The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body - Heal Your Body Naturally and Maintain Optimal Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, Fruits and Vegetables (19 page)

The survey found a higher consumption of sweets was positively associated with ulcerative colitis risk. Vitamin C was found to have a protective effect-intake of vitamin C was negatively related to ulcerative colitis risk. Examples of foods rich in vitamin C are red bell peppers, parsley, strawberries, and spinach.

A study in the journal Gut monitored ulcerative colitis patients in remission for one-year using food questionnaires. Consumption of meat, particularly red and processed meat, protein, and alcohol increased the likelihood of relapse. Researchers speculate that the high sulphur or sulphates compound in many of these foods is the culprit, since high sulfur or sulphates intakes were also associated with relapse.

Carbohydrates may be a culprit for some people. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet was popularized by Elaine Gottschall after she used it to help her daughter recover from ulcerative colitis. Gottschall later wrote a book called
Breaking the Vicious Cycle describing the "vicious cycle" of injury to the intestinal mucus lining, which then promotes malabsorption and bacterial overgrowth which is then believed to bacterial by-products and mucus production, which leads back to injury to the intestinal mucus lining.

Folic Acid

People with chronic ulcerative colitis are at greater risk of colon cancer. A University of Toronto study found that dietary folate supplementation at four times the basic dietary requirement significantly suppressed ulcerative colitis-associated colon cancer. The incidence of high-grade lesions in the folate-supplemented group was 46% lower than that in the control group.

Boswellia

Boswellia is an herb that comes from a tree native to India. The active ingredient is the resin from the tree bark, which has been found to block chemical reactions involved in inflammation. People with ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions use it. Unlike anti-inflammatory medication, boswellia does not seem to cause gut irritation that can occur with many conventional pain relievers.

Acupuncture

According to traditional Chinese medicine, pain results from blocked energy along energy pathways of the body, which are unblocked when acupuncture needles are inserted along these invisible pathways.

A scientific explanation is that acupuncture releases natural pain-relieving opioids, sends signals that calm the sympathetic nervous system, and releases neurochemicals and hormones.

An acupuncture treatment generally costs between $60 and $120. Acupuncture is tax-deductible (it's considered a medical expense) and some insurance plans pay for acupuncture.

If you want to try acupuncture, plan to go one to three times a week for several weeks initially.

Bromelain

Bromelain, a mixture of protein-digesting enzymes derived from pineapple stem, is believed to reduce inflammation. A Duke University animal study found that daily treatment with oral bromelain decreased the incidence and severity of colitis.

Mind-Body Therapies

Although stress is no longer believed to be the main cause of ulcerative colitis, chronic stress can worsen symptoms, decrease coping, and increasing the chance of remission of the disease.

A small study at the University Clinic of Essen in Germany investigated the effects of mind-body therapy on thirty patients with ulcerative colitis in remission. Patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group consisting of a structured 6 hour a week training program for 10 weeks that included stress management training, moderate exercise, Mediterranean diet, behavioral techniques and self-care strategies or a usual care waiting control group. The study showed improvement in quality of life assessed by standardized questionnaires. However, there were no differences on clinical or physiological parameters.

Other Remedies

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Exercise

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Anti-Fungal Therapy

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Calendula

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Flaxseed

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Marshmallow

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Slippery Elm

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Fenugreek

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Devil's Claw

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Ginkgo Biloba

These are just some of the natural remedies that are showing promise for ulcerative colitis. All remedies should be used with caution and under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

There are serious consequences to untreated ulcerative colitis, so it is important not to shun complementary therapies but instead to take a complementary approach.

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What is Eczema?

Also known as: Atopic Dermatitis

Eczema is a chronic skin condition characterized by superficial skin inflammation, with diffuse redness, swelling, oozing, crusting, scaling, and itchiness.

Susceptibility to developing eczema is genetic. It is frequently associated with a family history of allergic disorders, such as hay fever and asthma; however, environmental factors may trigger this disease. Although foods and inhalants produce reactions when they are tested, eliminating these substances do not always cause remission.

Symptoms:

Symptoms may begin in first few months of life with red, moist, crusted lesions on the face, scalp, diaper area, arms, and legs. Older children and adults may have more localized and chronic eczema, typically appearing as redness around the elbow joint, behind the knees, and on the eyelids, neck, and wrists.

Eczema often improves by the age of three or four, although it commonly worsens again, during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood.

There is constant itching, scratching, and rubbing of the skin. Secondary bacterial infections are common in the scratched skin.

The following are some known factors that can worsen symptoms of eczema: emotional stress, fragrances, environmental temperature, humidity, house dust mites, upholstered furniture, carpeting, chemicals, fabric softeners, and wool clothing.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis of eczema is based on the patient's family history of allergy, hay fever, or asthma, duration of the skin condition (allergic eczema is a chronic condition), and the appearance of the skin.

In infants, a condition called seborrheic dermatitis can appear quite similar to eczema. In people of all ages, inflammation of the skin after contact with a substance, called contact dermatitis, also looks like eczema.

Treatments:

The use of soap can dry and irritate the skin. Conventional treatments for adults include antihistamines, ultraviolet radiation, psoralen, and corticosteroid creams and ointments. Oral corticosteroids are sometimes used as a last resort.

Diet:
Some clinicians have reported improvement when patients avoid foods they are sensitive to, such as wheat, cow's milk, shellfish, oranges, peanuts, food preservatives, and corn. Flaxseed oil is a good source of essential fats, which help to decrease inflammation. One tablespoon per day is a typical dose.

Nutritional Supplements, Herbs, and Vitamins

GLA (gamma linolenic acid) is an omega-6 essential fatty acid found in high quantities in evening primrose oil. It has been shown to improve the symptoms of eczema, and is widely used in Europe for eczema. A typical dose is 2 to 4 g per day, taken with food. Results can take up to six months to develop.

Zinc - Zinc supplements are said to be effective for eczema. Doses should not exceed 30 mg per day, because too much zinc can cause a copper deficiency.

Skin and lymph cleansing herbs - yellow dock, burdock, cleavers, nettle, and red clover are all herbs that can help "drain" the skin and clear skin rashes. Yellow dock in particular is an excellent herb for chronic skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.

Topical Applications

Zinc oxide - Applying zinc oxide to unbroken skin can help relieve the itchiness of eczema.
Evening primrose oil
- The oil applied to cracked and sore skin can help to promote healing.
Vitamin B12
- Some clinicians believe that eczema tends to occur in people with vitamin B12 deficiency.

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Chickweed

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Chamomile

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Calendula

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St. John's Wort

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Goldenseal

These can be applied topically to the skin to promore healing of cracked, painful, or dry skin. Many companies make topical ointments using these hers, particularly formulated with eczema in mind. Weight Loss

Fat cells synthesize the aromatase enzyme, which changes androgen into estrogen. That's why losing excess weight can decrease estrogen levels and may improve symptoms of endometriosis.

Hydrotherapy

A contrast sitz bath is often recommended for endometriosis. It involves sitting in a small basin or tub filled with hot water for three minutes, then getting up and sitting in another basin filled with cool water for one minute. The hot water-cold water cycle is repeated another 3 times. It is not usually done during menstruation.

Ginger Tea

Ginger tea
may relieve the nausea that can occur with endometriosis.

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What is Fibromyalgia?

Also known as: fibrosis’s, myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyositis

The name fibromyalgia indicates pain in fibrous tissues, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other sites on the body. The neck, shoulders, thorax, low back, and thighs are the most common areas affected.

Fibromyalgia occurs mainly in women aged 30 to 50. Some clinicians believe that fibromyalgia may be induced or intensified by physical or mental stress, poor sleep, trauma, exposure to damp or cold, and occasionally by a systemic and usually rheumatic disorder.

People often report a traumatic event that triggered the initial symptoms, such as severe infectious illness such as Lyme disease, emotional or physical stress, an accident, or a history of childhood physical abuse.

Symptoms

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Pain and tenderness throughout the body

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People often describe neck, shoulder, low back and hip pain that seem to move from place to place.

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Sleep is often disturbed, and people often wake up at night with a feeling of stiffness, fatigue, and achiness.

People with fibromyalgia appear to have abnormal brain waves in stage 4 sleep, which is the deepest stage of sleep. Stages 4 sleep in important for tissue repair, antibody production, the formation of growth hormone, and muscle and bone health. People with fibromyalgia wake during this stage, and consequently do not feel they have had a restful sleep.

People with fibromyalgia have been found by researchers to have increased amounts of neurotransmitters that cause pain responses, such as substance P, and depressed levels of natural painkillers, such as serotonin and growth hormone. Lower levels of serotonin are also involved in depression.

The American College of Rheumatologists defines fibromyalgia as the presence of widespread chronic pain and the existence of pain in at least 11 of 18 specific points on the body when pressure is applied.

Other symptoms include:

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Intolerance to cold or heat

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Urinary frequency

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Irritable bowel syndrome

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Anxiety

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Headache

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Numbness and tingling

Conventional lab tests and physical exam is often normal, which can be frustrating for the patient.

Treatments:

Use of a single supplement may bring some relief, but a total program is usually necessary to bring true healing to people with fibromyalgia. A naturopathic doctor or other qualified health practitioner can assess the symptoms and develop a customized health plan.