Originally published July 21 2005
Good bacteria can treat ulcerative colitis, study finds
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Researchers in Canada find that probiotic bacteria, or "good" bacteria, can be an effective treatment for ulcerative colitis, a disease in which the body's immune system attacks the intestinal tissue and colon.
A new Canadian study has found that simple "probiotic" bacteria are effective in treating ulcerative colitis, a painful disease caused by an immune system attack on the body's intestinal tissue and colon.
Researchers at the University of Alberta found six weeks of treatment with pills containing so-called "good" bacteria, or probiotics, can turn the inflamed and bleeding colons of many patients with ulcerative colitis into virtually normal tissue.
Probiotics are not new but their healing powers are just starting to be investigated by the medical community.
They are the easily obtained bacteria that turn milk into yogurt and are thought to restore intestinal bacteria balance.
Patients with colitis often have an overgrowth of "bad" bacteria and not enough of the "good" ones.
They experience abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea from inflammation and ulcers in the large bowel.
Researchers tested whether heavy doses of probiotics could help combat the overgrowth of "bad" bacteria in colitis sufferers and help them to heal.
"I was in considerable pain with a lot of bloating, severe cramping and bleeding," she told CTV News.
The study found that the medication brought about a demonstrated remission in 53 per cent of the study group (18 patients), and a favourable response in another 24 per cent (8 patients).
There was no response in 9 per cent of patients and a worsening of symptoms in 9 per cent.
Unlike the steroid treatment that many of them endure, the probiotic treatment caused virtually no side effects, other than mild bloating.
that is probably quite safe and doesn't have a lot of side effects," says Dr. Hillary Steinhart of Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital.
Doctors don't know why the probiotic treatment doesn't work on all patients or if its effects are permanent.
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