Colitis Treatment Information

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

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

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

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

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