Colitis
Synopsis of Colitis
Colitis refers to inflammation of the colon (large intestine) and can result from various causes including infection, autoimmune conditions, ischemia (lack of blood flow), allergic reactions, or chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Symptoms typically include diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus), abdominal pain, bloating, urgency to have bowel movements, fatigue, and weight loss.
There are several specific types of colitis, each with different causes and treatments. Some are short-lived (like infectious colitis), while others are chronic (like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease affecting the colon). The severity can range from mild inflammation to severe ulceration of the colon lining.
Types of Colitis:
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Ulcerative Colitis (UC): Chronic autoimmune inflammation limited to the colon and rectum.
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Crohn’s Colitis: Crohn's disease involving the colon.
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Infectious Colitis: Caused by bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections.
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Ischemic Colitis: Caused by restricted blood supply to the colon.
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Microscopic Colitis: Inflammation seen under microscope; includes collagenous and lymphocytic colitis.
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Allergic or Drug-Induced Colitis: Reaction to medications or allergens.
Common Causes:
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Autoimmune dysfunction (in IBD)
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Gastrointestinal infections (bacterial like Clostridium difficile, viral like CMV)
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Decreased blood flow (ischemic causes)
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Prolonged use of NSAIDs, antibiotics, or certain medications
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Radiation therapy (radiation colitis)
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Food intolerances and allergies
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Chronic stress (may exacerbate symptoms in some types)
Severity Factors:
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Chronic colitis increases risk of colon damage, strictures, perforation, and colorectal cancer.
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Severe cases can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and hospitalization.
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Acute flare-ups of chronic colitis may require medical therapy or hospitalization.
When to See a Doctor:
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Persistent or severe diarrhea (especially with blood or mucus)
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Significant abdominal pain, cramping, or swelling
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Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, low urine output, dizziness)
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Unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or anemia
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High fever or signs of systemic infection
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If diagnosed with IBD but symptoms are worsening or changing
Natural remedies for Colitis
Anti-inflammatory diet: Focus on low-residue, anti-inflammatory foods during flares.
Probiotics: To help rebalance gut flora (under medical guidance).
Hydration: Use electrolyte-rich fluids to prevent dehydration from diarrhea.
Gentle fiber intake: Soluble fiber (e.g., oatmeal, bananas) during remission; avoid insoluble fiber during active flares.
Bone broths: Nourish and are gentle on inflamed intestines.
Stress management: Yoga, breathing exercises, or meditation can help modulate flare triggers.
Small, frequent meals: To reduce digestive burden.
Eliminate trigger foods: Such as dairy, gluten, or high-fat, spicy foods if sensitivity is suspected.
Ingredients
These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Colitis
activated charcoal
akkermansia muciniphila
algal oil
allspice
aloe vera
amylase
anthocyanins
apple
astaxanthin
bacillus clausii
bacillus coagulans
bacillus subtilis
barberry
beet
beta caryophyllene
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium breve
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
bilberry
bio ecolian (proprietary)
black currant
blueberry
bromelain
butyrate triglyceride
bасора
cat's claw
Chinese salvia root
chlorella
Coptis chinensis
cowage seed
turmeric
curcumin
elderberry
fiber blend (proprietary)
flavonols
garlic bulb
ginger
green tea
hemp oil
immunoglobin G
inulin
isomalto-oligosaccharide
l-glutamine
lactobacillus acidophilus
lactobacillus brevis
lactobacillus bulgaricus
lactobacillus casei
lactobacillus fermentum
lactobacillus gasseri
lactobacillus lactis
lactobacillus paracasei
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus reuteri
lactobacillus rhamnosus
lactobacillus salivarius
lactococcus lactis
lactoferrin
licorice root
microbial enzymes (proprietary)
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
pancreatin
plantain
pomegranate
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
butyric acid
pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P)
quercetin
resveratrol
saccharomyces boulardii
slippery elm bark
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
spirulina
streptococcus thermophilus
tributyrin
triphala
vitamin C
xylanase
zinc
xanthium (cockleburs)
blackboard tree
picrorhiza kurroa
swertia
buckthorn
anemarrhena asphodeloides
algae
enzymes blend (proprietary)
11-keto-beta-boswellic acid
14-Hydroxydocosahexaenoic Acid
3-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid
Apple Cider Vinegar
Aloe Polysaccharide
Anthraquinone
Aloe Polysaccharide
Amylase
Apigenin
Anamu
Alchornea
Ammonium glycyrrhizinate
Algae (unspecified)
Andrographolide
Acacia fiber
Alkaline (unspecified)
Allium (unspecified)
Alkali (unspecified)
Anthocyanin
Algae
Ancylostoma brasiliense
Alkaloids
Asteracea
Aloe
Alpha-keto-boswellic acid
Aromatic acid (unspecified)
Acemannan
Alpha Glucans
alkaloid
Anthocyanins
Arabinogalactans
Alder Buckthorn
Acidophilus
Amylase (mixed amylase)
Ant
Aloe macroclada
Amor seco
Aster (unspecified)
Astragalin
Adsorbant
Barberry
Bentonite
Bifidobacterium longum
Belleric myrobalan
Bifidobacterium
Butyric acid
Bermuda Grass
Brassica oleracea (unspecified)
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium (various species)
Bergenia Pacumbis
Bulking Agent
Bacillus clausii
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifobacterium (mixed)
Buckthorn Plantain
Beta-Glucans
Boswellia serrata
Bromelain
Boswellic Acid
Bifidobacterium animalis lactis
Bioflavonoid
Bifidobacterium (mixed)
Blueberry (unspecified)
Blue-Green Algae
Bael
beta-lactoglobulin
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Basidiomycota
Boswellia
Bacillus (mixed)
Blue-Green Algae
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Boswellia
Blueberry
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bacillus (unspecified)
Bacteria (unspecified)
Bifidobacteria (unspecified)
Black Nightshade
Butyric acid
Bacteria
Bacillus Coagulans
Bacteria Blend
Bifidobacteria
Beta Glucans
Bacillus
Boswellic acids
Blue Green Algae
cherry (unspecified)
Curcuma wenyujin
Cellulose Gel
Casein Glycomacropeptide
Colostrum
Chlorophyllin
caffeoylquinic acids
Cactus
Curcuminoid
Cat's Claw
Cruciferous
Calcium Magnesium Butyrate
Curcumen
Cellulose
Curcuminoid (unspecified)
Curcuminoids
Chlorella Pyrenoidosa
Chinese Tinospora
Curcuma
Colloid gum
Cabbage
Chinese Rhubarb
Clostridium butyricum
Cynanchum (unspecified)
Clay
Ceramides
Colocynth
Chenopodium album
Curcumin
Carrageenan
Carboxymethyl Cellulose
Duodenal Substance
Digestion resistant Maltodextrin
Dwarf lilyturf
Diterpenes
Enterococcus
Enterococcus faecium
Enterococcus (various species)
Ester derivatives (unspecified)
Euphorbia
esters (unspecified)
Fucoidan
Fiber
Frangula
Flavonoid glycosides
Fish
Fiber (unspecified)
Fungus (unspecified)
Fish Oil
Ferulic acid derivative
Fructo-Oligosaccharides
Fructan (unspecified)
Gallic Acid
Glycomacropeptides
Guava
Goldthread (unspecified)
glycyrrhizic acid
Guaiac
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Guar Gum
Glycoprotein (unspecified)
Hydroxyanthracene derivative
Hedyotis
Hydroxyanthracene
hydroxyanthracene derivatives
Holarrhena antidysenterica
Hyperimmune milk peptides
Helicteres isora
Humic acid
High amylose polysaccharide
Hericium mushroom
Immunoglobulin G
Isothiocyanate
Jungli-bean
Kefir
Kefir
L-Acetyl n-Cysteine
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus delbrueckii lactis
Lactococcus acidophilus
Lactobacillus pentosus
Lactobacillus sakei
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactococcus lactis
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus (unspecified)
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus bulgaricus
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus (various species)
Lactobacillus leichmannii
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactococcus casei
Lactobacillus (mixed)
Locust Bean Gum
Lactobacillus delbrueckii (ssp not specified)
Lactobacillus helveticus
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Lactobacillus mixed)
Laptedenia
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus salivarius
L. lactis (unspecified)
Lactoferrin
Lactobacillus (unspepcified)
Mannanoligosaccharides
Mucilage
Marijuana
Marine colloids
Mugwort
N-acetylcysteine
N-Acetyl Cysteine
Nutmeg
Nimbidin
Oligosaccharide (unspecified)
Oligosaccharide (unspecified)
Oligosaccharides
organic acid (unspecified)
Oxymatrine
Organic Greens
Osthole
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)
Psyllium fiber
peptides (unspecified)
Polysaccharide
Proanthocyanidins (unspecified)
Polysaccharide
Prebiotic (unspecified)
Polyethylene glycol
Polysaccharides
Plantago
Pentacyclic alkaloids
Procyanidol
Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. Shermanii
Peptides (unspecified)
Phlorotannins
Phycocyanin
Propionibacterium freudenreichii
Pancreatin
Probiotics
Pediococcus acidilactici
Psyllium (unspecified)
Polyphenols (unspecified)
Patrinia
polyphenols (various)
Probiotic (unspecified)
Propionibacterium freudenreichii shermanii
Phyllanthus fraternus
Plantain
Plantain (unspecifed)
Peptide (unspecified)
pyridoxine-alpha-ketoglutarate (PAK)
Plantago (unspecified)
Plantain (common or English)
Polyphenols (mixed)
Peptides
Rhapontic rubarb
Rosmarinic Acid
Resistant Starch
Rhus coriaria
Reishi
Reed Herb
Sennosides
Sophora flavescens
Sodium Butyrate
Saccharomyces boulardii
Saccharomyces boullardii
Saccharomyces cerevisiae peptides
Streptococcus (mixed)
Slippery Elm
Streptococcus Thermophilus
Scabrous Gentian
Saccharomyces boulardii
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Tannin (unspecified)
triglyceride
Triterpenes
Transforming growth factor beta
Tayuya
Turmeric
Trichosanthes
Tomato
Trametes (unspecified)
Taraxol
Ursane-type triterpenoid
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal)
Varuna
Vegetable Source
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal 5-phosphate)
Vitamin B3 (Nicotinamide riboside)
Vegetable Fiber (unspecified)
Viola (unspecified)
Wheatgrass
Worm
Yogurt
Zinc Yeast
Zeolite
