Alternative therapy for ulcerative colitis

About ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease in which there is a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Just like Crohn’s disease, which is another inflammatory bowel disease, the symptoms, such as pain and diarrhea, can be excruciating and debilitating. In severe cases, this disease can be life-threatening.

This disease usually affects the innermost layers of the lining of the colon and rectum. If it spreads, it spreads continuously through successive sections of the intestines, unlike Crohn’s, which forms patches anywhere in the digestive tract.

The classification of different types of ulcerative colitis is done based on the location. In ulcerative proctitis, the inflammation affects the rectum and proctosigmoiditis involves both the rectum and the lower end of the colon. Pancolitis affects the entire colon and its most severe form is fulminant colitis, in which the patient suffers from severe diarrhea and pain and sometimes dehydration and shock.

Some of the main symptoms of ulcerative colitis include abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea that lasts for days and does not respond to over-the-counter solutions, bloody stool and fever.

Alternative therapy for ulcerative colitis

Unfortunately, there is no cure for ulcerative colitis, one that would treat it once and for all. There are, however, treatment options that significantly reduce the symptoms and even cause long-term remission.

Many people who suffer from ulcerative colitis use or have used some form of alternative or complementary therapy for this disease. There are many alternative options for ulcerative colitis, but most of them have not received FDA approval. This means that there is no proof of their safety and effectiveness. For this reason, it is recommended to seek a doctor’s advice before taking any kind of alternative treatment, even if it seems completely harmful, like herbal remedies.

Prebiotics are a very popular form of alternative therapy for ulcerative colitis. Prebiotics are naturally occurring compounds found in certain plants, such as artichokes, which promote the beneficial intestinal flora.

Probiotics, on the other hand, also regulate the intestinal flora by increasing the number of the beneficial bacteria.

There has been some evidence that increased intake of fish oil, for example more than 15 capsules per day, can provide relief from ulcerative colitis, mainly thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties of this oil.

Acupuncture, which involves insertion of very small needles in certain points of the body, may also reduce the symptoms of ulcerative colitis, mainly because it stimulates the release of the body’s natural painkillers.