• The exact cause of this condition is not known but a genetic component has been suggested. A person is at a higher risk if he has a close relative, such as a parent, sibling or child, with the disease.
• Auto-immunity as a cause has been extensively evaluated and strongly suggested in many cases.
• Apart from genetic tendency and Auto-immunity, there are certain extrinsic factors that are responsible for triggering the acute episodes in a susceptible individual.

These external factors may be:
• Dietary: Patients often notice flare-up of the complaints after taking certain types of foods especially spicy foods.
• Drugs: Use of certain drugs (especially some antibiotics) may worsen complaints of ulcerative colitis.
• Certain intestinal infections
• Psychological factors like continued stress and anxiety

Ulcerative Proctitis: Involvement of the rectum only Proctor-sigmoiditis: Involvement of the rectum and the sigmoid colon Left-sided colitis: Involvement of the entire left side of the colon (including descending colon) Pancolitis: Extensive type which involves the entire colon

• Loose stools
• Increased frequency of stools
• Blood in stools
• Mucus in stools
• Gradual onet of complaints in most cases
• Weight loss
• Cramps in abdomen
• Rectal pain
• Fever
• Tenesmus
• Involuntary straining efforts to pass stools
• Weakness
• Poor appetite
• Anemia

• Joint pains (Seronegative Arthritis)
• Back stiffness (stiffness of the spine)
• Eye complications (iritis, uveitis, episcleritis)
• Aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers)
• Skin: Pyoderma gangrenosum, Erythema nodosum
• Auto-immune haemolytic anemia
• Clubbing
• Deep vein thrombosis

• Stool examination: Microscopy and culture to exclude the presence of any infection.
• Blood tests: To detect the presence of any infection, to exclude anemia
• Colonoscopy: Endoscopy of the colon to visualise the ulcers and determine the extent of the disease affecting the colon.
• Biopsy: During a colonoscopy, the surgeon can take a biopsy of the suspected part; this can be later examined under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis.
• ESR: Raised Erythrocytic Sedimentation Rate (ESR) indicates presence of active inflammatory process
• Electrolyte studies: To detect hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia that may be associated with chronic diarrhoea
• Liver function tests: To screen for the development of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

• Life threatening bleeding
• Perforation of the intestines and inflammation of the abdominal cavity
• Malnutrition
• Involvement of the joints, eyes, skin
• Colon Cancer: The risk for development of colon cancer increases after 10 years of ulcerative colitis.
• Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: An inflammatory disorder of the small and large bile ducts, tends to be progressive in nature.
• C-Reactive Proteins: Raised levels are indicative of an active inflammatory process in the body.

In case of acute stage:
• Bed rest in case of severe symptoms
• Light diet with exclusion of milk and milk products from the diet
• Avoid high intake of refined sugars, spicy foods, processed foods, deep fried foods, alcohol, high fibre, etc
• Take plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
• Take vitamins and mineral supplements as suggested by your Physician

• Correction of anaemia, dehydration, acute diarrhoea
• Loss of larger than usual quantities of blood in stools
• If smallest quantity of food or drink causes diarrhoea
• Unexplained fever lasting more than 1-2 days
• Severe abdominal pain that does not respond to regular medication

This involves the use of following groups of drugs
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Aminosalicylate group of drugs
• Cortico-steroids
• Immuno-suppressants
• Nicotine patches

Symptomatic drugs that are commonly prescribed include:
• Anti-diarrhoeals
• Laxatives (for patients with constipation)
• Pain reliever medications
• Vitamin and mineral supplements

Surgical treatment
In severe cases of Ulcerative Colitis where the patient does not respond favourably to medication, surgery is the last option. Development of complications may also entail the need for emergency surgery. Surgery is preformed in cases where the bleeding from the intestines cannot be controlled, or there is a risk of perforation of the intestine or development of cancer. Surgical treatment includes removal of the colon and the rectum.

Once the colon is removed, an ileostomy is preformed to allow the drainage of waste from the body. An ileostomy involves bringing the end of the small intestine (ileum) through a hole (stoma) in the abdominal wall. The patient wears an external bag over this opening to collect the waste inside it.

Another operation performed for Ulcerative Colitis is called Ileoanal anastomosis, or pull-through operation. This procedure allows the patient to continue to pass stool through the anus.

Homeopathy has good scope in the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis especially in the early stages of the condition. The medicines can help in reducing the frequency of stools, the urging and discomfort associated with the condition, the passage of mucus and blood in the stools, etc. It can also help in slowing down the progress of the disease and the development of complications. The treatment can help in inducing longer remissions and can also assist in improving the immunity so that the patient does not face frequent relapses.

At a later stage, when structural changes have occurred in the body, Homeopathy can still have a palliative role to play in this disease while reducing the need for steroids and other immunosuppressive medication. The nutritional status of the patient also improves with regular Homeopathic medication.

Homeopathy can also help to prevent the need for surgery in cases of Ulcerative Colitis, if the treatment is opted for at the right time.