Get Relief From Colitis, Naturally

Inflammation in the large intestine or colon is referred to as colitis. It can lead to many irritating symptoms. Some colitis patients may even need to take medication to manage it. But colitis-related inflammation can also be reduced with the help of natural remedies. In this article, we’ll discuss different kinds of colitis, common symptoms and some home remedies that can help alleviate these symptoms, regardless of the actual cause of the inflammation.

What causes colitis? What are its symptoms?

There are basically two kinds of colitis – chronic and acute. While chronic colitis can be caused by stress, autoimmune diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, etc., the most frequent causes of acute colitis are viruses or bacteria. You may be suffering colitis if you exhibit one or more of the symptoms listed below:

• Diarrhoea
• Blood or mucus in the faeces
• Flatulence
• Fever
• Cramping in the intestines
• Feelings of vomiting or nausea
• Chronic or acute pain in the abdomen, or pain which comes in waves
• Rectal tenesmus (the constant sensation of incomplete defecation)

If you have any of these symptoms, you must consult a qualified doctor to obtain a diagnosis. They will decide if you need medication or not. However, you can always turn to some natural remedies to improve your condition. Let’s go over some of them.

Consume a liquid diet

You’d be better off avoiding all types of solid foods, especially if your colitis is accompanied by liquid diarrhoea. Try staying on a completely liquid diet for at least 3 to 4 days, while ensuring that you get your minimum daily minerals and vitamins. The following are few home remedies which can help relieve your diarrhoea:

Cabbage water – You can prepare this by boiling some cabbage leaves for around 10 minutes. Drink the residual water once it cools down.

Chamomile tea – Chamomile is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties, making it the best natural remedy for colitis. You can use it by boiling some chamomile flowers in a large pot of water. Serve it in a glass and drink it once the water cools down. If it’s too bitter for your taste buds, you can sweeten it with stevia or honey.

Rice water – Considered one of the popular home remedies, rice water can be prepared by boiling 1 cup of rice in 6 cups of water, and cooking it until the rice grains turn soft. Once boiled, drain it and drink the water, either warm or at room temperature.

Follow a bland diet

Once your colitis symptoms start to subside, you can gradually reintroduce some solid foods into your daily diet. This can be done by slowly adding low-fat cheeses, lean meats, cooked cornflour, rice and yoghurt to your diet. When eating these foods, ensure that you consume them in small amounts, just enough to observe your intestine’s reaction. Other good alternatives to reincorporate solid food items could be cooked carrots and apple compote (or boiled apple). The former is considered an excellent natural remedy for colitis, because of its alkalising effect on the intestines.

Stay away from sugars

The intestines can’t perform their job properly if they’re inflamed. That’s the reason you must follow a diet plan comprising of only soft food items, thereby preventing further aggravation of inflammation. Once you’re diagnosed with colitis, it’ll be better for you to avoid foods consisting of refined sugars, such as white bread, sweets, cakes and chocolates. Also stay away from strongly seasoned food items, carbonated drinks, coffee and alcohol.

If colitis has been caused by irritable bowel syndrome, nerves or stress, it is highly recommend that you perform some relaxation exercises on a regular basis. Meditation or yoga may help you improve your colitis symptoms significantly. Lastly, make sure that you consult a qualified physician if the colitis symptoms persist.