The naturopaths,
nutritionists and therapists here at the Pinewod Natural Health Clinic are very
sensitive to the health issues that may be caused by bulemia and the need for
nutiritional support and other therapies to help ease psychological symptoms
and also heal the damage from this disorder.
Bulimia nervosa is an eating
disorder characterized by episodes of uncontrolled binge eating often involving
extremely large amounts of high calorie foods followed by induced vomiting or
the use of laxatives to purge the body of the food eaten during the binge.The
binge eating and purging is usually carried out in secret. This is a serious medical and psychological
problem with potentially dangerous complications that need to addresed
Bulemic behaviors also include
refusing to eat, taking laxatives and smoking to cut the appetite. Problems with drugs, weight loss supplements
and alcohol also often come hand in hand with bulimia.
Most of the symptoms are
behavioral and the consequences are hormonal imbalances, vitamin deficiencies,
being overweight, bone loss, tissue swelling, boating, the cessation of
menstruation, hair loss, swollen salivary glands, broken blood vessels in the
face, anemia, mood swings, rotting teeth and eye problems.
The constant throwing up can
also damage the esophagus and cause a hiatial hernia. Rotting teeth are also
common with this disorder as the acidic stomach juices in the mouth cause the
erosion of tooth enamel.
People with eating disorders
such as bulimia have been found to have chemical brain imbalances that are
similar to those found in individuals with clinical depression.
As researchers have become
increasingly aware of the physiological elements of anorexia the psychological
ones continue to beef great importance as well.
The psychological causes of
bulimia include --
- Extreme emotions such as guilt, anger, hostility
- A feeling that one is always out of control
- A refusal to grow up and wanting to be cared for
by others like a waif or an orphan and
- A distorted body image that always makes one see the self as overweight no matter how thin they get.
People who are victims of
child abuse or who have physically or emotionally abusive family members or
partners are more likely to develop bulimia.
Not being able to live up to
their own expectations or others to be as beautiful as the thin women that are
seen on television or in magazines is also a motivator for bulimic behavior.
In almost all cases bulimia
must be treated intravenous nutrient feedings of potassium and multivitamins
The individual also will
need psychological and group counseling.
Ian intervention and treatment by a psychiatrist may also be necessary. Biofeedback is a treatment we offer here at
the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic of helping with this issue.
Antidepressants may be
prescribed to deal with feelings of irritability, depression and anxiety that
accompany this disorder.
Bulimia can lead to serious
medical problems including ulcers, internal bleeding, hypoglycemia, a ruptured
stomach, kidney damage, and erratic heartbeat, cessation of the menstrual cycle
and a low pulse rate and blood pressure.
The worst consequence of bulimia is death as the body is progressively
starved of calories.
For more information about how bulimia
can be treated or to book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss
programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood
Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products
at www.pinewood.ca or
call our Toronto Office at (416)-656- 8100. We also have
an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us
at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any
question that you have about our holistic health services.
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