Colitis
As always try to eat a well balanced diet based on fresh, unprocessed raw or very lightly cooked living foods. Drink plenty of water and fluids but limit caffeine, fizzy drinks and alcohol. Include plenty of soluble fibre such as peeled vegetables and fruits, porridge and oats and white rice as these give bulk for the intestines to work on and prevent constipation. Insoluble fibre such as wheat and bran and vegetable and fruit peel, beans and pulses can irritate the condition so use sparingly. Use dairy foods sparingly, especially during a flare up. The lactose contained in dairy foods can remain undigested and irritate the bowel and cause bloating and diarrhoea. Avoid all junk, sugary and processed 'dead' foods, all margarines and processed fats and oils, and all artificial sweeteners as they are very harmful to the entire digestive system and ultimately, overall health. Try eating only fresh fruit and veg for a few weeks and see what happens! Limit red meat intake. Many sufferers advocate fasting for a few days whilst consuming only freshly prepared fruit or veg juices, healing herb teas, thin watery soups and spring water before slowly introducing foods like mashed bananas and steamed mashed fruits and veg (ie. home cooked baby food!) day by day. Use turmeric liberally in your cooking or make capsules with the powder and take daily. Turmeric is a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory herb. Add a pinch of goldenseal powder or a few drops of tincture to herb teas or tinctures for its potent healing effect on mucous membranes. Fenugreek seeds are soothing and healing to membranes and also assist the body in the normal cleansing and detoxifying processes. Use a teaspoon of crushed seed per cup and drink a cup before meals. The mucilaginous herbs such as marshmallow root and leaf, comfrey leaf and slippery elm can be used to soothe inflammation and heal ulcerations. Use in powdered form or brew up a tea using a teaspoon of each and simmer for 20 minutes. Take half a cup twice daily. Astringent herbs such as meadowsweet, american cranesbill (a geranium), lady's mantle and agrimony can be used to stop bleeding and dry up the membranes. Use as tinctures or teas. Wild yam and chamomile are also good anti-inflammatories. A useful general formula for flare ups could include equal parts of tinctures of holy thistle, casacra bark, wild yam, meadowsweet, yellow dock, marshmallow root and barberry. Use a teaspoon 3 times daily before meals.General characteristics
General characteristics
Diet and lifestyle
Diet and lifestyle
Useful herbs
Useful herbs
Natural healing
Natural healing
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