Health Topics > Immune system > ulcerativecolitis

ULCERATIVE COLITIS

What is Ulcerative Colitis (UC)?

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the large intestine, and causes inflammation and ulceration of the inner lining (mucosa) of the colon and rectum. Inflammation of the rectum is called proctitis. Inflammation of the sigmoid colon (situated just above the rectum) is called sigmoiditis. Inflammation of the entire colon is called pan-colitis.

What causes UC?

UC is autoimmune in origin (see autoimmune diseases) however it can flare up after emotional stress, food allergies and viral and bacterial infections.

How is it diagnosed?

UC begins most frequently in the age group 20 to 30, although older people and children occasionally develop this disease. A specialist gastroenterologist will carry out investigations such as barium enema X ray, and direct visualisation of the bowel lining using a fibre optic telescope.

Symptoms of UC

In UC the bowel lining becomes ulcerated releasing blood, mucus and pus. Inflammation of the bowel lining causes the colon to empty too frequently, resulting in diarrhoea (sometimes explosive), cramping and flatulence. Bleeding from the rectum can occur and there may be up to 10 to 20 bowel actions containing blood and mucus daily. Weight loss, weakness, fever and dehydration often occurs during acute attacks. Abscesses may form in the wall of the colon, which release infected pus into the colon. The colon may become very dilated and inflamed, which is a medical emergency known as toxic mega colon. Toxic mega colon occurs when inflammation spreads from the mucous lining through the remaining layers of the colon. The colon becomes paralyzed which causes it to swell so much that it can eventually burst. This is known as a bowel perforation, which is a medical emergency often requiring surgery. The overuse of certain drugs, particularly opiate painkillers and antispasmodics may increase the risk of toxic mega colon. This is why drugs should be used with great care in UC.

Recommended books

"The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book"
"Raw Juices Can Save Your Life"

Treatment and general recommendations

It is important to try and maintain a healthy population of microorganisms in the intestines to reduce infection of the inflamed bowel lining. See "The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book" for strategies to help all types of bowel disorders.

Maintain a healthy population of microorganisms in your bowel
Improve dietary habits
Improve digestion and absorption of nutrients from food.
During acute flare-ups of UC, avoid high fibre cereals, seeds and nuts and puree your fruits and vegetables after cooking them lightly.
Eat only small frequent meals.
Food preparation takes longer for those with inflammatory bowel disease because it is much better to eat your fruits and vegetables finely chopped or grated after they have been washed thoroughly. All seeds and nuts should be finely ground in a coffee grinder or food processor.
It is important to avoid foods that may trigger attacks and everyone is different here.

Diet

Follow the vital eating principles outlined on p 20-27 of ''The Healthy Liver and Bowel book'' Make these principles a way of life. The diet will have to be adjusted according to the severity of symptoms but needs to be high in easily absorbed forms of protein and carbohydrates.

If you want to improve liver function you should limit dairy products - opt for organic unsweetened soy, oat, rice, almond or light coconut types of milk.
Avoid ALL margarines and similar type spreads
Avoid deep fried and fatty foods.
Avoid gluten. It is found in wheat, rye, oats, barley and many processed foods.
Limit chicken and turkey that is not free range, as this contains artificial growth hormones, antibiotics and steroids that increase the liver's workload.
Avoid ALL alcohol.
Drink 2 litres of water each day.
Avoid artificial sweeteners see www.dorway.com

Raw Juicing

I have known about the incredible healing power of raw juices from a very young age. My grandmother’s life was saved by raw juicing back in the 1930s.
Raw juices are an incredibly powerful healing tool and can improve the function of the liver, bowels and kidneys. This increases the elimination of toxins and waste products from the skin and helps to reduce inflammation. High fibre foods may not be tolerated and indeed may aggravate the diarrhoea. In this situation raw vegetable and fruit juices made freshly with a juice extracting machine and diluted with water can provide essential antioxidants, enzymes and healing phytonutrients. Dilute the juice so that you have 2 parts pure water to one part juice and drink 200 mL (7oz) every one to two hours.

Appropriate juice recipes are:
• ‘Liver Tonic Juice’ on page 116
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease Juice on page 105 of “Raw Juices Can Save Your Life” book.

Recommended supplements

Liver tonic powder or capsules

Take 1 teaspoon twice daily in raw juices or water, or 2 capsules twice daily. A combination of synergistic herbs, vitamins and minerals, particularly Taurine, B vitamins and St Mary's Thistle to stimulate the phase 1 and 2 detox pathways in the liver - therefore it supports the liver function.

Selenium tablets

Take 2 tablets twice daily - Selenium is a powerful antioxidant mineral that assists in protection of further damage to tissues and cells. This nutrient is essential to heal the ulcerated bowel lining.

Flaxseed capsules

Take 2 capsules daily - Excellent source of essential fatty acids to replace and repair damaged cell membranes and assist in reducing inflammation.

Vitamin D capsules

Take 1 capsule per day with food. Vitamin D deficiency is a contributing factor in the development of all autoimmune disease.

Orthodox medical treatment

Drug treatment is effective for the relief of acute symptoms in 70 - 80% of patients, and consists of antibiotics (sulfasalazine), antispasmodics and steroids. Often with the use of nutritional medicine, doses of steroid drugs can be minimised and confined to much shorter time periods. The minerals magnesium and potassium
will need to be replaced because diarrhoea depletes these minerals. Surgery becomes necessary in severe cases where intestinal perforation or obstruction has occurred. Long term regular follow up is essential, because for patients who have had UC for over 10 years, the risk of colon cancer is increased. Patients who have both UC and the liver disease Sclerosing Cholangitis, may be at an even higher risk of colon cancer. These people should be screened with extra vigilance.