Wow, I'd never heard of that (nicotine as treatment). When I was a
teenager, the family doctor diagnosed me as having "mucosal colitis", which
I think is a medical way of saying "inflammation of the digestive tract of
unknown origin". They attributed it to stress. Although I did have a bit
of stress during that period, I doubt that it did more than aggravate the
condition. I was given Donnatal, an anti-spasmodic, and that actually
worked fairly well. But even back then, I couldn't see being depenedent on
a drug all my life, and I eventually stopped taking it.
When I changed my diet last year (originally Atkins, and then Neanderthin),
the symptoms disappeared for months. Then something strange happened. The
symptoms started coming back, when I was eating foods that should have no
effect. I think what's happened is that by not eating those foods anymore,
I've become far more sensitive. Now, the tiny amounts of gluten found in
seasonings are enough to trigger a reaction. So I find that I'm forced to
be as paleo as possible, even avoiding seasonings or paying the price.
Hmm. Now that I think about it, you've might have a point about the
nicotine. I don't remember this problem being very noticeable when I was
smoking. Before I started smoking it was bad, and after I quit it was too,
but not so bad while. Geez, what a dilemna. Trade your lungs for your
intestines... Maybe I'll grow some tobacco in the garden this year!
Take care,
John Pavao
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Incidentally he was diagnosed within weeks of stopping smoking. I recall
reading an article in the New Scientist about nicotine being used to treat
certain intestinal disorders. Interesting or what?
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