Aloe Vera - Cure For Anything the Stomach Churns Out

Have you always wanted to know more about aloe vera? Are you interested in getting to know all about the medicinal uses of aloe? Here is a look at aloe vera and its use in the treatment of bowel related diseases such as ulcerative colitis.

Aloe vera is a plant of African origin with fleshy and succulent leaves. Its pulpy structure is arranged in a rosette pattern. This miracle drug is used in many forms as cure for various ailments. Its gel is made out of the fluid in its leaf, its extract by removing the water contained in the gel, juice made from pulping the leaf and aloe vera latex from the yellow syrupy liquid found within the leaf. It is also available in the market in the form of capsules. Aloe-vera gel contains enzymes, vitamins, minerals and amino acids within it.

Aloe has many medicinal attributes. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, astringent, anti-itch, anti-viral, antioxidant, laxative and analgesic. There are many ailments that aloe helps reduce the symptoms of: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Crohn's Disease, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Ulcerative Colitis, constipation, Psoriasis, minor burns, Eczema, mouth ulcers, Seborrheic Dermatitis and Type 2 Diabetes (supposedly not tested).

There are many more uses that aloe vera is used for. Some of its uses have been listed below. Aloe juice is used to treat minor insect bites and minor wounds. It aids better and faster recovery by forming a plaster like covering over the injury. Because of its anti-inflammatory and astringent qualities it works miraculously on skin ailments and cosmetic treatments and is also a preferred cure for hemorrhoids (piles). Aloe's antioxidant abilities have been found to control cases of skin cancer and other skin damage.

Aloe-Vera gel makes an excellent cure for ulcerative colitis thanks to its anti-inflmamtory and calming functions. Studies have suggested that aloe when used as a cure for ulcerative colitis has showed 47 percent improvement of symptoms.

Boswellia - An Anti-Inflammatory Herb

Boswellia (standardized to contain 55% Boswellic Acid) (Boswellia serrata) (leaf): Boswellia, also known as boswellin or "Indian frankincense," comes from the tree Boswellia serrata, that grows in the dry hills of India. For centuries, traditional Indian healers have taken advantage of the anti-inflammatory properties of the tree bark's gummy resin, called salai guggal. Modern preparations made from a purified extract of this resin and packaged in pill or cream form are used to reduce inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Unlike conventional NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen - the accepted treatments for joint inflammation - boswellia doesn't seem to cause stomach irritation. It also may be effective for back pain and certain chronic intestinal disorders.

Health Benefits: Research has identified specific active anti-inflammatory ingredients in this herb, which are commonly referred to as boswellic acids. In animal studies, these acids have been shown to reduce inflammation significantly in several ways. Boswellic acids deter inflammatory white cells from infiltrating damaged tissue. They improve blood flow to the joints. They also block chemical reactions that set the stage for inflammation to occur in chronic intestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Boswellia may help to ease symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Boswellia can be taken internally as well as applied topically to affected joints to relieve inflammation associated with these joint disorders. This may lessen morning stiffness and increase joint mobility.

In a study of 175 patients with rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, 122 participants experienced reduced stiffness and inflammation two to four weeks after starting on a boswellia regimen. Boswellia's anti-inflammatory properties can help to reduce aching and stiffness, especially when associated with low back pain. Although research indicates that boswellia is best taken orally for this purpose, creams appear to be soothing as well. Boswellia also appears to reduce the inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, both painful intestinal disorders. It seems to accomplish this without the risk of further gut irritation associated with many conventional pain relievers. In a 1997 study of ulcerative colitis sufferers, 82% of those who took boswellia extract (350 mg three times daily) experienced a complete remission of their disease.

Ulcerative Colitis Diet: Do's And Don'ts

If you want to reduce irritation in the colon then you need to follow the recommended ulcerative colitis diet.

Inflammatory diseases like ulcerative colitis occur in the large intestine region of our body. Ulcerative colitis only affects the colon. This type of inflammatory condition flares up unpredictably, but individuals who are suffering from this disease experience prolonged periods of remission. This disease can be managed and controlled with focus on minimal stress and adequate diet. Irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease, which are also inflammatory diseases, can also be controlled with proper diet.

One should always remember that ulcerative colitis is not caused by diet but proper diet can make the life of the sufferer comfortable. One should stick to nutritious and well balanced diet because it is extremely beneficial. You can also take supplements because supplements can balance the nutrient intake and prevent malnutrition that is commonly associated with colitis. More than anyone else, patients who are suffering from ulcerative disease should include vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meats and grains in their diet.

We do require calcium for bone and teeth, iron for energy, protein for tissue repair and growth, fruits and vegetables for fiber, minerals and vitamins. But, some of these items can cause problems for colitis patients. The main aim of the diet for colitis is to reduce the irritation in the colon region. The preliminary stage is to find out which one of the diets or foods can increase the inflammatory symptoms and then eliminate them from the diet list as much as possible.

Some of the food items that are eliminated from the ulcerative colitis diet are:
- Dairy or milk products
- Saturated fats that are found in dairy products and animal products
- Inflammatory foods and beverages like caffeine, alcohol and refined sugar
- Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, broccoli and cauliflower which are intestinal irritants
- Products from corn
- Food items that contain gluten such as foods that are produced from barley, wheat, oats and triticale
- Soy, eggs and peanuts which are usual allergenic suspects
- Grapes, watermelon and pineapple which have high sugar content

Ulcerative colitis diet is prepared keeping in mind the general benefits that a patient will enjoy and not just a reduction in the frequency of the flare-ups and symptoms. The recommended foods are healthy and nutritious and the general population will be enjoying it. Drink plenty of fluids like water and vegetable juices. You can take protein in the form of lean meats, legumes, and dried beans, complex carbohydrates from oat bran, whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Fish oil is also helpful because it contains omega 3 fatty acids and potassium rich foods like potatoes and nuts are also helpful in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

3 Important Factors With Your Ulcerative Colitis Diet

The correct ulcerative colitis diet can be the difference between living your life or simply existing with the often excruciatingly painful disease. You can decide if you want to be proactive and make sure you cut down or even eliminate your symptoms or if you are willing to put up with taking pills for the rest of your life, with never knowing when your next attack will be and with the fear that one day you will have grown immune of your pills and surgery is the only option. Surgery means removing your large intestine and all of the complications which come with that.

To most people the idea of using an ulcerative colitis diet simple means eating the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones but it actually is not as simple as that. In my experience it is actually a combination of 3 factors which serve to totally eliminate your symptoms.

1. Obviously it is important to avoid certain foods which make your colitis flare up. However, a lot of doctors rather inconsiderately give a much too broad answer when asked what to avoid. You will find that if you were to attempt to avoid everything they told you it is extremely difficult to find a meal that isn't boring and bland.

2. There are essentially 3 types of food. Depending on the types of digestive enzymes you need to break them down is what separates the 3 types of food. Basically food is broken down either with alkaline digestive enzymes, powerful stomach acids or simply pass through your digestive system without needing much digestion at all. The important thing is to avoid eating a combination of foods where on requires alkaline digestive enzymes and the other requires stomach acids. What happens is that they neutralise each other and the food doesn't get properly digested. This is what causes most types of digestion problems.

3. Eating the correct way is extremely important. Take note the next time you eat. Do you take the time to chew your food? Do you wolf your food down? Do you keep eating even after you feel full? The way we eat can have a massive effect on our digestive system. Sometimes if we eat too fast we take in as much air as food and this can lead to bloating and other problems.

Ulcerative Colitis - Effective Alternatives to Prescription Drugs

Anyone who has suffered from a severe case of Ulcerative Colitis that does not consistently respond to conventional treatments knows how much of an inconvenience and hassle it can be. There is the urgency where you suddenly know you have to go to the bathroom right away and one is not available, can you hold it... hopefully. There is the embarrassment of being at someone else's house knowing that their bathroom is going to be uninhabitable for awhile after you leave. There is the fatigue, lack of ability to concentrate, and weakened immune system that happens from anemia caused by blood loss and malnutrition caused by bleeding ulcers and diarrhea.

After almost 10 years of enduring this disease with almost constant flares of inflammation, the only drug treatments which have been able to bring it under control were Prednisone, a steroidal anti-inflammatory and Cipro a powerful anti-biotic used to treat Traveler's diarrhea among other conditions.

The question I wondered then was this. Why is it that an anti-biotic could help me? Does that imply that bacteria plays a role in the cycle that causes inflammation?

Over time I discovered books, like the Specific Carbohydrate Diet which offered a solution to the problem and explained the theory of how undigested food is at the start of a cycle that leads to inflammation. Unfortunately this diet is highly restrictive and was very hard to stick to in my experience. I had the experience where I was literally wasting away from not getting enough calories even as symptoms started to improve.

Over time I have managed to combine several concepts to help myself become healthier and able to get off of Prednisone. Here are some non-pharmaceutical drug solutions which have proven to help significantly, more than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Asacol.

One theory about what causes digestive track inflammation is that it is caused by an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria from food that was not properly digested because people lack the necessary digestive enzymes. Undigested food begins to putrefy or rot within the digestive track and this provides food for pathogenic bacteria. With this theory or undigested food in mind and the need to counteract malabsorption, there are some actions that I have taken to successfully improve my Ulcerative Colitis symptoms to almost complete remission.

1) Eat an almost elemental gluten-free diet, basically meat, rice and products made almost exclusively from rice, fresh fruit and vegetable juice. I have also experimented with avoiding anything with dairy and corn but now have added them back in to my diet.

I found a discussion forum run by Peter Thomson in the UK, where I found many stories from people who had remarkable improvements in UC by removing gluten and sometimes other foods from their diet. This is interesting because mainstream western medicine has yet to acknowledge a link between gluten intolerance and UC, however there is a well established link between Celiac disease, malabsorbtion and inflammation in the small intestine caused by gluten intolerance and Crohn's Disease, inflammation of the small intestine.

2) Eliminate alcohol and caffeine, at least until you have gotten symptoms mostly under control. Alcohol and caffeine are irritants for your colon and the rest of your digestive track. However both are free of gluten, so if gluten intolerance is playing a role in UC then you might be able to reintroduce them sparingly when you are not in the middle of a flare.

3) Juicing fruits and vegetables for nutrition. This is key because in the midst of a flare of Ulcerative Colitis you can help get the vitamins you need without the fiber in fruits and vegetables. Fiber in the midst of the symptoms of a flare is not your friend. By juicing you also make it easier for the body to absorb a higher proportion of vitamins and nutrients, because it does not have to attempt to extract them from the plant fibers.

4) Digestive enzyme supplements (products I have used include Wholefoods Wholezyme). One theory is that food intolerance is caused by a lack of certain digestive enzymes. By aiding proper digestion you reduce or eliminate undigested food in the digestive track which can breed pathogenic bacteria.

5) Water-soluble fiber supplements, (Benefiber). This can help with symptoms, both diarrhea and constipation as well as by protecting the intestinal walls. The fiber also provides space for "good" bacteria to grow and help protect the intestinal walls and aid in more complete food digestion.

6) Pro-biotic supplements including VSL#3, a pharmaceutical grade combination of 8 different strains of Lactic acid bacteria which is shipped to you in an ice chest. VSL #3 was recommended by my GI Dr., Dr. Robyn Chutkan in Chevy Chase, MD and is the only probiotic supplement with scientific research documenting its effectiveness.

There are other pro-biotic supplements out there that are less expensive however all of the ones I found also had significantly less bacteria per serving, and oftentimes were not refrigerated to ensure the highest possible amount of active (live) cultures. When comparing products, look at the bacteria count per serving and make sure that the product is kept refrigerated to make sure the highest percentage of bacteria are active. Generally if the product has a higher bacteria count and whether it is kept refrigerated, it will be more expensive.

The theory for why is works: some "good" bacteria help digest foods like dairy products, other bacteria kill or prevent "bad" bacteria from growing, and other pro-biotic bacteria just take up space and "crowd out" any "bad" bacteria.

7) Enteric-Coated Peppermint oil capsules. I use Pepogest which I got at Wholefoods. Peppermint oil helps relieve gas, cramps and urgency. The capsules are more convenient and more powerful than tea and the label on the bottle says peppermint oil is better tolerated and more effective when protected from stomach acid. Plus it has the added advantage of contributing to fresh breath.

So there are a couple things that I have done which have been helpful to me. Hopefully there will be more advances made in understanding how Ulcerative Colitis happens and better ways to treat it with fewer harmful side effects.

Best Colon Cleanser For Stomach Pain

sensitive digestion can have a massive impact on ones life. The pain it causes can effect well being not to mention the emotional distress it can cause from family and friends being impatient and not understanding the impact it is having on your health. Furthermore, for some being told that the pain is all in your head after medical tests have ruled out serious conditions like cancer or ulcerative colitis can be insulting and cause further distress.

As most of digestion occurs in the small intestine, the colon is responsible for the removal of waste. Colon cleansing is helpful in the removal of any excess waste that is present in the colon and is said to alleviate a lot of diseases and prevent the onset of cancer.

There are various symptoms that may occur from colon obstruction and sensitive digestion, therefore different treatments will be more effective for different situations. For example, if you suffer from occasional constipation then a colon cleanser might be the best solution. If you are one who suffers more from diarrhea, then a colon control treatment may be the best option.

Other effective treatments for the best alleviation of stomach pain may be to implement lifestyle changes such as increasing the fiber and water intake in one diet. Furthermore, increasing the intake of colored fruit and vegetables which strengthen the immune system. This is a more natural solution and there are less risks that can occur in comparison to a colon cleanse. However this method may take time for results to be seen and if the pain is too strong, perhaps a colon cleanse may be the best option for you.

The best and most effective first step that can be taken to reduce stomach pain is to alter your diet. The best treatment for sensitive digestion should be properly researched. Make sure that the procedures are safe and consult a doctor before going through with a colon cleanse.

Ulcerative Colitis - Use Aloe Vera to Be Rid of It

In the treatment of disorders related to the irritable bowel syndrome such as ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease, the consumption of Aloe Vera in gel form is found to be successful in either improving the condition of the patient or resulting in remission of the disorder. Almost 50 % of patients suffering from these disorders resort to alternative medicine to help with their long-term management and of these treatments using Aloe Vera is one of the most popular remedies.

Drinking Aloe Vera juice is an age-old remedy for treating diseases of the digestive tract including irritable bowel syndrome. In clinical trials conducted in the UK and the US, patients given Aloe Vera gel or juice over a period of over four weeks have shown higher rates of remission or improvement in their condition than other patients who were given a placebo juice.

Aloe Vera juice works by soothing the inflammation caused by ulcerative colitis and crohn's disease. This means that continuous consumption of this juice or gel can help in reducing the inflammation to a large extent and increase the chances of a patient's recovery or remission.

The leaf this plant is composed of over 200 different substances including zinc, vitamin C & E, essential oils, fatty acids and enzymes. However, it's most important constituent, especially for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome is long chain sugars known as mucopolysaccharides (MPS) that the human body stops producing on its own after puberty. MPS helps in lining the colon and preventing toxins from entering the body, thereby improving the health of the inflamed colon.

Aloe Vera is found in three different forms for medicinal use. Besides the gel or juice form, the extract is obtained by processing the whole leaves. There is also Aloe latex, which is the residue from the evaporated juice of cut leaves. The latex form is however not suitable for use by patients suffering from ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease as it could cause severe diarrhea or abdominal cramping that could aggravate the inflammation of the colon. It is always advisable to contact a medical practitioner to get prescribed the right dosage of Aloe Vera. This is important as it can have adverse effects on the body if consumed along with certain types of medications such as diabetic medicines, diuretics, hydrocortisone and digoxin. The doctor can also tell you for how long you need to continue the Aloe Vera treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.