Inflammation of your bowel can affect both the small and large intestines. Broadly known as inflammatory bowel disease, the condition includes serious chronic diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Its cause is uncertain, which...
Gluten is a type of protein in grains like wheat, rye, barley, oat, spelt, kamut and bulgur. Cereals, pasta, breads, crackers and baked goods may contain gluten if made with one of these grains. Eating gluten may make you sick if you have a gluten...
N-acetyl glucosamine is an enzyme the body produces. The substance derives from glucose and it is also a monosaccharide, a type of sugar. The cells in your body, in particular the ones in the neurological and immune systems, use it for proper...
Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, causes chronic inflammation in the intestinal tract. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, poor appetite and fever. There is no cure for...
The herbal medicine cascara sagarda, commonly sold as an over-the-counter laxative, can cause several significant side effects. The U.S. National Institutes of Health classify cascara sagrada as a stimulant laxative, noting that its effects are...
Colitis is a general term used to describe any form of inflammation of the colon. Colitis typically causes pain and diarrhea, because the colon can no longer absorb water efficiently, leading to watery stools. Sometimes blood will also appear in...
Patients who experience breathing difficulties due to asthma or bowel discomfort due to Crohn's disease may be prescribed budesonide. Budesonide is a type of corticosteroid treatment used to prevent lung inflammation or alleviate bowel...
People who experience episodes of indigestion, bloating, heartburn, nausea or diarrhea due to overeating may experience relief from these uncomfortable symptoms following treatment with Kaopectate. This over-the-counter medication should only be...
Physicians may prescribe the generically named drug mesalamine in the treatment of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, both classified as inflammatory bowel diseases. The medicine, sold in the United States with several brand names including...
Small growths of tissue that appear along the inside of the wall of the colon are referred to as colon polyps. These growths are typically benign or noncancerous, but people can experience bowel movement changes, abdominal pain or rectal bleeding...
Crohn's disease refers to a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that most commonly affects your small intestine (part of your digestive tract) and colon, according to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Parts of your digestive...
Lactobacilli bacteria live in the human small intestine and vagina. Lactobacillus acidophilus is a type of this bacteria generally considered to be beneficial, according to MedlinePlus, so it is called a probiotic. L. acidophilus produces vitamin...
Leptin is a human hormone that plays significant roles in appetite and weight control, metabolism and reproduction. At the same time, leptin is associated with a host of disease states. This hormone is produced by fat cells throughout the body and...
Flucloxacillin is a prescription medication indicated to treat certain types of bacterial infections, such as lung, bone or skin infections. This medication is part of a class of drugs called penicillins and works by preventing bacteria from...
Concerta, also known as methylphenidate, is a medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD), according to Drugs.com. It is available in tablet form and can be taken with or without...
Bicarbonate of soda is often included in antacid formulations. It is also known as sodium bicarbonate or common household baking powder. Bicarbonate of soda is used to treat several different medical conditions, but it is not without side effects....
A perforated bowel is a serious condition, and immediate action such as surgery needs to be taken to prevent infection and death, according to the Merck Manual. Bacteria from the bowel can spill into the abdominal cavity, causing peritonitis, an...
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine refers to probiotics as live microorganisms similar to those found in the human digestive system. Probiotics are grouped into bacteria categories such as lactobacillus and...
Abdominal pain can have many causes, including inflamed pouches in the intestines called diverticula. These pouches may occur as a person ages, but they also may develop because of a diet low in fiber. Once these pouches become infected, other...
Spondylitis is a chronic condition causing pain and inflammation of the vertebrae in the spine and joints. The Spondylitis Association of America explains that the disease is a form of arthritis with progressing symptoms of severity. This...
Kidney stones account for nearly 3 million doctor visits in the United States each year, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. While many kidney stones remain very small and leave the body without...
Tendons link muscles and bones. When muscles contract, tendons overlying joints cause bones to move. Muscle tendon pain can be caused by repetitive strain or overuse injuries, traumatic injuries and certain medical conditions. Although some types...
Cephalexin monohydrate is a prescription antibiotic medication indicated to treat certain types of bacterial infections that affect the respiratory tract, ears, skin, bones or urinary tract. This antibiotic prevents bacterial replication and helps...
Oxalic acid, also called oxalate, is a substance found in a wide variety of foods, including beets, rhubarb, spinach, lamb, chocolate, nuts and black tea. If you consume a diet that is high in oxalic acid and low in calcium, you may develop a...
Dietary fiber is the part of plant foods that is not broken down by the digestive enzymes in the intestinal tract. There are two types: soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fiber, found in whole grains, vegetables and beans, is the type that creates...
Lipids refers to a large group of compounds with a common fatty acid composition. Lipids with one or more phosphate groups attached are called phospholipids. Phospholipids are essential components of your cells and are involved in oxygen...
Juicing means running fruits and vegetables through a piece of equipment to extract the liquids and leave the solids behind. Juicing can be a good way to add additional fruits and vegetables to your diet. Some detox diets advocate consuming...
Dr. Klein is the director of the Colitis and Crohn’s Health Recovery Center in Hawaii and has a Ph.D. in natural health. He developed the Klein diet to help people dealing with bowel inflammation disorders such as colitis and Crohn’s...
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a digestive disorder isolated to the large intestines. It means that a portion of your intestinal tract doesn't function properly. This disorder doesn't have anything to do with structural problems but more the...
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common disorder. Generally characterized by abdominal cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. Learn about the different causes of, symptoms of, and treatments for irritable bowel in this...
