Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease - Self Healing Tips

For managing ulcerative colitis and crohn's disease over an extended period of time, it is important to look at self healing remedies that will help keep these diseases under control.

Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease are both disorders that fall under the irritable bowel syndrome. Both these diseases are caused due to an inflammation in the colon and this can cause a lot of suffering to the patient. While allopathic medicines help in treating the inflammation, for a long-term management of these diseases, an individual needs to make lifestyle and dietary changes that will help in the healing process. Here is a look at a few remedies that can promote self healing of these disorders.

Homeopathy - Since long-term treatment with steroids for ulcerative colitis is not a practical solution for an individual's health, the use of homeopathy is a popular choice as it helps in tapering off the steroids. Several patients have experienced remission up to 75% after using homeopathic medicines for treating irritable bowel syndrome.

Herbal remedies - Several herbs have been found to be successful in the treatment and management of colitis and crohn's disease. Boswellia, which is part of a bark of a tree that is found in India, has an active ingredient in its resin that reduces inflammation. Other natural remedies include flaxseed, calendula, green tea, fenugreek, slippery elm and aloe Vera.

Naturopathy - This system of alternative medicine helps in the management of irritable bowel syndrome by promoting self healing through the use of several techniques including diet, lifestyle changes, homeopathy, acupuncture, yoga and meditation techniques. The focus is not so much on treating the disease but helping to manage it in the long run.

Diet - Certain foods in the diet could aggravate the inflammation of the colon in persons suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. This may vary from person to person ranging from milk products to sugars or fats. It is advisable to keep a diary and make a note of foods that aggravate the condition and slowly eliminate them from the diet by replacing them with fresh fruits and vegetables or foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. An individual can also get a diet plan prescribed by his physician or a nutritionist.

Lifestyle changes - To control the long-term effect of ulcerative colitis on the health of a patient, it is vital that changes are made to his or her lifestyle to alleviate the effects of stress or bad habits such as overeating, smoking or alcohol consumption. Reducing stress levels contribute to a great extent in reducing symptoms of this disorder as well as crohn's disease.