COLITIS
(Chrohn 's Disease or Inflammatory Bowel Disease - IBD)
 

Major inflammation of the large intestine accompanied by greatly disturbed intestinal flora which invariably causes diarrhoea due to impacted sides narrowing the channel to the anus - only liquid substances being able to exit

Symptoms include abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant and at times mucus and blood in the stools Also anorexia, weight loss, flatulence and malaise. X-rays may well show abnormality of the terminal ileum Rectal examination may show fissures, haemorrhoids, fistulas and abscesses. Chrohn's disease was discovered by Chrohn and his colleagues in 1932 and is sometimes referred to as "regional enteritis" or "granulomatous colitis" The latter because the region's granulomas (tissues) are either poorly developed or totally absent.

IBD may occur at any age, most often between the ages of 20-35 and females are affected slightly more than males. Particularly prevalent amongst Jews as opposed to non-Jews. All these conditions seem to be on the increase in Western societies.

LIFESTYLE ATTENTION

• Check out professionally for food or chemical allergies.
• Adopt a high fibre diet as fast as possible.
• Dietary factors are more and more being evidenced as major contributors in spite of the fact that up until now these factors have hardly (if at all) even been mentioned.
• React fast to lifestyle changes, once diagnosed, as cumulative degeneration will set in and cause multiple complications that are likely to be debilitating.
• Cut out refined sugar, fried foods and all denatured foods until condition shows reversal.

TISSUE SALTS

• Mag Phos - where abdominal pain is severe

HOMOEOPATHIC

• Mercurius Corrosivus
• Arsenicum Album
• Podophyllum
• Constitutional treatment under the direction of a qualified homoeopathic practitioner is essential.
• lots of blood and mucus in stools and a feeling that bowel is not completely empty
• profuse diarrhoea with burning feeling and colicky stomach
• greenish diarrhoea, with gurgling and stomach cramps

HERBALS

• Bastyr's Formula 2-3 capsules with each meal
• Garlic
• Slippery Elm (1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 glass of warm wate taken 4 x daily between meals)
• Liquorice Powder / Sticks
• Butchers Broom

AROMATHERAPY

• See qualified practitioner and preferably one who is additionally qualified in Reflexology.

SPECIAL FOODS

• Foods containing Vitamin E are very important particularly for women.
  This condition is usually accompanied by a loss or fall in levels of
  Vitamin E and the vitamin is important in calcium metabolism for bone
  structure. Foods that provide are broccoli, lettuce, spinach. Anyone taking anti- coagulants should discuss this diet with their medical practitioner.
• Cook with tumeric and ginger.
• Even ginger and ginseng tea daily.
• No oils, butter or fats other than flaxseed oil.
• Whey powder (1/2 glass of water containing 1 tablespoon, on rising and retiring).

SPECIAL EXERCISE

• Best to walk briskly and attend yoga instruction 2-3 x weekly.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• TM
• Acupuncture
• Naturopathic help (eg. elemental diets / Detox programmes)