| Home Angina/Chest Pain Acne Allergy Alzheimer's Anemia Anxiety Arthritis Alcoholism Alopecia (Hair Loss) Asthma Amenorrhea Athlete's Foot Back Pain Boils Bronchitis Bursitis Candida Cataract Cellulitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Cirrhosis Colitis Spastic Colon Conjunctivitis Cough Cramps Constipation Crohn's Disease Cystitis Dementia Dental Problems Depression Detoxification Diabetes Diarrhea Dysentery Digestive Disorders Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding Dysmenorrhea Eczema Edema Epilepsy Erectile Dysfunction Fibromyalgia Gall Stones GERD Genital Warts Gonorrhea Gout Hemorrhoids Herpes Hepatitis Hiatus Hernia Human Papilloma Virus(HPV) Hypertension Infertility Infectious Mononucleosis Insomnia Irritable Bowel Syndrome Kidney Disease Kidney Stone Laryngitis Leucorrhea Lyme Disease Menopause Menorrhagia Migraine Nocturnal Enurisis Obesity Osteoporosis Pancreatitis Parkinson's Peptic Ulcers Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Premature Ejaculation Polysystic Ovaries Psoriasis Sciatica scoliosis Sinusitis Smoking Stress Syphilis Tendonitis Thyroid Disorder Tinnitus Tonsillitis Urticaria Urinary Tract Infection Varicose Veins Vertigo Vitiligo Worms Privacy Policy and Disclaimer Other Resources |
Can ayurvedic or herbal treatments Treat Colitis? What Is Colitis? Colitis is a chronic digestive disease characterized by inflammation of the colon. Colitis is one of a group of conditions which are inflammatory and auto-immune, affecting the tissue that lines the gastrointestinal system (the large and small intestine). It is classed as an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), not to be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). General signs and symptoms of colitis include pain, tenderness in the abdomen, depression, rapid weight loss, aches and pains within the joints, fatigue, changes in bowel habits (increased frequency), fever; swelling of the colon tissue, erythema (redness) of the surface of the colon, ulcers on the colon (in ulcerative colitis) which can bleed, mucous in the stool, blood in stool and rectal bleeding. Diarrhea may present itself, although some forms of colitis are constipated so the stool and bowel movements can appear "normal". Other symptoms may include: gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, reflux, Gastro oesophageal reflux disease (GORD or GERD when using the alternative spelling esophageal), cramps, urgency and many other uncomfortable aches in the gastrointestinal system. Common tests which reveal these signs include X-rays of the colon, testing the stool for blood and pus, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. Additional tests include stool cultures and blood tests, including blood chemistry tests. A high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is one typical finding in acute exacerbations of colitis. Colitis Treatments Treatment of colitis may include the administration of antibiotics and general non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS) medications such as Mesalamine (Asacol) or its derivatives; Azathioprine or similar immunosupressants; steroids such as prednisolone and prednisone; one or several of a number of other drugs that ameliorate inflammation and pain (buscopan). As it is a chronic condition the objective is "remission" rather than cure. Surgery is required only when the patient suffers from regular or permanent flare ups, especially in cases of fulminant colitis. Surgery usually entails removing the colon and bowel and creating a "pouch" with a portion of the small intestine, which in time adopts the characteristics of the colon. Medical opinion is divided on the role of diet in colitis and IBD. Anecdotally, some sufferers find a change in diet can be effective at treating the symptoms of colitis and easing the side effects. These can include reducing the intake of carbohydrates, lactose products, soft drinks, caffeine and spicy foods. This approach has been championed by Elaine Gottschall.
|
- Fennel |
