Symptoms of ulcerative colitis vary depending on the amount of the colon (large intestine) that is inflamed and the intensity of the inflammation. There are different types of ulcerative colitis and they are classified according to the portion of the colon that is inflamed. For example, it is referred to by physicians as ulcerative proctitis when only the rectum is inflamed and the only symptom in this case may be rectal bleeding. In more severe cases the symptoms of ulcerative colitis that is confined to the rectum may include rectal pain and bleeding, sudden need to empty the bowels or a painful urge to move the bowels without result.

When other portions of the colon are affected, ulcerative colitis symptoms typically include bloody diarrhea and cramps, as well as the symptoms experienced by those who only have inflammation in the rectum. If the left side of the colon is inflamed, the symptoms of ulcerative colitis may include weight loss and pain on the left side of the abdomen as well. If the inflammation affects the entire colon, it is referred to by physicians as pancolitis or universal ulcerative colitis; symptoms in this case are the same as in the other types of colitis but may include the additional symptoms of fatigue, fever and night sweats. In the most severe form of ulcerative colitis, symptoms may include dehydration, severe abdominal pain, continuous diarrhea, bleeding and even shock.

Ulcerative colitis is considered a chronic disease, meaning that the symptoms of ulcerative colitis may come and go and vary in intensity throughout a person’s life. Diet may worsen ulcerative colitis symptoms, but no foods are specifically known to aggravate or cause the condition. In fact the cause is not known. Vitamin supplements and botanical remedies like aloe are sometimes recommended to reduce ulcerative colitis symptoms. A recent study using fish oil for omega 3 supplementation showed promise, but there is no plan to market the supplement that was used in the study.

Treatment is important, even when the symptoms of ulcerative colitis are mild. Treatment for the disease typically includes one of the ulcerative colitis medications, as well as alternative or complimentary therapies. In addition to helping manage mild to moderate UC flares, Asacol (mesalamine) delayed-release tablets are available only by prescription for the treatment of mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC) and the maintenance of remission of UC. Asacol HD (mesalamine) delayed-release tablets are available only by prescription for the treatment of moderately active UC. Asacol and Asacol HD are generally well tolerated. In clinical studies, some patients taking Asacol or Asacol HD reported upset stomach, diarrhea, stomach pain, belching, flatulence, worsening of UC symptoms, headache, runny nose, sore throat, and general pain.

If you want to learn more information, please visit Asacol.com. They will help you understand what ulcerative colitis is and the various aspects of the condition, including treatment, diet, and maintenance therapy.

It is rather difficult to successfully pinpoint osteoporosis symptoms, simply because they often do not occur for decades. In fact, a person may not know he or she has osteoporosis until a fracture occurs. Even certain fractures can go without being detected for a number of years. A person with this condition may thus be unaware of it until he or she suffers a particularly bad break. At that point, the symptoms are proportional to the location of the break.

When a fracture occurs in the spine, it might manifest in symptoms like severe pain radiating from the back to the side of the bond. Chronic pain in the lower back, loss of height, and curvature of the spine can occur over time. This often results in what is known as a dowager’s hump. In order to accurately pinpoint this condition, sometimes a routine X-ray can do the job. Unfortunately, they often do not do so in time to prevent pain, nor can they accurately illuminate bone density. Osteoporosis may not appear on an X-ray until the patient has lost thirty percent – or more – of his or her bone strength.

The goal of any osteoporosis treatment is to be able to prevent fractures by stopping the bone loss and improving bone density and bone strength. Detecting the condition early and receiving treatment from the onset is always recommended, but it is not always possible. There are no complete cures for this condition, but there are a number of helpful treatment options, some of which come in the form of lifestyle changes. Cutting out cigarettes, moderating the intake of alcohol and caffeine, regular exercise, and adopting a balanced diet are extremely beneficial.

In addition to vitamins C and D, patients often begin taking osteoporosis medication. There are plenty which can make bone loss stop and improve bone strength. There are also advances in osteoporosis medication occurring every day. So if your doctor has prescribed treatment for osteoporosis, it’s time to find out about Reclast —the only FDA-approved, once-a-year treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

One annual intravenous (IV) dose, along with daily calcium and vitamin D, helps strengthen your bones and protect them from fracture for an entire year. Reclast is an IV, so it bypasses your digestive system, going to work to help protect you from fracture for 12 full months. Treatment takes at least 15 minutes and is given by a nurse or doctor. With Reclast you won’t have to wait to eat or remain upright for a half-hour or more. Just remember to take daily calcium and vitamin D as recommended by your doctor to maintain blood calcium levels. If your doctor tells you that you need treatment for osteoporosis, ask if Reclast could be right for you.

Also, ask how long you should take the medicine and in what doses. Some medicine needs to be taken frequently while others are only once a day or even once a week. Make sure you are very clear on the dosage schedule for the medicine.

Find out if there are any foods or activities you need to avoid while taking a particular medicine. Some drugs will warn you to stay away from the sun or not drive while others will suggest you avoid certain foods and most will warn against drinking any alcoholic beverages. You will also want to know if any over the counter drugs like Tylenol can be taken when you are taking a particular medicine as well. Be sure you are clear on these recommendations before you take any medicine.

You should always ask your doctor if there are any other side effects of the medicine and what they might be. Also, some side effects of medicine are very serious so if you are taking a medicine that has a high risk factor you will want to be well informed and know what to do in case of an emergency.

Medicine is great because it helps people fight illnesses, feel better, and live with aches and pains. However, one should always be fully educated about a particular medicine before beginning a regimen.

Seeds, leaves, stems, bark, roots, flowers, and extracts of all of these have been used in herbal medicine over the millennia of their use. These supplemental treatments have been delivered raw, in teas and tinctures, as topical applications, in liquid forms, and in pills and capsules. In the beginning the plants were consumed raw or combined with hot water as a soup or tea. Later, the plants were dried and crushed for other uses. The plants were found in the wild and uses were often based on superstitious or visual cues. Plants were often used to treat body systems because they were shaped like that body part or because they grew in a particular area. As science began to take a closer look at herbal remedies, their use became more refined. Herbs, and other plants, are actually the precursors to many of today’s medicinal drugs. Some of the pharmaceutical medications on the market are extracts of some of these traditional herbs.

Timeline of Herbal Medicine

No one knows, for sure, when humans began using herbs for medicinal purposes. The first written record of herbal medicine use showed up in 2800 B.C. in China. Since then the use of herbs has gained, and fallen out of, favor many times in the medical field. The timeline that follows shows some of the key dates and major points in the history of herbal medicine.

2800 B.C.- The first written record of herbal medicine use showed up. (Titled the Pen Ts’ao by Shen Nung)

400 B.C.- The Greeks joined the herbal medicine game. Hippocrates stressed the ideas that diet, exercise and overall happiness formed the foundation of wellness.

50 A.D.- The Roman Empire spread herbal medicine around the Empire, and with it the commerce of cultivating herbs.

200 A.D.- The first classification system that paired common illnesses with their herbal remedy appeared. This was prepared by the herbal practitioner Galen.

800 A.D.- Monks took over the herbal field with herbal gardens at most monasteries and infirmaries for the sick and injured.

1100 A.D.- The Arab world became a center of medicinal influence. Physician Avicenna wrote the Canon of Medicine, which gave mention to herbal medicines.

1200 A.D.- Black Death spread across Europe and herbal medicines were used along side “modern” methods such as bleeding, purging, arsenic and mercury with equal, or better, results.

1500 A.D.- Herbal medicine and herbalists were promoted and supported by Henry VII and the Parliament, due to the large number of untrained apothecaries giving substandard care.

1600 A.D.- Herbs were used in treating the poor, while extracts of plant, minerals, and animals (the “drugs”), were used for the rich. The English Physician, an herbal explaining the practice of herbal medicine, was written during this time.

1700 A.D.- Herbal medicine got another high profile endorsement from Preacher Charles Wesley. He advocated for sensible eating, good hygiene and herbal treatments for healthy living.

1800 A.D.- Pharmaceuticals began to hit the scene and herbal treatments took a back seat. As side effects from the drugs began to be documented, herbal remedies came into favor again. The National Association of Medical Herbalists was formed, and later renamed the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH.)

1900 A.D.- lack of availability of drugs during World War I increased the use of herbal medicines again. After the war pharmaceutical production increased and penicillin was discovered. Herbal practitioners had their rights to dispense their medications taken away and then reinstated. The British Herbal Medicine Association was founded and produced the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. People began to express the concern over the large number of side effects and environmental impact of the drugs of the 1950s.

2000 A.D.- EU took action on regulation and testing of herbal medicines similar to those used for pharmaceuticals.

Herbal medicines have been documented for almost 4000 years. These medicines have survived real world testing and thousands of years of human testing. Some medicines have been discontinued due to their toxicity, while others have been modified or combined with additional herbs to offset side effects. Many herbs have undergone changes in their uses. Studies conducted on the herbs and their effects keep changing their potential uses.

Herbal medicine has enjoyed a long, and colorful, history. From the early Chinese Empires to modern physicians’ offices, herbal medicines have continued to be a part of the medical field. Herbal treatments have matured throughout history, along with the methods of delivering them. In the beginning, the herbs were used in a hit or miss method and required major events to change their use. Research and clinical trials have helped to shape the field of medicine, and the future for herbal medicine looks bright.