Pancreas

The pancreas is the organ between the greater curvature of the stomach and the duodenum. It is both an endocrine and exocrine gland. Besides, it consists of granular-like epithelial cells forming two masses.

1. The Islets of Langerhans which produce endocrine secretions involved with sugar metabolism
2. The Acini which secretes digestive enzymes of exocrine origin.

Since the pancreas is not part of the small intestine it must transfer its digestive enzymes through the pancreatic duct (Canal of Wirsung) to the common bile duct. The latter enters the small intestine, in a small enlarged area called the ampulla of Vater.

Pancreas compose

Pancreas juice is composed of

1. Trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, and procarboxypeptidase, the inactive forms of trypsin, chymotrypsin, and carboxypeptidase, respectively; they are responsible for the total breakdown of complex sugars to disaccharides.
2. Lipase which reduces fats to fatty acids and glycerol.
3. Bicarbonate ion (HC03-) which raises the pH of the intestine by neutralizing the HC1 from the stomach. All intestinal enzymes are most active at a pH greater than 7.0.

To sum up, colon hydrotherapy with sodium bicarbonate helps increasing pH.