How to Kick Colitis With Herbs

It’s not fun to have a bout of colitis, where your colon becomes inflamed and you suffer from diarrhea or constipation and sometimes cramps. Food allergies, too much junk food and not enough fresh fruits and vegetables, too much meat and often stress can cause colitis. Because this is an inflammation, you can gain relief by taking anti-inflammatory herbs. If you avoid dairy, fried and spicy foods, you can get yourself off to a good start in conquering this unpleasant malady; here's how.

Things You'll Need

• Plantain leaf
• Marshmallow root
• Yellow dock root
• Chamomile flowers
• Water

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Instructions

• 1

  If your diet does not generally include fresh fruits and vegetables, add several servings of these healthful foods every day.

• 2

  If your colitis includes constipation, be sure to eat prunes and add some bran to your breakfast cereal.

• 3

  If you get diarrhea, drink green tea, take 1 tsp. of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water before meals, or take grapefruit seed extract in tablets or capsules. Lemon juice can also be effective: squeeze 1 lemon and add it to 1 cup of water. Drink 3 to 5 cups of this “lemonade” each day.

• 4

  Make an herbal tea with 1 tbsp. each of plantain leaf, marshmallow root and yellow dock root. Mix these herbs with 2 cups of water and simmer it for 20 minutes. After you turn off the heat, add 1 tbsp. of chamomile flowers. Cool, strain and take 1 cup two to three times each day.

• 5

  Do some stretching exercises and learn to relax.

• 6

  Do not eat fried food, food that is highly spiced or foods containing cow’s milk.