Ulcerative colitis, Colitis ulcerosa or UC, is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that shares some similarities with Crohn’s disease, although this condition is much less severe. Of autoimmune origin, UC causes inflammatory lesions to appear on the intestinal mucous membrane. In general, the disease occurs in the rectum and may spread to the large intestine, although the small intestines are always spared. The disease most often affects those between the ages of 15 and 25 as well as persons aged 45 to 60 years old, regardless of gender. This pathology is due to an excessive immune response against an antigen or foreign body, leading to the destruction of the cells present in the body. The cause of concern may be a viral or bacterial antigen, or a foreign food product.
The main symptom is blood-tinged diarrhoea, with or without the presence of mucus, of which the onset is gradual and that may persist for extended periods of time (several weeks). These symptoms, which can appear in varying degrees of intensity, may be associated to abdominal pain, especially during defecation, rectal bleeding outside of bowel movements, anal pain giving the patient the impression that he or she has a need to defacate, or to fecal incontinence, fever and significant weight loss.
These symptoms can cause complications or increase the risk of contracting more serious illnesses. In children, frequent diarrhoeas may lead to a growth disorder, manifested by a failure to thrive or gain weight. UC can also increase the risk of anorectal cancer.
When abdominal pain is in its early stages and still quite bearable, Ipecac 5H may be prescribed. Taken three times daily, the drug not only quickly relieves pain, especially if the tongue is not yet coated, a sign that the onset of the disease is just beginning.
If the pain is very important and is mainly found in the anal region, Cantharis 4 to 5H is recommended. A false need to defecate may be alleviated by taking three daily doses of the previously-cited remedy.
In regard to bleeding, three daily intakes of Ipecac 5 H are also recommended, just like Arnica montana 5H, of which 3 daily doses are also indicated in such cases. However, the homoeopathic remedy China rubra remains the most recommended one.
In this case, the China rubra 9 to 15H is deemed effective, provided that it is taken 3 times a day. If you take Phosphorus 9 to 15H, the treatment should be extended and the intakes spaced out. It is also possible to take two daily doses of the remedy in low dilution.
For more general treatment, Arsenicum Album and Phosphorus are highly recommended. They strengthen the subject’s immune system in order to prepare it for other viral or bacterial attacks.
When confronted to these alarming signs, the subject is advised to seek medical attention from the onset of the first diarrhoea. Medical monitoring is necessary throughout the treatment, even in the absence of alarming symptoms. This helps to verify the patient’s overall nutritional and biological condition. In addition, regular colonoscopic exams should be performed to detect the possible onset of anorectal cancer.
Good to know: Thus, homoeopathy provides an effective solution, both as a symptomatic treatment and a means of prevention, that can be used to delay the onset of the the disease and to prevent the occurrence of certain types of complications.
