Ulcerative Colitis Medical Options

According to western medicine, ulcerative colitis is a chronic non-specific idiopathic gastrointestinal inflammatory disease. Several etiologic factors have been suggested, but none are proven at the present time. Since there is no known cause, specific therapy is not available and all available drug treatment focus on symptomatic relief. Surgery cures the disease but will require permanent ileostomy (cutting off a portion of the large intestines) in addition to physical and emotional burden.

Most common medications to treat ulcerative colitis include: Aminosalicylates, Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), Mesalamine (Asacol, Rowasa), Balsalazide disodium (Colazal), Corticosteroids (such as budesonide, prednisone, and prednisolone). In addition, immune system suppressors, nicotine patches, anti-diarrheal medications are often used.

Surgical Procedures

20 to 30% of people with ulcerative colitis must eventually have their colon or colon and rectum removed (colectomy or proctocolectomy) because of massive bleeding, severe illness, rupture of the colon, or the risk of cancer.  Although the surgery often eliminates the disease, it may result in having 5 to 7 watery bowel movements a day, and up to one-third of people who undergo this procedure develop pouchitis, an inflammation of the pouch that was created to reconnect the severed intestines to the rectum.

Ulcerative Colitis What Are the Causes?

In conventional western medicines, no one knows what causes ulcerative colitis. The most likely theory is that it is caused by several factors ranging from genetics, faulty immune system reactions, and environmental influences, and over-consumption of saturated fat and/or processed foods. Most prominent risk factors for ulcerative colitis include:

  • Family history of the disease
  • Jewish heritage, especially Ashkenazi (European) Jews
  • A diet high in sugar, cholesterol, and fat (particularly from meat and dairy products)
  • Psoriasis. Studies show that psoriasis is associated both with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative Colitis Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of ulcerative colitis vary depending on the severity of inflammation, and where it is located. The most common symptoms include abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, ranging from mild to severe. They may come on either very suddenly or more gradually.

Other common symptoms include:

  • Frequent, even continuous diarrhea
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Bloody stool
  • Urgent need to defecate
  • Abdominal cramps and pain
  • Weight loss
  • Anemia
  • Joint aches
  • Fever
  • Dehydration

People with ulcerative colitis are at increased risk for malnutrition. The condition is also associated with other health problems, including arthritis, eye infections, liver disease, skin rashes, blood clots, or gallstones. Although western medical doctors cannot figure out why such problems occur outside the colon, if we take a look at this disease from a Chinese medical perspective, cross-functional aspects of different organs will make sense.

What Is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes ongoing inflammation and ulcers (open sores) in the innermost layers of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. The ulcers bleed and produce pus and mucus, and the inflammation causes the colon to empty frequently, causing diarrhea.

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Ulcerative colitis is similar to Crohn disease, another IBD. Crohn disease can happen anywhere in the digestive tract, often in patches, and can spread deeper into tissues.

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Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, is usually confined to the innermost layers of tissue and is uniform throughout the colon. Ulcerative colitis can be painful and have life-threatening complications.

Nutrition Tips to Deal with Candidiasis

The following recommendations are by no means complete protocols.  Depending on the body’s constitutional weaknesses and reactions, these recommendations can be modified.  The key is to stay away from sugar, alcohol, carbohydrates, and dairies as much as possible. At the initial phase, all forms of protein including fish or chicken must be avoided as the main focus is to make candida starve to death.

First Phase—The Candida Cleanse Period (typically one week to 10 days)

  • Avoid all grains, especially wheat.
  • Avoid all proteins, except coconut milk or almond milk.
  • No nuts and all forms of pre-made salad dressings.
  • Fruit intake should be minimal.
  • Eat steamed organic vegetables as much as one can handle.
  • Eat salads made from leafy greens (like romaine lettuce) or bitter greens (like chard) and topped with just a bit of coconut oil and apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice).
  • Stay away from starchy vegetables like carrots, radishes, beets, sweet potatoes and white potatoes.
  • Drink plenty of pure water, a minimum of 72 ounces per day, to help flush the candida and by-products from the body.
  • Use Bentonite Clay to help surround the toxins and efficiently remove them from the body.
  • Nutritional supplements such as Grapefruit seed extract, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Garlic extract, Turmeric, Ginger, Cinnamon, or Oregano will be beneficial.

The Second Phase—The Candida Diet (8 to 10 weeks)

  • Re-introduce warm starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes, yams, peas, mung beans, lentils, kidney beans, adzuki beans, carrots, beets, corn, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, acorn squash, zucchini, yellow squash, rutabaga and pumpkin.
  • One serving a day of grains from quinoa, barley, brown rice, or amaranth.
  • Keep eating green leafy vegetables.
  • Add cultured dairy, especially kefir. Kimchi, sauerkraut and other fermented foods are also
  • Keep staying away from refined carbohydrates and sugars.
  • Support the body with Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Milk Thistle, Oregano Oil, Clove Oil, and Grape Seed Extract.

Candida Die-Off Symptoms

If one follows these recommendations, almost everyone will experience candida die-off symptoms. When candidas are being killed off rapidly, they cause metabolic reaction by releasing 70 different toxins into the body. Symptoms of candida die-off include:

  • Brain Fog
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Intestinal distress including bloating, gas, constipation and nausea
  • Sweating and fever
  • Sinus infection
  • Skin breakouts (not limited to face)
  • Typical flu-like symptoms

These symptoms usually clear up in seven to 10 days.

After all symptoms have subsided, one should continue eating a diet high in protein, high-fiber vegetables, and limit grains, fruits, sugar and high-starch vegetables like white potatoes. Fermented vegetables and kefir are known to help the body stay in balance and keep the candida at bay.

Treating Candidiasis with Nutrition Response Testing

Nutrition response testing can easily identify the underlying causes of candidiasis. Too often, symptoms such as brain fog, hormonal fluctuations, or chronic urinary tract infections are found to be directly related to yeast/fungus overgrowth.

Almost always, certain food items show up as the culprits of candidiasis. Not only yeast/fungus, many of those with candidiasis also demonstrate problems with bacteria and/or parasite over-growth.

With nutrition response testing, it typically takes 12 weeks to clear out the most severe candidiasis symptoms. Patients are strongly advised to abstain from grains, sugar (including fruits), dairies, and alcohol. Real food-based supplements such as Standard Process’ Lact-Enz, Prosynbiotics, Multizymes, and Liver/Spleen Cleanse are frequently used.

Treating Candiasis with Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine recognizes the development of candida as a Triple Burner-related condition (The Triple Burner is not directly related to body organs, rather it is a concept.)  Regulating the activities of the other internal organs and fluid metabolism, the Triple Burner consists of three burners: the Upper Burner (the Heart, and Lung), Middle Burner (the Spleen and Stomach) and Lower Burner (the Liver, Intestines, Bladder and Kidneys).

In candidiasis, the Middle Burner, and particularly the Spleen, is the key issue. The Spleen is responsible for taking the food and fluids that we ingest and processing them into the Chi and Blood that are the true “fuel” of our bodies. When the Spleen is functioning well, Chi and Blood are in balance, intestinal flora is in balance, and there is no excess fluid or phlegm in our system. However, when the Spleen becomes weak, this imbalance often progresses to digestive disorders, irregular bowel movements, diarrhea, constipation, and/or fatigue. When the Spleen is weakened further, Damp Heat accumulates in the Lower Burner, resulting in white, cheesy vaginal discharge, genital itching, or urinary tract infections. At the Upper Burner, Damp Heat caused by the weakened Spleen causes an infection of the oral cavity called thrush or chronic cough.

Candidiasis3

If treated appropriately at an earlier stage by balancing of the Spleen and Stomach, the problem will resolve with no yeast-related symptoms. But candidiasis is not a well-defined disease pattern. It is difficult to diagnose at the early stages, and many people are completely unaware that they are developing a severe problem. Without a proper treatment, the disease gains ground, spreading to the Upper Burner (thrush, cough, etc.), or to the Lower Burner (vaginal infection, etc.), or both.

Acupuncture is extremely effective in strengthening the weakened Spleen–the organ about which conventional medicines do not have a clear understanding. Whether it is an early stage or a full-blown candidiasis affection all three burners, acupuncture can safely and effectively address issues with candidiasis, as long as a proper diet change and nutritional supports are implemented simultaneously.

If you or your loved ones demonstrate any of candida-overgrowth issues, please call us as soon as possible.

Causes of Candidiasis

Interestingly, the main causes of the overgrowth of candida albicans are presumed to be MEDICATIONS and MEDICAL THERAPIES. These include: antibiotics, hormone replacement, corticosteroids, birth control pills, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and multiple surgeries. These medications and therapies tend to kill beneficial bacteria and interfere with normal hormone functions.  Improper diet, such as over-consumption of yeast products, sugar, or alcohol, also can promote yeast growth.

Candidiasis2

Those with immune or endocrine disorders such as patients with AIDS, cancer, or diabetes are more prone to candidiasis. Due to the hormonal involvement and the reproductive tract, women tend to present with more symptoms than men.

The effects of anti-fungal medicines are highly questionable. The protocols recommended by alternative health practitioners are extremely difficult to follow. Mostly, the protocols focus on “candida cleanse” that helps to rid the body of excess candida through the flushing of the digestive tract, and the introduction of healthy candida fighters found in fermented foods or probiotics.

Some suggest liquid-only cleanse for an extended period of time; some recommend a thorough gut reboot along with a drastic diet change.

What is Candidiasis?

Although conventional medicines do not view candidiasis as a serious condition, many alternative medical practitioners consider candidiasis as one of the greatest health threat in modern days. Resulted by the overgrowth of a yeast-like fungus called Candida albicans, candidiasis is assumed to be the cause of a wide range of long-term conditions. Candida cells are part of the normal flora of our bodies found in our mouth, vagina, intestines, and other organs.

Candidiasis1

When they grow unchecked and their over growth flows into the bloodstream, it becomes a systemic disease, presenting multiple conditions including:

  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Mood Disorders
  • Recurring Vaginal and Urinary Tract Infections
  • Weakened immune functions
  • Oral Thrush
  • Sinus Infections
  • Food allergies
  • Intestinal Distress (gas, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome)
  • Skin and Nail Fungal Infections
  • Hormonal Imbalance
  • Joint pain
  • Loss of sex drive

Most of these conditions are closely related to “leaky gut syndrome,” a condition in which the lining of the intestines become irritated and “leaky” so that that undigested food particles, bacterial toxins and germs can pass through the “leaky” gut wall and into the bloodstream, triggering the immune system and causing persistent inflammation throughout the body.

Acupressure Points for Allergies

To relieve sinus tensions and blocked nostrils, there are three points on the face you can massage. They are Large Intestine 20, Stomach 2 and Bladder 2. All three points are pressed twice, symmetrically on both sides of the face. Large Intestine 20 is just outside the nostril; Stomach 2 is right below the eye; and Bladder 2 is the inner end of the eyebrow.  Refer to the attached picture and you can massage all points simultaneously.

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