This disease can cause bleeding, burning, loss of appetite, and anemia. There are hadiths recommending the consumption of turmeric for this type of illness, since curcumin helps healing.
In addition, liquid or gel aloe vera is a good natural ingredient to use for cleansing the colon or intestines. To treat the bleeding, the patient will need probiotics, such as kefir, a medicinal mushroom that can be found in capsule form or with shiitake and maitake. This disease is due to a weakness in the immune system, and as for the anemia and bleeding, it will be good to consume spirulina since it contains the minerals we need.
What ulcerative colitis is, and why the core treatment isn't up for debate
Ulcerative colitis affects the lining of the rectum and colon, continuously from the rectum, and never the small intestine (which distinguishes it from Crohn's disease). The immune system attacks the lining, which causes the bleeding ulcerations, the mucus-streaked and bloody stools, the urgency, the pain, and, over time, the anemia and weight loss the professor mentions. It affects five million people worldwide and often begins between ages 15 and 35 (Lancet, 2023). It progresses in flares and remissions. The core treatment, mesalazine first, then other medications if that isn't enough, does two things that nothing else does: it prevents flares, and it reduces the long-term risk of colon cancer, which is higher in this disease. Stopping it because you feel well leads to relapse. Everything that follows is added to the treatment; nothing replaces it, and the professor does not say otherwise.
The professor's remedies, with what the trials say
| Remedy | What the research found | How |
|---|---|---|
| Turmeric (curcumin) | The best documented: a meta-analysis of randomized trials shows that curcumin added to mesalazine notably increases the rate of clinical remission compared to mesalazine alone (Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2020). The professor speaks of "hadiths recommending turmeric": there is no hadith on turmeric; it is a remedy from Arab and Indian pharmacopeia, and it is the trials that support it | 1.5 to 3 g of curcumin per day as a standardized extract (not cooking powder, which is poorly absorbed), with a fat source and a pinch of pepper, during a flare and for maintenance, with the gastroenterologist's approval |
| Aloe vera | Double-blind randomized trial: 100 ml of aloe vera gel taken orally twice a day for four weeks improved mild to moderate colitis compared to placebo (Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2004). The professor suggests it as a colon wash: oral intake is the tested route; enemas should be avoided on an ulcerated lining | Aloe vera gel to drink, without aloin (the laxative anthraquinone from the whole leaf, which is irritating), 50 to 100 ml twice a day, during a mild flare |
| Probiotics, kefir | Cochrane review: certain probiotics (notably a multi-strain blend and E. coli Nissle) help maintain remission, with moderate-quality evidence; for inducing remission, the effect is less clear (Cochrane, 2020). Kefir: in a randomized trial with 45 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 400 ml per day for four weeks improved the gut flora, bloating, and well-being (Turk J Gastroenterol, 2019) | Homemade or store-bought milk kefir, one glass a day in remission; probiotics in capsules of studied strains, on advice. These are not "mushrooms": the kefir grain is a mix of bacteria and yeasts |
| Mushrooms (shiitake, maitake, reishi) | Immunomodulators from Chinese tradition; no trial in ulcerative colitis. "Immune deficiency," the professor says: it is actually more a case of excess immunity misdirected; one should not add stimulants without advice | Outside of a flare, on advice, with caution alongside immunosuppressant treatments |
| Spirulina | Double-blind randomized trial with 80 patients: 1 g per day for eight weeks improved iron, ferritin, and anemia (Clin Nutr ESPEN, 2023), and a second trial shows improvement in disease activity and quality of life (BMC Complement Med Ther, 2024). The professor is right about the anemia | 1 g per day, quality-controlled product; in addition to prescribed iron if the deficiency is clear, since the anemia of this disease often requires iron by infusion (Nutrients, 2021) |
What to eat, during a flare and in remission
- During a flare: little hard fiber (raw vegetables, whole grains, legumes, skins), cooked and pureed vegetables, rice, talbina, applesauce, fish and poultry; no raw milk, coffee, alcohol, or strong spices; small, frequent meals, the rule of thirds. Drink plenty of fluids: diarrhea causes dehydration.
- In remission: fiber, which feeds the gut flora, is gradually reintroduced; olive oil, fatty fish (anti-inflammatory omega-3s), fruit, vegetables first cooked then raw, kefir; identify your own triggers, often lactose, fried fats, sweeteners.
- Honey and dates: well-tolerated sugars, easy energy when losing weight.
- Fasting: possible in remission with the doctor's approval, adjusting when medication is taken; not advised during a flare. The illness exempts one from fasting when it makes things worse.
- Stress: it does not cause the disease but it triggers flares; sleep, prayer, walking, and psychological support if needed.
Contraindications and precautions
The core treatment is never stopped in favor of natural remedies: relapse is the rule, and repeated flares damage the colon. Inform the gastroenterologist of any supplement: curcumin and aloe vera can interact with certain medications, probiotics should be avoided under heavy immunosuppressants without advice, as should immunostimulant mushrooms. Aloe vera taken orally must be aloin-free (labeled "decolorized" or "aloin-free"); an aloe vera enema on an ulcerated lining should not be used. A flare with fever, more than six bloody stools a day, intense abdominal pain, or a swollen and hard abdomen is an emergency (severe colitis, risk of perforation): go to the hospital, not for herbal tea. And colonoscopy surveillance, starting eight years into the disease, should not be neglected: it is what catches cancer in time.
Frequently asked questions
What natural remedy helps with ulcerative colitis?
In addition to treatment, curcumin has the best evidence: added to mesalazine, it increases remission rates in trials. Next come oral aloe vera, certain probiotics and kefir, and spirulina for anemia. None of them replaces the core treatment.
Is turmeric mentioned in the hadiths?
No, there is no hadith on turmeric. It is a remedy from Arab and Indian pharmacopeia, and it is modern clinical trials that support its use in ulcerative colitis. It is taken as a standardized curcumin extract, not as cooking powder.
Is kefir good for ulcerative colitis?
A randomized trial shows that one glass of kefir a day improves the gut flora and symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease. In remission, it's a good daily food; during a flare, it should be tried cautiously, as lactose can cause discomfort.
Can you stop mesalazine once you feel better?
No: it is what maintains remission and protects the colon in the long term. Natural remedies are added alongside it; any change to treatment should be decided with the gastroenterologist.
How is anemia from ulcerative colitis treated?
Spirulina improves iron and ferritin in one trial, and it is a good supplement; but the anemia of this disease comes from bleeding and poor absorption, and often requires prescribed iron, sometimes by infusion. Blood tests determine the course of action.
