5 Ways to treat inflammatory bowel disease at home

As the name implies, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis) is characterized by the appearance of inflammation along the lining of the colon and rectum. If you experience it, a typical sign of abdominal pain or cramps often appears, which interferes with daily activities. Apart from drugs, it is also important to apply ways to treat inflammation of the colon so that the symptoms do not develop worse.

Various ways to treat colitis at home

Home care is not the first choice as a way to treat colitis. However, at least this method can help relieve the symptoms you are experiencing.

Here are some routine home remedies you can do to help treat inflammatory bowel disease:

1. Increase fluid intake

Maybe all this time you know that fiber intake is needed to support digestive function. In fact, that's not all. The amount of fluid you drink each day also affects the work of your digestive system. Especially if your inflammatory bowel disease coincides with constipation (constipation).

This is evidenced by a study in 2011 published in Nutrition Reviews. The result is that drinking large amounts of fluids is successful in relieving stomach pain and constipation due to difficulty defecating.

Try to drink plenty of water at least 8 glasses a day, and limit drinking caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee because they can cause dehydration due to their diuretic properties.

2. Limit eating food sources of fiber

Although fiber is known to be good for improving digestive function, it is recommended that you limit eating food sources of fiber as a way to treat inflammatory bowel disease at home.

Not without reason, because high fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, can actually worsen your symptoms.

We recommend that you consult with your doctor regarding the types of vegetables, fruit and whole grains that are safest for you to consume. Vegetables such as cauliflower, cauliflower, and broccoli are usually not recommended for consumption.

Also pay attention to the processing of these fiber sources, whether they have to be steamed, boiled, baked, and so on. Differences in processing can worsen or even relieve your colitis symptoms.

3. Exercise regularly

Believe it or not, exercising regularly can actually support the restoration of bowel function for those of you who have inflammatory bowel disease. Benjamin Snider, ND, a naturopathy expert in Ontario, Canada, revealed that exercise is useful for dealing with complications associated with colitis.

Starting from decreased bone density, weakened immune system, changes in body emotions, stress, to weight gain. You can start by doing low to moderate intensity exercises, then continue by increasing the intensity gradually according to your body condition.

Choose the type of exercise and the frequency of exercise that suits your body. Dr. Snider recommends doing yoga, because it is believed to relax the body, improve the flow of oxygen and nutrients in the body, as well as restore your digestive function.

4. Manage stress

As much as possible, avoid stress if you don't want the symptoms of your colitis to get worse. A 2016 study from the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, shows that stress does play a role in the appearance of colitis.

You can use a variety of relaxation techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing techniques, to manage stress so that your body can relax even more.

5. Doing therapy

Therapy can be one way of treating inflammation of the colon appropriately and effectively. The therapists will help you manage stress and relieve colitis symptoms gradually.

Take for example cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with biofeedback techniques, it can improve digestive function.