medications, recreational drugs, toxic chemicals
- Gallbladder, bile ducts and liver diseases
- Candida-yeast overgrowth, Small Intestines Bacterial Overgrowth-SIBO, parasites
- Stress
- Pancreatitis
How do you know if you are deficient in pancreatic enzymes? If you have allergies, fatigue, fullness, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, bile reflux, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, slow recovery from injury, food allergy of food sensitivity, inflammatory diseases, weight problems, or IBS, you most likely have a pancreatic enzyme deficiency. Besides eating raw foods and enzyme supplementation, there is another way to promote pancreatic function.
For hundreds of years, Europeans with poor function of the pancreas or chronic pancreatitis have been drinking Karlovy Vary Healing Mineral Water (KVHMW).
Virtually unknown in North America, this unique mineral supplement contains a variety of essential minerals and trace elements in an easily digestible form.
The Czech town of Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) has been a famous international healing resort since the 1700s. Europeans call the town’s mineral water the “healing gift from the earth” or the “miracle mineral water.” Visitors throughout Europe and Asia journeyed to Karlovy Vary for one to six month stays to drink the Karlovy Vary Healing Mineral Water (KVHMW). It became quite renowned as a healing remedy for chronic conditions.
KVHMW was so beneficial that research was done to manufacture the salt from the evaporated thermal spring water. In 1764, an inexpensive method was discovered that made genuine Karlovy Vary thermal spring salt. it made possible to distribute the KVHMW r throughout the world. Czech doctors determined that the water manufactured from the genuine Karlovy Vary thermal spring salt had identical healing properties as at the spring. The healing mineral water prepared from the genuine Karlovy Vary Thermal Spring Salt is safe, effective, and affordable.
The salt is a unique, ecologically clean product that is manufactured at the Karlovy Vary thermal spring.
KVHMW has been successful in healing such conditions as chronic hepatitis, fatty liver, early stages of cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, esophageal and gastric reflux, diverticulosis, constipation, postcholecystectomy syndrome, and parasites.
100 years ago, KVHMW was the only possible way to treat diabetes, obesity, gout, stomach ulcers, pancreas and liver problems. Today it remains a very important complementary approach for healing these disorders. There is no other mineral supplement in the world like KVHMW. The first research about KVHMW was done over 500 years ago. Since then, hundreds of clinical texts and articles have been published describing the positive effects of the water on both animals and humans.
Czech scientists found that the water can promote the secretion and increase the activity of pancreatic enzymes (2, 3). Research has proven that enzyme activity is increased in healthy volunteers, people with chronic pancreatitis and patients after gallbladder removal.
It was also confirmed in experiments on animals with fistula (tubes) in the pancreatic duct. In all these studies, KVHMW increased not only the amount of pancreatic juices, but also the activity of pancreatic enzymes. This action continues for lengthy periods when drinking KVHMW (2, 4, 5, 6).
KVHMW has the following positive effects on the pancreas and pancreatic digestive enzymes:
* Supplies the pancreas with essential minerals and microelements for manufacturing the digestive enzymes (2). Many enzymes require the presence of metal ions for activity. The metal cofactors most frequently used as enzyme activators are magnesium, manganese, zinc, potassium, iron, copper, calcium and cobalt.
- Supplies the pancreas with bicarbonates, the main alkaline ingredient of the pancreatic juices (2). Pancreatic enzymes work only in an alkaline environment.
- Increases secretion of pancreatic juices (7).
- Increases digestive activity of pancreatic enzymes (3).
- Promotes the manufacture and release of digestive hormones in the duodenum, regulating the digestive process in the gastrointestinal tract and liver (2). The hormones signal the pancreas the amount of the enzymes and bicarbonate that will be needed to digest protein, sugars, starches, and lipids arriving from the stomach.
- Neutralizes high levels of gastric acid.
- Promotes the secretion of bile by the liver cells and elimination of bile throughout the hepatic and common bile ducts, and gallbladder (2, 8, 6).
- Opens the Sphincter of Oddi, decreasing pressure in the system, promoting secretion and elimination of pancreatic juices, and decreases inflammation and congestion in the pancreas (9).
Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that can be caused by liver and gallbladder dysfunction. Difficulty eliminating bile can cause a blockage in the pancreatic ducts and predispose the pancreas to congestion and inflammation. A liver or gallbladder disorder causes high pressure into the pancreatic ducts, causing congestion and chronic pancreatitis.
Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis fall into two patterns. In one pattern, persistent mid-abdominal pain is present. With the second pattern, as the condition progresses, cells that secrete digestive enzymes are slowly destroyed. It leads to malabsorption with weight loss and bulky, greasy, foul-smelling stools with oil droplets.
KVHMW has been used increasingly throughout Europe in the treatment of pancreatic diseases. Patients with chronic pancreatitis or a damaged pancreas after surgery have experienced clinical improvement, confirmed by ultrasonography, and blood and stool tests (10). Drinking KVHMW alleviates dyspepsia, malabsorption, and loss of fat with stool (Steatorrhea).
Researchers concluded that KVHMW can reduce the complications of the chronic Pancreatitis by:
Promoting the production of liquid bile that eases bile elimination by the liver (3, 8, 11).
Decreasing inner pressure in the common bile and pancreatic ducts by restoring proper function of the Sphincter of Oddi (8, 6, 10).
- Decreasing congestion in the pancreas (2).
- Promoting elimination of pancreatic juices (10).
- Reducing inflammation and microbial invasion (12, 13).
- Restoring friendly, beneficial intestinal flora (14, 15, 16).
- Replenishing essential minerals and trace elements, such as magnesium, calcium, and zinc (17).
- Normalizing the acid-alkaline balance for proper secretion of alkaline pancreatic juices (2, 10).
Chronic Pancreatitis is very difficult to treat. KVHMW can greatly improve the condition and prolong life.
References
- Murray, M.J. (1997). “Stomach ailments and digestive disturbances.” Prima Publishing, Rocklin, Ca.
- Benda, J. (1997). “Karlovarsky Mlynsky Pramen.” Domaci pitna lecba. DTP-servis mariuuskelazue.
- Benda, J. (1966). “Vliv Karlovarske mineralni vody na vylucovani zluce.” Praha. Disertacna praca.
- Benda, J. (1969). “Quantitative and qualitative verandlpungen der lebersecketion bey langerdaurrnder Anwendung des Karlsbader mineralwassers.” Karlsbader Med. Rev. Pp. 21-28.
- Gutenbruner, C. & Hildebrandt, G. (1994). “Handbuch der neilwasser Trinkkuren.” Sountag verlag Stuttgart. P. 3655
- Benda, J. (1967). “Treatment of biliary disease in Karlovy Vary.” Rev. Czech Med. Pp. 1-15.
- Benda, J. (1996). “Pitna lesba v laznich (Mechanisms pisobenl prirodnich mineralnich vod).” Rehabilitace a fyzikalni lekarstvi, 3(3). Pp. 117-126.
- Benda, J. (1966). “Vliv Karlovarske mineralni vody na vylucovani zluce do duodena. I Studie cholekineticheko ucinku pomoci casovane duodenalni sondy.” Cs. Gastroent. Vyz, 20(2). Pp. 73-77.
- Keslir, M., Niederle, B., Benda, J., & Grunner, O. (1980). “Prospektivni studie klinickeho vyznamu rehabilitace nenochych po cholecystektomi lazenskym lecenim v Karlovyych varech.” Gastroent. Vyz, 34(5). Pp. 291-299.
- Solc, P. (2000). ”Karlovarska lazenska leba a medicina na prelomu.” 20. A21. Stoleti. Galen, Praha.
- Benda, J. (1967). “Die wirkung des Karlbader Mineral wassers aufdie Bildung and Ausscheidung der Galle.” Osterreichishe Arztezeitung. Pp. 74-79.
- Benda, J. & Jezdinsky, J. (1978). ”Antiphlogistische wirkung der Karlsbader mineralwasser. I. Wahl der methoden und verfahren bey der Durchfuhrung der Versuche.” Balneol. Bohem, 6(4). Pp. 108-114.
- Benda, J. & Jezdinsky, J. (1978). ”Antiphlogistische wirkung der Karlsbader mineralwasser. II. Einfeuss der peroralen Applikation des Karlsbader mineralwassers auf verschiedene Typen der experimentellen Entzundung bei ratten.” Balneol. Bohem, 7(1). Pp. 1-5.
- Sounenborn, U. & Greinwald, R. (1991). ”Beziehungen zwischen Wirtorganismus and Darmflora.” Stuttgart.
- Zdichynec, B. & Benda, J. (1986). ”Prispevek k otazce transportu mineralu a vody sliznici tlustero streva u habitualni obstipace.” Fysiat. Vestrik, 5. Pp. 292-297.
- Zdichynec, B., Svorcova, L., & Prochazka, D. (1983). ”Kvantitativni zmeny mikroflory tlusteho streva vlivem piti Karlovarskych mineralnich vod u nemocnych s chronick ou obstipaci a po cholecystectomii.” Cz. Gastroent. Vyz., 37. Pp. 161-169.
- Skapik, M., Skala, I., & Kyral, V. (1973). ”Die storung des mineralhaushaltes bei malabsorption zustanden und ihre beeinflussung durch die komplexe Kurbehandlung.” Balneol. Bohem, 2. Pp. 102-114.