Milk Soy Protein Intolerance: A Mother's PerspectiveWritten by Tamara Field
I first learned of Milk Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI) in office of a pediatric gastroenterologist's office with my seven-week-old son, Max. After first week of his life Max lost weight and was labeled "failure to thrive." As an educated mother and nurse I was devastated that this could happen. That day in GI specialist's office, he performed a proctosigmoidoscopy and biopsy on Max. He sat me where I could see him perform test and told me what I would see. He said that lining of bowel would be red, swollen and bleeding, and it was. I just sat there and cried. After test was over and I could hold Max, Dr. Mack told me that MSPI was indeed what Max had and that I should stop breastfeeding right away and put him on a special formula. He told me that there was a diet I could follow if I wanted to continue breastfeeding, but that it was very stringent and difficult. Wanting to make best choice for my son, I stopped breastfeeding that day and started him on Alimentum. The results were dramatic. After one bottle of Alimentum he slept for 2 and 1/2 hours straight; longest he had ever slept. After learning all about MSPI with my first son, I was more determined that ever that I would 'master' MSPI diet and breastfeed my second child. So, I set out to grocery store with a list of forbidden ingredients in my hand. Gradually, after many hours spent standing in aisles of grocery store reading labels, I began to find dairy-free, soy-free substitutes for foods I might normally eat. All information I collected and recipes I tried, with my husband's encouragement, were compiled into a book: The Milk Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI) Guidebook /Cookbook which was published in fall of 2001. We also have an informational website for MSPI: http://www.MSPIGuide.org. Milk Soy Protein Intolerance is diagnosed by pediatricians, family physicians and specialists in pediatric gastroenterology. It seems to be more highly prevalent in midwest, but throughout country it is given different names, such as: protein intolerance, food protein-induced colitis or eosinophilic gastroenteritis. MSPI is diagnosed through history of an irritable infant, or colic-like behavior, poor growth and abnormal (blood streaked) stools. Some infants will exhibit frank blood in their stools. Confirmation of diagnosis is often made with a biopsy of intestinal lining which would show an increased amount of eosinophilic cells, eroded intestinal villi and presence of hemorrhagic tissue. It is thought that intestinal lining cannot properly digest proteins (milk and soy) therefore they are taken up into blood stream where body treats them like an antigen and produces antibodies mimicking an allergic response. The intestinal tract then recognizes ingested proteins as it would an allergen and intestinal lining reacts by becoming inflamed, often shedding blood into stool. Some blood may be visible in stools and other blood detected by occult blood testing. The lining of intestine, then, becomes further damaged as it is continuously exposed to these proteins. No one really knows why occurrence of MSPI is prevalent in United States and especially more prevalent in midwest region, but one of theories has to do with our more 'sterile environment.' We, in United States are so preoccupied with keeping our environment clean and free of germs. In other countries, especially those of third world, infants and children are exposed to so many other more serious bacteria, toxins and allergens that their tolerance may become greater due to increased exposure. It also seems that occurrence of MSPI is congenital; if one child has it, chances are very high that subsequent children will have MSPI and that it may be more severe.
| | Healing the Cherished OnesWritten by Margaret Loris, The Sunhealer
I get emails nearly everyday from people all over world, asking me for my healing assistance with their pet companions. For past few days I have been meditating on ways to reach out and inform pet owners as how to heal their cherished ones. I received some great guidance from animal kingdom today to get started. This morning, as I was washing my car, a huge monarch butterfly swept past me, as its vibrant orange wings touched my upper arm. I felt like we were making contact, a safe way for butterfly to greet me. A few minutes later, I saw butterfly, lying on its side, barely moving its wings. Then thought suddenly occurred to me that this beautiful creature had been asking me for help. I gently took my left pointer finger and held it close to butterfly, saying a prayer to my Creator, asking for his healing. I allowed gentle healing energy to move through me. A few seconds later, butterfly took its antenna and touched my finger. I felt him begin to use his antenna to suck energy out of my finger. As I continued watching, his two tiny forelegs made contact with my finger. They tickled it at first, then I could feel strength in his tiny legs increase. A moment later, butterfly took capture of my finger, and held on tightly. I could still feel energy being drawn up out of me. I allowed this new friend of mine to have as much healing energy as he wanted.
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