Condition Description
An inflammatory disease of the colon which may involve the rectum
Common Symptoms
- Rectal bleeding
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain or tenderness, and/or urgency to defecate
- Moderate cases may include loss of appetite, weight loss, and/or low-grade fever
- Severe cases may involve bloody diarrhea multiple times per day, increased white blood count and fever. In such cases life-threatening complications are likely
Underlying Causes
- Studies strongly support genetic factors
- Smoking influences the course of disease
- Yeast overgrowth
- Food allergies
- Particular infections like the measles virus, atypical mycobacteria infection, and/or abnormal colonization of various other bacteria
Traditional Approach
- Generally treated with 5-aminosalicylate group of medicines like Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), Mesalamine(Ascol), and Balsalazide (Colazol)
- May also be treated with corticosteroids like Prednisolone or Hydrocortisone, immunemodulating agents like 6-mercaptopurine (Purinthol) or other medications like Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus, or Infliximab
- In refractory cases, a Colectomy may be performed
EHC Approach
- Eliminate exposure to smoke (first or second-hand)
- Test for and treat any yeast overgrowth, food allergies, and intestinal infections
- Consume probiotics to restore normal gut flora