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Dr. Santosh Yadav (M.D.)
Consultant Homeopath |
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Ulcerative Colitis is a condition which involves inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the large intestine, medically called as colon. (Colitis= inflammation of colon).
The digestive system is a system of organs responsible for digesting the food we eat so that nutrients in the food are available to body to provide required energy.
The digestive system consists of a long tube, which connects the mouth to the anus. Once food leaves the mouth, it enters the part of the GI tract called the esophagus and then the stomach. In the stomach food pauses for sometime and is mixed up with acid and juices present in the stomach.
It then passes into the small intestine, which measures about 20 feet in length. The small intestine has three parts; the part nearest the stomach is the duodenum, the next part is the jejunum and the third part that connects to the large intestine is the ileum. Small intestine is the site where most of the food is digested with the assistance of secretions from the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas. The nutrients from this digested food are then absorbed through small intestine.
Followed by the small intestine is the large intestine, which is more frequently referred to as the colon. The large intestine (colon) is 6-7 feet in length. The first part of the colon is called the caecum and the appendix is found there. |
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The caecum and appendix are situated in right lower portion of the abdomen. Large intestine then extends upward (this portion being called as ascending colon), then takes a turn and passes across (portion called as transverse colon) and then goes down wards (descending colon). At the end of descending colon, portion of large intestine which look like alphabet S is called as sigmoid colon which opens into rectum. The main function of the colon is to absorb water from the processed food residue that arrives after the nutrients have been absorbed in the small intestine. The last part of the colon is the rectum, which is a reservoir for feces. Faeces are stored here until a bowel movement occurs.
The patients of ulcerative colitis have swelling along with ulcers located in their colon and rectum.
Broadly speaking ulcerative colitis is included under an umbrella term called as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a term referring to the diseases that cause chronic inflammatory condition of digestive tract. Another condition included under this category is Crohn’s disease. Crohn's disease can cause inflammation similar to ulcerative colitis anywhere in the digestive tract from the mouth to the rectum, but more commonly it attacks the small intestine in contrast to ulcerative colitis, which attacks mainly the large intestine. |
| Ulcerative colitis: Its types: |
The inflammation related to ulcerative colitis usually occurs in the rectum and lower part of the colon, but it may affect the entire colon. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine except for the lower section, called the ileum. Depending upon which portion of intestine is most affected by UC, it is put under various types as follows.
Inflammation of
Entire colon =Pan-colitis (pan =entire, colitis=inflammation of colon)
Rectum= Proctitis
Sigmoid colon (S shaped portion of colon located just above the rectum) = Sigmoiditis
Beyond sigmoid colon= Left-sided colitis
Pathology:
Inside the large intestine, the inflammation of the inner lining (mucosa) causes death of the colon lining cells and this results in sores or ulcers. Also the inflammation makes the colon to empty frequently resulting in diarrhea. As the lining of the colon is destroyed, ulcers form releasing mucus, pus and blood.
Nature of the disease:
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease and is notorious for its waxing and waning nature.
Usually the patients of ulcerative colitis have alternating periods of relative health where the patient is symptom-free or experiences very mild symptoms (remissions) alternating with periods of active disease (relapse or flare).
Fortunately, as treatment has improved, the proportion of people with continued symptoms appears to have diminished significantly. |
| How common is the condition: |
Ulcerative colitis is a global condition affecting people world over. It is estimated that in Unites states alone there are about one million people who suffer from some form of IBD. About half of the people with IBD have ulcerative colitis; about half have Crohn's disease.
Ulcerative colitis affects people of all ages, but at large it is the disease of young adults. Most cases of UC are diagnosed in people between the ages 15 to 40 years. However, children as small as few months old and older people sometimes develop the disease.
The incidence of Ulcerative colitis has risen with the tide of civilization. Moreover this is a disease of young people having grievous impact on their education and career.
Ulcerative colitis does not show any gender preference and affect males and females equally. It appears to run in families. Studies also consistently conclude that ulcerative colitis occurs more often within the Jewish population. |
| Causes of Ulcerative Colitis or UC or Colitis Ulcerosa |
No one knows what causes ulcerative colitis. The theories suggest various intrinsic and extrinsic factors responsible for ulcerative colitis :
Intrinsic or internal factors include :
a) Hereditary factors / genetic factors : It is seen that if there is immediate family member having ulcerative colitis, then your chances of having the disease increases.
b) Faulty immune system : It is believed that it is responsible for the inflammation of the colon. The disturbance is thought to be either of two :
c) Allergy : Studies suggest that ulcerative colitis or UC or colitis ulcerosa is a form of increased allergic response to certain food or to the presence of some microorganisms in the intestine.
d) Autoimmunity : Most recent research indicate that ulcerative colitis can be a form of autoimmune disease in which body’s defense system starts attacking body’s own organs and tissues. So in UC colon is being attacked. |
| Approach of Homeopathy in ulcerative colitis or colitis ulcerosa |
Homeopathy is an elaborate and very detailed medical science based upon the principle of stimulating the body to heal itself. Homeopathy has good scope in the treatment of UC or ulcerative colitis or colitis ulcerosa; especially in the early stages of the condition. The goals in treating ulcerative colitis are to eliminate symptoms, prevent flare-ups (maintain long-term remission) and restore the quality of life.
Research shows that homeopathy offers effective treatment for ulcerative colitis or UC or colitis ulcerosa, which has been scientifically documented. Homeopathy is very safe and can be combined with the conventional treatment / allopathic treatment if required.
For most people, going out to eat or visiting a friend’s house is a pleasurable activity. But for those with ulcerative colitis or UC or colitis ulcerosa, the need to learn ahead of time where the bathrooms are located, or the fear of not reaching on time, can turn simple pleasures into anxiety-filled events.“Because they have special needs, people with ulcerative colitis can start thinking of themselves as outcasts”. All this stresses the patient.
These patients are usually tired of taking various steroids and other allopathic medicines. A large number of people never get treated for ulcerative colitis or UC or colitis ulcerosa because they believe that nothing can be done. The only solution to their problems is systematic homeopathic treatment.
Homeopathy treatment for UC or ulcerative colitis is based on the concept of immuno-correction. While choosing the homeopathic medicine the cause of various symptoms like bloody stools, persistent diarrhea, crampy pain in abdomen and so on are evaluated such as dietary errors, faulty feeding habits, mental stress and so on.
Proper prescription of homeopathic remedies makes the immune system work more efficiently. Homeopathic constitutional treatment will reinforce the immune system by escalating the number of specialized white blood cells called T-lymphocytes that are vital in the body's defense against certain bacteria and fungi, assisting in making antibodies, and facilitating in the recognition and rejection of foreign tissues.
Homeopathic medicines work as a powerful anti-inflammatory agents which will help in reducing the frequency of stools, the urging and discomfort associated with the condition, the passage of mucus and blood in the stools and so on. This way homeopathy will help the patients gradually reduce the various steroidal and immunosuppressive drugs which they have been taking for a long time.
Homeopathic medicines also help in slowing down the progress of the disease and the development of complications. The treatment can help in inducing the periods which are symptom free and can also assist in improving the immunity so that the patient does not face frequent relapses. Homeopathic medicines also improve mental and physical ability to deal with stress, and alter the hereditary predisposition to the disease.
At a later stage of the disease when structural changes have taken place in the body, homeopathy has a palliative role to play in this disease reducing the need for steroids and other immunosuppressive medications.
The remedies soothe and recover the digestive function allowing improved absorption and assimilation of nutrients from food eaten. The nutritional status of the patient also improves with regular homeopathic medication.
Homeopathy can also help to prevent the need for surgery in cases of UC or ulcerative colitis or colitis ulcerosa, if the treatment is opted for at the right time.
Homeopathic remedies for ulcerative colitis or UC are non-habit forming and have no addictive characteristics. Homeopathic treatment comprehensively help improve the quality of life.
There are various homoeopathy medicines which give great relief in ulcerative colitis or UC or colitis ulcerosa. However, the correct choice and the resulting relief is a matter of experience and right judgment on the part of the homeopathy physician. The treatment is decided after thorough case taking of the patient. Thus homeopathic remedies of UC or ulcerative colitis or colitis ulcerosa are designer made unlike allopathy in which all patients receive the same surgery or drugs although trade name may be different. |
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