Colitis

Ulcerative colitis affects the lining of your rectum and colon (large intestine) causing inflammation and small sores. Bouts of colitis cause cramping pains, bloody diarrhea and rectal bleeding. Non-intestinal symptoms include joint pain, eye inflammation, skin rashes and mouth ulcers. Fatigue and fever are common.

Poor Diet and Stress are Major Triggers

Colitis is strongly linked to a diet low in fiber and high in refined carbohydrate and sugar. It can also result from an allergic reaction to foods, in particular, dairy, wheat and sugar. Intestinal spasms resulting from stress and emotional problems can set off colitis. In addition, antibiotic use disrupts the intestinal flora in your colon by destroying friendly bacteria and causing an imbalance that can lead to colitis.

Test to Determine the Course of Treatment

There are many treatment options and testing is used to determine the best course of action. Allergy testing identifies offending foods that need to be eliminated from your diet and replaced with a predominately vegetarian diet consisting of vegetables, fruits and grains (not wheat). Salivary Gliadin IgA testing for gluten intolerance is critical even if testing for celiac disease is negative. DHEA, a steroid hormone, is often low in people with colitis. This hormone imbalance should be measured and addressed if necessary. A stool analysis can determine if an infection, bacteria or parasites are present. A colonoscopy with biopsy can help in the diagnosis and to assess severity. In severe cases, hospitalization, drugs and surgery may be required until the inflammation is under control. Natural medicines provide damage control by helping to decrease the side effects of drug therapy.

Go Gluten Free

A gluten free diet can offer dramatic improvement. Diet modification is essential and there is a long list of recommendations that will vary slightly from one individual to the next depending upon specific intolerances. Many patients do not overcome colitis until they stop eating meat and dairy products. Lactose intolerance is a prevalent finding in colitis sufferers.

Reduce Pain and Inflammation

Probiotics and essential fatty acids work to replace healthy bacteria and reduce inflammation. A potent combination of insoluble and soluble fibers is beneficial. Licorice (specifically deglycrrhizinated licorice) helps to heal ulceration and castor oil packs applied over the painful areas provide relief. Folic acid can be taken to reduce the probability of colitis progressing to colon cancer. For mild to moderate cases during stable periods, colon hydrotherapy supervised by a physician can be valuable. Stress management and medical detoxification are often employed to reduce symptoms by tackling the underlying cause.

Don’t Suffer Any Longer

A comprehensive program is initiated after complete evaluation and testing. Treatment, specific to the severity of your colitis, is recommended from the variety of medicines and therapies utilized. You can make the pain and discomfort of colitis a distant memory.