My sister has pancolits. I was wondering if a enema consisting of Aloe vera & VSL #3 would be good or how about a yogurt enema? I have told her to wean of asacol & take lots of VSL #3 upto 4 packets a day. Also told her to take Boswellia once she is completely off asacol. What do you think? Does anybody know a good EFT Counselor around NJ?

My mom gives her a liquid which consists of 2 tsp mint, rose water, 2 tsp fennel seed, ginger & honey. Its boiled & filtered before she drinks it, is this safe for a person with pancolits? My sister (dimple) has not taken any oil of oregano since jan 07 & it caused lots of diarrhea when she did take it. (North American Herb & Spice Oreganol Super Strength). Right now she is on TPN & Absorb plus shakes. She is taking Healing Enema atm but still bleeding.

Update
I just found out that my sister has stopped taking asacol 7 days ago without telling anybody so maybe thats why her bleeding has increased since she stopped taking asacol. I am going to tell her to take Boswellia today.

Has anybody here tried Boswellia?

Hi, dimple.

I don't know if anybody on the forum has tried it, but I know that someone wrote in to Jini at one point to reference some studies and to ask about the possibility of the Holistic Health Shoppe carrying boswellia as a regular item.

Source Naturals makes a good formulation (that's what Jini recommended in the case I mentioend above) and if you want, you can ask about the Holistic Health Shoppe special-ordering some.

The aloe vera and the probiotics would likely have some benefit (especially cumulative benefit - one enema isn't going to reverse the trend), but darkangel is right - especially if she's been on meds for awhile, suddenly stopping them is very likely to cause an increase of symptoms at the least, if not a full-fledged flare. It's very important to wean off of them slowly and to combine the weaning process with other, supportive therapies.

I had good success utilizing probiotic retention enemas myself - combined with several other therapies. It's been some time since I've experienced active symptoms, but when I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, it was in my ascending and transverse colon. If you follow the directions in LTYG (Chapter Two - under Probiotics), you'll be able to get the enema solution all through the colon.

If you're in the NJ area, a super and very well-known EFT therapist is Dr. Pat Carrington. She may not be taking new clients at the moment, but if you write in, explain your situation and goals, and ask for a referral, I think it's very likely that she'll know somebody whom she can recommend.

Also, if you're open to this, another possibility is having an EFT session over the phone. This vastly increases your pool of available EFT practitioners who have experience with cases like yours. I've had great success myself with this method.

The mint is a bit iffy. I think the rest would be okay if the formula is weak, but your own body will give you the best answer.

If this doesn't answer all of you questions, don't hesitate to write back.

All the best,
Nicole

I don't recommend mixing Aloe Vera with probiotics since aloe vera has an antibacterial effect. You can mix aloe vera with Jini's Healing Implant Enema - that would be excellent. And/or do a probiotic retention enema on it's own (see ch. 2 for mine)

Yes, Boswellia and Berberine have both been used extensively in clinical trials with colitis as an anti-inflammatory. Do an Internet or PubMed search for the articles. In the meantime, here are a few to get you started:

1. Effects of Boswellia serrata in mouse models of chemically induced colitis.
Kiela PR, Midura AJ, Kuscuoglu N, Jolad SD, Solyom AM, Besselsen DG, Timmermann BN, Ghishan FK.
Dept. of Pediatrics, Children's Research Center, Univ. of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.

Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2005 Apr;288(4):G798-808. Epub 2004 Nov 11.

Abstract:
The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of boswellia extracts in controlled settings of dextran sulfate- or trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in mice.

PMID: 15539433


2. [Therapy of active Crohn disease with Boswellia serrata extract H 15] [Article in German]

Gerhardt H, Seifert F, Buvari P, Vogelsang H, Repges R.
Colitis-Crohn-Ambulanz, I. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum Mannheim der Universitat Heidelberg.

Z Gastroenterol. 2001 Jan;39(1):11-7.

Abstract:
The purpose of this clinical trial was to compare efficacy and safety of the Boswellia serrata extract H15 with mesalazine for the treatment of active Crohn's disease. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms that therapy with H15 is not inferior to mesalazine, which can be interpreted as evidence for the efficacy of H15 according to the state of art in the treatment of active Crohn's disease with Boswellia serrata extract, since the efficacy of mesalazine for this indication has been approved by the health authorities. Considering both safety and efficacy of Boswellia serrata extract H15 it appears to be superior over mesalazine in terms of a benefit-risk-evaluation.

Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 11215357


3. Effects of gum resin of Boswellia serrata in patients with chronic colitis.

Gupta I, Parihar A, Malhotra P, Gupta S, Ludtke R, Safayhi H, Ammon HP.
Department of Medicine, Medical College Jammu, J&K, India.

Planta Med. 2001 Jul;67(5):391-5.

Abstract:
Patients studied here suffered from chronic colitis characterized by vague lower abdominal pain, bleeding per rectum with diarrhoea and palpable tender descending and sigmoid colon. This study shows that a gum resin preparation from Boswellia serrata could be effective in the treatment of chronic colitis with minimal side effects.

Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 11488449


4. Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Gupta I, Parihar A, Malhotra P, Singh GB, Ludtke R, Safayhi H, Ammon HP.
Department of Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Jammu, J&K, India.

Eur J Med Res. 1997 Jan;2(1):37-43.

Abstract:
In patients suffering from ulcerative colitis grade II and III the effect of Boswellia serrata gum resin preparation (350 mg thrice daily for 6 weeks) on stool properties, histolopathology and scan microscopy of rectal biopsies, blood parameters including Hb, serum iron, calcium, phosphorus, proteins, total leukocytes and eosinophils was studied. All parameters tested improved after treatment with Boswellia serrata gum resin, the results being similar compared to controls: 82% out of treated patients went into remission; in case of sulfasalazine remission rate was 75%.

Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial

PMID: 9049593

take care,
Jini

boswellia was one of the first things i tried when i was flaring, from the naturopath. i tried it for about two weeks, i think. unfortunately, it didn't work for me -- my symptoms didn't even abate. i did have some increased nausea from it, but i was already pretty nauseated from the flare, so i didn't particularly care. my experience notwithstanding, i really think it's worth a try.