Acupuncture for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis 

What is Ulcerative Colitis:

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes ulcers and inflammation in your large intestine. Most people suffer with mild to moderate symptoms and some have long periods of remission. The disease can, however, be debilitating and can sometimes result in life threatening complications. Symptoms include:

• Abdominal cramping and pain
• Rectal bleeding or pain
• Diarrhea with pus or blood
• Urgency and inability to defecate
• Lethargy and fatigue
• Weight loss
• Elevated temperature

Causes of Ulcerative Colitis:

The cause of ulcerative colitis is not known. The most likely cause is an inappropriate immune response where your immune system attacks your own tissues in the large intestine. Heredity, diet and stress are all thought to play a role in this disease.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

Your doctor will have to confirm a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Often, multiple tests are required to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment typically involves drugs or even surgery in severe or non responding cases. Drugs range from corticosteroids to immune modulator drugs to biologics and others depending on your symptoms and location of the ulcers. The goals are to reduce inflammation, manage symptoms and, in some cases, suppress the immune system. Surgery can often eliminated ulcerative colitis but it involves removing your entire colon and rectum.

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture can help reduce inflammation and even promote healing. Specific electro-acupuncture protocols can also get to the root of the problem and address the immune response that is causing the problem in the first place. In this way, acupuncture can arrest the progression of the disease while reducing specific symptoms. Reducing or eliminating the need for drugs or surgery can be a life changing intervention for ulcerative colitis sufferers.