Therapy
The treatment of mild, self-limiting, acute inflammation of the large intestine consists merely of a sufficient supply of fluids and electrolytes (salty liquids, fruit, carbohydrates, drinking water) and, if necessary, the administration of medication against diarrhoea (antidiarrhoeal agent: loperamide). In severe cases with signs of dehydration, a hospital stay with administration of liquid (glucose-salt solution) via an IV drip and possibly the administration of antibiotics (fluoroquinolones: ciprofloxacin) for bacterial infections may be necessary.The therapy of Crohn’s disease consists of two different components: on the one hand, a drug therapy is initiated, whereby corticosteroids (rectally as suppositories or orally as tablets) can be used initially, and if the severity of the disease increases, immunosuppressants (e.g. azathioprine) and/or biologicals (TNF? blockers: e.g. Imfliximab) can also be used.
On the other hand, general measures can be taken to support drug therapy, including, for example, stopping smoking, a diet and the replacement of substances lost in the intestine in case of deficiency symptoms (iron, fat-soluble vitamins, etc.). The same also applies to supportive therapy for ulcerative colitis, but the drug therapy differs somewhat here: in the case of mild to moderate attacks, 5-aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine) is used locally (rectally as a suppository) or systemically (orally as tablets or granules). Only in severe relapses is there additional use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and biologicals.
Surgical intervention is only necessary in both acute and chronic colitis if there is a rupture of the intestinal wall, bleeding or tumor development. In ischemic colitis, oral food intake should be avoided in the acute stage, and it may also be advisable to take blood thinners (e.g. ASA). Narrowed or completely blocked intestinal vessels should be made patent-free again as quickly as possible, which can be achieved either by medication or surgery.
Already dead intestinal sections must be surgically removed. If acute colitis is present, it is often a gastrointestinal infection with diarrhea and possibly vomiting. As a rule, a sufficient fluid intake should be ensured.
Food intake should be avoided in the acute phase. In most cases the disease limits itself and disappears after a few days. In cases of agonizing diarrhea, drugs such as loperamide can be used.
Loperamide inhibits intestinal activity and thus relieves diarrhoea. In the presence of a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, drug therapy is extremely important. Here, cortisone preparations, immunosuppressants such as azathioprine and ciclospoprine A, aminosalicylates such as mesalazine and so-called biologicals such as Infliximab or Adalimumb are used.
Cortisone preparations are often used in acute attacks. Biologicals are relatively new drugs that are used when the others mentioned do not achieve sufficient effect. They must be administered regularly, usually in the form of an injection, and are very expensive.
If there is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, it should be treated urgently by a doctor. Untreated, the disease often progresses faster than under adequate drug therapy. Among the homeopathic remedies used to treat chronic colitis are Schüssler salts.
The various salts are said to have effects such as inhibition of inflammation, reduction of loss of appetite and reduction of symptoms of weakness. Other homeopathic remedies include Arsenicum album and Phosphorus. These are said to help against diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
It should be emphasized once again that medical treatment is indispensable in the case of a chronic inflammatory bowel disease; a homeopathic therapy alone is not sufficient. In case of an acute inflammation of the intestine in the sense of gastroenteritis, active ingredients such as Plumbum metallicum and Natrium sulfuricum are said to be helpful. These are said to alleviate abdominal pain and diarrhea.
In the presence of an acute gastrointestinal infection (gastroenteritis), no food should be taken. However, you should drink a lot to compensate for the fluid deficit caused by the diarrhoea. After the acute phase, a slow build-up of food with a light diet should take place.
Spicy and fatty foods should be avoided. In the group of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, it is important in the acute phase to supply the body with sufficient calories, but not to burden it. For example, white bread, vegetable broth or a light potato soup, pureed fruit, oatmeal as well as easily digestible meat and fish dishes can be considered.
