There has been a controlled trial into the use of wheatgrass juice in the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis, which was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. This was a double blind placebo controlled study, involving 23 people diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. The patients were given either 100cc of wheatgrass juice or a placebo daily for one month. They found that wheatgrass juice consumption was associated with significant reduction in disease activity, and a reduction in rectal bleeding. There were no apparent side effects. They concluded that wheatgrass juice is effective as a single or complimentary treatment for Ulcerative Colitis.
This is a positive result, and wheatgrass has been used for a variety of health conditions since the 1950’s when it was introduced by Ann Wigmore. You can either grow your own wheatgrass and juice it, or it is nowadays possible to buy freeze dried wheatgrass powder on the internet or from health food stores, which you just mix with water and drink. Its a great addition to your Ulcerative Colitis Diet Plan.

Indian researchers have tested Manuka Honey as a potential treatment for Ulcerative Colitis. Using rats they found that manuka honey provided protection against colonic damage, and by reducing the oxidant load at the inflammatory site Manuka honey improved Ulcerative Colitis symptoms.
They also found that Manuka Honey when combined with sulpasalazine drugs had an additive effect, with even better results when the two were used together.

Manuka honey is also well known as a cure for ulcers which can also only be of benefit in Ulcerative Colitis.

Other research shows that active manuka honey seems to coat the digestive tract when taken before a meal which can help to protect the lining from irritations caused by food.

Whilst I don’t think that Manuka honey is a cure for Ulcerative Colitis, it is a beneficial substance to add to your diet which may help your symptoms. Try taking 1 teaspoon of high strength manuka honey about 20 minutes before you eat, and see how you get on, you may even find you need less medication as it seems to work to improve the effects of sulfasalazine drugs.
But one caution, don’t take too much as honey is mostly sugar and too much sugar is not good news for colitis. Other than that Manuka honey is a very safe product with no known side effects.

Here is what I do if I have an Ulcerative Colitis Flare Up –

1. Take Probiotics in particular VSL-3 which is specifically formulated for Ulcerative Colitis, and in one medical study at The University of Alberta UC patients were given 8 sachets a day for 6 weeks and this produced remission in 77% of them. Also get some Kefir Grains and make your own Kefir with Goats Milk, which is easy to do and provides you with a nourishing drink which is packed with probiotics. Another good Probiotic supplement for Colitis Primal Defense Ultra it’s cheaper than VSL-3
2. Drink Bentonite Clay it is a  clay based mineral drink which is a highly effective natural remedy for Ulcerative Colitis. It has been studied at the Medical University if Vienna and was found to be effective in the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis. It fights inflammation of the intestinal wall and reduces diarrhoea.
3. Diet, No Sugar or Alcohol at all, Best to avoid fruit too with the possible exception of the odd banana. Chicken Stock Soup is soothing and nutritious in a flare up recipe here. Avoid all grains, beans and potatoes, with the exception of rice. Eat Chicken and Fish but when you cook them only steam or boil, absolutely no frying. Vegetables are ok if well cooked , again steam them well, but avoid the really fibrous root ones like swede, and also tomatoes and peppers. Avoid all dairy products,I find they make any bleeding worse – except Kefir and home made probiotic yogurt. Don’t overeat, have lots of small meals little and often is best.
4. Take these Herbs – Boswellia, Turmeric and Ashwaganda, all are very effective anti inflammatories, in one study Ashwaganda was shown to be a stronger anti inflammatory that steroids.
5. Elemental Drinks – These are a form of feeding which is completely absorbed in the small intestine, and therefore give the colon a rest whilst still providing nourishment. They have been used in medical studies to induce remission in UC as successfully as steroids. I have had Elemental 028 from my Doctor and they really help in the midst of a Flare Up. You can also get Absorb Plus on the Web.
6. Omega 3 Fish Oils are another excellent anti inflammatory, take 4g of them a day.

Once things settle down, continue with Probiotics, Omega3, and Boswellia & Turmeric. Reintroduce more foods but follow a paleolithic diet for autoimmunity. It is also worth having a Igg antibody test for food in-tolerances done in case there is any food which is triggering your Colitis.

When I was in Hospital during my first UC Flare Up – It was a big one! -my wife spoke to a friend of a friend who had ulcerative colitis, in a quest to find out what was happening to me. He had ended up having the operation to remove part of the colon, he said to her that the one thing he wished he had tried before having the op was Homeopathy, because other people had told him that it worked well for colitis, I had also heard similar things from others. So I got my Mum to find a suitable Homeopath and once she had found someone I had a telephone consultation with my newly found Homeopath from my hospital bed. The initial call was over an hour long and she asked me all sorts of questions about myself and my symptoms, in some ways it almost felt a bit like an interview  and was very in depth, more so than I had expected. She then arranged for some Homeopathic remedies to be sent to me in Hospital and enclosed instructions of what to take when. I began taking the remedies as instructed and also kept the Homeopath informed of my day to day progress via email, and by phone every few days. The results were very good. And things finally started improving. The first remedy I took was Arsenicum, which helped the bowel movements slow down a bit, and the one of the others was China which really helped me get an appetite back and I started to eat much more. The remedies are specific to each person and their symptoms so I if you want to try homeopathy I would recommend finding a local homeopath and talking to them first. (If you want the number of the one I used email me) I was really impressed with the results, and the beauty of the homeopathy is that it in no way interferes with any other medical treatment you are undergoing. It’s well worth a try.