6 Ways to Naturally Treat Ulcerative Colitis | Everyday Health

Is yoga the key to soothingulcerativecolitis? Will an herb provide relief? Natural remedies forulcerativecolitis(UC)may not be your primary treatment approach, but they can help youmanage symptoms and reduce the frequency of flares.

To date, there is no cure for UC, a chronic disease of the large intestine (colon) in which inflammation brought on by a faulty immune response creates sores or ulcers in the lining of the colon.

The chronic condition affects nearly 1 million Americans and tends to run in families.Epidemiological researchshows that Westernized populations and people with diets high in fat are at higher risk for UC, as well as Caucasians and AshkenaziJews. But no one has yet uncovered the main cause of the disease.

Although the official cause ofulcerativecolitis has evaded the medical community, its important to understand that it results from an interaction of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, saysBenjamin Snider, ND,anaturopathicdoctor in private practice in Kitchener, Ontario.

Treatments for ulcerative colitisinclude medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system suppressors,and steroidsto control inflammation and other symptoms of the condition. Surgery to remove the colon and rectum is another form of treatment if medication doesnt prove effective.

There are still other, nonmedical forms of relief. Research shows that a number of natural treatments, including everything from lifestyle changes to herbal medicine, are effective for colitis. Exercise, stress-reduction techniques such as tai chi and yoga, and a healthier diet full of foods with soluble fiber have all been identified as beneficial to managing UC symptoms. Areview article published in July 2014 in the journalPLoS Onefound that mind-body practices like tai chi, qigong, meditation, and yoga reduced inflammatory markers in the body.

Less is known about other natural treatments, like herbs and supplements. But theyre a valid form of UC therapy that doctors are prescribing more frequently. Areview published in October 2014 in theWorld Journal of Gastroenterologyfound that herbal therapy in combination with traditional medicine may provide new and better alternatives to ulcerative colitis treatment. The list of herbs that work best include:

Snider stresses that a holistic approach that factors in lifestyle, stress, supplements, and some natural remedies forulcerativecolitis offers the best chance at healing.

Read on to learn about some different kinds of natural therapies.

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6 Ways to Naturally Treat Ulcerative Colitis | Everyday Health