Mention
What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is a chronic (long-term) digestive and immune disorder that damages your small intestine. The damage may prevent your body from absorbing vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from the food you eat. This can lead to malnutrition and other serious health problems
Celiac disease is triggered by eating foods that contain gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and other grains. It may also be in other products like vitamins and supplements, hair and skin products, toothpastes, and lip balm.
Celiac disease is different from gluten sensitivity. Both involve problems with gluten and can cause some of the same symptoms, such as abdominal (belly) pain and fatigue. But gluten sensitivity does not damage the small intestine like celiac disease does.
Wheat allergy, a type of food allergy, is also different. With both celiac disease and wheat allergy, your immune system is reacting to wheat. But with wheat allergy, you can have some different symptoms, such as itchy eyes or trouble breathing. And a wheat allergy will not cause long-term damage to the small intestine.
What causes celiac disease?The exact cause of celiac disease is not known. Research suggests that celiac disease only happens in people who have certain genes and eat food that contains gluten. Researchers are studying other factors that may play a role in causing the disease.
Who is more likely to develop celiac disease?Celiac disease is more common if you:
- Have a family member who has the disease
- Have Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, or Williams syndrome
- Are White
- Are female
The symptoms of celiac disease can be different from person to person. Sometimes the symptoms may come and go. Some people may not notice any symptoms.
Some of the possible symptoms affect your digestive system. Digestive symptoms are more common in children than in adults. The digestive symptoms include:
- Bloating (feeling fullness or swelling in your belly)
- Chronic (long-term) diarrhea or greasy, bulky, unusually bad-smelling stool (poop)
- Constipation
- Gas
- Lactose intolerance because of damage to the small intestine
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain in the abdomen (belly)
- Weight loss in adults, or not enough weight gain in children
Some people with celiac disease have symptoms that affect other parts of the body, such as:
- Fatigue
- Depression and anxiety
- Irritability (in children)
- Dermatitis herpetiformis, an itchy rash with blisters (mainly in adults)
- Bone or joint pain
- Symptoms involving the mouth, such as canker sores or dry mouth
Over time, celiac disease can cause other health problems, especially if it is not treated. These problems can include:
- Malnutrition
- Anemia, especially iron-deficiency anemia
- Bone loss
- Nervous system problems such as headaches, balance problems, or peripheral neuropathy
- Reproductive problems, such as missed menstrual periods and miscarriages in women and infertility in men and women
If you have symptoms of celiac disease, your health care provider will look for signs that you might have celiac disease. To do this, your provider will get your medical and family history and do a physical exam.
If your provider thinks that you could have celiac disease, you will have some tests. Providers most often use blood tests and biopsies of the small intestine to diagnose celiac disease. The biopsy would be done during an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. For this procedure, your provider uses an endoscope (a flexible tube with a camera) to see the lining of your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. It also allows your provider to take a sample of tissue for a biopsy.
What are the treatments for celiac disease?The treatment for celiac disease is following a gluten-free diet for the rest of your life. Sticking with a gluten-free diet will treat or prevent many of the symptoms and other health problems caused by celiac disease. In most cases, it can also heal damage in the small intestine and prevent more damage.
Your provider may refer you to a registered dietician (a nutrition expert) who can help you learn how to eat a healthy diet without gluten. You will also need to avoid all hidden sources of gluten, such as certain supplements, cosmetics, toothpaste, etc. Reading product labels can sometimes help you avoid gluten. If a label doesn't tell you what is in a product, check with the company that makes the product for an ingredients list. Don't just assume that a product is gluten-free if it doesn't mention it.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Felter's Materia Medica on Mention
The bark and fruit of Aesculus glabra, Willdenow (Nat. Ord. Sapindaceae). A small fetid tree common to the central portion of the United... / ...ten completely fails to relieve. Its action upon visceral disorders is practically the same as that mentioned under Hippocastanum (which see). Aesculus sometimes relieves uterine congestion with full ... / ...Aesculus deserves further study to determine its status as a remedy for nervous disorders, and especially its control over visceral neuralgias. 1
The whole plant of Agrimonia Eupatoria, Linné (Nat. Ord. Rosaceae). A common perennial in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Dose, 5 to... / ...with muddy, ill-smelling urine. Action and Therapy.A mild tonic and astringent, indicated as abovementioned, and of considerable value in cystic catarrh and nephritic irritation from the presence of...1
The unripe seed of the Avena sativa, Linné, and the farina derived from the ripened seed (Nat. Ord. Graminaceae). Probably indigenous to Sicily... / ... is not a remedy of great power and will be found effective, probably, in but few of the conditions mentioned. However, many agents of this type sometimes, in exceptional cases, accomplish that which ... / ...off the habit has not been sustained. In our own experience we have utterly failed to accomplish any good with it in any form of drug habit. 1
The recent root and leaves of Baptisia tinctoria, Robert Brown (Nat. Ord. Leguminosae), a perennial shrub-like plant, indigenous to North America. Common Names:... / ...trains the discharge, and promotes healing of the ulcerated surfaces. In all of the local disorders mentioned, baptisia should be given internally as well as applied locally.1
...the chest pains of pulmonary tuberculosis, and in acute mastitis. In many of the surface conditions mentioned the plaster may prove most effectual. The liniment is especially useful to alleviate cramp......with judgment and carefully watched lest poisonous absorption take place. In many of the conditions mentioned the conjoint internal use is advisableprovided the specific indications for the drug are...1
The ripe fruit and bark of (1) Crataegus Oxyacantha, Linné, and (2) other species of Crataegus. (Nat. Ord. Rosaceae) 1. England and other parts... / ...ttingly overestimated its power. There is no doubt, however, of its value in many of the conditions mentioned, especially the functional types; and there can be no question as to its value as a tonic ... / ...trial; and as yet with no rational explanation of its reputed powers. The smaller doses are suggested as more likely to succeed than full doses.1
The plant Euphrasia officinalis, Linné (Nat. Ord. Scrophulariaceae). Europe and America. Dose, 1 to 30 grains. Common Name: Eyebright. Principal Constituents.An acrid, bitter principle and... / ...on. Euphrasia sometimes proves serviceable in hay fever, having the characteristic discharges above mentioned.1
Glycerin, Glycerol. A liquid composed most largely of a trihydric alcohol (C3H5(OH)3) obtained by the processes of hydrolysis and distillation of... / ...nd in chronic eczema. Among the skin disorders in which it is especially useful as a vehicle may be mentioned impetigo, lichen, porrigo, psoriasis, pityriasis, herpes, and tinea versicolor (with mercu... / ...A 5 per cent solution of phenol in glycerin upon cotton may be used for insertion into the aural canal after rupture of the membrana tympani wh1
The dried bark of the stems and roots of Punica Granatum, Linné (Nat. Ord. Punicaceae). India, southwestern Asia, and the Mediterranean... / ...ae Tannas, Pelletierine Tannate. (Contains in varying proportions, in admixture, the four alkaloids mentioned above.) A pale-yellow, noncrystalline powder, without odor, and an astringent taste. Solub... / ...Epsom salt, fluidextract of jalap, or castor oil may be used as the cathartic. If the tannate is employed it may be administered in capsule.1
The resin of the wood of Guaiacum officinale, Linné, or of Guaiacum sanctum, Linné (Nat. Ord. Zygophyllaceae). West Indian trees. Dose, 5 to 30... / ...l), added to water, acts efficiently as a gargle or preferably a wash, for the forms of sore throat mentioned below. Internal. Guaiaic once had considerable vogue as a remedy for syphilis, but is prac... / ...a fourfold dilution of specific medicine, mixed with syrup and water. Stronger preparations than this diluted tincture precipitate heavily.1
The root of (1) Cephaelis Ipecacuanha (Brotero), A. Richard, or of (2) Cephaelis acuminata, Karsten (Nat. Ord. Rubiaceae). Brazil and other parts... / ...y great value in acute indigestion, and checks bilious attacks with sick headache due to the causes mentioned. One of the therapeutic facts long ago recognized by those whose eyes are not otherwise op... / ...sight of as a remedy for active hemorrhage. Of course, it operates best where the quantity of blood lost is small. We have seen most excellent r1
The rhizome of Jeffersonia diphylla, Barton (Nat. Ord. Berberidaceae). A handsome, vernal, flowering plant throughout the eastern half of the... / ...ity. Watkins declared it efficient in pain in the head with dizziness and feeling of tension. Locke mentions it as useful where rheumatism is located chiefly in the muscles of the back, and in bronchi...1
The leaves of Kalmia latifolia, Linné (Nat. Ord. Ericaceae). A beautiful shrub of mountains and damp situations in the United States. Common... / ...l disturbances is sometimes relieved by it. It is said to be most valuable when the disorders above mentioned are associated with a syphilitic taint. Kalmia has never obtained a very important place i...1
The leaves and branches of Viscum flavescens, Pursh (Nat. Ord. Loranthaceae). A parasitic plant found upon forest trees, especially the oaks in... / ...got, and the drug is almost never used for these purposes. It should be reserved for the conditions mentioned under Specific Indications, and even in these it needs further study.1