Colitis Treatment Information

An estimated 20 million Americans have gallstones (cholelithiasis), and about 30 percent of these patients will ultimately develop symptoms of their gallstone disease. The most common symptoms specifically related to gallstone disease include upper abdominal pain (often, but not always, following a heavy or greasy meal), nausea, and vomiting. (The upper abdominal pain often radiates around towards the right side of the back or shoulder.)

Patients with complications of untreated cholelithiasis may experience other symptoms as well, in addition to an increased risk of severe illness, or even death. These complications of gallstone disease include:

- Severe inflammation or infection of the gallbladder (cholecystitis)

- Blockage of the main bile duct with gallstones (choledocholithiasis), which can cause jaundice or/and bile duct infection (cholangitis), as well as pancreatitis

More than 500,000 patients undergo removal of their gallstones and gallbladders every year in the United States, making cholecystectomy one of the most commonly performed major abdominal surgical operations. In 85 to 90 percent of cholecystectomies, the operation can be performed laparoscopically, using multiple small "band-aid" incisions instead of the traditional large (and more painful) upper abdominal incision.

For the vast majority of patients with cholelithiasis, cholecystectomy effectively relieves the symptoms of gallstones. In 10 to 15 percent of patients undergoing cholecystectomy, however, persistent or new abdominal or GI symptoms may arise after gallbladder surgery. Although there are many individual causes of chronic post-cholecystectomy abdominal or GI symptoms, the presence of such symptoms following gallbladder surgery are collectively referred to as "post-cholecystectomy" syndrome (PCS) by many experts.

I routinely receive inquiries from patients who have previously undergone cholecystectomy, and who report troubling abdominal or GI symptoms following their surgery. In many cases, these patients have already undergone rather extensive evaluations, but without any specific findings. Understandably, such patients are troubled and frustrated, both by their chronic symptoms and the ongoing uncertainty as to the cause (or causes) of these symptoms.

The most common symptoms attributed to PCS include chronic abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, excessive intestinal gas, and diarrhea. Fever and jaundice, which most commonly arise from complications of gallbladder surgery, are much less common, fortunately. While the precise cause, or causes, of PCS symptoms can eventually be identified in about 90 percent of patients following a thorough evaluation, even the most comprehensive work-up can fail to identify a specific ailment as the cause of symptoms in some patients. It is important to stress that there is no universal consensus on the topic of PCS among the experts, although most agree that there are multiple and diverse causes of chronic post-cholecystectomy symptoms. Thus, it can be very difficult to counsel the small minority of patients with chronic symptoms after surgery when a comprehensive work-up fails to identify specific causes for their suffering.

Because PCS is, in effect, a non-specific clinical diagnosis assigned to patients with chronic symptoms following cholecystectomy, it is critically important that an appropriate work-up be performed in all cases of chronic PCS, so that an accurate diagnosis can be identified, and appropriate treatment can be initiated. As the known causes of PCS are numerous, however, physicians caring for such patients need to tailor their evaluations of patients with PCS based upon clinical findings, as well as prudent laboratory, ultrasound, and radiographic screening exams. This logical clinical approach to the assessment of PCS symptoms will identify or eliminate the most common diagnoses associated with PCS in the majority of such patients, sparing them the need for further unnecessary and invasive testing.

In reviewing the etiologies of PCS that have been described so far, both patients and physicians can gain a better understanding of how complex this clinical problem is:

- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

- Bile gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)

- Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)

- Hypersensitivity of the nervous system of the GI tract

- Abnormal flow of bile into the GI tract after removal of the gallbladder

- Excessive consumption of fatty and greasy foods

- Painful surgical scars or incisional (scar) hernias

- Adhesions (internal scars) following surgery

- Retained gallstones within the bile ducts or pancreatic duct

- Stricture (narrowing) of the bile ducts

- Bile leaks following surgery

- Injury to bile ducts during surgery

- Infection of the bile ducts (cholangitis), incisions, or abdomen

- Residual gallbladder or cystic duct remnant following surgery

- Fatty changes of the liver or other liver diseases

- Chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic insufficiency

- Abnormal function or anatomy of the main bile duct sphincter muscle (the "Sphincter of Oddi")

- Peptic ulcer disease

- Diverticulitis

- Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis

- Stress

- Psychiatric illnesses

- Tumors of the liver, bile ducts, pancreas, stomach, small intestine, colon, or rectum

In reviewing the extensive list of potential causes of PCS, it is evident that some causes of PCS are directly attributable to cholecystectomy, while many other etiologies are due to unrelated conditions that arise either prior to surgery or after surgery.

While it is impossible to predict which patients will go on to develop PCS following cholecystectomy, there are some factors that are known to increase the risk of PCS following surgery. These factors include cholecystectomy performed for causes other than confirmed gallstone disease, cholecystectomy performed on an urgent or emergent basis, patients with a long history of gallstone symptoms prior to undergoing surgery, patients with a prior history of irritable bowel syndrome or other chronic intestinal disorders, and patients with a history of certain psychiatric illnesses.

In my own practice, the initial assessment of patients with PCS must, of course, begin with a thorough and accurate history and physical examination of the patient. If this initial assessment is concerning for one of the many known physical causes of PCS, then I will usually ask the patient undergo several preliminary screening tests, which typically include blood tests to assess liver and pancreas function, a complete blood count, and an abdominal ultrasound. Based upon the results of these initial screening tests, some patients may then be advised to undergo additional and more sophisticated tests, including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), upper or/and lower GI endoscopy (including, in some cases, ERCP, or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography), bile duct manometry, or CT or MRI scans, for example. (The decision to order any of these more invasive and more costly tests must, of course, be dictated by each individual patient's clinical scenario.)

Fortunately, as I indicated at the beginning of this column, a thoughtful and logical approach to each individual patient's presentation will lead to a specific diagnosis in more than 90 percent of all cases of PCS. Therefore, if you (or someone you know) are experiencing symptoms consistent with PCS, then referral to a physician with expertise in evaluating and treating the various causes of PCS is essential (such physicians can include family physicians, internists, GI specialists, and surgeons). Once a specific cause for your PCS symptoms is identified, then an appropriate treatment plan can be initiated.

Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity.

An inflammatory disease of the bowel, ulcerative colitis is characterized by the formation of open sores and ulcers in the mucus lining of the colon. Treatment for this disease usually includes, drug therapy and surgery but natural remedies are also available

Often confused with irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis along with Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease which is characterized by mild to severe inflammation of the bowel. A disease of the large intestine, ulcerative colitis causes severe inflammation in the colon and rectal region which is accompanied by open sores and ulcers. The major symptoms of the disease include diarrhea, bloody stool and abdominal cramps. It may also be accompanied by bloating, flatulence, weight loss and extra intestinal manifestations like joint pains and arthritis.

The inflammation kills the cells lining the colon leading to bleeding and pus production and the gradual formation of sores and ulcers in the mucosal lining of the colon. This inflammation of the lining also causes the colon to pass stool frequently leading to diarrhea. Ulcerative colitis is often difficult to diagnose as its symptoms are a lot similar to other intestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and another inflammatory bowel disease called Crohn's disease. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, nutritional imbalance, food intolerances are some of their common symptoms with ulcerative colitis. Due to these similarities in symptoms, it often becomes very difficult to diagnose the correct disease.

However, from drug therapy to surgery several treatment procedures are available for curing the disease. Ulcerative colitis is a very serious disease and if left untreated can even lead to cancer. The treatment course is usually decided upon depending on the severity of the disease. Its goal being induction and maintenance of remission, drug therapy involves the use of Aminosalicylates, Corticosteroids and Immunosuppressant drugs. While Aminosalicylates and corticosteroids reduce inflammation, the immunosuppressant drugs reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system and are used in patients who do not respond to the other two drugs.

But in some situations surgery becomes necessary. In case of massive spread of the disease with excessive bleeding, ruptured colon or suspected carcinoma, surgical removal of the colon known as colectomy is the common procedure.

For patients looking for alternative cure to ulcerative colitis, several natural remedies and herbal treatments are available. With negligible side effects, 'probiotics' a friendly gut resident bacteria help in killing harmful bacteria, reducing inflammation and improving the mucus lining of the gut. Though fatty food should be strictly avoided in bowel related problems, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acid such as fatty fish help in healing the inflammation. Capsules of Boswell and Aloe Vera gel also have an important role in reducing inflammation. Alternatively, as bowel problems often result from stress and lifestyle changes, mind-body treatments like meditation, relaxation techniques and hypnotherapy also produce very good results. A far more serious disease compared to irritable bowel syndrome or crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis needs immediate and proper medical attention.

Americans spend billions of dollars on over-the-counter and prescription medication hoping to relieve digestive problems. Their symptoms can come in the form of constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, and other common complaints of a digestive nature. Untreated, digestive disorders may affect one's quality of life, immune system, social well-being, and job productivity. On the other hand, the side-effects of steroid medications and other drugs used to treat digestive problems are very hard on the body.

While the symptoms of digestive disorders are bothersome, there are ways to address the underlying factors that contribute to the problem without the use of drugs. Research offers evidence that chiropractic care, for example, can be very effective in treating digestive conditions.

What Chiropractic Care Can Do for Your Digestive Disorder
The nervous system is responsible for controlling digestive function. It does so from several different parts of the body. The vagus nerve, for example, travels from the brain stem to the atlas bone, energizing the digestive organs and inciting the digestive process. The sympathetic nerves of the thoracic and lumbar region, and the sacral parasympathetic nerve fibers, are responsible for the pace of digestion.

Spinal misalignment in these spinal regions may affect the proper functioning of the bowel and the neurological process as a whole. Chiropractic doctors seek to isolate the exact location of spinal misalignments (also known as subluxations). The adjustment is performed in order to realign the impaired regions, and recover proper nerve supply to the affected organs.

Chiropractic care recognizes the body's natural ability to heal itself. As such, its approach to restoring ailments is based on addressing organ function, so that it can perform optimally without the aid of drugs.

Various studies have illustrated the effectiveness of chiropractic care in treating patients with digestive conditions. One study showed how infants with infrequent bowel syndrome receiving chiropractic care experienced almost immediate improvement after sessions.

Another comprehensive study established a link between spinal misalignments and the occurrence of Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease results in inflammation along the small intestine, affecting any part of the digestive tract. In addition to pain, this inflammation results in frequent emptying of the intestines and diarrhea.

The prevailing theory around the cause of Crohn's disease is that the immune system is acting in response to a virus or bacterium. Traditional treatment for Crohn's disease involves the use of corticosteroids to address the inflammation. However, the side-effects of corticosteroids can be serious, possibly prompting greater vulnerability to infection. Drugs that suppress the immune system are also used. Researchers of the study sought to look for treatment options that boosted the immune system (as opposed to suppressing it) in a way that did not rely on the use of drugs.

Another study revealed the link between spinal misalignments and a wide range of conditions including ulcerative colitis, asthma, Crohn's disease, and irritable bowel disorder. It showed that correcting those displacements caused improvement (and sometimes complete remission) of symptoms of Crohn's disease. Research findings also point to another attendant benefit of chiropractic care. Not only is there improvement of digestive disorders following chiropractic care but also an overall improvement of patients' quality of life.

Contact a Chiropractor for a Thorough Assessment of Your Digestive Condition
Chiropractors adjust misalignments of the spine that interfere with nerve function. These problems can be painlessly corrected. Once the misalignment is treated, the troublesome symptoms will likely go away as well.

Chiropractic care can benefit those suffering from digestive disorders by restoring the digestive processes' natural rhythm. In addition to spinal manipulation, your chiropractor may also employ the use of nutritional counseling as part of his or her practice. Vitamin and mineral supplements, healing herbs, as well as other complementary approaches may also be suggested. In an effort to address the patient as a whole, chiropractic doctors seek for ways to encourage wellness in a holistic manner.

Ulcerative colitis is a relentless disorder that is epitomized by persistent incidents of abdominal discomfort, high temperatures, shivering and prolific dysentery. It is a continual, inflammatory bowel disorder in which the interior coating of the large intestine (the colon or the bowel) and rectum turn out to be painful.
Ulcerative colitis may possibly be attributable to an assortment of infections over and above a shortage of blood supply and certain autoimmune responses.

The colon, often also known as the large intestine accumulates and amasses the residues after digestion has occurred. The large intestine also functions as the route or conduit through which this residual matter moves towards the rectum to be thrown out of the body. As a result of ulcerative colitis the inner layer of this passage gets irritated. There is no specific cause of ulcerative colitis. The most common risk factors attributable to this disorder may be atypical attack of the immune response on the intestines. Smoking also has been found to cause this ailment. Environmental aspects like nourishment and a variety of infections may also cause colitis.

Crohn's disease is another type of colitis. It is an inflammatory ailment of the bowel and the intestines which mostly distresses many regions of the GI tract - starting with the mouth to the rectum. This is manifested in a wide variety of symptoms. It generally causes abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, queasiness and loss of weight. It may also bring about indications such as skin inflammation, arthritis, and irritation of the eyes, fatigue and loss of focus.

Crohn's disease is classified as an autoimmune disease, which means that the body's own immune response besets the GI tract, causing inflammation. There isn't any identified basis for the disease as such. Infectivity, family history, heredity, nutrition, various immunological aspects, measles, certain vaccines, and even psychosomatic factors may have a role to play in crohn's disease.

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a fairly common colitis that affects numerous people. On the whole, people with IBS have a markedly vulnerable GI tract. Irritable bowel syndrome can have varied medical manifestations. The warning signs may vary from dysentery, to lack of bowel movement, to abdominal spasms to the urge to visit the washroom as soon as food is eaten. All these indications are an expression of the very same disease. Experts have found the major sources of irritable bowel syndrome to be improper digestion of the food that is eaten and to a certain extent, the stress that most people experience these days.

In conclusion, a lot of people suffer from the various forms of colitis. Knowing some of the symptoms and causes associated with these may be useful to people.

Colitis affects the bowel. Colitis is also known as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). The medical terminology for colitis is 'ulcerative colitis'. The symptoms of colitis are in many ways akin to those of Crohn's disease except for the fact that in the latter case the entire tract from the mouth to the anus can be affected.

Colitis patients have symptoms like diarrhea accompanied by profuse bleeding and severe pain in the abdominal area. The other commonly reported symptoms are acute deficiency in nutrients, rectum bleeding, loss in weight, fatigue and loss of appetite.

A person affected by colitis needs to frequent the bathroom to empty himself as the dysfunction - primarily the intestinal inflammation -- causes diarrhea. Since the inflammation destroys the colon-lining cells, pus is produced at those affected portions and the consequence is bleeding.
Moreover, while colitis strikes the large intestine lining and thereby the bowel, Crohn's disease causes deep cut inflammation inside the small intestine. Most importantly, colitis can also affect either the lower part of the colon or the rectum or, worse still, even spread to the entire colon.

Physicians diagnose colitis via a series of tests besides an overall physiological examination. A popular methodology to examine the colon is X-ray using barium enema. First, the colon is filled with barium solution; next, the X-ray step helps to locate the inflammation portion or the ulcers if any.

To ensure whether the patient is suffering from anemia, the patients are recommended blood tests which also come in handy in finding out the rise in the number of white blood cells - a sure sign of inflammation! Moreover stool is also examined to find out infection or presence of blood. The patient may further have to go for biopsy or/and colonoscopy - a process when a tissue is extracted from the colon lining.

There is till no unanimity as to the exact causes of either colitis or Crohn's disease. The common feeling is that these ailments are basically reactions of our immune system to the main attacking viruses or bacteria. This theory is buttressed by the fact that the patients having these dysfunctions generally have abnormal or weak immunity. Researchers are still working to find out if this is exactly the cause of those ailments.
One thing is for sure though. Colitis spares no one and anybody in the age group from 15 to 30 years can fall prey to colitis. There are also reports of teenagers and kids suffering from colitis. However, the most likely victims are people above the age of 50.

However, take strength from the finding that neither colitis nor Cohn's disease is caused by a person's allergy to certain food items or stressful lifestyle. Nonetheless, these factors can very well lead to colitis or Crohn's disease.

Colitis and Crohn's inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are debilitating afflictions which ruin the lives of millions of people worldwide. The medical consensus is that there is no "cure" for these conditions and, at best, they can only be "managed" via a lifetime of detrimental drugging. The majority of sufferers place themselves under medical care, only to be told that: diet is not a causative factor; no specific diet will result in lasting healing; lifelong drug therapy is the only sensible course to follow; and if, in chronic cases, this is unsuccessful, surgical removal of the colon is generally the prudent course to eliminate the symptoms and avoid impending cancer.

None of these common medical assumptions are true and, tragically, millions of lives are wrecked year after year by this stance which is based upon ignorance of human physiology. While the attending gastroenterologist means well, he unfortunately does not know anything outside of the realm of drug and surgery treatment and possesses no knowledge of the cause and purpose of disease or of the conditions required by the body for healing. Few gastroenterologists are sanctioned to provide or even recommend non-pharmacological healing approaches to IBD. Medicine never results in health.

Happily, when we care for ourselves properly, removing the causes of disease and supplying the requisites for health, the body invariably works its wonders of healing, and is restored to health. A close study of physiology in the context of health science, such as taught by Natural Hygiene educators, reveals this self-healing power. Under proper care, the body will heal inflammatory bowel diseases, even advanced cases, as I did 24 years ago after severe ulcerative colitis. Since 1993, over 1,000 of my clients have experienced similar success.

And, there are several thousand who can also vouch for this natural healing approach to IBD. There is even more good news: several natural health doctors, such as myself and other health coaches, are available to guide IBD sufferers to complete lasting health. My guidebook, Self Healing Colitis & Crohn's, has a world bestseller in its field. I take great pleasure in counseling several new clients every week, and most heal up within 2 to 8 weeks, going on to enjoy a life free of IBD.

So, what causes IBD? In a nutshell, stress on four fronts:

1. lifestyle stress, the foremost factor of which is dietary: eating foods incompatible with our biology, causing toxicity and indigestion
2. mental/emotional stress (which includes the impact of incorrect, disempowering beliefs about health and disease)
3. societal stress (such as working too-long hours)
4. environmental stress (pollution). Genetics and germs do not cause IBD; rather, IBD is caused by lifestyle choices and lack of proper education about the factors in disease and health. In other words, we need to learn how to restore health by healthful living and eating. And we can!

For almost 200 years, Natural Hygiene teachers have taught that unhealthful habits (which include ingesting and injecting poisons into the body) cause illness, and that the body is a self-healing organism which expresses distressing symptoms when its vital domain is threatened. In cases of IBD, the biggest culprit is acid-forming diets, including indigestible, cooked, fatty foods--primarily animal meats, dairy products and fried oils. Cooked meat provides little if any usable protein or fiber and it putrefies in the gut. Meanwhile, cooked oils are carcinogenic, plain and simple. Both irritate and ravage the bowel, causing inflammation, diarrhea and other distressful symptoms. Irritants (toxic matter and gases) cause bowel inflammation when toxins have built up to a life-threatening level. The body does its best to expel the irritating substances, but in cases of IBD, it is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task.

Diarrhea and the inflammation response are self-purifying, self-healing actions intelligently enacted by the body for the restoration of health. Inflammation is the body's protective immune system--our "guardian angel"--hard at work, preserving its vital domain. Remove the causes of the disease response, get plenty of rest, allow the inflammation process to complete its job, and the body will become purified, the inflammation will cease and health will be restored. That's the physiology of detoxification and self-healing!

Inflammation is not something to be suppressed under any condition. When we do, we suppress healing. Only the body can heal itself and it will under the proper conditions. Understanding your self-healing power is liberating!

What is the proven healthy, healing alternative to an unhealthful meat-based diet? In general, during the healing phase, for those whose diet was primarily cooked, it's best to partake of a simple, low-residue, low-fat, vegan diet of certain sweet fruits and lightly cooked vegetables, potatoes and squashes with fresh juices. This is to be followed by a post-healing diet with more fruits plus raw salads, lightly cooked plant foods and moderate amounts of fatty vegan "protein foods" such as raw avocados, nuts and seeds for health maintenance. A vegan diet of 75% to 100% raw foods is recommended. My book teaches the specifics of how to incorporate this approach. Specific eating guidelines must be followed; they are liberating in their simplicity and superior nutritional benefits. Improper food choices and combinations are detrimental; one must get the right education and guidance for a successful healing outcome. Yes, a vegan diet can supply all the protein, fat and carbohydrate satiation we need to heal and stay happy and dynamically healthy. Virtually every disease condition, from A to Z, has been overcome through applying the principles of Natural Hygiene: "the science and fine art of healthful living."

For a disease-free life filled with youthful vitality, it behooves each of us to implement more and more healthful living practices. This invariably results in our feeling better and better and getting more and more enjoyment out of life.

Here's to your glorious health!

Many people are affected every day by a horrible disease that unless treated could make them unable to even leave their home. It is important to not only manage colitis but to also know that not one treatment fits all. Colitis can be attributed to many factors such as heredity, stress and some have even said spiritual issues. The fact remains that every year many Colitis sufferers never get their condition managed because they simply believe they are doomed to a suffering.

There are many situations that colitis can surface in. Colitis can begin as what seems like the flu but never quite recovers. One might have severe explosive diarrhea during a period of stress and believe it is just something that will pass. Often however when mucous and blood exist in the intestinal tract an infection can create complications.

Some cases of Colitis can become so severe that removal of the colon would be recommended. Once inflammation, infection and bleeding begin it is difficult to eliminate.

Colitis Complications

Ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that typically affects those between the ages of 15 and 40, can cause abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and fever. If left untreated the condition can eventually become life threatening.

More than one third of patients in a new study who had colitis that did not respond to steroids were infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV), the investigators found. A form of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis causes the large intestine to become inflamed and ulcerated, leading to bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Colitis can also occur in patients with Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammation of the intestinal wall.

More than half of the population is infected with CMV, a type of herpesvirus. The virus rarely causes problems in adults with healthy immune systems, although it can cause symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, such as those infected with HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS.

Colitis Treatments

Whether bacterial or viral, colitis can be treated and when treated effectively people are able to return to a life of normal living.

Nutritional and natural means are getting more and more effective in the treatment of Colitis. From removing grains and sugar from the diet to taking garlic and high doses of probiotics, many have seen complete recovery.

In dealing with Colitis all sources whether a Natropath or a Medical Doctor will agree that the whole patient needs to be treated. Oftentimes depression and withdrawl can occur from the fear that an episode will reoccur that is out of control. Colitis is a whole-body disease that deserves more than just a diet change or steroids.

Colitis Maintenance

While this author is not a medical doctor, I have experienced personally life threatening Colitis. A combined approach of nutritional supplementation and diet, along with stress reduction routines has allowed me to live a nearly symptom free lifestyle. Resources like http://www.mercola.com have been invaluable to me. I recommend you not only treat your Colitis but also achieve a maintenance program that you can live with.

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is marked by a wide array of symptoms. In most cases, IBS patients only go through mild symptoms but others have it so severely that it debilitates them. Thankfully, despite the varying intensity by which IBS patients experience their symptoms, IBS is never fatal, unlike other intestinal diseases like colitis or cancer. That is because IBS is more of a functional disorder of the intestinal muscles and does not display any physical abnormalities.

The two most common symptoms of IBS are constipation and diarrhea. Some patients suffer from constipation-dominant IBS while others are more diarrhea-dominant. Sometimes, a patient can have constipation on some days and diarrhea on some.

Constipation happens when the stool gets too bulky and packed up. When this occurs, it is hard to push it out. Diarrhea, on the other hand, makes patients pass stool more frequently. Patients with diarrhea may also suffer from incontinence; a patient with incontinence gets sudden urges to move bowels and is unable to control or delay it. There are times when a person with diarrhea will have another urge right after doing the deed, but this time the stool is harder to release.

Characteristics of Diarrhea

Let us go into more detail on the conditions that characterize diarrhea.

1. Lack of stool consistency. The stools of a person suffering from diarrhea are loose and sometimes liquid in form. People who eat lots of fiber-rich food, vegetables and fruits often have loose and soft feces.

2. Frequent bowel movement. The rate by which healthy people move their bowels varies from person to person. Some people find it normal that they empty their bowels more than once a day, while some people are not bothered by the fact that they do it only a number of times per week. Most people normally do it once a day. People who have diarrhea move their bowels more frequently than what they consider their normal rate.

3. Water with stool. A person with diarrhea sometimes passes water with stool. It is part of the normal digestive process for food to be kept in liquid form. If water passes along with undigested food to the small intestine, the small intestine usually absorbs the water as the undigested food passes along. However, with diarrhea, one of two things tends to happen. There could be too much water for the small intestine to absorb. Or it could be that the stool passed too quickly that there is not enough time for the intestine to absorb the water.

Diarrhea as a symptom largely affects IBS. It can make the condition worse if left untreated. Thus, it is important for an IBS patient, especially the diarrhea-dominant ones, to understand the nature of diarrhea and what should be done in order to reduce its occurrence.

It's important to know that diarrhea is not an illness but a symptom of any number of problems that are interrupting the function of the large intestine.It is also important to identify the cause as trying to just suppress this symptom will only bring about short lived, temporary relief which may cause long term health implications. Once identified, different causes will require different treatments.

Diarrhea can be mild and self limiting, or very debilitating and even fatal. It may or may not be accompanied by gas and abdominal discomfort. If your dog is still happy, with good energy level, and doesn't refuse water an acute episode of diarrhea may be the body's attempt at internal cleansing and purging. If however the diarrhea persists for more than a few days, contains blood, if there is associated vomiting, your dog is becoming increasingly lethargic, and refuses to drink, please seek the advice from your veterinarian as soon as possible. With each passing day of chronic diarrhea nutrients are lost in the stool, which lowers your dog's general vitality. Your dog may need to go on an IV for loss of fluids immediately if this is the case.

Causes and Contributing factors to diarrhea

A dog with chronic diarrhea and gas, and accompanying skin problems may be suffering from a food allergy. Frequent offenders are preservatives (ethoxyquin, propylene glycol), artificial flavouring and coloring, dyes, salt, sugar, fungi, bacteria, germs all found in commercial dog foods (read more about What's Really in Your Dogs Food article). Most common foods that may cause allergy include: beef, beef by-products, corn and corn oil, fish, turkey, pork, ham, cows milk (lactose intolerance), yeast, eggs, wheat or any food containing these. Please note that all commercial tinned food and biscuits, treats all contain sugar, salt, corn and wheat. Unless diet is strictly addressed, ongoing diarrhea may continue presenting.

Consider also the following contributing factors diarrhea may be due to:

• stress and anxiety
• over eating
• high fat diet
• vaccinations (due to meat extract that certain vaccines are grown in, thus long term leading to sensitivities and autoimmune disorders)
• undiagnosed IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• leaky gut syndrome (intestinal dysbiosis/ hyper permeability)
• a foreign body ingestion
• gastritis, colitis (intestinal inflammation)
• the pancreas and/or liver failing to produce enzymes properly or sufficiently
• food poisoning
• excess vitamin C
• bacteria, virus (i.e. parvovirus, distemper)
• parasites i.e. worms
• drug related complication (most drugs are residual and are never completely eliminated as in the waste from food but are stored up in the body)
• side effect of certain drugs (i.e. antibiotics)
• liver disease
• pancreatitis,
• stomach ulcer
• cancer
• could also indicate that the liver and kidneys are overwhelmed with toxins that they are unable to process which leads to purging i.e. diarrhea.

Helpful suggestions to relieve diarrhea

The most beneficial initial step is to put your dog on a liquid fast. Withhold all solid food and only allow a liquid diet consisting of juices (i.e. apple juice is very healing in diarrhea), broths, and filtered water. If you suspect your dog's diarrhea is due to an infection, you can add colloidal silver to his drinking water. The reason for not feeding further is that a dog's digestive system has a gastrocolic reflex. This means that the colon will empty as the stomach fills. Thus, to stop the colon from emptying and break this cycle of diarrhea, its best to stop ingesting food (or only as little as possible). In most cases, dogs instinctively will refuse food when they are unwell. By fasting, the irritated digestive system is given a chance to rest and heal.

Slippery elm is highly nutritious, very soothing and healing to irritated mucous membranes. Slippery Elm bark powder can heal and reduce the frequency of diarrhea in dogs quickly and naturally. It relieves internal inflammations, protects against infection, stimulates new cell growth, and causes swollen irritated tissue to contract-it has an affinity for the digestive tract where it acts as an astringent, therefore particularly indicated for treating diarrhea. It normalizes intestinal function, is rich in protein, trace minerals, and is easy for your dog to digest,

Directions: Combine 翹 cup slippery elm powder with 2 tablespoons acidophilus powder (good bacteria for the gut that needs to be reestablished) and 1 teaspoon Himalayan salt (source of more minerals that have been lost due to the diarrhea). Add enough water to make a runny syrup which you can feed to your dog either by spoon, syringe or dropper. Give approximately 1 tablespoon per 5kg of your dog's body weight, every 2-3 hours in an acute situation. You can sweeten the mixture with some raw organic (unprocessed) honey for taste. In occasional diarrhea you can add the mixture with plenty of water to your dog's daily meals. Once his bowels have returned to normal, reduce the frequency and stop

Fiber supplements such as (apple) pectin, psyllium husks can help bind and relieve diarrhea. With psyllium husks 1-2 teaspoons with very little water (or apple juice) is effective. Grated green apple (no skin) left to brown for a few minutes, (sweetened with honey if necessary) is also good at controlling diarrhea.

Chamomile tea is soothing, healing and relaxing to both the digestive and nervous system. Chamomile would particularly be indicated if your dog's diarrhea is due to stress and anxiety, and if there is accompanying abdominal discomfort and gas. Make a strong brew using two (organic) teabags, or a teaspoon loose leaf. Pour half cup of boiling water, cover and seep for 10 minutes. Once it has cooled and is just warm, you many add a little manuka honey to sweeten and taste. You may syringe (or use dropper) and slowly give to your dog this way. Yarrow is another herb which is excellent for controlling diarrhea.

For management of chronic or recurrent diarrhea, in addition to concurrently using supportive supplements that address the cause, the following recipe may be helpful:

Gently boil together 50% white potato, 50% sweet potato, and a slice of turnip. For flavour, mix in with boiled chicken or lamb. This recipe can be given for longer periods to help ease diarrhea.

Once your dog is showing signs of recovery, reintroduce solid food gradually and in smaller amounts. The Recovery Broth for Dogs recipe would be beneficial and gently healing at this stage.

Always ensure your dog has access to sufficient water and monitor his recovery closely. In most cases, dogs recover quite well after a period of fasting and bounce back with even more vitality. If however, your dogs diarrhea continues and you are unable to identify a cause please check with your holistic veterinarian to rule out any more serious health implications.

Canine Colitis

Colitis in dogs is actually an inflammation of the colon or?large intestine. This particularly?nasty disease is actually more common in older dogs - particularly dogs over the age of 10 years of age.There are also a?number of different causes of this condition, some of which we have listed below.

Causes

1. This condition can be caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome (also known as Irritable Bowel Disorder).


2. If your dog has experienced a sudden trauma (for example being hit by a car) this may cause the condition.


3. Another cause of this illness is due to a trauma associated with injury to the Pelvis.


4. Bacterial infections are thought?to be?another cause of the illness - specific bacteria include Salmonella, Clostridium?and?Campylobacter.


5. Watch out for allergic reactions as Vets also think allergies can cause the illness.


6. Giardia is another cause of the condition.


7. Colitis can also be caused by infections that have affected the Liver, Spleen and Kidney.

Symptoms of the Disease

1. Constipation is a sign of the condition


2. Diarrhea can also be seen in some cases


3. If your dog has started vomiting he may have developed the disease


4. Watch out for blood in your dog's stool as this is another symptom

Treatment

Treatment for this condition can include some of the following...

1. Antifungal medication


2. Antibiotics


3. Medication to treat allergies can be prescribed


4. Antiparasitic medication can be used to treat the condition


5. You may be?advised by your dog's vet to change the diet that you have been feeding?him - some people think that a diet that is high in fiber may be a useful treatment


6. If your dog is pooping too much the vet may prescribe medications to stop this problem including Ioperamide.

There are some home remedies that can be used to treat?Canine Colitis ?(but always speak to your vet) as you always need professional advice should you be at all concerned that your dog or puppy has this illness.