The number one supplement for digestive complaints is ZYPAN (#8430, 90 tablets and #8480, 330 tablets). When I see someone who complains of indigestion, gas, constipation, poor calcium or iron absorption, bad breath, or possible parasitic exposure, ZYPAN is my first suggestion. It's inexpensive and usually produces immediate results. ZYPAN is a pepsin and hydrochloric acid (HCL) supplement. There is also some pancreatin and ammonium chloride. The number one sign that you could benefit from ZYPAN is intestinal gas. Gas forming microorganisms can only live in an alkaline gastrointestinal tract. The bowel should never be alkaline, and in a healthy person it is always acidic. Take ZYPAN after meals, anywhere form 3-9 a day.

One of the most misunderstood conditions is heartburn. Most people think this is caused by to much acid in the stomach but it is usually the result of not enough. The acid keeps the lower sphincter of the esophagus (LES) closed and when the stomach becomes more alkaline the sphincter weakens and allows acid to rise up into the esophagus. Increasing the amount of acid in the stomach during digestion usually will reverse this condition. Most important for digestion is the enzyme pepsin, which consequently can only activate in the presence of a very low pH (2 or a 3). So we need the acid level to be high for all the magic to happen.   In cases where there are already ulcers present, first we need to heal the ulcers with GASTREX (#4605, 90 capsules) take 2-10, minimum, before meals and then once the ulcer is healed we can add ZYPAN.  

GASTREX contains absorbent montmorillonite clay, okra, chlorophyll and silica to soothe and heal an irritated stomach. Usually 2 weeks of GASTREX is all that is needed before you can start up with ZYPAN.

I have many patients who are vegetarians and they do not do well on ZYPAN, so for them we we ENZYCORE (#4060, 150 capsules), which contains Bromelain for protein digestion, Glutamine for intestinal lining support, Kale, Beet Powder, amalyse, maltase, glucoamaylse, lactase, lipase, peptidase, and protease. Take 1-2 capsules with your meals.

All these products will help in the short term, 3-6 months but eventually you need to help your digestive system make it's own enzymes. The best way to do this is with herbal bitters. DIGEST FORTE (#M1226, 40 tablets) contains Gentian, Ginger, Tangerine (fruit peel and cold pressed essential oil), Wormwood and Feverfew. These herbs stimulate gastric juice output and appetite, support healthy digestion and intestinal function, promote healthy gastrointestinal tone, cleanse the liver, increase bile flow and promote normal response to environmental stresses. I will switch patients over to DIGEST FORTE for long term support. I will tell the patients to suck on the tablets until they can taste the Gentian coating, which will be very bitter and then swallow it. I give these to the elderly and children because they work and are so safe. It may take longer to produce results as the patients own body starts to produce enzymes but it is a better long term product.