Ulcerative Colitis Stone Mountain GA

Chronic ulcerative colitis is a disease in the intestinal tract with an unknown cause. The main pathological changes consist of superficial, non-specific, inflammation of the rectum and colon. The total submucosal tissue may also be affected which results in a submucosal recurrent chronic ulceration. In some severe cases, reverse flow induced ileitis is limited to 10cm in length. In traditional Chinese medicine, it belongs to the categories of spouting bleeding from anus, dysentery, dysentery, intestinal wind, bloody stool, diarrhea, etc.

The etiology of this disease is mostly related to an attack by an external pathogen, damage caused by dietary intake, imbalance of the mind, natural deficiency of the spleen and stomach, or a decline of fire from the gate of life. The pathogenesis of the disease mostly lies on the damage to the spleen and stomach, endogenous formation of damp warm resulting from congenital insufficiency or natural spleen stomach hypo-activity, uncontrolled diet, and emotional disturbances. Damp heat accumulation and stagnation in the intestine result because of recurrence. The pathologic organs are restricted to the spleen, kidney, and the large intestine. In the early stage, damp heat accumulates endogenously. In the advanced stage, the kidney is affected and yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney occurs with mixing of cold and heat. The pathological changes are not restricted to intestine. The disease affects the whole body. It is intimately related to dysfunction in various visceral organs, disturbing the balance between yin and yang. Some people emphasize the importance of accumulation and stagnation of qi and blood. Various conditions affect the function of the spleen, such as transfer and transforming water, food nutrition and dampness, function of the intestine in transporting water, damp and food metabolites which lead to diarrhea and secretion of mucus and bloody stool with pus.(1)

Zhou Duan Xian used modified Shen Ling Bai Zhu San to treat nonspecific chronic colitis. This formula contains: Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Bai Zhu (Atractylode), Huang Qi (Astragalus Root), Fu Ling (Poria), Shan Yao (Dioscorea), Yi Ren (Coix), Chen Pi (Citrus), Zhi Gan Cao (process Licorice), Bai Bian Dou (Dolichos), and Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit). In moderate hypofunction of the spleen, Huang Qi's quantity was increased, and Pao Jiang (processed Ginger), Wu Zhu (Evodia), Lian Rou (Lotus Seed), etc. were added. For yang deficiency of the spleen and the kidney, the following herbs were added, Fu Zi (Aconite), Bu Gu Zhi (Psoralea), Rou Dou Kou (semen Myristicae), etc. For hyperactivity of the liver with deficiency of the spleen, the following herbs were added Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Fang Feng (Siler), Mu Xiang (Saussurea), etc. For deficiency in the spleen with damp heat, the following herbs were added: Chao Bai Shao (cooked White Peony Root), Fang Feng (Siler), Mu Xiang (Saussurea), etc. For retention in the intestines of fluid pathogens, Yi Ren was replaced by Chao Yi Ren (cooked Coix), and Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twigs) and Ze Xie (Alisma) etc. were added. One dose of the decoction was taken every day. 15 days constituted one course of treatment. The results showed that among 38 cases, 28 were resolved, 8 had improved, and 2 were unchanged. The total effectiveness rate of the study was 94.7%.(2)

Ulcerative colitis was treated with Bu Pi Yi Chang Wan (invigorating the spleen to benefit the intestine) combined with a drip into the rectum. The formula was taken 6g three times a day and was continued for 30 days as one course of treatment and treated for 3 courses. This was combined with an endo-rectal drip of modified Kui Jie Chang Tang (decoction for ulcerative colitis) once daily. This formula consisted of: Di Yu (Sanguisorba), Huang Bo (Phellodendron), Bai Jiang Cao (Thlaspi), Bai Hua She She Cao (Oldenlandia), Shi Cang Pu (Grassleaved Sweetflag Rhizome), Xi Lei San (a topical herbal powder for ulceration), and Bai Ji Fen (White Tribulus powder). 50 cases were treated. In another group of 50 cases, Western medicine was used for comparison. The drugs used were prednisone 15g for 3 months, combined with endo-rectal dripping of 0.5% metronidazole once per day (150ml in which 2.5g sulfasalazineare added). 2 weeks comprised 1 course of treatment. 4 courses were used in total. In the treatment and comparison groups, the results were, respectively: full recovery in 27, 25 cases; marked effectiveness in 20, 5 cases; and improvement in 5, 8 cases. The clinical effective rate of the study was 90%, and the therapeutic rate was 54%. The Chinese herbal group was markedly superior to the Western drug group in its clinical effectiveness (P<0.01).(3)

In another study, ulcerative colitis was treated with Gu Ben Qing Zao Tang (a decoction of enforcing foundation to clearing dryness). Patients were divided randomly into 68 treatment cases and a control group of 40 cases. The formula used contained Huang Qi (Astragalus Root), Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Bai Zhu (Atractylode), Fu Ling (Poria), Pao Jiang (processed Ginger), Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla Root), Chao Huang Bo (Phellodendron), Xian Lin Pi (Epimedium), Bai Hua She She Cao (Oldenlandia), and Gan Cao (Licorice). Modifications were made according to the patients' symptoms. The control group used sulfasalazine at 1g/day in 4 individual doses for 4 weeks, and then 1g two times a day. In severe cases, prednisone (40mg/day) was added. The results for both the treatment and the control groups were: clinical recovery occurred in 25:10 cases; a significant effect was seen in: 32:17 cases; improvement was seen in: 5:4 cases; and no effect was seen in: 6:9 cases. The total effectiveness rates of the study were 91.2%, and 77.5% respectively (P<0.05).(4)

Chronic nonspecific ulcerative colitis was treated with Weng Yu Tang. The formula consisted of Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla Root), Di Yu (Sanguisorba), Chi Shi Zhi (Holloysitum Rubrum), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Ge Gen (Pueraria), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Wei Rou Dou (Myristicae), Mu Xiang (Saussurea), and Gan Cao (Licorice). Modifications were made according to the patients' symptoms. It was taken once a day before a meal. 15 consecutive days constituted one course of treatment. After 2-4 courses, of the 52 cases that had been treated, 20 were resolved, 27 had improved, and 5 had shown no effect. The total effectiveness rate of the study was 93%.(5)

Chronic nonspecific ulcerative colitis was treated with a fluid, which invigorates the intestine and was combined with an intestine-clearing decoction. 58 cases were used in the treatment group. Yi Chang Yin (decoction for invigorating the intestine) is composed of Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Yun Ling (Siler), Wu Mei (Mume), Huang Qi (Astragalus Root), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Rou Dou Kou (Common Nutmeg Seed), and Qing Mu Xiang (Thickleaf Vladimiria Root). The formula was modified according to the patients' symptoms. One dose of the decoction was taken daily. A Qing Chang Tang (decoction for clearing intestines) decoction used the following herbs: Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla Root), Ku Shen (Sophora Root), Huai Hua (Sophora), Bai Ji (White Tribulus), Di Yu (Sanguisorba), Bai Jiang Cao (Thlaspi), and San Qi Fen (Notoginseng). The daily dosage was 100 ml for a retention enema 1-2 hours before bedtime. 24 cases in the control group were treated with 0.5g three times a day combined with a retention enema before bedtime by 100 ml saline containing hydrocortisone 50mg and 2% procaine 2ml. Four weeks was considered as 1 course of treatment in both groups. In the treatment and the control groups respectively, the results showed that after 3 courses of treatment, 25, 0 cases were resolved, 21, 4 cases were marked effective; 8, 8 cases had improved; and 4, 7 cases were ineffective. The total effectiveness rate of this study was 93.1% and 70.9% (P<0.01).(6)