Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

Here is a list of ulcerative colitis treatment to treat the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and to prevent the remission of this inflammatory bowel disease. It's wise that you see a doctor first for a diagnosis before trying these natural remedies for ulcerative colitis.

Some of the frequently asked questions are:

1. What is ulcerative colitis?
   
   
2. What is the cause of ulcerative colitis?
   
   
3. What are ulcerative colitis symptoms?
   
   
4. What is the recommended diet for ulcerative colitis?

Colitis is the inflammation of the colon or large intestine. There are a few types of colitis and ulcerative colitis is one of them. Ulcerative colitis or colitis ulcerosa causes inflammation, sores or ulcers in the innermost lining of the colon and rectum. It is an intermittent inflammatory bowel disease. What it means is the symptoms may suddenly appear and last for a few days to a few months. If the symptoms aren't treated the flare-ups may return.

The symptoms depend on the severity of the disease and the part of the intestines that are affected. Ulcerative colitis may affect the entire colon or referred to as pancolitis, only the rectum, lower end of the colon and lower rectum or anywhere in between.

The common ulcerative colitis symptoms are abdominal cramps, stomach pain and bloody diarrhea. Flu-like symptoms and fever may also accompany ulcerative colitis. Symptoms of severe ulcerative colitis may include anemia, having the constant need to empty the bowels or severe diarrhea, dehydration, loss of appetite which can result in weight loss, rectal bleeding and fatigue.

Researchers haven't come to a conclusive answer to what causes ulcerative colitis. Many experts consider ulcerative colitis as an autoimmune disease because instead of protecting the body, the immune system attacks the healthy bacteria in the digestive tract and causes the inflammation or swelling. They believe that the immune system over-reacted to the normal good bacteria. Another theory is that ulcerative colitis is the result of inherited genes.

Researchers also believe that ulcerative colitis is more common in people in their 30s and race or ethnicity is also a factor. Certain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAID and medication to treat scarring cystic acne are also possible causes of ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis treatment No. 1 - Herbal treatment for ulcerative colitis

1. Boswellia extract has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antineoplastic activities. It helps in reducing inflammation, relieving pain and combating or inhibiting the development of cancer cells. According to experts, if ulcerative colitis started early and last for 8 years or longer, it can increase the risk of colon cancer.
   
   
   
2. Based on a double-bind, randomized trial, it indicates that aloe vera has the potential to treat mild to moderate ulcerative colitis because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
   
   
   
3. One of the reasons why slippery elm bark extract is suggested for ulcerative colitis treatment is because it contains a high amount of mucilage. The mucilage covers the inflamed lining of the intestine and soothes the pain.
   
   
   
4. Psyllium seed husk contains a high level of dietary fiber and when it is ingested, it helps lubricate the lining of the intestine and forms a thin film that covers the inflammation. Psyllium husk is helpful in treating diarrhea which is one of the most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis. It removes excessive water and bulk up loose stools as well as slows down the bowel movement.
   
   
   
5. The Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK did a randomized controlled study on the effects of evening primrose oil on patients with ulcerative colitis sometime in the 1990s. The report stated that evening primrose oil significantly improved stool consistency.
   
   
   
6. Ginger is another herb that may help as natural ulcerative colitis treatment because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is also beneficial because of its ability to provide relief from stomach pain as it is a natural analgesic.
   
   
   
7. Other herbs that may help as ulcerative colitis treatment are calendula, devil's claw, green tea extract, German chamomile, marshmallow herb and sea buckthorn berry extract.

Ulcerative colitis treatment No. 2 - Ulcerative colitis diet

Certain foods can worsen the symptoms of ulcerative colitis or increase the frequency of flare-ups. One of the best things to do is avoid foods that have the potential to trigger the symptoms and eat foods that are beneficial for your digestive tract and promote healing.

1. Avoid foods that are termed as "gassy." Examples are beans, broccoli, cabbage, raw fruit juices and fruits.
   
   
   
2. You should also avoid drinking alcohol and beverages that contain caffeine.
   
   
   
3. Keep a food diary and take note if reducing your intake of dairy products help in reducing abdominal pain and diarrhea.
   
   
   
4. Increase intake of foods that are high in dietary fiber such as whole grains.
   
   
   
5. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep your body hydrated.
   
   
   
6. Avoid foods that can cause inflammations. Some examples are animal products and frozen foods which are high in trans-fat and omega-6 fatty acids.
   
   
   
7. Eat foods that contain EPA, ALA and DHA such as dark green leafy vegetables, seeds such as flax and hemp. Fish such as cod, mackerel, salmon and tuna, olive oil and fish oil are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
   
   
   
8. Choose foods that are high in antioxidants such as berries, brussel sprouts, carrots, garlic, onions, peppers and soy products.

Ulcerative colitis treatment No. 3 - Dietary supplements

Ulcerative colitis will affect your body's ability to absorb nutrients. Eliminating certain foods in your diet will result in missing nutrients and weight loss. Severe diarrhea will cause the loss of nutrients and dehydration and lead to fatigue. Stress can worsen ulcerative colitis symptoms. You may have to take dietary supplements to compensate the nutrient depletion and for cellular energy. Some of the food supplements that are helpful are:

1. L-Glutamine is helpful in the proper functioning of the immune system.
   
   
   
2. Acidophilus is a probiotic which helps restore the healthy bacteria and digestive system. Researches indicate that it may also help reduce or prevent diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
   
   
   
3. The 3 types of omega-3 fatty acids namely linolenic acid or ALA, eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid or DHA may also help as ulcerative colitis treatment. Based on clinical trials, fish oil which contains EPA and DHA has shown to reduce inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis.
   
   
   
4. A well-known nutritionist by the name of Mary Gertrude Enig PhD stated in her report that coconut oil is a functional food. Unlike other oils that contain saturated fatty acids, coconut oil has fiber, vitamins, and minerals and reacts differently and may relieve the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. It also has anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities.
   
   
   
5. Bromelain which is the extract from pineapple is a digestive aid and produces anti-inflammatory activities. One of the benefits of taking bromelain for ulcerative colitis treatment is its ability to release chemical that help prevent inflammation and pain.
   
   
   
6. Vitamins and minerals that may benefit people who suffer from ulcerative colitis are vitamin A, vitamin B9 or folic acid, melatonin, vitamin E, calcium, iron, potassium, selenium and zinc.

Ulcerative colitis treatment No. 4 - Reduce stress

Besides foods, stress can worsen the signs and symptoms of ulcerative colitis or trigger the flare-up. Stress leads to changes in the digestive process. Some stress reduction techniques include regular exercise, deep breathing technique, yoga, guided meditation or hypnosis and listening to soothing music preferably with positive subliminal messages. Click on the link for natural stress remedies.

Ulcerative colitis treatment No. 5 - Alternative ulcerative colitis treatment

Alternative treatment for ulcerative colitis includes acupuncture and emotional freedom technique or EFT.

For more information, check out the Colitis Breakthrough E-Book

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