Treat Colitis Naturally

Can we treat colitis naturally?  Ulcerative Colitis is an IBD or Inflammatory Bowel Disease.  This disease can cause life-long inflammation in the bowels, digestive tract and rectum, and affects the lining of the intestines or colon. This disease can be debilitating or even life threatening and maintenance of good bacterial flora in the gut is vital.  Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis often include:  fatigue, weight loss, abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, fever, rectal pain, bleeding, the inability to defecate or in children, the failure to grow.  Always see your physician for assistance with IBD.  While doctors struggle to find a cure, there are natural ways to help greatly reduce the symptoms of this disease and even sometimes bring it to remission in the patient. 

I am sure there are multiple reasons why someone has IBD, but here are some that I propose:

1. Genetic predisposition, as ulcerative colitis is more common in people who have family members with the disease. 
2. Disease producing bacteria, which includes fungus, yeast and parasites that spread their toxins in the intestines when a natural balance and flora has been disrupted in some way such as with the overuse of antibiotics,  a diet high in sugar or stress in one’s life.  Regarding yeast and fungus, a PubMed study said, “The presence of fungi in the oral cavity of patients with IBD may affect more frequent colonization of the colonic mucosa in the active phase of disease. Genetic affinity of C. albicans strains indicates the possibility of fungal transmission from the oral cavity to further segments of the GI tract.”
3. Our American diet has changed in the last century.  We eat a lot more processed food, sugar, artificial ingredients, colorings and more.
4. We are also now eating genetically modified foods or food from seed that has been engineered by man.  I have written a post entitle The GMO and Gluten Intolerance Connection on this already, but compare the two charts below.  It seems that there is a direct correlation between the adoption of genetically engineered crops and gastroesophageal reflux. 

Fighting this disease is so important because if the gut flora is not kept in check, other diseases may develop such as other autoimmune disorders, arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, etc.  As Hippocrates said so long ago, “All diseases begin in the gut.” So what are some ways to help ourselves fight against this disease?  Remember that daily consistency is a must when trying to correct this disease.  It has to become a lifestyle change, otherwise the benefits will never be dependable or long standing.

1. For severe cases, consider eliminating:  sugars, starches, carbs and yeasts from your diet.  Eat natural and organic unprocessed meats, non-starchy vegetables, low-sugar fruits, eggs, plain yogurt, organic coconut oil, flax seed oil or cod liver oil everyday.
2. Drink lots of water and take psyllium to regulate bowel elimination.
3. Take a daily probiotic to introduce healthy gut bacteria back into your system.
4. Do a detox program.  Read more on Why Detox?  Think Parasites, Fungus and Toxins.
5. Chew fennel seed after every meal to help stop bleeding and aid digestion.
6. Take boswellia extract (frankincense) which helps inhibit certain chemical reactions that produce inflammatory mediators.
7. Have your pH levels tested in your gut, if below 8 consider a magnesium citrate and baking soda combination in water.  If above 8, eliminate the baking soda and add zinc.
8. According to research, vitamins, herbs, amino acids, omega 3, and nutrients are important since most IBD patients are depleted or malnourished in many of them. Research shows that some of the damage in IBD is caused by free radicals, and IBD patients are usually deficient in critical free-radical scavengers or antioxidants such as beta-carotene, C, E, zinc and selenium.  Creating a smoothie every morning with a vegetable powder may help to include all the needed nutrients. Consider also taking Bromelain, Gingko Biloba, Turmeric, Quercetin, L-Glutamine and iron.
9. Consider Silver Sol which helps fight against yeast and fungus.
10. Balance your hormones.  Is it possible that your thyroid  or adrenal glands are not functioning properly?  See a doctor because you need to support the entire endocrine system to return to balance. 
11. Take aloe vera regularly.  There is a product called Digestinol that is derived from aloe. I have been told personally by someone that this products works incredibly well and that he no longer needed his colostomy because of it.  Just a heads up, it is not cheap.
12. According to Nigel Turner and Jiming Ye from Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research, “Coconut oil has a direct effect in suppressing  inflammation and  repairing tissue, and it may also contribute by inhibiting harmful intestinal microorganisms that cause chronic inflammation…including Crohn’s disease.”
13. Baking soda (1/2 tsp.) along with about 250mg of magnesium citrate and zinc supplements with large amounts of water may also be very beneficial for gut issues. 

This journey is not an easy one!  You must be very determined to analyze your own gut problems, because no one protocol works the same for everyone.  Many times it is trial and error unfortunately. I wish you much health as you journey back to wellness one day at a time.

See also my posts on:

1. What Does Eating Healthy Really Mean?
2. The GMO and Gluten Intolerance Connection
3. How Do I Know I Am Eating GMOs?