Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the large intestine. This pathological process is chronic in nature, in which exacerbations appear periodically. The therapy of this disease is a very complex complex process that requires joint efforts from both the attending physician and the patient himself. In more severe cases, the patient cannot avoid visiting a medical facility, as well as possible hospitalization.
But if the manifestations of the disease are moderate, then it is possible to treat NUC with folk remedies. In addition, alternative medicine is a good help in the treatment of more severe forms andtypes of colitis. This is especially effective in cases where the treatment of UC with folk remedies will be combined with drug therapy.
Causes of disease development
It should be noted right away that at present the main causes of this disease have not been fully identified. However, based on the assumptions of recent studies, it can be concluded that UC can be provoked by factors such as:
- spread of various infections in the large intestine;
- predominance in the diet of fatty, high-calorie foods that contain little fiber;
- malnutrition;
- gene mutation and hereditary predisposition;
- long-term use of certain drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- strong feelings and frequent stressful situations;
- violation of the intestinal microflora.
As a result of the influence of these factors, agents of the immune system begin to actively act not on pathogenic bacteria and viruses, but on the mucous membrane in the large intestine. As a result, it begins to become inflamed, and ulcers form on it.
It should be noted that UC and Crohn's disease have certain similar mechanisms of their development. The differences are only in the breadth and depth of the lesion. In the first case, the disease affects only the large intestine, inflammation and ulcers spread in the submucosal layer and mucosa.
As for Crohn's disease, thisthe pathological process begins to involve absolutely the entire digestive tract, starting from the anus and ending with the oral cavity. In this case, the disease affects all layers of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms
Treatment with folk remedies will depend on how exactly the symptoms and signs of ulcerative colitis manifest themselves. Some patients who suffer from this disease feel quite well for several years. They only occasionally have blood in their stools. With such minor symptoms of ulcerative colitis, folk remedies can be treated independently at home, but you should first visit a doctor.
If the disease proceeds in an acute form, accompanied by severe diarrhea, fever, severe pain and general weakness, then in such situations the patient must be hospitalized.
Usually, UC occurs with the following symptoms:
- feces with blood ranging from barely noticeable drops to profuse bleeding;
- feces with pus and mucus;
- diarrhea;
- constipation, which indicates damage to the sigmoid and rectum;
- false urge to defecate, during which not feces come out, but blood, mucus and pus;
- need to defecate at night;
- fecal incontinence;
- flatulence and increased gas formation;
- pain inareas of the abdomen, which are mainly manifested in its left region;
- signs of intoxication, which should include fever, fever, vomiting, weight loss, tachycardia, anorexia, dehydration and general weakness;
- extraintestinal manifestations of UC, which are joint damage, rashes on the skin and mucous membranes, visual disturbances, increased thrombus formation, impaired liver function, and much more.
It should be noted that the last symptoms are observed only in 10% of patients. In some cases, they appear before the main intestinal symptoms. Treatment of NUC with folk remedies and medicines in this case will depend on the severity of the signs of the disease.
Diagnosis of disease
Diagnostic methods, as a rule, include instrumental and laboratory studies. Before proceeding with the treatment of NUC with folk remedies or medicines, the specialist must conduct an oral survey of the patient, do a finger examination, after which a list of necessary procedures for treatment, as well as medicines and folk remedies, is compiled. Diagnosis includes the following procedures:
- Biochemical and complete blood count, which can detect the level of hemoglobin and erythrocytes, an increase in the level of c-reactive proteins, as well as ESR.
- Coprogram, which is a laboratory study of feces, due to which the content of mucus, blood, parasites, pus, etc. Further. Thanks to this procedure, you can find out the degree of inflammation and damage to the mucous membranes in the intestine.
- Colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, which are instrumental invasive diagnostic methods, thanks to which a specialist can see the condition of the intestinal mucosa, and if necessary, take small particles of damaged tissues for laboratory study, that is, to conduct a biopsy.
- Irrigoscopy, which is an x-ray examination of the colon with the introduction of a special device into it. Thanks to the picture, you can find out about the presence of pathological changes in the large intestine.
- Computed tomography, which is an x-ray examination, in which images taken from different angles are displayed on a special monitor. Basically, such a diagnosis is prescribed if there is a suspicion of Crohn's disease.
Only after a complete diagnosis, the doctor can prescribe treatment for UC with folk remedies and medicines.
Treatment of disease
In case of exacerbation of UC, treatment is carried out in a hospital. In this case, drugs are administered with the help of injections and droppers, sometimes nutrition is organized through a tube. In the chronic form of ulcerative colitis of the intestine, folk remedies can be treated in combination with medicines at home.
Traditional methods
Drug treatment involves the use of the followingdrugs to treat ulcerative colitis:
- Means containing acetylsalicylic acid, such as Mesacol, Sulfasalazine, Tidokol, Salofalk, Pentasa and others. These drugs can be taken as capsules, tablets, rectal suppositories, enemas, and foams.
- Corticosteroid preparations, presented in the form of tablets, as well as intravenous and rectal infusions. These drugs include "Hydrocortisone" and "Prednisolone".
- Immunosuppressants, eg Methotrexate, Azathioprine, Infliximab.
In addition, you can also apply the treatment of ulcerative colitis of the intestine with folk remedies.
Alternative medicine
As mentioned earlier, at the first stage of the development of the disease, as well as in the chronic form of ulcerative colitis, alternative methods of treatment can be used. However, before treating ulcerative colitis with folk remedies, it is necessary to consult a doctor, as the patient may have an individual intolerance to one or another ingredient that is part of the recipe.
Using Shilajit
Quite often, mummy is used to treat this disease. This is one of those folk remedies for ulcerative colitis that shows real and effective results.
To prepare a remedy, you need to mix the mummy with water inamount of 0.1 g per tablespoon of liquid. The finished solution is taken per day for 0.2 g. Each ingestion should be 10 ml of the prepared solution, the concentration of which is 1%. The remaining daily dose, approximately 0.1 g, should be used as rectal suppositories. You can achieve a pronounced anti-inflammatory, regenerative and analgesic effect if you apply this treatment of UC with folk remedies. Reviews show that patients also eliminate the specific manifestations of the disease of the gastrointestinal tract, that is, belching, heartburn, diarrhea.
Using Propolis
Another of the most effective folk remedies for treating ulcerative colitis is propolis. This product has a high antibacterial ability, while contributing to the rapid regeneration of mucous tissues, due to which ulcerative lesions begin to be effectively eliminated. The main dosage form for the use of propolis in this disease is an alcohol tincture.
To prepare this remedy, you need to add 1 liter of alcohol to a dark container, the strength of which should be from 70 to 96%. Ready tincture is used with a strength of 10, 20 or 30%. However, treatment is best to start with 10%. To prepare a tincture of such a strength, it is necessary to observe a ratio of 1:10, that is, 10 g of propolis is 10 g of alcohol per 100 ml of alcohol. The solution should be infused for 2 to 5 days in a dark room. Shake every day.
Enema treatment
Very efficientnon-traditional remedies for NUC are enemas using sea buckthorn and rosehip oil. They can be bought ready-made at any pharmacy. It is necessary to introduce oil at 50 g for adults, as well as 25 g for children whose age is less than twelve years. The catheter for adults should be 25 to 30 cm long. For children, the catheter should be 10 to 15 cm long.
To make such an enema, you need to purchase a 100-gram syringe with a special catheter. 50 g of rosehip or sea buckthorn oil is drawn into the syringe, after which the agent is injected into the rectum. It should be ensured that the medicine is inside the intestines for as long as possible. During this procedure, the patient should be in the supine position on the left side.
Nutritional Tips
In parallel with the use of traditional medicine and folk remedies for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, you will still have to adhere to a certain diet. It will be necessary to give up pork, s alty, sour, smoked and fried foods. The diet should contain a large amount of boiled, pureed food. As for dairy products, it is recommended to eat cottage cheese, kefir or yogurt. From meat dishes, preference should be given to chicken and beef. Fish and stale white bread should also be present in the diet. Oatmeal is also indispensable in the menu of people who suffer from ulcerative colitis.
Reviews and recommendations
Reviews on the treatment of ulcerative colitisfolk remedies indicate that the most effective are those products that are made on the basis of the mummy. Patients notice that after a month of treatment of the disease with alternative medicine, improvements are observed.
To reduce the frequency of exacerbations of the disease, as well as to promote long-term remission, experts recommend taking some measures. These measures include:
- Regular use of medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor.
- Following a therapeutic diet.
- Regular checkups to be scheduled by a specialist.
- If the patient has pain during the course of the disease, then doctors recommend taking drugs such as Efferalgan, Acetaminophen, Paracetamol, and in this case, you will have to abandon non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Naproxen " or "Ibuprofen".
However, do not forget that antibiotics can cause exacerbation of UC. These drugs are used only in extreme cases and only as directed by a specialist.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that UC is a disease in which the mucous membranes of the large intestine begin to become inflamed and covered with ulcers. Sometimes this pathology also affects the submucosal layer. As a rule, ulcerative colitis occurs in a chronic form, during which attacks of exacerbations occur. Treatmentdisease is long and conservative. If therapy fails, surgery will be required.
