Ulcerative Colitis Information

Sicklepod and Chinese Senna are both the common names for Senna obtusifolia. Senna is a large species of plant that is prominently found in tropical areas. For many years, the Sicklepod plant has been well known in both the world of herbs and folk medicine. They often act as a laxative and help treat constipation. Much like rhubarb and aloe, the Senna plant has active ingredients in it that give it the ability to loosen stool. It can also help with colon cleansing, as it can cause an increase in the peristaltic movements of the colon when it irritates the mucosa.

Sicklepod leaves have been used for ages in creating tea, and over the years they have developed a lot of medical claims as to what they can do. For a long time it has been a prominent ingredient in a number of tonics and herbal medicines. It has also been a lot in so called "dieter's teas". Since it has the properties of a laxative, in addition to acting like a stimulant, it can help someone on a diet to lose weight. In addition to its laxative properties, Senna has also been used to treat various skin diseases when applied directly to the skin in the form of a paste.

Sicklepod is very rich in fiber, which is a powerful ingredient in making sure that bowels move regularly and timely through the body. As for it being a good colon cleanser, during the day to day consumption of food, as waste forms from what the body did not use, it begins to move through the intestines. As the bowels are moving it creates a slimy concoction that gets stuck on the intestinal walls. Things like Senna that are high in fiber are good at removing that slimy residue out of there.

Although Sicklepod has beneficial properties working as a laxative, it needs to be taken in moderate doses. It should never be taken for more than 10 days in a row. Overusing Senna can cause someone to lose fluids, cause their potassium to drop, as well as cause diarrhea. All of that can lead to dehydration, which could eventually cause harm to the muscles as well as the heart. Senna should also not be used during the first trimester when pregnant. Those who suffer from Crohn's disease, appendicitis, have intestinal obstructions, ulcerative colitis and general abdominal pain should not use any Senna products, tea or otherwise, at all.

How good is your health?

Most people forget that good health is the greatest asset they can have in life.

They work hard all their lives without taking proper care of themselves
for many years until one day they break down.

Don't wait until you've a nervous break down, to face the reality.

You should balance your activities with the proper amount of rest.

Some of the leading experts in the field of aging now believe that regular exercise along with the proper amount of rest may actually add years to the life span.

Results from a number of tests indicate that speed and muscular strength of many of the elderly can be extended.

Leading authorities agree that this new data is going to shatter many of the myths about aging and physical performance.

The conclusion now is that the performance and ability of the elderly has long been underestimated, diet, proper sleep and exercise along with rest and relaxation are all important factors in preserving our bodies.

Laughter is one of the best things for your mental and physical state.

People are naturally attracted to someone who has a good sense of humor.

You can develop a good outlook and a good sense of humor by associating with and surrounding yourself with pleasant happy people.

Recognize that stress is a killer. A life filled with stress can really wreak havoc on your body causing a number of illnesses such as hear attacks, strokes, asthma, gastric problems, menstrual disorders, ulcerative colitis, angina, irritable colon, increased blood pressure, ulcers, headaches, etc.

There are different types of stress such as mental, emotional and physical.

Emotional stress seems to take the greatest toll on everyone.

All stress is not bad; in fact, life would not be very interesting if it were not met with challenges.

However, too much stress, too often with no effective and appropriate outlet, does not allow the body and soul to recuperate.

You might review a typical week to see if you can identify things that might be making you anxious or causing you stress.

Once identified, stressors can be attacked and eliminated.

Are you a worrier? Chronic worriers don't have more serious problems than others - they just think they do.

Many worriers try to cope by trying not to think about their problems, but this just makes things worse.

Doctors say that chronic worriers feel less anxious if they actually spend a half-hour a day thinking specifically about their problems.

Get plenty of exercise. People who are physically fit look good and feel good.

A good exercise regimen will lengthen your life. Improve your appearance, build self confidence and help delay the aging process.

Remember that you need to do something physical every day.

If you don't use your joints, quite simply they'll tighten up with age to create the stooped, bent and worn out appearance we so often associate with old age.

Studies have shown that people with arthritis experience less pain if they continue to keep their joints flexible.

As one gets older, the bones tend to get brittle which is why it is common for senior citizens to break bones and especially their hips when they fall.

Eating right, getting proper sleep and learning to relax are all very valuable in maintaining a healthy body and mind.

And keep in mind that eating healthy foods and avoiding those high in fats, sodium and cholesterol will help to decrease your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and associated problems.

May these good health news and insights help you to live a longer, healthy and happy life.

Warmly,

I-key Benney, CEO

Admittedly, the term probiotics doesn't seem all that appealing; it sounds dangerously close to "antibiotics," a type of medication that brings to mind particularly nasty illnesses, such as pneumonia and sinus infections. Not to mention that antibiotics carry along a wide range of unpleasant side effects; users have been known to experience everything from dizziness to rashes to diarrhea. Despite this unfortunate association, research indicates that probiotics can be very beneficial to your digestive system, and can even negate some of the unintended consequences of antibiotics.

The Purpose of Probiotics

First, a little bit of background information on probiotics. Like many words in the English language, "probiotics" can trace its routes to the cradle of Western Civilization - ancient Greece. The prefix "pro" stands for "promoting," whereas the "biotics" part translates into "life."

From this point on, the exact definition of probiotics gets a bit murky, with different organizations offering up their own take on the subject. For clarity's sake, we'll go with the description provided by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, which defines probiotics as follows:

"[probiotics are] live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host."

You read that right; probiotics are living, microscopic things. Not only that, but they are also a type of bacteria to boot. Your body is no stranger to bacteria - it's hard to see how it could be, given that there are several pounds worth of bacteria floating around in your skin, nose and intestines.

But wait a minute - aren't bacteria bad? Don't they cause a seemingly endless number of diseases, some of which are life-threatening? If there's so much bacteria swimming inside our bodies, shouldn't we all be struggling just to stay alive?

This situation actually makes sense when you realize that not all bacteria are inherently bad; to the contrary, our body needs a certain amount of bacteria to function properly. This "friendly" type of bacteria play a prominent role in our digestive system, as it breaks down food into smaller pieces, allowing the body to extract valuable nutrients from its meals. In addition to aiding the body's digestive process, friendly bacteria also attack and destroy harmful forms of bacteria.

For the most part, probiotics are a type of healthy bacteria. Like other friendly bacteria inside the gut, probiotics are tasked with purging various enemies from the digestive tract and utilizing passing food. As you can imagine, an insufficient amount of probiotic bacteria leads to a number of health complications. When this scenario does occur, both the body's digestive tract and its immune system become vulnerable to allergic reactions, autoimmune disorders and infections.

Probiotics Under the Microscope

In recent years, a niche market for probiotic supplements has emerged, with several products claiming to boost probiotic bacteria in the body. Not to be outdone, a number of foods have been heavily marketed based on their probiotic properties. Given that most people know very little about probiotics, it's understandable that some consumers might wonder about the effectiveness of such products.

Medical researchers have pondered this very question, and have conducted numerous studies to determine if probiotics live up to their billing. A large compilation of probiotics studies were examined by Yale University faculty in 2011. After reviewing the complete body of research, the Ivy League experts concluded that probiotics could be useful in treating the following conditions:

• Childhood diarrhea


• Ulcerative colitis


• Necrotizing enterocolitis, an infection that causes inflammation of the intestines. This condition occurs mostly in infants


• Preventing diarrhea and infectious diarrhea caused by antibiotics


• Preventing pouchitis, a type of intestinal inflammation that can develop after intestinal surgery


• Eczema (a type of skin disorder that leads to rashes, dry skin and blisters) caused by an allergic reaction to cow's milk


• Strengthening the immune system

The Yale team added that probiotics might also prove effecting against the conditions listed below, though they cautioned that more researched is needed to confirm these benefits:

• Certain symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome


• Vaginitis


• Diarrhea caused by C. difficile bacteria


• Crohn's disease

Adding Probiotics to Your Diet

Given that the value of probiotics has been extolled by numerous studies, it would likely prove beneficial to work them into your daily diet. As mentioned above, there are several probiotic supplements available to consumers at popular drug store chains. Shoppers looking for probiotics in foods and beverages also have many options:

Yogurt - By far the most well-known food source of probiotics is yogurt. This diary product contains lactobacillus or bifidobacteria, two types of good bacteria that can starve off diarrhea, gas, bloating and cramping (don't feel bad if you struggle pronouncing these bacteria; together, their names add up to thirteen syllables!)

Sourdough Bread - The next time you go shopping, you might to consider picking up some sourdough bread. Sourdough bread features lactobacilli, which has been linked to smoother digestive patterns.

Sauerkraut - You've probably heard of sauerkraut, though you might not know what it actually is. This German dish consists solely of shredded cabbage and salt; both ingredients are placed into a jar, and the salt facilitates the formation of bacteria. In turn, these bacteria produce acid, giving sauerkraut its distinctive tangy taste.

In its unpasteurized form, sauerkraut contains three notable probiotics - leuconostoc, pediococcus, and lactobacillus. If you have concerns about eating sauerkraut which has not been pasteurized, bring the issue up with your doctor.

Bananas - Another food with a tongue-twisting type of probiotic are bananas. In this case, the helpful bacteria are called fructooligosaccharide. Fructooligosaccharide, which spurs the formation of healthy bacteria while allowing the body to absorb greater amounts of calcium.

Other Foods With Probiotics:

• Kefir


• Dark Chocolate


• Pickles


• Hummus


• Cottage Cheese

Cancer occurs when something goes wrong with this system, causing uncontrolled cell division and growth. Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Most cases of colon cancer begin as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps. Rectal cancer is cancer of the last 6 inches of the colon. Together, they're often referred to as colorectal cancers.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer killer overall and third most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States in both males and females. Who is at risk for colorectal cancer. Men tend to get colorectal cancer at an earlier age than women, but women live longer so they catch up with men and thus the total number of cases in men and women is equal. Women diagnosed with uterine or ovarian cancer before age 50 are at increased risk of colorectal cancer. Woman with a personal history of breast cancer have only a very slight increase in risk of colorectal cancer. The average age to develop colorectal cancer is 70 years, and 93% of cases occur in persons 50 years of age or older. You have a higher risk for colon cancer if you have:

Cancer elsewhere in the body.

Colorectal polypsCrohn's disease

Family history of colon cancer

Personal history of breast cancer

Ulcerative colitis.

Symptoms of colorectal cancer vary depending on the location of the cancer within the colon or rectum, though there may be no symptoms at all. The most common presenting symptom of colorectal cancer is rectal bleeding. Cancers arising from the left side of the colon generally cause bleeding, or in their late stages may cause constipation, abdominal pain, and obstructive symptoms. On the other hand, right-sided colon lesions may produce vague abdominal aching, but are unlikely to present with obstruction or altered bowel habit. Other symptoms such as weakness, weight loss, or anemia resulting from chronic blood loss may accompany cancer of the right side of the colon.

The first step to avoiding this ailment is prevention with regular tests at the doctor, but there are other ways of getting around this disease in between checkups. Nevertheless, it appears that increasing the fiber content in the Western diet would be useful in the primary prevention of colorectal cancer. It is recommended that physical activity messages promoting at least 30-45 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity on most days of the week be included in primary prevention interventions for cancer. The population prevalence for meeting proposed physical activity criteria for colon cancer prevention is low and much lower than that related to the more generic public health recommendations.

Our bodies need lots of calcium and not only for building strong bones. Colon cancer prevention is one of the most exciting uses for calcium. However, instead of using calcium supplements, this study relied on low-fat dairy products to supply 1,200mg calcium per day. Investigators found this amount of calcium decreased the incidence of changes in the cells lining the colon, which is often seen in the initial stages of colon cancer. A significant protective factor is adequate dietary calcium intake during the period of maximum growth (ages 9-25 y), so that proper peak bone mass is achieved by age 20-30 y and maintained until mid-life, with only slow bone loss in the following years. As already noted, dietary surveys indicate a significant gap between the recommended calcium intake and the actual intake in the United States in the critical years of adolescence and young adulthood and later in life.

Do you suffer from Ulcerative Colitis? Have you been on the look out for a permanent solution? May we interest you in a natural solution? Aloe vera. Aloe has an ability of potent internal healing which works to fix the health of your digestive system. It is an all natural, non-toxic medicine with no negative side effects.

The most important feature of Aloe is that your body does not build up a resistance against it and regular use can only help you to regularize bodily functions. Also it is safe for use in children, adults and even the elderly. Another advantage is that it can be taken by patients in all states of health. Likewise, it can be used in combination with any other prescribed medication without any ill effects.

All the healing properties of Aloe are because of one of its ingredients called Aloe Mucilaginous Polysaccharides (AMP). Before we talk about how AMP benefits our body we must first understand what it is. Aloe mucilaginous polysaccharides are long chain sugar molecules made up of separate mannose and glucose sugar molecules combined together. Though the most potent, AMP molecules are only one of an approximate 200 ingredients found in the Aloe Vera plant. Discovery of the medicinal values of AMP is a very important breakthrough in autoimmune and gastrointestinal areas of medicinal study.

Ulcerative Colitis is an ailment of the colon which involves inflammation of the digestive tract. It is to be found under the category of irritable bowel disease (IBD). This disease could cause dilation of the colon or even fatal effects like perforation of the colon. The thought process behind using aloe vera to treat this ailment is that its anti-inflammatory properties will help soothe the inflammation current in the digestive system. Its antifungal and antibacterial functions are also deemed to help the condition.

When the inevitable colitis flare up does happen it can be a very distressing period of time. It has the capacity to alter all of the normal daily routines of the sufferer's life and therefore it is important that knowledge is gained of how to face the consequences of a flare up and manage it to ensure the best possible chance of returning to remission as soon as possible.

Each sufferer has different methods of coping with a change to their circumstances due to the appearance of a flare up, with many recognising that any change to their bowel health requires immediate medical attention. There are other sufferers who stop their daily routines and rest completely for a period of a few days to a week or more in order to try and not antagonise the bowel and reduce any pressure put upon it. If this is unsuccessful, it is usual for the doctor to be made aware of the circumstances of the flare up and additional specific medication requested. Colitis symptoms that are caught early can often be easier and more responsive to treat due to their low intensity, although this unfortunately is not always the case. The sufferers that just carry on life trying best to cope often exacerbate the problems and are ultimately delaying the inevitable downtime.

It is very important to understand and appreciate those dramatic changes in bowel habits over a short period of time, where there is greater frequency in movements and the appearance of blood, signals that the opinion of a doctor should be sought. If this is then coupled with other symptoms such as the onset of fever, increasing abdominal pain, the feeling of nausea with or without vomiting, then the sooner a doctor is contacted the better as this normally signals that a full relapse is happening to the sufferer.

Through the increase in the prescribed amount of medication already being taken is usually the first step a doctor will take, additional medication such as steroids will be prescribed specifically to counter the active inflammation in the large bowel. It is very important to withdraw from daily activities to ensure enough physical and mental rest is had plus also a normal diet cannot be continued. The bowel requires a rest as much as possible from its usual functions and this must be accommodated through a complete change of diet during the flare up to very low quantity simple food.

There will be instances where a colitis flare-up does not respond adequately in a reasonable amount of time to the increased dosages of medications that are prescribed. Where severe flare-ups occur, this can result in nutritional deficiency due to lack of food being eaten plus also the danger of dehydration due to the amount of diarrhea, a period of hospital care maybe required in order for the symptoms to be stabilised. Thankfully this will only happen to a very small number of people who require intensive assistance to first stabilse then reduce the symptoms. The vast majority of those who experience a colitis flare up will be treated in their home with back up from their doctor.

It is recognised that at any time a colitis flare up occurs is a worrying period of time for the sufferer and their family. By adopting a recognised path of taking the medications, rest, adjusting and reducing diet and being aware of the progress of the symptoms, the sufferer should be able to manage the flare up themselves with support from their doctor. The most important issue to note though is that once a flare up appears, it just cannot be wished aware. It has to be faced up to and dealt with in a responsible way.

There are many alternative treatments for Crohn's disease; aloe vera isn't the only remedy out there. In fact, one of the latest studies showing promise for Crohn's disease sufferers is an alternative treatment known as helminthic therapy.

Helminthic therapy is an alternative treatment that uses Trichiuruis suis (pig whipworm) to combat symptoms of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. During therapy, a patient is given eggs of the pig whipworm. The eggs hatch within the body, grow and colonize for a limited time and then disappear, so no harm is done.

It may sound bizarre and disgusting to treat Crohn's by causing an infestation of pig whipworm in the intestines, after all, shouldn't we in Western civilization be celebrating that we've eradicated these pests from our systems with our sanitized culture? We're the first people in history to be worm free, so where's the logic behind this therapy? As ridiculous as it seems, when you learn all the facts behind helminthic therapy, you'll find that it's not as crazy as it sounds.

You see, Crohn's disease occurs when the small intestine becomes inflamed. It is believed by many medical researchers that this inflammation is the result of the immune system's improper response to regular gut flora. Thus, by introducing pig worms to the body, the immune system is provided with an actual target and will stop its assault on the natural gut flora in Crohn's sufferers. In short, worms help to regulate the immune system.

It is interesting to note, that many medical researchers believe that there is a link between Crohn's disease and lack of worms within the system. Crohn's is a disease of the 20th century, and primarily develops in people who live in Western industrialized countries were sanitation is high and worms no longer exist. Therefore, it is possible that the lack of worms within the body may be partly or totally responsible for bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease.

Medical studies are being conducted to find out what happens when worms are introduced back into people's bodies. The hope is that worms will re-instruct the immune system on proper response to inflammation and eradicate the disease.

Most Crohn's patients who participate in helminthic therapy studies are given the pig whipworm eggs, which are dissolved in a drink they ingest. As was previously mentioned, the whipworms hatch, develop and colonize, but they only live for a short time period.

So far, the success rate of these studies has been high, as more than two thirds of the patients who participated in the study for a 6 month period, experienced remission, while others who didn't go into remission still found the treatment helpful. Furthermore, researchers are finding that even those who unsuccessfully responded to conventional treatment for Crohn's, are benefiting from helminthic therapy

There appears to be no side effects or complications with this treatment as none have been reported. However, research and studies are still being conducted on pig whipworm infestation as a therapy. Only time will tell if the re-infestation of worms is the cure for Crohn's disease. Nonetheless, the future certainly looks promising.

Sweet potato is one of the oldest vegetables consumed to this day, believed to be in consumption more than 5000 years ago. In fact, related artifacts have been seen in Peruvian caves dating back more than 8000 B.C and serve as the best proof of their consumption even in prehistoric times. Sweet potatoes has been a great part of the American diet for most of America's history particularly in the Southeast, where it is know as yams.

However This nutritious tuber is no relations to true yams. True yams have brown or black skin which resembles the bark of a tree and off-white, purple or red flesh, depending on the variety. The flesh of yams are starchier and drier than that of the sweet potato. In fact the name yams came about when African slaves seeing the tuber, being reminded of the yams of their homeland called it "nyami". The Senegalese word "nyami" was eventually shortened to the word "yam".

Nutrients found in 100 grams of sweet potato:

Carbohydrates - 20.1 gm

Sugars - 4.2 gm

Dietary fiber - 3.0 gm

Fat - 0.1 gm

Protein - 1.6 gm

Vitamin A - 709 繕g

Beta-carotene - 8509 繕g more than 250% of your daily requirements

Thiamin (Vitamin B1) - 0.1 mg

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) - 0.1 mg

Niacin (Vitamin B3) - 0.61 mg

Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) - 0.8 mg

Vitamin B6 - 0.2 mg

Folate (Vitamin B9) - 11 繕g

Vitamin C - 2.4 mg

Calcium - 30.0 mg

Iron - 0.6 mg

Magnesium - 25.0 mg

Phosphorus - 47.0 mg

Potassium - 337 mg

Zinc - 0.3 mg

A frequent diet of sweet potato can lower the risk of constipation, diverticulosis and colon and rectal cancer. Several researches have shown its superior ability to increase vitamin A levels in our blood, containing between 100 - 1,600 micrograms of vitamin A in every 3.5 ounce sufficient to fulfill over 90% of our vitamin A needs.

Past research has shown that a minimal amount of 3 to 5 grams of fat per meal significantly increases our ingestion of Beta-carotene from sweet potatoes.

Sweet potato also contains cyanidins and peonidins and other associated phytonutrients which has antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects which may protect cells from oxidative damage and reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. That risk reduction is important not only for individuals who are at risk of digestive tract problems like irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis but for all persons needing to reduce the potential risk posed by oxygen radicals. You will find that the purple flesh variety of this vegetable contains higher amount of the phytonutrients mention previously.

Sweet potato is ideal for the health conscious consumer. it blends well with herbs, spices and flavorings producing healthy delightful dishes of all types. From processed baby foods to main dishes, casseroles, salads, breads, desserts, and pet food.

Recipe For A Healthy Sweet Potato Spread

2 medium sweet potatoes 300 grams or 1/2 lbs

1 medium onion, minced

1 Tbs. Tahini or unsalted almond butter

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional

1 Tbs. maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon curry

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1. Cook potatoes in a saucepan, cover potatoes with water and bring to a boil.

2. Simmer over medium heat until potatoes are soft when pierced with a knife (During this period, prepare sauce.).

3. Remove from saucepan. When cool, remove skin.

4. While potatoes are cooking, peel carrot and onion, and chop into small pieces.

5. Place chopped carrot and onion into another saucepan and cover with 1/2 cup of water.

6. Simmer carrots and onions until soft

7. Puree sweet potato in a food processor with Tahini or Almond butter, Curry powder, and ground Cumin until just combined.

8. Add carrot-onion mixture and puree until smooth.

This makes a tasty spread when served on crackers or toasted bread.

It is an unfortunate reality that many people suffering from ulcerative colitis will require surgery to rectify obstructions in the intestine. This surgery is often unplanned due to the fact that it is usually conducted at short notice and under emergency conditions.

There are many horror stories that describe sufferers of ulcerative colitis being rushed to hospital with abdominal pains and waking up after having 18 inches of their intestines removed. Sadly, medical professionals are yet to find a cure for colitis and therefore surgeons are left to deal with symptoms when they are otherwise impossible to treat. If surgery is unavoidable however, it is possible to reclaim a normal life depending on the extent of the surgery and how much of the intestines were removed.

Surgery to rectify and intestinal obstructions or blockages from sufferers of ulcerative colitis can be divided into two categories, small intestine surgery and large intestine surgery.

After small intestine surgery, the bowel is capable of increasing its absorptive capacity to compensate for the loss of the removed section of the intestine. Therefore, by allowing the intestines to heal properly and adjust to the changes, a person with colitis can return to life as normal. This includes a return to the regular diet that was consumed before surgery was performed. In severe cases where a more significant amount of the intestine is removed, the remaining intestine may be unable to fully compensate for the loss of surface area. The obvious alternative to an underperforming intestine is to increase the caloric value of food that is consumed.

This should balance the deficit in food absorption and reduce the amount of weight that is lost as a result of the surgery. In cases of severe ulcerative colitis, food supplements may need to be delivered to the stomach via a tube or alternatively, into the blood stream.

Following large intestine surgery, a special diet of high caloric value is rarely needed. This is due to the fact that much of the function of the large intestine is related to water absorption. The initial diet following the operation will most likely be dominated by liquids and slowly transition back to a regular diet. In cases where the whole intestine is removed, an ileostomy will be formed using the surrounding tissue. Due to the function of the colon in absorbing water and salt, both will need to be consumes in higher amounts.

Based on theory that there might be overgrowth of bacteria in the small bowel (SBO) in patients with IBS antibiotics have been tried as a treatment. Antibiotics have helped some suffering with IBS, especially, those with complaints of diarrhea, excess bloating and gas, and abdominal pain.

Without well-designed scientific studies showing clear cut effectiveness, the use of antibiotics has been somewhat empiric and the questions have continued to be which antibiotic, for how long and how often? Furthermore, the role of SBO has been over stated in past, with an estimate of only 5-10% of IBS patients having confirmed bacterial overgrowth. However, more recently the role of post-infectious IBS and altered gut flora in IBS as well as the availability of non-absorbed antibiotics like Rifaximin and high quality probiotics such as VSL#3 has led to increased interest in antibiotic and probiotic therapy.

Two recent multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, TARGET 1 and TARGET 2, involving over a thousand patients who were given either Rifaximin or placebo have shown favorable though not "earth shattering" results. The dose of Rifaximin was 550 mg 2-3 times a day versus placebo, for two weeks followed by another 10 weeks of follow-up. Constipated IBS patients were excluded. Bloating and a global assessment of IBS symptoms by a standardized scale were the primary endpoints whereas abdominal pain and stool frequency were secondary endpoints.

Abdominal pain, bloating and stool symptoms were all better following treatment with Rifaximin. When data from both studies were combined it was noted that 41% of those receiving Rifaximin versus 32% in placebo group (30% placebo response rate typical in most treatment studies). Though this achieved statistical significance, it isn't a great response rate, significantly less than 50% noting response. There was a statistically significant improvement noted over the three month study period.

Limitations to the study from my stand are that markers for leaky gut and IBD serology were not checked nor were stains for mast cells done on these patients. Patients did not receive probiotics either.

One major advantage of Rifaximin is that is not absorbed from the GI tract so there are no systemic side effects. It also tends to quickly if it works and has been documented to last up to three months. The disadvantage is that it is expensive, often not covered by insurance and doesn't work in more than half of those trying it. Addition of a probiotic may help though there are limited studies to support this as a formal recommendation. A theoretical disadvantage is possible selecting out more resistant bacteria in the gut.

It is a regimen that may be worth a try if your insurance covers the antibiotic. I would recommend that Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease), and microscopic colitides (lymphocytic colitis, collagenous colitis and mastocytic enterocolitis) be excluded by blood tests and endoscopies with biopsies.