Colitis Treatment Information

Intestinal Worms

If you are reading this article, perhaps you are wondering if your dog has worms. In this article, I'll outline the tell-tale signs of four kinds of intestinal worms. Intestinal worms can include: Whipworm, Hookworm, Roundworm and Tapeworm.

How can I tell if my dog has Whipworm?
Dogs can be infected by Whipworm by eating infected poop or dirt (as Whipworm eggs can live in both). Whipworms are hard to detect; however they can cause recurring diarrhea (which may be bloody), weight loss, anemia and colitis (inflammation of the large intestine). The best way to determine whether your do is infected is to examine your dog's poop - eggs may appear irregularly so frequent examination is required.

How can I tell if my dog has Roundworm?
Roundworms can cause diarrhea and vomiting in dogs and puppies. Dogs may also look unhealthy and have a pot belly appearance. They may also pass whole roundworms in their poop. You may be able to see these worms in your dog's poop; they are approximately two to four inches (five to twelve and a half centimetres) long, spaghetti-like and white. Roundworm is not generally life threatening, however, they can cause discomfort.

How can I tell if my dog has Hookworm?
Hookworms can cause itchy feet, a rash on the dog's feet, coughing and wheezing, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and bloody or black poop. In advanced cases, hookworms can cause anemia and death. Puppies are particularly vulnerable and can die if infected. Hookworms are difficult to detect, therefore consult your veterinarian for regular testing.

How can I tell if my dog has Tapeworm?
Symptoms of Tapeworm can include abdominal discomfort, nervousness, itching around the anus, vomiting and weight loss. The itching may result in your dog 'scooting' its bum along the ground. Segments of tapeworm can be found in your dog's poop. The segments are small, wide and flat and look like grains of uncooked rice or sesame seeds.

The Treatment of Worms
If your dog is infected or has not being given a worming preventative, consult your vet. Treatment is very important, and any treatment of worms in dogs should be repeated over time to effectively kill all live and dormant larvae and eggs. Treatment usually involves de-wormer medication. Even if you find a de-wormer that does not require a prescription, you should still use it under your vet's supervision. This is because doses can vary depending on your dog's size and the severity of the infection. Your vet will be able to tell you what dosage is right for your dog.

It's a cold gray day today. It has been this way for 4 days straight. A change has definitely come from the serious dog days of this summer and I know we are all feeling the relief. On a day like this when I sit down to write about food and nutrition one thing keeps popping into my mind... bones. Bones for delicious and fortifying stalk of course. This also seems fitting considering Halloween is just around the corner and things such as this are a theme this time of year.

So with the weather and holiday acting as my inspiration, I want to share with you the secrets about why making your own stock is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself and your family this fall/winter. Making stock is an art form! From meat, to chicken to fish or from white stock to brown stock it builds health from head to toe and it turns everything you cook into a more full-bodied, full of love dish. It also makes your house smell extra homey... well maybe with the exclusion of fish stock! Making stock also prevents waste of one of the most mineral rich parts of any animal. And who could use a few more minerals? Everyone!

I think a lot of people feel intimidated about making stock. However, once you make it one or two times the mystery and intimidation subsides. It does take a few tries to figure out your stock making style, but there is no reason to fear it. It is actually really fun to keep notes on how you make each batch and what the end result of each batch is. Then you can mix and match techniques to come up with your own stock style. Like I said earlier, stock making is an art form. This is something you can do while you are on the internet, watching TV, cleaning the house, or whatever else you spend too many hours doing. It's a great way to multitask.

So before I go any further I am going to give you the top ten reasons I want you to include nutritious homemade stock in your diet. Then I am going to tell you how to make the stuff.

Top 10 Reasons you Want to Include Homemade Stock in your Diet

• Gelatin, found in large quantities in homemade stock, acts as a digestive aid and has been used successfully in the treatment of many digestive disorders, including hyperacidity, colitis, and chrohn's disease. Gelatin is a hydrophilic colloid, which means that it attracts and holds liquids, it facilitates digestion by attracting digestive juices to food in the gut.


• The cartilage and collagen, from the bones stock is made from, have been used in the treatment of bone disorders and to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It contains the broken down material from cartilage and tendons--stuff like chondroitin sulphates and glucosamine, now sold as expensive supplements for arthritis and joint pain.


• Rich chicken broth, often called the famous jewish penicillin, is used as a remedy for the flu. Stock helps prevent and mitigate infectious diseases. They found that some components of the chicken stock inhibit neutrophil migration, which may have an anti-inflammatory effect that could lead to temporary ease from symptoms of illness.


• Fish broth, made with fish heads, in quite rich in iodine. This mineral is very important to the healthy function of the thyroid gland, the gland that regulates metabolism and energy.


• Stock adds immense flavor to our food and can be turned into a satisfying sauce just by adding herbs, wine, and butter and then reducing by boiling down.


• Stock is the start of culinary magic and the crux of all cooking. Cook anything with stock to make it richer and more nutrient dense.


• Stock feeds, repairs and calms the mucous lining of the small intestine. This can reduce allergies by building up the protective mucous membrane lining of the GI tract.


• Stock contains minerals in a form the body can absorb easily, calcium being a big one but also magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and trace minerals.


• Gelatin in properly made broth helps the body use protein in a more efficient way. Stock has been used throughout history when meat was not available or affordable to help one stretch his use of other proteins in the diet.


• Many commercial stocks do not contain the gelatin and mineral potential that homemade stock can contain.

Important Things to Remember When Making Stock

• Always start with cold water


• Add acid (2 tsp. vinegar, 2 Tbs. lemon or 1 cup white wine) to your stock water to enhance mineral leaching


• Add mirepoix (2:1:1 Onion, carrot, celery) and herb sachet (1 bay leaf, 6 peppercorns and 3 parsley stems) for flavor and nutrients


• Simmer the stock gently, do not allow it to boil


• Skim your broth from impurities that develop as you cook


• Do not salt your stock. Salt your finished stock-based dish. If you reduce a salted stock you have a very salty end product


• Simmer fish for 1-2 hours, chicken for at least 4 hours, and meat bones for 6-8 hours


• Remove the fat from the cooled stock before freezing or leave it on while storing in the fridge to increase shelf life


• Store in variously sized containers in the freezer for easy use

White Stock (non-caramelized, clear color and lighter flavor)

5 lbs. bones (veal or beef) or 1 poultry carcass or 1-2 non oily fish carcasses and/or crustacean shells
1 gallon cold Water (or enough to cover bones)
1 lb. mirepoix
1 herbal sachet Acid (see above)

Cut the bones into 3-4 inch pieces. Place the bones in a stock pot and cover them with cold water. Add acid and soak for 30 minutes Bring the water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer immediately and skim any scum that forms. Add the mirepoix and herb sachet to the simmering stock. Continue simmering and skimming for the time listed above based on what the stock is being made from. Strain, cool, and refrigerate

Brown Stock (caramelized, dark color and richer flavor)

5 lbs. bones (veal or beef) or 1 poultry carcass
1 gallon cold Water (or enough to cover bones)
1 lb. mirepoix
2 oz. tomato paste
1 herbal sachet Acid (see above for options)

Place the bones in a roasting pan one layer deep, and brown in a 375 degree oven. Turn the bones occasionally to brown them evenly. Remove the bones and place them in a stock pot. Pour off the fat from the roasting pan and reserve it. Deglaze the roasting pan with part of the cold water. Add the deglazing liquor and the rest of the cold water to the bones, covering them completely. Add acid and soak for 30 minutes. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer immediately and skim any scum that forms. Add a portion of the reserved fat to the roasting pan and saute the mirepoix until evenly browned. Add the tomato paste to the caramelized mirepoix and mix. Then add to the simmering stock. Add the sachet to the stock. Continue simmering and skimming for the time listed above based on what the stock is being made from. Strain, cool, and refrigerate

Chronic Colitis Facts

The symptoms that you might have colitis are abdominal pain, blood in the stool, a constant urge to defecate, diarrhea, fever, and chills. Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the inner parts of the large intestine and the rectum. Colitis starts at the lower intestine. When colitis is still mild, there is no abdominal cramping or any indication of blood in the stool. Colitis can develop into chronic colitis. Chronic colitis can be fatal.

The worst case of colitis is Ulcerative colitis. At this stage, sores will develop in the large intestine. As colitis gets worse, it spreads upwards. Colitis is manageable and needs to be treated in the earlier stages.

Treatment for Colitis

One of the treatment options for chronic colitis is surgery. Various anti-bacterial and antibiotic medicines are usually prescribed by a doctor. These kinds of medication and other similar types of medication have to be taken faithfully to control and prevent the symptoms of colitis.
Internal Baths

A mild case of colitis can be treated by drinking fluids for a day, getting bed rest and taking Paracetamol to ease the pain. During the 17th century, colonics where subjected to internal baths or what is commonly known as enemas. This colon irrigation was done to flush out the digestive system for detoxification purposes.

Aloe Vera Liquid for Colitis

During the olden times, remedies given to colonics composed of a mixture of different types of herbs. The mixture of herbs would depend on the health condition of the patient. Ingesting these herbal remedies was done to flush out the colon.

Natural Food Diet

Using a natural food diet composed of plant-based food can give a person's body additional nutrients. Plant-based food is easy to digest and can help detoxify the body. These attributes of plant food is especially needed by a person who is suffering from colitis.

Drinking Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is known for its healing properties. Aside from the vitamins and minerals that it contains that can give a person better health, there is another quality that makes Aloe Vera one of the best plant food for people with colitis. Aloe Vera has amazing anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial healing properties. Research studies have shown that there was visible improvement to a percentage of those who took ingested Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera when processed properly is safe to consume and has been approved by the FDA as a dietary supplement.

A mouth ulcer is an open wound in the mouth where tender nerve endings are exposed and can often cause extreme pain to the person who is affected with them especially when they can become irritated. Often a person suffering from mouth ulcers will find it difficult to eat, drink and sometimes even talk and unfortunately these exposed ulcers are vulnerable to infection by bacteria that is find in our mouth and unfortunately create even more pain.

Many mouth ulcers often seem to start off as a small bubble or blister which then becomes open and ulcerated and this is when the pain really starts. However, they can be caused accidentally by someone biting themselves or there lips are so dry that they crack and then the ulcers begin to form on their lips.

Normally mouth ulcers are caused by either virus, bacteria or fungus and may result in the body's own immune system attacking the mucosal lining of the mouth. In some cases people who suffer from either Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease (intestinal conditions) may find themselves suffering from mouth ulcers also.

A good way of treating mouth ulcers is with coconut oil which kills the bacteria that causes them. It is also good for treating throat infections, gum disease and cavities. Certainly the Pacific Islanders who have a coconut based diet have excellent dental health and rarely suffer from mouth ulcers even when they have never brushed their teeth or used floss or anti-bacterial mouthwash.

Certainly coconut oil is ideal for helping to relieve the pain felt from mouth ulcers instantly all you need is get a tablespoon of coconut oil and hold it for a minute on the mouth ulcer. Soon you will feel the pain going away and this relief seems to last for quite a while because of the MCFA's (medium chain fatty acids) find in coconut oil which are rapidly absorbed in to the body and thus the healing process is accelerated.

The way coconut oil works is that it has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and which can help to combat viruses, bacteria and fungus that can be found in a persons mouth and will cause ulcers. The MCFA's which are in coconut oil also help to enhance the body's own immune system and thus help it to fight viruses, fungus and bacterial problems. Also coconut oil is great for helping a person's intestinal system by killing any fungi found in the intestinal tract.

Above are a number of reasons as to why coconut oil can not only help to treat and heal mouth ulcers but also to help prevent them from forming. Also coconut oil is not messy to apply to the ulcer and is completely edible and natural.

Acne is inflamed because of infection by bacteria P. acnes. This bacterium infects the sebum and rapidly multiplies inside the gland. With infection, the gland gets inflamed and the infection spreads to dermis and the cells deeper in the skin. If this is left unchecked, the acne ruptures after damaging the deeper skin cells and cause scars. To stop this antibiotics are a great help.

How antibiotics work-

Antibiotics work by selectively killing the bacteria. They do not cause damage to the cells of the body. By killing the bacteria antibiotics reduce the infection and inflammation. Oral antibiotics are the fastest way to treat such infections. The common antibiotics used for this are- Erythromycin, Tetracycline, Minocycline, Doxycycline , Clindamycin and others. Let us discuss about them.

Erythromycin-

This is a broad spectrum antibiotic. It is available in capsule, tablet, long-acting capsule, long-acting tablet forms. It is commonly prescribed to be taken two to three times a day for seven or more days. The strength and the dosage duration depend upon the severity of the infection. It can be used in pregnancy. It not only reduces infection but also reduces inflammation. Generally it is taken along with or after food. Erythromycin may cause
diarrhea, upset stomach, vomiting etc. If such side effects persist, you need to consult with your doctor.

Tetracycline

This is another antibiotic that is very commonly used to treat acne. Tetracycline is commonly available as a capsule. The strength and the dosage duration depend upon the severity of the infection. Tetracycline cannot be taken during pregnancy. It should be taken on empty stomach and should not be taken with any milk products. It can cause side effects such as- sore mouth, skin redness, diarrhea, upset stomach etc.

Minocycline

Minocycline belongs to the class of medications known as tetracycline antibiotics. Minocycline is commonly available as a capsule or a tablet. The strength and the dosage duration depend upon the severity of the infection. Tetracycline cannot be taken during pregnancy. It should be taken on empty stomach and should not be taken with any milk products. It can cause side effects such as- sore mouth, skin redness, diarrhea, ringing in ears etc.

Doxycycline

Doxycycline also belongs to the class of medications known as tetracycline antibiotics. It is available as capsule or tablets. If you feel nausea with Doxyclince, take it with food or milk. The strength and the dosage duration depend upon the severity of the infection. Doxyclcline may cause dry mouth, diarrhea and sunburns.

Clindamycin

Clindamycin is used as an antibiotic for acne but because it may cause colitis, it is commonly used in topical form. If your doctor has prescribed Clindamycin oral, discuss the side effects in detail.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

Arthritis is a disorder causing joint inflammation. Joint inflammation includes inflammation of joint lining or synovium, surrounding tissues, eroding of bones and cartilages. Arthritis is a very common ailment, and chronic in nature. Once attacked by arthritis, it is not possible to eradicate the disorder completely, but remission of the disorder is possible through medications, changing of lifestyle and habits, simple home remedies involving natural herbal massage oil and herbal supplements.

Pain is the most torturing symptom of arthritis. Pain is often accompanied by swelling, joint stiffness, tenderness, redness of skin around joint, crepitus or crunching sound while moving affected joints, deformity, anemia, constipation, colitis, limited range of motion, fatigue. Many symptoms occur together making the disease debilitating, and the patient almost crippled. Life activities and mobility becomes quite difficult. Ankles, wrists, neck, back, shoulder, knee and hip are the joints commonly invaded by arthritis. Arthritis can inflict people of all ages. Osteoarthritis is noticeable in elderly people while rheumatoid arthritis is common among youths. Of the many forms of arthritis, the above two forms are the most widespread.

Causes of Arthritis

1. Age is one factor causing arthritis. With advancing age, the bone protecting cartilages become weak and brittle. The fluid content in the cartilages rise, the protein make up starts breaking up, leaving crevasses on the cartilages, the cartilages start flaking, and in no time are lost exposing the bones to friction. The result is arthritis.

2. Obesity also causes arthritis. The extra load on joints due to weight gain causes the wearing out of cartilages and rubbing of one bone against the other.

3. High impact sports and activities like wrestling, boxing, gymnastic, ballet dancing etc cause much wear and tear of cartilages, and often lead to arthritis in future.

4. Certain occupations trigger arthritis. Occupations like cotton processing, carpentry, shipyard work, the work of a construction worker etc involve frequent kneeling and squatting. Such occupations easily wear out joints, thereby leading to arthritis.

5. Arthritis is an inherited disorder, and seems to run in the family. In other words, heredity or genes is an arthritis causing factor.

6. Tobacco smoking and stress also may initiate or aggravate arthritic conditions.

7. Infection by viruses or bacteria may also lead to arthritis. For instance, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea or Lyme disease or the bacterium causing diarrhea is also responsible for causing arthritis.

8. High levels of urate or uric acid in blood lead to an arthritis called gout. Alcohol intakes, high blood pressure, fasting, over eating, taking diuretic medications are risk factors in case of this form of arthritis.

9. Previous history of traumatic joint injury or bone fracture may in future cause arthritis.

10. Also past history of septic joint may later cause arthritis.

11. Immune system abnormalities also cause arthritis.

12. Preponderance of calcium pyrophosphate in the body also causes arthritis.

Blood tests for colitis and Crohn's disease are a relatively new and exciting development that have added significantly to the screening, diagnosis and management of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Differentiating the two may allow better predictions regarding responses to medical treatments, decisions regarding surgery options and the risks of various complications. Antibodies to various proteins including Baker's or Brewer's yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae) and bacteria like Escherichia. coli (E. coli) are present in the blood of many people with Crohn's disease but rarely in normal people. Antibodies to a normal cell component, a nuclear protein, is present in most people with ulcerative colitis, a few people with Crohn's whose colitis behaves more like ulcerative colitis than Crohn's, and rarely in normal people.

Antibody tests or serologic markers are blood tests looking for markers of diseases. The serologic markers or antibody tests for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are pANCA and ASCA, OmpC, and CBir1 Flagelin respectively. The latter three blood tests for Crohn's are only available through one laboratory, Prometheus Laboratories, Inc.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of unknown cause that only involves the colon. It affects the superficial lining of the colon and rarely causes bowel obstruction (blockage) or perforation (rupture) but frequently causes severe bloody diarrhea, blood in the stool, weight loss, abdominal pain, as well as joint aches or arthritis, skin rashes, eye irritation and occasionally a severe liver disorder known as primary sclerosing cholangitis that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Ulcerative colitis can be cured by complete removal of the colon but not Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease can also cause colitis but usually also affects the very end of the small intestine called the ileum (ileitis or regional enteritis). When Crohn's affects only the colon it may be difficult to distinguish it from ulcerative colitis though Crohn's tends to affect the colon in a patchy manner whereas ulcerative colitis is continuous. Crohn's can affect the gastrointestinal tract anywhere from the mouth to the anus and is not curable by removing the colon. It is also frequently associated with bowel strictures (constrictions) causing obstruction that may require surgery. It also may be associated with fistula that are abnormal connections of the intestine to other organs and the skin or it can result in abscesses or perforation requiring surgery It is important to distinguish Crohn's disease from ulcerative colitis since medical treatments and surgical approaches may differ and the types of complications that can occur can be much different.

Traditionally, the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease is highly accurate by the appearance of the colon on colonoscopy or x-rays that confirm the presence or absence of involvement of other parts of the intestinal tract. Diagnosis is confirmed by a typical pattern of inflammation of the intestine lining as seen under the microscope on tissue obtained by biopsy during colonoscopy. However, before blood tests were available about 10% of people with IBD were diagnosed as having an indeterminate colitis because the biopsies could not distinguish between the ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

The blood tests currently available are pANCA, anti-ASCA, anti-OmpC, and anti-CBir1 flagelin antibodies. pANCA is the peripheral anti-nuclear antibody. It is an abnormal antibody to nuclear protein of cells and is highly sensitive and specific for ulcerative colitis. The pANCA anbibody has been further divided into subsets by Prometheus Laboratories Inc. Neutrophil-specific pANCA ELISA (NSNA) is positive in the majority of people with ulcerative colitis (UC) and a small subset of people with Crohn's disease that have disease characteristics more like UC. Immunofluorescent cellular staining of neutrophils (NSNA IFA) and enzyme Dnase testing (NSNA DNase sensitivity) is also done as part of the Prometheus IBD Serology 7. The latter test when present in high levels is significantly associated with development of inflammation of the rectal pouch (pouchitis) created when someone has their entire colon removed for ulcerative colitis that does not respond to medical treatment.

ASCA is anti-saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is Brewer's or Baker's yeast. Crohn's patients have a high prevalence of abnormal antibodies to this yeast. Some have suggested that another yeast, Candida albicans, somehow plays a role in this abnormal response. A few people with celiac disease have this antibody present in their blood in the absence of signs of Crohn's disease. OmpC is the abbreviation for an antibody that develops in many Crohn's patients to the outer membrane porin protein of the bacteria E. coli though that bacteria is not thought to be the cause of Crohn's disease. Just recently Prometheus Laboratories added antibody testing for a specific protein on bacteria that constitutes the flagelin or hair like structure on certain bacteria enabling movement and attachment of bacteria in the intestine called CBir1 flagelin.

Future blood tests may include antibodies against certain sugar (mannose) residues in the cell wall of the yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae. Anti-laminaribioside and anti-chitobioside antibodies were recently reported to be present in Crohn's patients who were anti-ASCA negative possibly further strengthening the ability to distinguish them from people with ulcerative colitis. This is also interesting because of suspicions and the lay public interest in the role of sugars or glycans and yeast in IBD. In particular the reports in lay literature of success of carbohydrate specific diet in IBD.

If you have a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease these blood tests may be very helpful in your treatment. If you have unexplained abdominal pain, diarrhea, or blood in your stools then these tests should be considered. If you have a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, these tests may exclude ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Since as many as 10% of people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease may also have celiac disease, celiac blood tests should also be considered. Lactose intolerance is also common in IBD, IBS and celiac disease.

Future helpful information on colitis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, food allergies, food intolerance, food sensitivity, eosinophilic esophagitis and irritable bowel syndrome will be available from Dr. Scot Lewey, the food allergy expert-the food doc at http://www.thefooddoc.com. Information on colitis and Crohn's disease can also be obtained from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA, http://www.ccfa.org). Dr. Scot Lewey is a member of the medical advisory panel for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of CCFA. For more information about Prometheus Laboratories Inc. see http://www.prometheuslabs.com. A more detailed explanation of the blood tests can be found in a separate article by the food doc and references below.

Abreu MT et.al. Use of Serologic Tests in Crohn's Disease. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Vol.4, No. 3. 2001

Dotan I et.al. Antibodies Against Laminaribioside and Chitiobioside Are Novel Serologic Markers in Crohn's Disease. Gastroenterology. Vol.131, No. 2. 2006

Mei, L et.al. Familial Expression of Anti-Escherichia coli Outer Membrane Porin C in Relatives of Patients with Crohn's Disease. Gastroenterology. Vol. 130, No. 4 2006

Stadaert-Vitse et.al. Candida albicans Is an Immunogen for Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae Antibody Markers of Crohn's Disease. Gastroenterology. Vol 130, No. 6. 2006

Targan, SR et.al. Antibodies to Cbir1 Flagelin Define a Unique Response That Is Associated Independently Crohn's Disease. Gastroenterology. Vol.128, No.7. 2005

Copyright The Food Doc, LLC, 2006. All Rights Reserved. http://www.thefooddoc.com

There are a number of herbs, roots and trees that are very useful for various ailments. Having your own supply of certain medicinal herbs can heal you, and even save your life.

Cayenne Pepper
The first herb I will discuss is cayenne pepper. Did you know that cayenne is easy to grow, and can be made into a tincture? Tinctures can preserve the herb and extend the shelf life and potency for several years. If you made tinctures of your home grown cayenne you would be able to have a handy source to store in your herbal first aid kit. Cayenne is one of the most important and versatile herbs. It is good for the circulatory system, digestion, and helps clot wounds, and can stop bleeding internally and externally. It can even stop a heart attack in progress. The famous herbal doctors of the early 1900's used cayenne to treat heart patients, and even treat a heart attack. The heart needs nourishment and cayenne provides these nutrients for the heart.

The recommended dose for someone having a heart attack is to take one tsp. of powdered cayenne and mix it into a cup of hot water and drink this mixture every 15 minutes until the attack subsides, and medical treatment becomes available. The tincture can also be used in hot water the same way. It would be wise to carry cayenne capsules or tincture where ever you go in case someone has a heart attack. Always be prepared.

Comfrey
Comfrey is a cell proliferator and speeds healing. It is easy to grow, just plant in a well-watered spot in the sun. Soon you will see the large fuzzy leaves start to come up. You can pick the leaves directly and wrap on a sprain, cut or wound. I like to make tinctures out of the root, which I then make into oils and lotions. Comfrey root is very useful when made into a cream by mixing and warming, olive oil, and coconut oil together, then adding some of the tincture. Keep mixing because it likes to separate. Only warm to the melting point. Cool then store in small glass jar. It can then be applied to rashes, bites, and any kind of skin irritation. It heals skin better than anything I have seen including prescription cr癡mes. It would be well suited for burns also.

Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is that wonderful cactus looking plant that can be grown in your garden or a pot on your porch. It is perfect to have on hand for burns, sunburn, bruises, bug bites, and anything that burns or irritates the skin. Just cut off one of the long fleshy leaves, wash it, cut it right down the center and scoop out the gel and put it directly on the irritated skin. Aloe can be applied anywhere on the body. It is very soothing for delicate tissues. It has anti-bacterial properties so will also work on wounds. This is one plant to always have on hand.

Ginger Root
Ginger root is one of my favorite healing roots. You can get big plump organic ginger root from Hawaii at a good health food store. Take the root and break it into pieces and plant the sections that look like they have one or two bumpy nodes on them. It will then shoot up green leaves and the roots will grow into bigger clumps. This will ensure you will have your own continual supply of ginger. Ginger is good for stomach issues. If you suffer from nausea, gas, or bloating, ginger tea is a soothing remedy that works pretty quickly. Take a piece of root about the size of half of your thumb and cut off the tough skin. Then cut it up into pieces and simmer it in water for about 15 minutes. Strain the tea into a cup and add honey or stevia, and drink it down... your stomach woes will improve in a very short time. It can also be simmered in orange juice for a cold remedy. Ginger is an anti-inflammatory root. It is good for combating any kind of inflammatory disorder, which means it is good for your heart, arteries, arthritis, etc. This is a very important item to have as part of your survival remedies.

Garlic
Garlic is one of the most valuable and versatile foods on the planet. Garlic belongs to the Allium family of vegetables which also includes onions, chives, shallots and leeks. Today garlic is a widely recognized health enhancing supplement. Garlic promotes the well-being of the heart and immune systems with antioxidant properties and helps maintain healthy blood circulation. One of garlic's most potent health benefits includes the ability to enhance the body's immune cell activity. The active component in garlic is the sulfur compound called allicin. Allicin is the chemical produced when garlic is chopped, chewed, or bruised. Allicin is quite powerful as an antibiotic and a potent agent that helps the body to inhibit the ability of germs to grow and reproduce. In fact, it's said that 1 milligram of allicin has a potency of 15 standard units of penicillin. There are now over 12 studies published around the world that confirm that garlic can reduce cholesterol. Garlic is known to stimulate T-lymphocyte and macrophage action, promote interleukin-1 levels, and support natural killer cells. Strong activity of these key cells promotes healthy immune system function, and strengthens the body's defenses.

Garlic has germanium in it. Germanium is an anti-cancer agent, and garlic has more of it than any other herb. In lab tests, mice fed garlic showed no cancer development, whereas mice that weren't fed garlic showed at least some. In fact, garlic has been shown to retard tumor growth in human subjects in some parts of the world. Another benefit of garlic is it helps regulate the body's blood pressure. So whether you have problems with low or high blood pressure, garlic can help equalize it. Garlic helps strengthen your body's defenses against allergies; helps loosen plaque from the artery walls; helps regulate your blood sugar levels; and is the best choice for killing and expelling parasites such as pin worms from the human body. In addition to all these health benefits, garlic is packed with vitamins and nutrients. Which include protein, potassium, Vitamins A, B, B2 and C, Calcium, and Zinc and many others. Be aware that Garlic and onions are toxic to cats and dogs. Garlic can thin the blood similar to the effect of aspirin. Drinking lemon juice or eating a few slices of lemon will stop bad garlic breath.

Garlic for your Health
Today, we know garlic is a perfect herb for creating and maintaining overall health, but it also has many lesser known, but powerful qualities. For example, many people don't know that it's a naturally powerful antibiotic. This natural antibiotic is effective against toxic bacteria, viruses, and fungus. It's available in pills, capsules, liquid and actual raw cloves, garlic is one of the most popular herbs around. Garlic helps platelet stickiness or aggregation to help reduce blood coagulation, and promote heart health. The antioxidant properties of garlic help scavenge harmful free radicals, which can damage LDL {bad} cholesterol in the blood stream. Garlic also promotes increased bile production to help reduce levels of fat in the liver. Garlic pills also help ward off coughs and colds.

Garlic and Your Heart
The positive effect of garlic on your circulatory system is extremely well documented and it has been proved to:
Lower blood pressure, Decrease platelet aggregation, Lower serum triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol (the bad type) levels, Increase serum HDL-cholesterol (the good type) and fibrinolysis (the process through which the body breaks up blood clots.) Plus it stimulates the production of nitric oxide in the lining of blood vessel walls, a substance that helps them to relax. As a result of these beneficial actions garlic helps to prevent arteriosclerosis and thereby reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke. Two or three cloves a day have cut the risk of subsequent heart attacks in half in heart patients. One reason for these beneficial effects may be garlic's ability to reduce the amount of free radicals in the bloodstream. Its positive effect on the circulatory system improves blood flow throughout the body so has the ability for higher male libido and can help with E.D.

Garlic and Cancer
Current research has shown that a number of readily available foods such as garlic and onions that make up a healthy diet, actually have a major impact on cancer prevention. The protective effect of garlic seems to be greater than that of onions, even though eating onions has been shown to reduce the risk of stomach cancer. These cancer fighting foods seem to have the ability to interfere with the development of cancerous tumors.

This remarkable bulb now tops the American National Cancer Institute's list of potential cancer-preventative foods. It contains multiple anticancer compounds and antioxidants, more than 30 at the last count, which such powerful compounds as quercetin, diallyl sulphide, allin and ajoene. These have the ability to block cancer causing agents such as nitrosamine and aflatoxin which have been specifically linked to stomach, lung, and liver cancer. Garlic's ajoene and allicin have also been shown to retard cancer cells as a type of natural chemotherapy. Garlic has been used to help prevent colon cancer when eaten frequently in your weekly diet.

If you burn or over cook meat it can produce carcinogenic (cancer producing) chemicals and research has recently discovered that when meat is cooked with garlic this effect is limited. The ten best groups of anti-cancer foods include: berries and citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables, garlic and onions, green tea, omega 3 essential fatty acids, olive oil, tomatoes, soy products, red wine and dark chocolate.

Garlic for your immune system
Not surprisingly the presence of all these antioxidants in garlic have a very positive effect on the immune system in general and can therefore protect the body against all types of bacterial and viral attacks. Research has recently even shown it to have an inhibiting effect on MSRA which is currently reeking such havoc in U.K. hospitals.

Garlic also acts as a good cold medication, decongestant and expectorant. It is a surprisingly good source of vitamins C, B6 and the minerals selenium and manganese all of which have long been associated with immune system boosting as well as other benefits.

Garlic-Promotes Weight Control
Allicin is the most potent substance found in garlic and this has been shown to not only lower blood pressure insulin and triglyceride levels in laboratory animals fed a sugar rich diet, but also to prevent weight gain.

A study published in the American Journal of Hypertension reported that animals who developed high insulin levels, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides were given either allicin or served as a control. Although all of the animals consumed the same amount of food, weight rose only in the control group whereas the animals who were being supplemented with allicin maintained stable weight or a slight decrease was actually noticed. The researchers concluded that allicin may be of practical value for weight control.

Garlic Home Remedies
Garlic is an invaluable medicine for asthma, hoarseness, coughs, difficulty of breathing, and most other disorders of the lungs, being of particular virtue in chronic bronchitis, on account of its powers of promoting expectoration.

An older remedy for asthma, that was most popular, is a syrup of Garlic, made by boiling the garlic bulbs till soft and adding an equal quantity of vinegar to the water in which they have been boiled, and then sugared and boiled down to a syrup. The syrup is then poured over the boiled garlic bulbs, which have been allowed to dry meanwhile, and kept in a jar. Each morning a bulb or two should be taken, with a spoonful of the syrup.

For ear infections: Wrap a small piece of garlic in some tissue, and insert it into the ear. Leave it there overnight if possible. Pain is almost immediately removed and the infection tends to start clearing up overnight.

For scratchy throats: Put a small slice of garlic in your mouth and suck on it for 10-15 minutes. You can put it between your teeth and cheek or chew it up it little if you can stand it, get the juice from the garlic slice. This juice slides down your throat and removes the pain. Garlic can heal the pain caused by insect bites. The juice of fresh garlic mixed with salt can be applied to bruises, sprains and ringworms. At the first sign of a cold, chop up 4 cloves of raw garlic and eat or use it as a garnish in soups etc.

You can cut raw garlic and rub the cut edge on the tooth and gums a couple of times a day to stop toothache. Take fresh garlic cloves and crush them, apply to warts until they disappear. Crush a clove or two onto a dessert spoon then add olive oil and down the hatch. You get the benefits of raw garlic with none of the breath issues. Garlic to clear sinuses. Melt some butter and add minced garlic cloves, spread on toast and eat. Garlic for herpes. Take a garlic clove and cut in half. Eat one half and take the other half and rub into the affected areas (may sting a little). Adding lysine to your daily vitamins is a great amino acid that the body does not produce but it needs, and its for skin regeneration and tissue damage. This can actually slow down and prevent an outbreak just as effective as Valtrex which is very costly.

Use raw garlic juice on rashes and bug bites, it stops the itching immediately. 8 to 10 of garlic juice mixed with 2 TBLS of honey four times a day cures a persistent cough. Garlic for tonsillitis, Peel a clove of garlic and cut them in half lengthwise. Boil for a couple of minutes in about 1.5 cup water and add a pinch of salt, teaspoon of butter, a pinch of pepper and sprinkle with nutmeg. Cut a garlic clove into small pieces. Swallow them all in one go with a little water to cure bloating, stomach cramps and constipation. 10 drops of garlic juice with 2 teaspoon of honey cures asthma.

Moringa Tree
Now I will tell you about one of the most amazing trees I have heard of. The Moringa Tree is native to Northern India. It has been known there in eastern medicine to have over 300 healing properties in the leaves. Ancient Roman, Greek and Egyptian civilizations used the pleasant tasting seeds for making perfume and protecting their skin. For thousands of years, this amazing tree has slowly spread to other tropical lands, going west to the horn of Africa and east to the Philippines. Today the seeds have been carried by hand to many countries around the world.

Moringa is one of the most health enhancing plants that has ever been discovered. It can be grown in the warmer areas of the United States, or indoors in the colder areas, so you can have your own bountiful supply of the leaves, flowers, and pods each having their own medicinal properties. Here is a list of some of the amazing uses from the moringa tree: water purification, leaf juice as antibiotic, poultice for skin heals cuts, scrapes, sores, and rashes, builds immune system, dried leaves heal gastric ulcers, leaves can lower blood sugar levels, leaves promote relaxation and sleep, leaves have a stabilizing effect on blood pressure, and can treat anxiety.

Leaves are used as a remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, colitis, used as diuretic, for gonorrhea, for poultice used on glandular swelling, for skin antiseptic, leaves are used in India to treat fevers, bronchitis, eye and ear infections, scurvy and inflammation of mucus membranes, also used to kill intestinal worms, it can increase woman's milk production, flowers can cure inflammations, muscle diseases, tumors, and enlargement of the spleen CAUTION: DO NOT USE FLOWERS IF PREGNANT!

Flowers for eye wash, treat hysteria DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT!

There are uses for the roots, but at this time these remedies need more research for internal use. They help people in third world countries, grow food and fight malnutrition... Moringa leaves are full of vitamins and amino acids. It would be beneficial to have dried leaves on hand in a survival situation to keep healthy. The leaves can be eaten fresh, or dried and made into a powder which can be put into capsules.

Those are some great starters for your herbal first aid collection, and all are pretty easy to obtain.

While some people may simply enjoy lying on the sand to sunbathe, a number of sun worshipers prefer to lie in the sand, a treatment referred to in the Edgar Cayce readings as "sand packs." Early on, shortly after moving to Virginia Beach, I learned that the sand was special: "The radiation from the gold and radium in the proportions that you find in Virginia Beach...is the better for the conditions of the body [twenty-four-year-old woman suffering from chronic ulcerative colitis]." (5237-1) Of course, it wasn't the type of gold to attract a Forty-Niner's gold rush as in California, but beneficial enough to entice participants to join A.R.E.'s own Sandman, Herbert Avrum Levine, to receive a proper sand pack. Many conferees throughout the years participated in this treatment as part of their overall conference experience.

Value of Sand Packs

"See, the sands and the radiation upon same are such as to be most beneficial to the general nervous system of anyone..." (2153-4) "These will be helpful and beneficial for the iodine as may be obtained by absorption..." (421-4) "Those sands as carry most of the curative forces in all minerals...build for the blood and nerve system, see?" (201-1) The sand packs produce a "quickening, or pulsation through the superficial circulation" (849-41), "stimulate the capillary circulation, and are more for the exterior forces..." (340-12)

Sand Pack Directions

The Cayce readings are clear and specific in explaining the procedure for a sand pack. First, the sand that is to cover you must be dry and warm. Though the surface sand may meet these criteria most of the time, if there has been a rainfall even of short duration, the underlying sand, where the body would be partially buried, may still be moist and cool and, therefore, not appropriate for use. One may have to wait several days, then, for the deeper layers to dry out.

Take a dip in the ocean first, enveloping yourself entirely with sea water (this will help with iodine absorption). "Dip under like you are being baptized properly!" (264-46) Then, immediately cover yourself or get someone to cover you with the dry, warm sand. Afterward, one person was told, "[follow] same by a fresh bath and a spirited rubdown along the spine." (421-4) Another was told to rest "for fifteen to twenty minutes at least, so that the body has the opportunity to respond to those vibrations set up; for the pulsation is equalized by such applications." (758-18)

Guided by his own careful observations and intuition, Sandman Avrum Levine filled in more details to make it a truly healing ceremony. Because the sun's rays are harmful during the noon hours, the sand pack is done before 11:30 a.m. or after 3:30 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time (10:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time). These times are in keeping with the readings' caution of "not too much of direct rays . . . from 11 A.M. to 2:00 P.M." (5237-1)

Packers and recipients remain quiet and reverent throughout. Duties of the packers include preparing the area of the beach for the recipient: obtaining pails of extra sand from along the dunes, "that which has not been trampled over too much" (849-37), and digging out the sand where the person would lie. Level the sand in an east-west direction, making small sand pillows to support the back of the neck and under the knees. ". . . at first [cover] only the lower limbs and the upper limbs, the arms and legs. Then gradually more and more cover the whole body, keeping the face in shadow or in the shade . . . " (264-46) The covering is to be done with love and caring.

Excluding the face and head "the rest of the body should be in the sun as much as possible-that is, the mound of sand over the body should be in the sun, see? Do not let there be such a weight on the body as to cause a great deal of distress by the weight of the sand . . . " (849-33) Packers continue to monitor the person, removing any sand from an area that feels too heavy or uncomfortable and helping the person up when the session feels complete. Rinse off afterward in the ocean.

How long should you lie buried? From ten to twenty minutes' time was mentioned most frequently, although one person was advised to begin with five to eight minutes, increasing it from ten to twenty after a week. Frequency ranged from once a day, every other day, once or twice a week to three to four times a week, or three to five days in a row.

More About Sand Packs

Mentioned in fifty-nine readings for thirty-seven individuals, sand packs were recommended as a partial treatment modality for people with arthritis, poor circulation or elimination, general debilitation, colitis, and lesions. Two people were advised not to take them, one because it would stimulate the external capillary circulation when stimulation of the internal circulation would be more useful (340-12), and the second, a sixty-four-year-old man, was told that it would be "Too much of a [stimulus] to the capillary circulation . . . Too heavy for the heart stimulant." (2504-8)

Virginia Beach was not the only location for sand packs. Besides the Virginia coast, the west coast of Florida and more specifically the Clearwater and St. Petersburg areas are also good locations. Seabreeze Beach is noted, but its exact location is not given. One mention is made of each of the following: the east coast of Florida, the lower coasts of California, and the beaches of North Carolina. When asked if salt water was beneficial, Cayce answered that the "Sand that carries gold and radium and salt" was the most beneficial. (3868-1)

Although Crohn's Disease and Colitis are chronic conditions, sufferers can manage and control their symptoms. Indeed, some researchers are convinced that people can eliminate their symptoms. Many sufferers attest to the benefits of a regular raw food diet and water fasts.

How To Control Crohn's Disease and Colitis Symptoms

.?Change Your Diet

The Western diet of processed foods, fats, and sugars is not healthy for anyone. Obviously, Crohn's Disease and Colitis sufferers will encounter extra problems if they stay with the standard North American diet. A fat-laden diet is not a healthy choice.

Changing your diet can make a big difference in the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms. In fact, sufferers who tried a raw food diet, as well as water and juice fasts, noticed a gradual improvement in their health. Eventually, individuals who followed this plan found themselves to be symptom-free and experiencing good health and a sense of well-being.

If people eliminate junk food, they are taking a big step towards combating these conditions. Junk food contains fat and sugar - ingredients that exacerbate Crohn's Disease and Colitis symptoms. In addition, caffeine, grains, and milk and other dairy products, can cause woe for sufferers of these diseases.

. Juice and Water Fasting

Juice and water fasting can help the body to heal itself. The fasts detoxify the body and remove impurities. A bad diet is not pure nourishment for the body. The Western diet leaves behind impurities from processed food. The fats clog the body's systems and the sugars add calories but no health benefits.

The fasts help to cleanse one's system of the undesirable elements left behind by a bad diet. In addition, fasts remove other questionable ingredients from the body such as those found in personal care products. All these impurities can cause mucus and bacteria to form and, eventually, result in ill health for the affected person.

Water and juice fasts help to purify the blood and rebuild the endocrine system. Of course, nobody should embark on a water or juice fast without checking with their doctor. People with multiple conditions (or unknown diseases) can be affected negatively by strict water fasts. Yet people who are healthy and have cleared it with their doctor can experience tremendous benefits from Crohn's Disease and Colitis water fasts.

Even if you are a perfect candidate for fasting, the process is not an easy one. Yet water fasts can be part of the program that can rid sufferers of unpleasant symptoms. A raw food diet is also touted as the best choice for Crohn's Disease and Colitis sufferers.

When people make their body adjust to a different diet or practice (such as fasting), the process is never easy at the beginning. The side effects will be worse in the initial stage. You can expect to endure a few side effects until the body adjusts and begins to rebuild itself to a healthy state.

An African plant which is very plump and juicy is known as Aloe Vera. This plant is green and has long leaves with very edgy corners. The gel of Aloe Vera is extracted from its juicy leaves. This gel is very rich in nutrients and is very good for the health. This gel is supposed to be a blend of acids of amino, various types of vitamins, numerous enzymes and other vitamins and minerals.

Aloe vera also has very rich properties such as it controls the inflammation of various fluids of the body. It also helps the body be away from the problem of itching. It also contains very powerful anti-oxidants which help the body to have sufficient amount of oxygen. It also helps to heal the wounds very quickly. It protects the body from any type of bacteria or foreign attack. It also protects the body from all types of viruses. It also protects the body from all types of fungi. It also behaves like a pain killer for the body. It also keeps the skin new, fresh and prevents it from deadening. It keeps the skin very cool and comforting.

Aloe vera also helps a lot in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The disease ulcerative colitis has various symptoms. Some of the symptoms are that the patient suffers from severe loose motions. This can also lead to the very sevior Crohn's disease. It can also lead to regular problem of acidity. Its initial symptoms are small burns on the skin. It can also lead to a disease known as psoriasis. It also results in a serious skin problem known as seborrheic dermatitis. Some times it also leads to serious eruptions on the skin. It also leads to a particular form of diabetes. If a person suffers from such a disease than the healing of the injuries of the person also takes a lot of time. The most important thing is that aloe vera helps to avoid all these symptoms.

Aloe vera is a very excellent treatment for all kinds of ulcerative diseases. It is because it has various medical properties such as it helps to keep the skin new and healthy. It also repairs the skin internally. It is also advised that aloe vera should not be taken in large quantities as it can react in a negative way. An advice must be taken from the doctor before consuming it.

Introduction to Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a disorder marked by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The illness is similar to another inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis. While Crohn's disease can affect any part of the digestive system, it primarily impacts the colon and the end of the small intestines, called the ileum. Patients with the condition can experience symptoms like abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, bloody stool, and weight loss. It is theorized that Crohn's disease results when the body's immune system attacks non-threatening substances like bacteria or food in the gastrointestinal tract. Severe illness can result in the swelling, scarring, and blockage of the intestines, and many patients are forced to have surgery to remove damaged bowel sections.

Currently, there is no definitive cure for Crohn's disease, and its exact cause remains unknown. There are many medications on the market and in development that help alleviate symptoms, but no drug is completely effective. Moreover, many of these medications, such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, have significant side effects. The shortcomings of traditional pharmaceutical therapies have led several patients with Crohn's disease to try complementary and alternative medicine for relief.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary and alternative treatments include natural substances like vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbs, as well as therapies like homeopathy, acupuncture, and hypnosis. Altering or restricting one's diet is another common response to Crohn's disease, as eating certain foods can exacerbate symptoms. Much like the patient response to pharmaceuticals, some Crohn's disease sufferers respond to natural remedies or alternative medicine, while others do not. Nevertheless, many holistic and non-traditional practices are becoming more mainstream, and it is useful for Crohn's disease patients to be familiar with complementary and alternative treatments.

Specific Therapies for Crohn's Disease

The following are examples of alternative therapies that have been beneficial for some people with Crohn's disease. Please be aware that evidence of effectiveness specifically among Crohn's disease patients can be limited, and some studies involving these substances and treatments were not placebo-controlled.

• Omega-3 essential fatty acids: typically taken in the form of fish oil supplements, omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects and have shown promise for some people with Crohn's disease.


• Probiotics (beneficial bacteria): there is some evidence that ingesting various bacterial strains can help Crohn's disease patients maintain remission.


• Vitamins: nutrient deficiencies are common in people with Crohn's disease. B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, and zinc are among vitamins recommended for patients.


• Diet: many Crohn's disease patients find certain foods more problematic than others. Some individuals feel better when avoiding or limiting dairy products, gluten, refined sugars, fiber, fatty foods, or fried foods. Experiences in this area seem to vary greatly among patients.


• Boswellia: resin derived from boswellia serrata trees is used as the basis of an herbal preparation that can help reduce inflammation in the body.


• Curcumin (turmeric): curcumin is another botanical substance that alleviates inflammation and also is an antioxidant.


• Aloe: patients can drink aloe in juice or gel form to promote intestinal healing, but aloe has laxative properties which can cause problems for Crohn's disease patients.


• Glutamine (l-glutamine): this amino acid can help preserve intestinal integrity and build strength and stamina.


• Bromelain: researchers have found that this digestive enzyme derived from pineapple has anti-inflammatory effects in colon biopsies of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.


• Acupuncture (moxibustion, acupressure): this component of traditional Chinese medicine has been shown to be beneficial for patients with a variety of ailments, including Crohn's disease.


• Exercise: a low-intensity fitness program can improve quality of life in patients with Crohn's disease while not making symptoms worse.

Crohn's disease is a debilitating digestive disorder with an unknown cause. There is no conventional treatment that can cure or soothe all people afflicted with the illness. As a result, complementary and alternative medicine has become quite common among individuals with the disease. While there remains no alternative therapy that is completely effective, there are several supplements and practices that have been beneficial for some patients.

Balanced diet with abundant fiber and protein is really helpful in reducing inflammation in the colon caused by ulcerative colitis.

The inflammatory diseases like ulcerative colitis occur in the large intestine lining. Ulcerative colitis can turn out to be a chronic and an acute membrane inflammation. Persons who have been suffering from ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can suffer from symptoms like diarrhea, stomach pains and several other abdominal disturbances. But to understand irritable bowel syndrome, or colitis one must be aware about what is a colon. The colon is an integral part of the large intestine which spreads from cecum to rectum. The main function of the colon is to maintain water balance in the large intestine. Another important function of the colon is to absorb vitamins like vitamin K. When you have a healthy colon, stools are soft and pass through the intestines' because it has enough liquidity. But on the contrary, when the liquidity level in the stool becomes high there is a high possibility for dehydration to occur. Any injury in the colon or the intestine that necessitates the removal of the colon would imply that stools will be extremely watery or have high liquidity.

Under colonoscopy, if an individual is suffering from ulcerative colitis, the colon will appear swollen or red. There will be stomach pain because of the frequent ejection of stool or diarrhea because colon will fail to absorb water. The malfunctioning of the colon caused by ulcerative colitis will result in damages caused on the large intestine wall or lining. With damages like this, the surface cell of the large intestine discharge mucus and blood along with stools. The white blood cells those are present in the lining of the intestine cause inflammation in the intestine itself. If you examine the stool, you will be able to find out the presence of white blood cells. The presence of white blood cells in the stool is substantial evidence that indicates infection in part of the intestine.

There are various remedies that helps in the reduction of ulcerative colitis inflammation such as colloidal silver, omega 3 fatty acids, etc, that can be found in flaxseed and fish oil and it is available in the form of pills or as enemas.

Hawthorn berry extract is an old herbal remedy for heart conditions. Today, Hawthorne berries are used in some natural products designed to promote heart health.

Legends, historical evidence and scientific evaluation surround hawthorn berry extract. One Christian legend holds that the "Crown of Thorns" was made from the hawthorn berry tree or bush, which originally grew in Europe, Asia, Northern Africa and much of the Mediterranean region. Today, the shrub grows in many other areas of the world and the hawthorn berries are believed by some to have miraculous healing properties.

Archeologists have found evidence that appears to indicate that ancient Chinese people used hawthorn berries to make a fermented beverage. Remnants of the hawthorn berry have been found in pottery jars dating to pre-Christian times, around 7000 B.C. It is believed that these beverages were medically or religiously significant, even then.

The New York Medical Journal first published a report concerning the use of hawthorn berries in the treatment of heart disease in October 1896. A Dr. Green of Ennis, Ireland had developed a reputation for "curing" heart disease, but refused to share his secret with colleagues. After his death, his daughter revealed the name of the remedy used by her father. The name was Crataegus Oxycantha, the older botanical name for the Common Hawthorn. The official designation is now Crataegus monogyna, but the older name is often used. According to his notes, the doctor used an extract or a concentrated form of hawthorn berry.

Clinical trials and research continued on the medicinal value of hawthorn berries throughout the early 1900's and is still going on today. Scientific evaluation of the benefits of the hawthorn berry to human health has only been partially completed. It is believed that antioxidants, flavonoids or other compounds such as epicatechin, quercetin and rutin, are responsible for the beneficial effects of hawthorn berries. It is sometimes added to health supplements designed to promote heart health, reduce blood pressure and correct unhealthy cholesterol levels.

The most recent studies of the medicinal value of hawthorn berries are related to its affect on the liver, the digestive system, the cardiovascular system and as an anti-inflammatory. Numerous studies have been completed. These studies use a concentrated extract of the hawthorn berry.

The hawthorn berry extract used by scientists has natural anti-inflammatory action. Chronic inflammation has been associated with numerous life threatening conditions including cancer and heart disease, but use of the known anti-inflammatory drugs does not reduce the risk of developing these conditions. In fact, NSAIDs increase blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease and can be damaging to other organs of the body, as well.

On the other hand, it is believed that natural anti-inflammatories, such as those found in hawthorn berries and other herbs, fruits and vegetables, can reduce cancer risks and the risk of heart disease. These natural compounds can also lower blood pressure and reduce blood cholesterol levels, two major risk factors for heart disease.

Hawthorn berry extract has been shown to reduce ulcerative colitis, probably due, once again, to its anti-inflammatory activity. Ulcerative colitis is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases. While not life threatening, it is difficult to live with and the best known treatment for many years was surgical removal of the affected parts of the bowel and colon. Some herbalists recommend hawthorn berries for people suffering from ulcerative colitis and other digestive problems.

Hawthorn berry extract has been shown to protect the liver from damage usually associated with cardiac events in laboratory animals. After a heart attack, liver function is impaired. The exact reasons for the beneficial affects of hawthorn berries extract on the liver are unknown.

In the vascular system, hawthorn berry extract has been shown to reduce calcification. It is calcification of arterial plaques that leads to atherosclerosis, which is commonly referred to as a hardening or narrowing of the arteries leading to the heart. Calcification of arterial plaques can also cause blood clots, leading to strokes and heart attacks.

Even though some health care professionals have recognized the medicinal value of hawthorn berries for over 100 years, research related to them is still considered preliminary. Most scientific research is funded by pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical companies cannot patent naturally occurring substances. So, hawthorn berries and other natural remedies are of little interest to them.

Colitis is conventionally referred to as a disease; but it's really a condition. It's a condition of a damaged colon as a result of a degenerating influence usually over a fairly long time period. This is often as a result of injurious treatment either physical or emotional or both.

It can also arise due to extreme conditions over a shorter period of time such as trauma. A condition as a result of a cause. The symptoms are messages from the interior of the body in an attempt to get some attention and subsequent remedial assistance.

A symptom is a sign that something is fundamentally wrong with the sufferer's whole system. If the symptoms are treated by the conventional method, then a pill is usually prescribed which in effect simply suppresses the symptoms. Good for the day, perhaps. Some relief, maybe. But it's a tiger when it wakes up and the effect has worn off. It's generally agreed that this is not a 'cure'. The condition remains. A cure should be regarded as a process whereby the body is able to heal/rectify/restore itself to its natural state of health.

An understanding of the cause of the condition implies an understanding of a restorative treatment.

Two basic strategies can be implemented as follows:

1. Avoidance Tactics - stop doing what causes the problem

2. Positive Healing Input - Contribute to the healing process, i.e. nutritious food, rest and moderate exercise among other things

The combination of these two strategies is to powerhouse the body back to health.

There is also a third element that is to be considered. It is in many ways the most important element of all: The contribution of the mind of the person suffering the debilitating condition.

The negative mental and emotional effects which usually accompany colitis like low self-esteem, depression. low energy, listlessness and a lack of belief in their ability to heal themselves places them at a low ebb. This is ironic as this is a crucial element in the healing process.

What's required is a plan to gently propel the colitis sufferer to achieve small victories by planning a structured set of habits to be integrated into the daily routine and to their lifestyle. This is admittedly just the beginning, but it is a start which will, if followed through, restore the whole body to a higher level of general health and will in turn heal all the component parts of the body that were previously harmed, including the damaged colon. This has the added bonus of an improved general outlook which results in an increased enjoyment of life. 

Copyright 2009 - Carl Birchwood

Many people would ask: What is the best way to detoxify the body and consequently lose weight? Alternative medicine advocates will advice colon cleansing treatments such as cleansing supplements, oxygen-based cleansers, enemas, and colon hydrotherapy.

There are a lot of different cleansing supplements out in the market today and may come in tablet or capsule form. Generally, they are of various organic ingredients that are believed to have colon cleansing properties. Each one may vary in content although there many would contain somewhat similar ingredients.

Oxygen-based cleansers, on the other hand, are composed of oxygen-based chemicals. Typically, the cleansers contain magnesium oxide and magnesium peroxide. This type of cleanser is believed to oxidize and melt away hardened waste matters and mucoid plaque that have accumulated in the intestinal tract. By introducing nascent oxygen into the colon and consequently into the bloodstream, the compacted toxic wastes are liquefied and are bound for elimination.

Enemas are treatments that flush out the impacted wastes in the bowel with sterilized water. These treatments were popularly used in Europe during the 17th century. However, this type of cleansing treatment only reaches the lower part of the intestinal tract but not the entire length of it.

Another colon cleansing treatment that involves gentle and gradual introduction of sterilized water into the colon is called colon hydrotherapy, also known as a colonic treatment, or colonic irrigation. This cleansing procedure is a thorough one compared to an enema since water is allowed to enter the entire stretch of the colon. Thus, this procedure actually uses up to 5 gallons of water. Water is flushed in and out of the body several times during the entire session to efficiently remove the waste matters. During the treatment, the abdomen is massaged to loosen the wastes that are stuck on the colon walls. As a result, accumulated toxic wastes that tend to cause various illnesses and additional weight are thoroughly expelled from the body.

However, the treatment can only be given to people who do not have serious medical conditions such as appendicitis, colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, severe hemorrhoids, congestive heart failure, abdominal hernia, severe anemia, heart disease, and intestinal tumors. Also, people who just recently underwent colon surgery are not advised to have a colonic irrigation.

The methods above may have tons of benefits, but they should not be treated as weight loss programs. Any thing that is done in excess has undesirable effects.

And for those who are not yet ready to try out any of the cleansing treatments, they may choose to alter their lifestyle if they truly desire overall body detox. Discipline is the key. They should start getting used to diets high in fiber, and less in sugar and fat. So, that means avoid eating processed foods or fast foods. Start eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, and perhaps seafoods. Also, start drinking lots of water, at least 2 liters a day.

C. diff colitis: A Bug on the Rise

C. diff colitis, also known as Clostridium difficile colitis, is a really nasty, debilitating infection that has gone relatively unnoticed over the last 20 years. And while most pandemic attention has been focused on bird flu or other foreign invaders from overseas, a sharply rising C. diff infection rate has been silently on the rise. Symptoms can span a range from mild diarrhea to painful and life-threatening inflammation of the colon.

C. diff infections have not only been increasing in numbers, but also the bacterial strain has become more and more difficult to treat. It can strike anyone. Tens of thousands of people including those in the best of health and not on antibiotics, residing in a hospital, or other risk factors are stricken each year.

A carrier can spread C. diff infections without even being aware of the symptoms themselves. It can take weeks, months even for some to notice they are ill and by that time they have probably not taken precautions to contain the bug from contaminating things. And because C. diff can become an increased threat when taking antibiotics for a different condition, it can hide in the periphery until the "good" intestinal bacteria is in the minority and gain the upper hand.

C. diff Symptoms

Early, common symptoms of a C. diff infection are:

• Runny, liquid diarrhea which occurs 3+ times per day, two or more days in a row


• Slight abdominal cramping and discomfort

In contrast, more severe instances of C. diff would actually cause colitis (inflammation of the colon). A variant of colitis is pseudomembranous colitis which includes colon bleeding or discharge. Symptoms of these escalated C. diff infections are:

• Runny, liquid diarrhea occurring up to 15 times per day


• Severe abdominal cramping and discomfort


• Feces containing blood or pus


• Nausea


• Dehydration


• Fever


• Weight loss


• Loss of appetite

If you experience loose stool or any of the symptoms for longer than three days while taking or after taking antibiotics, you should consult your physician at once.

C. diff Causes

Contrary to the belief that C. diff bacteria is only found in feces or restrooms, it is actually found in our air, water, and even the soil. Though it can be carried by healthy people in their intestines, it is most commonly found in sick people. Those that are healthy have a much stronger immune resistance to C. diff exposure. And there are many more carriers of it where concentrations of the sick are found: hospitals and with other health service providers. This bacteria can thrive when the feces they live in is transmitted from a carrier's unwashed hands to food, clothing, counters, and other common objects (scissors, remote controls, utensils, money, doorknobs, etc.). This bacterial contamination can be very hearty and remain in a room or on an object even after several months. Once a person picks up the C. diff on their hands, they could accidentally ingest it by touching their mouth, a piece of gum, a toothpick, etc. or spread it to more locations.

As mentioned earlier, while taking antibiotics can help with some infections, it can reduce the number of "good" bacteria that your body has too. When there are not very many good guys, the bad bacteria has a chance to overpower and gain the upper hand. Once it has control over your gut, toxins are produced which erode the lining of the intestines and causes decay within the colon itself.

It is good to keep in mind that the antibiotics which most commonly result in a C. diff infection are: clindamycin, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, and penicillins.

C. diff Superbugs

As a result of years and years of overly-perscribed antibiotics to treat ailments, some bacterial strains have evolved as more resistant to medicine. These new C. diff strains are much more robust and harmful than the ones of the past, and excrete toxins which are more caustic to the intestines and colon. Also, starting around the year 2000, cases of the new-and-improved bug have been found in patients who are in good health and are not staying in a healthcare facility. This is in contrast to the infection traditionally needing an unhealthy or hospitalized person to strike.

Increasing the odds...

Let's be clear. Anyone can be at risk for getting a C. diff infection. Nursing homes, emergency rooms, and hospitals where tables, carts, desks, stethoscopes, phones, and pens present easy ways for the bacteria to become transmitted. Your odds are greatest for getting the infection if:

• You have had a C. diff infection before


• Have had abdominal or gastrointestinal surgery


• Are 65 years of age or older. The odds are 10 times or greater for those 65 or older when compared to younger adults


• If you are taking antibiotics or have been recently


• Have an existing condition or weakened immune system


• Have colon cancer or an inflammatory bowel issue


• You are hospitalized or are staying in a long-term care facility

Additional Problems

Here are some of the additional problems that can result from C. diff colitis or infections:

• Toxic Megacolon. It is not as fun as it sounds. It is when the colon is unable to expel gas and feces, which cause it to greatly enlarge and distend. When this condition is not taken care of immediately, the colon may rupture and send deadly bacteria gushing into the abdominal cavity. Emergency surgery must be performed at once in these circumstances.


• Kidney Failure. With all the diarrhea, dehydration can happen fast enough that the kidneys cannot function normally and quickly deteriorate.


• Dehydration. Extreme diarrhea can create a great loss of electrolytes and fluids. Your body must have these things in order to maintain a healthy system and organ support.


• Bowel perforation. When the infection has caused enough damage to the intestines to erode all the way through, the result is a hole which leaks out bacteria. The bacteria then flow into the abdominal cavity creating an immediate life-threatening condition. Emergency surgery is required to seal the hole and save the patient.

Screening for C. diff

Whenever anyone has been using antibiotics and develops diarrhea within around two months since last use, or if there is watery stool soon after hospital admission, medical providers usually suspect a C. diff infection. There are a few tests which can rule this out:

• Colon check. Your physician may need to inspect the insides of your colon to rule out an infection. Theflexible sigmoidoscopy, as it is called, consists of inserting a flexible tube with a little camera into your colon to check for any spots of inflammation or pseudomembranes.


• CT Scan. When there is a possibility of complications stemming from C. diff, a scan called a computerized tomography (CT scan) can give highly detailed information and imagery about the colon. It can even give a report on how thick the wall of the colon is -a wall that is too thick is indicative of pseudomembranous colitis.


• Stool test. The most simple and least invasive test. There are a few types of stool tests, but what they all are trying to detect is the presence of signature, telltale toxins excreted by a hidden C. diff infection. The most common type of stool test is called a enzyme immunoassay, or EIA, test. It is one of the fastest test but can produce some false-positives. Sometimes it is used in conjunction with a tissue culture for best accuracy.

C. diff Colitis and related infections are on the rise and many cases are starting to make the headlines. Through greater pubic awareness and prevention, we can significantly lower the odds of contracting such a debilitating affliction. Old treatments from the late 1950s such as the Fecal Transplant are re-emerging as viable, incredibly-effective curing alternatives to pill popping and pharma-cures.

In this article I will talk about irritable bowel syndrome specifically IBS-D which manifests itself in loose bowel movements or alternating diarrhea and constipation. I will not talk about IBS-C which appears to manifest itself in solely bloating and constipation.

If you have landed on this page it will be because you like many millions of others have either been trying to self diagnose your condition or more likely that you are looking for a cure. I must warn you in advance, although I have an academic background I am not a medical health professional and you should always consult a doctor before embarking on any form of treatment however mild.

In this article I will be covering my battle with IBS for approximately 10 years and how I finally found a cure that works. Everybody has a different story when it comes to IBS-D but as I found out, we all have something in common. I will go on to discuss this in the following paragraphs but I just want to start by saying a little bit about me.

About 10 years ago I was a young university graduate and decided to join a job that first seemed exciting with infinite possibilities. I soon learned that this job was very stressful and required a 24 hour commitment. I didn't have a problem with working hard but I had a problem with my work environment. Many people at work were miserable, anxious, and horrible to one another and constantly testing their bodies to the limit. It seemed the norm to be constantly stressed out, have a poor diet and feel like you had no control over your life. My work was my life and my life was nonexistent.
Within a few months I started to come into work and make my way straight to the toilet. As any sufferer of IBS-D will known this meant constant diarrhea. It didn't matter what I ate or drank I would always have diarrhea. It was not uncommon for me to visit the toilet three or four times a day having eaten little to nothing and immediately have diarrhea.

Slowly I just got used the feeling and for whatever reason I thought nothing more of it. As soon as I would eat I would not feel at ease until I had gone and empties my bowels after which I immediately felt better. Along with the diarrhea I would lose water from my body which I never had time to replace so I looked like a dried out prune. Over 5 years I continued to do this to my body hoping that I would find a better role in my job and finally this would all stop.

It certainly did not go away in fact into my 6th year of IBS-D suddenly out of nowhere I started getting debilitating cramps followed immediately by diarrhea. I would have these cramps 5-10 times a day and would literally need to run to the toilet or feel like I was about to soil myself. This made it difficult to be effective at my job which then created a vicious cycle causing my IBS-D to completely go out of control.

I suddenly thought that I had developed cancer and stated reading everything on the internet about what disease matched up with my symptoms. I found quite a few which is why self diagnosis is not such a wise idea. I went to my doctor and we stated off with a course of antibiotics as he thought I might have developed in infection after an episode of food poisoning.

This didn't have any lasting effect and soon I was back to him demanding more in depth tests. This started a with a breath test to rule out food allergies and went onto multiple blood tests to eventually eliminating ulcers, colitis, coeliac disease, Crones disease gut infections, etc. I then went to the next and final step which was endoscopy of both the upper and lower digestive tracts. This all came back negative too. Finally I was diagnosed with severe IBS-D. In one way I was relieved to know that I didn't have something like colon cancer but at the same time I was depressed thinking IBD apparently has no cure.

The next chapter of my life involved trailing a long list of medicines in the hope that they would resolve this issue. Now I want to tell you that of the drugs that I took, there are many people out there that rave about some of these drugs and what it has done for them. That is great as everyone's body is different and what works for you may not work for me.

I am addressing the huge numbers of sufferers worldwide who like me have tried everything under the sun and were unable to find a cure. Now the following is a non exhaustive list of drugs which I tried and the results by their side.

Fibre (ineffective) Made things worse
Pre & Probiotics (ineffective) At first seemed promising but quickly stopped working
Exercise (ineffective)
Drinking Lots of water (ineffective) Made things worse
Exclusion diet (ineffective) Some foods like cheese, chocolate, spice made my IBS worse but exclusion of all the culprits did not resolve matters.

Anti Spasmodic (ineffective) Lots of different brands but all useless
Imodium (ineffective) Helped a little with the diarrhea but certainly not the cramps
Tri Cyclic Anti Depressant (ineffective) Has a drying up effective at first but quickly runs out
Hypnotherapy (ineffective) Very insightful and relaxing but not enough by itself

At this point the consultant G.I specialist had run out of ideas and I was left to suffer on my own.
Having done countless hundreds of hours of research I came across the answer. In Islam we believe that for every single disease God has made a cure so go seek it.

These are my opinions on IBS-D;

IBS-D will not kill you, it can easily be treated and there is nothing seriously wrong with you
IBS-D Is a functional disorder which is caused 99% by stress be it conscious or subconscious
IBS-D can only ever be treated by dealing with the cause behind the problem and not the problem itself
IBS-D affects people generally in the Western world where the 24/7 lifestyle and pressures of society cause people to be stressed out beyond limits and this is often brushed off as mild anxiety or depression.

So here is the magic bullet you have all been waiting for that worked for me and if my concept is correct should work 100% without fail for genuine IBS-D sufferers.

First accept that you have IBS-D because you are under pressure consciously or subconsciously and this is your body's way of warning you that enough is enough.

I spoke to my G.P and asked for Venlafaxine XL which is an SNRI antidepressant. I choose this specifically because it had constipation as one of its side effects; it was a powerful antidepressant and reduced visceral hypersensitivity.

Within 6 months at 150mg a day I had completely 100% recovered from any symptoms of IBS-D.
So how did it work? It is simple; the vicious cycle of stress, followed by cramps followed by diarrhea was broken. I no longer worried every time I went out if I had been food poisoned or where the nearest toilet was. It just let me get on with life without thinking about IBS and soon I was able just stop worrying about IBS and that is it.

Every single person reacts differently to different antidepressants so try them and see which one works best for you. Whilst you are on them you could try using hypnotherapy to make you understand that if you take the stress away then you break the cycle. It's your thoughts that control your bowels. Controlling your thoughts will help control you're IBS but as I said before hypnotherapy is ineffective on its own.

The only other drug that I have used when coming off Venlafaxine was a benzodiazepine called Alprazolem, brand name XANAX. In the UK this is not prescribed on the NHS so you will have to get it by private prescription. This drug can be addictive but if you have good self control it is an excellent drug to use on a controlled as needed basis. One tablet of 0.5 mg and I would be saying what IBS? You have to be very very careful not to increase your dose or develop a habit for this drug. You should also know it can develop tolerance and so you will then need to start increasing your does. Use it like it is supposed to be used as a treatment for IBS and not recreationally for you pleasure and you will have no problem.

Finally I'd like to conclude by saying that if I didn't have God in my life I probably would have given up long ago. Now I have my life back and am free from IBS-D. God always gave me hope so never give up the search for treatment and treatment starts with knowledge of your condition. So don't make the mistakes I made and loose ten years of your life before realising that we are all human and we all have breaking points. If you have gone past that breaking point your body will tell you one way or another so listen to your body.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) belongs in the class of gastrointestinal diseases called inflammatory bowel disease. It is often confused with Crohn's disease because they present some of the same symptoms. However, Crohn's disease affects the entire gastrointestinal tract while UC only affects the small intestine and the colon. It is a chronic disease that causes ulcers to form in the colon. The primary symptom is bloody diarrhea. The exact cause of the disease is unknown. It is speculated that genetic factors mixed with environmental factors may trigger the disease in susceptible people. Some researchers believe that UC may be the result of an autoimmune disorder but there is no definitive evidence of that.

There are a number of treatments that a person with ulcerative colitis might be prescribed to help treat the disease. The goal of treatment is to put the disease into remission and to prevent a relapse. The types of medications used include aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, and biological treatments. Patients who smoke are encouraged to quit because it aggravates the condition. Doctors may also prescribe a change in diet. A frequently recommended modification is the addition of dietary fiber. Fish oils and the alternative Indian medication Boswellia have been recommended as well.

The only cure for ulcerative colitis is surgical removal of all or part of the large bowel. However, with proper medical treatment, it generally won't come to that. You will most likely be taking medication for the rest of your life to control outbreaks of the disease. Therefore, you will want health care coverage that also pays for some or all of your prescription medications. It is not a particularly life threatening disease but you will need to have regular checkups with your physician to ensure the disease remains under control. Look for a plan with reasonable copayments for doctor's visits. You will also need to ensure that surgery is covered under your plan just in case.

There are a number of health care plans available that will fulfill your needs. Sifting through them all will take time and patient. You can help narrow your selection by using a health insurance quote website. This website will search through the health plans available and find the ones that will pay the costs associated with treating your ulcerative colitis. You will be able to compare the benefits as well as the rates. Without this ability to compare insurance plans, you may inadvertently pay too much for very little. Be smart and use all the tools available to you to get the most affordable healthcare insurance you can.

If you need assistance in locating coverage for this condition, we may help. Please visit our website at http://www.health-insurance-buyer.com and provide your contact information so we may respond to your request.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common diagnosis (25-50%) given to people referred to stomach and intestine specialists. It is reported to affect between 10-15% of people in the U.S. However, it cannot be diagnosed by any specific tests. It is diagnosed by criteria. The criteria are called the Rome II diagnostic criteria because a group of doctors meet periodically to establish rules for labeling intestinal conditions that have no diagnostic tests.

These conditions are called syndromes because they don't meet the definition for a disease. They don't have a specific known cause and/or diagnostic test(s). They are often referred to as "functional" problems. The cause of the functional problem in IBS is not known. By definition there is no abnormality that can be seen on a biopsy, x-ray, blood or stool test. The diagnosis is made by applying criteria after exclusion of other conditions or diseases of the intestine. There is not a universally agreed upon consensus for what constitutes an adequate evaluation to exclude other causes.

For IBS the criteria required to make the diagnosis is the presence of abdominal pain or discomfort that has been present for at least 3 months in the past year (not necessarily consecutively) and has at least two out of three of the following features:

1. The pain or discomfort is relieved with a bowel movement.

2. The beginning of pain or discomfort is associated with a change in frequency of bowel movements.

3. The beginning of pain or discomfort is associated with a change in the appearance or consistency (hardness or softness) or stools.

There are other symptoms that doctors use to support the diagnosis of IBS and to further divide it into three different categories. The three categories are determined by whether there is a predominant stool pattern of diarrhea or constipation or is the stool pattern alternating diarrhea and constipation. The supporting symptoms are as follows.

1. 3 bowel movements per day (diarrhea)

3. Hard or lumpy stools

4. Loose, mushy or watery stools

5. Straining during a bowel movement

6. Urgency, or the sense that you need to rush to the bathroom to have a bowel movement

7. Feeling of incomplete emptying after a bowel movement

8. Passage of mucus or whitish material during a bowel movement

9. Feeling of abdominal fullness, bloating or swelling

Therefore, the diagnosis is made by a report of the symptoms and the doctor excluding other causes. The extent to which other conditions are excluded is highly variable and doctor dependent. Self-diagnosis of IBS should be avoided because serious conditions can cause symptoms that mimic IBS.

Theories of the cause of IBS are not proven. Serotonin, a chemical present in both the brain and the gut, has been suspected. An imbalance in serotonin has been blamed for IBS. Serotonin increases the contractions of the intestine. Several medications that either increase or decrease serotonin have been developed to treat constipation or diarrhea predominant IBS.

More recently, research has been focusing on the common report of many people with IBS of a distinct time that their IBS symptoms began, often after some type of intestinal infection such as food poisoning, traveler's diarrhea or gastroenteritis. This "post-infectious" theory has lead to theories of bowel injury and/or alterations in bacteria in the intestine. An imbalance of "good and bad" bacteria in the intestine is a theory. Some are treating people with antibiotics and/or probiotics. Antibiotics kill bacteria. Probiotics are live bacteria that are "good bacteria" like acidophilus and lactobacillus that can be taken as pill, capsule, powder or eaten or drank in yogurt or milk.

Food intolerances have been proposed as a cause of IBS by some, especially in Europe, but have not been accepted by most doctors in the U.S. Trials of elimination diets, with or without the use of food allergy or antibody tests have been reported in a few studies or a lot of testimonials to be helpful.

Lactose intolerance is a common condition that can cause symptoms that may be misdiagnosed as IBS and resolve with avoidance of lactose. Undiagnosed colitis or Crohn's disease can be a cause of symptoms that can be diagnosed by colonoscopy with biopsy of the intestine. Blood tests for colitis and Crohn's disease also now exist.

More recently, undiagnosed Celiac disease has emerged as a cause of what had been previously been diagnosed as IBS in as many of 20% of people. Those with a diagnosis of IBS should be screened for Celiac disease, as it is a common condition, affecting 1 in 100 people. The symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea are common symptoms of Celiac disease and it is now known that untreated Celiacs can be constipated. Gluten free diet relieves these symptoms in people who are gluten sensitive. Further information about irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerance, colitis, Crohn's disease, lactose intolerance and Celiac disease may be found at www.thefooddoc.com

If you have symptoms suggestive of IBS or have been diagnosed as having IBS it is important that you have an evaluation by a physician and other causes including colitis, Crohn's disease, lactose intolerance, and Celiac disease are excluded. Food intolerance should also be considered. Minimum evaluation should include a blood count, stool tests for blood and pus cells, screening lab tests for Celiac disease, colitis, Crohn's and a colonoscopy. Talk to your doctor about the diagnosis and how other causes can be or have been excluded before accepting the diagnosis of IBS.