Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a disease marked by ulceration and inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum. The inflammation usually begins in the rectum and lower (sigmoid) intestine and spreads upward to the entire colon. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine except for the lower section, the ileum. The inflammation causes the colon to empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea. As cells on the surface of the lining of the colon die and slough off, ulcers (tiny open sores) form, causing pus, mucus, and bleeding. Ulcerative colitis may affect only the lowest part of the colon, the rectum, and be termed as ulcerative proctitis. If the disease affects only the left side of the colon, it is called limited or distal colitis. If it involves the entire colon, it is termed pancolitis. Ulcerative colitis differs from another inflammatory bowel disease called Crohn's disease, in which the inflammation is maximal in the rectum and extends up the colon in a continuous manner without any skip areas of normal intestine. Ulcerative colitis affects males and females equally and appears to be hereditary. It may affect any age group although there are peaks at ages 15 to 30 and then again at ages 50 to 70.

• Diarrhea, or watery stools, frequent bowel movements and loose bowel movements.
• Abdominal pains and cramping that usually subside after a bowel movement
• Abdominal sounds (borborygmus, a gurgling or splashing sound heard over the intestine)
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Stiffness or pain in joints.
• Gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Tenesmus or pain while passing stool
  

• To minimize the risk of ulcerative colitis, eat a diet low in hydrogenated fats and high in fiber and complex carbohydrates. Consuming plenty of raw fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods are vital to colon health.
• Constipation is a contributory factor to any bowel disease; therefore the colon should be kept active by eating foods that promote proper elimination.
• Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of pure water daily.
• Avoid irritating foods that result in colon irritations such as heavy, rich, junk foods, salt, sugar, fried foods etc.
• Do not eat under high stress situations, when anxious or hurried or during high adrenalin times. Chew food thoroughly.
• Avoid the use of over the counter laxatives as these can cause irritation to the colon
• Stay away from smoking, fumes, chemical sprays and food additives
  
  

In ulcerative colitis, the body's defenses are operating against some foreign substances in the body, perhaps in the digestive tract. These foreign substances (antigens) may themselves initiate the inflammation or stimulate the inflammatory process to continue without control. Ulcerative colitis also tends to run in families. Studies have shown that as many as 20 percent of patients with ulcerative colitis will have a close relative with either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Repeated episodes of inflammation lead to thickening of the wall of the intestine and rectum with scar tissue. Death of colon tissue or sepsis may occur with severe disease. Attacks of ulcerative colitis may be provoked by many factors, including respiratory infections or stress. No preventive measures are prescribed for defense against ulcerative colitis.

The diagnostic tests carried out for the detection of ulcerative colitis include:
Colonoscopy: viewing the interior lining of the large intestine (colon) using a flexible fiber-optic tube.
Serum magnesium Test: This test measures the amount of magnesium in the blood.
Haptoglobin: A test measuring the amount of haptoglobin in blood, as an indicator of the rate of red blood cell destruction (hemolysis). Haptoglobin is a protein that is secreted into the blood by the liver. This protein binds free hemoglobins. The concentration of "free" hemoglobin (that is, outside red blood cells) in plasma (the fluid portion of blood) is ordinarily very low. However, free hemoglobin is released when red blood cells hemolyze for any reason. After haptoglobin binds hemoglobin, it is taken up by the liver. The liver recycles the iron, heme, and amino acids contained in the hemoglobin protein. This process destroys haptoglobin as well as hemoglobins. In the presence of active hemolysis, the rate of haptoglobin destruction will outpace the rate at which new haptoglobin is created. Consequently, the concentration of haptoglobins in the blood will decrease. The magnitude of this decrease is a sensitive indicator of the extent of hemolysis
Barium enema: This is an X-ray examination of the large intestines in which pictures are taken after rectal instillation of barium sulfate (a radiopaque - contrast medium). The barium enema may also be used to diagnose and evaluate the extent of inflammatory bowel diseases.
Complement component 3: This is a test that measures complement activity in the blood. Complement activity (CH50, CH100) is measured to determine if complement is involved in the development of a number of diseases. Complement activity is also measured to monitor severity of a disease or determine efficiency of treatment.
Carcino embryonic antigen : This test measures the amount of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in blood. CEA is a protein that normally occurs in fetal gut tissue. After birth, detectable serum levels essentially disappear. However, CEA may increase in the presence of various disorders such as colon cancer.

• Where diarrhea is severe a liquid diet is suggested for a short time. Using carrot juice, cabbage juice, green juices and herb teas is recommended to promote healing of the bowel lining
• When eating solid food, chew thoroughly and do not drink liquids with meals. During a flare-up, avoid high roughage foods, which contain skins and seeds, especially popcorns.
• Avoid pure cooked vegetables until the condition clears up
• Emphasize yellow fruits, cantaloupe, pears, watermelon, kelp, agar and cucumbers. Fruits with pectin, such as apples and pears seem especially beneficial.
• Eat soups, especially vegetable broths. Eat fruits at the end of a meal.
• Zwieback toast and other mild foods such as rice cereals are recommended.
• White fish is an acceptable source of protein as are any soy foods such as tofu.
• After an inflammatory episode has passed, emphasizing complex carbohydrates with high-fiber contents has been shown to be quite beneficial.
• Avoid fruits that have been canned in sugar and dried fruits.
• Do not eat dairy foods as a lactose intolerance may be part of the problem.
• Do not eat fried foods or anything else that seems to aggravate the disorder. Keep a list of these offending foods and avoid them at all times. Food allergies are suspected as a major contributor to bowel disorders
• Foods to avoid are coffee, dairy foods, eggs, wheat gluten and raw vegetables. Remove the skin from turkey or chicken. Too much meat increases bowel transit time and fails to properly clean the gastrointestinal tract.
• Too little fiber can lead to constipation, diverticulitis and other gastrointestinal tract disorders.
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol.
• Stay away from wheat bran and consider using fiber supplements that contain healing herbs and can be mixed with liquids.
• Make sure not to eat fiber in excess. For some bowel conditions, adding fiber may aggravate symptoms and cause more bloating gas and possible diarrhea.
  

• Eat slowly and avoid drinking too much liquid with meals.
• Incorporate a regular exercise program into your life to facilitate the removal of toxins through the lymph system. This can also help overcome and relieve stress.
• Use bistort drops for diarrhea. It acts as a natural anti-inflammatory for the skin
• Learn to recognize allergies, if any, and avoid them.
• Learn to use relaxation techniques such as yoga, biofeedback, controlled breathing, self-hypnosis, etc., to reduce daily tension and control stress.
• Have regular screenings for colon cancer. Chronic colitis can increase your risk.
• Avoid belts or waistbands that are too restrictive.
• In case of severe diarrhea, avoid overusing Immodium AD and Lomitil and consult your doctor.
• In the presence of ulcerative colitis, do not use aspirin, ibuprofen, naprosyn, voltaren and feldene. These can cause further damage to the intestinal lining.
  
  

• Frequently linked to anxiety and stress, herbs that help to calm the central nervous system may be of great value.
• Individuals with this condition often internalize stress and are people pleasers, perfectionists, and live life at a fast pace. Learning to take things easy may be helpful.
• People with weak bowels can experience stress in the form of chronic diarrhea, constipation, stomach bloating and continual inflammation. 
• Learning to handle stress and meditate, along with tackling emotional issues, if any, is very important.