Digestive & Bowel Disorders Explained

In this article I will be discussing with you the possible causes, natural treatments and management and healing options

Definition:
Ulcerative colitis (UL-sur-uh-tiv koe-LIE-tis) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes long-lasting inflammation in part of your digestive tract.
Like Crohn's disease, another common IBD, ulcerative colitis can be debilitating and sometimes can lead to life-threatening complications. Because ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition, symptoms usually develop over time, rather than suddenly.
Ulcerative colitis usually affects only the innermost lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum. It occurs only through continuous stretches of your colon, unlike Crohn's disease, which occurs anywhere in the digestive tract and often spreads deeply into the affected tissues.
Like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in your intestine. But unlike Crohn's, which can affect the colon in various, separate sections, ulcerative colitis usually affects one continuous section of the inner lining of the colon beginning with the rectum.
There doesn’t seem to be one contributing factor to what triggers ulcerative colitis, but there's a consensus as to what doesn't.
Celiac another GIT disorder is similar in the fact both are autoimmune diseases that attack the digestive tract.
Researchers no longer believe that stress is the main cause, although stress can often aggravate symptoms. Instead, current thinking focuses on the following possibilities:
Immune system: Some scientists think a virus or bacterium may trigger ulcerative colitis. The digestive tract becomes inflamed when your immune system tries to fight off the invading microorganism (pathogen). It's also possible that inflammation may stem from an autoimmune reaction in which your body mounts an immune response even though no pathogen is present.
Diet : Traditionally hundreds of years ago our diet consisted of mainly fruits, nuts, berries and vegetables with meat, fish and poultry in small quantities. With modern society we have moved far from these basic food needs of our bodies, fuelling with foods that have been processed and manufactured including numerous chemicals, additives and processing procedures. This all takes a toll on our bodies firstly attempting to recognize these as foods sources, secondly managing to obtain any nutrient quality from then, plus in the process causing our bodies especially our gut, bowel, bladder and kidneys in some cases irrepairable damage.
Then if that was not enough we now have food in such abundant sources that we tend to overindulge not giving our bodies a chance to digest and metabolise our meal from before.
Alcohol, cigarette smoking, recreational drugs and some medications; These all have a detrimental effect on our body and it systems because of the changing of our blood platelets, overload of toxic chemicals and disruptions in the body’s messenger systems such as the nervous system and circulation.
Heredity: Sometimes you can be more likely to develop ulcerative colitis if you have a parent or sibling with the disease; however scientists suspect that genetic makeup may only play a minimal contributing factor. However, for the most part people who have ulcerative colitis don't have a family history of this disorder.
So let’s look at how we can treat this problem whilst giving you a life as free from digestive issues as possible.
Traditionally the two main herbal medicines that are used effectively are Echinacea for its immune support and Turmeric for its strong antioxidant properties. Then we go into further support with the immune system whereby Paeoni, Golden Rod, Liquorice Marshmallow & for its Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory effects; Marshmallow also has soothing effects on the GI track and mucous membranes. You may well find when I make your individual formula’s I will include other herbs to support any other problems that may be associated with this condition.
It is also recommended that a Practitioner brand probiotic be used to assist with restoration of the good bacteria within the gut, this also assists with improved absorption and the metabolising of the nutrient transport of your food.
Slippery Elm, bioflavonoids, helps to soothe, heal and seal an inflamed and irritated gastrointestinal mucosa:
Glutamine is important for the repair of gastrointestinal cells: Pectin encourages the growth of healthy bifid bacteria. I prescribe a product called Intestamine that has this wonderful blend to heal the gastro intestinal track.
This is taken from my article “Let food be your Medicine”
Now we will look at your diet and what you can do long term to help keep your digestion and bowels healthy.
Foods to avoid: -
• Drinks which include caffeine tea and coffee, soft drinks, all alcohol and orange juice.
• Artificial colours and flavours, tobacco, take-away food, canned foods, packaged foods and frozen foods. Dairy products including milk, butter, cheese and eggs: White flour, white rice, white bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries and donuts.
• No margarine or fats, (only extra virgin olive oil, safflower or grapeseed oil is to be used), and avoid any sweets or chocolate.
• Preferably all red meat you can include free-range chicken, and fish. However it is important here that you will need a B12 supplement