Introduction:
I am 47 year old from Fall River, Massachusetts. I work as a project manager for a Network Engineering firm. Interests include gardening, computers and reading.
Some of my personal interests:
gardening, computers and reading.
Symptoms:
Occasional cramping with some loose bowel movements.
Is Polypodium Leucotomous the Answer?
Last December (2012), I was admitted to the hospital for a kidney stone (the pain was unimaginable). At that same time, I reported frequent bloody diarrhea and cramps. None of the doctors at that time believed me. Long story short, I have UC and don’t trust the medical industry to work in my best interest.
At it’s worse flare up, I would be in the bathroom every 45 minutes and would use at least 1 roll of TP a day. Developing hemorrhoids just added to the misery. All activities were centered around having nearby bathroom access. I went so far as carrying extra TP in my pocket at all times in case there wasn’t enough at the nearest toilet.
The doctors wanted to put me on Humira or some other UC drug, each of which has nasty side affects. I chose to modify diet and try a holistic approach to getting better.
Most people do not understand what I have been going through, including my family. There is no family history of UC or any similar condition nor do I know anyone personally with UC.
Here is what I know so far…
Foods to avoid:
Anything with Gluten (wheat, bread, pasta, refined foods)
Dairy, Cheese, butter, Milk (except yoghurt)
Beef & Pork (both meats are hard to digest)
Baked beans
Spinach (inflammatory)
Nuts (including peanut butter but Almond mile is ok)
Tomatoes (highly inflammatory)
Alcohol
Coffee
Vinegar
Spicy foods
(all of these items can bring on a flare, especially gluten which causes the colon to bleed. I can’t stress enough how bad Gluten is!)
Great foods:
Rice, rice pasta, rice flour
Sweet Potatoes
Vegetables (steamed or roasted with no butter)
Chicken
Beef, Chicken or Bone broth (preferably homemade or organic, especially helpful during a flare)
Fish
Eggs
Yoghurt
Olive oil
Just about any food that is gluten and/or dairy free
I learned to read labels and research food to make the best choices, especially when eating out. The idea is to eat more fruit and vegetables and avoid the trigger foods.
I have also been using herbal supplements and minerals. Each item has a specific purpose, but the last supplement has made the biggest difference:
Turmeric
Ginger
Bromelain
Ginkgo
Probiotics
Iron
Magnesium
Zinc
Vitamin C
Vitamin K
and finally Polypodium Leucotomous
Polypodium Leucotomous has given me hope. In people, Polypodium Leucotomous is used to help protect against sun damage. It helps suppress the auto immune response and has been successfully tested on animals for colitis. The skin is just another organ so it should work equally as well internally.
Within hours of taking this fern supplement, the cramps subsided. Bowel movements are becoming more solid and much less frequent. I can sleep most of the night now. I can actually drink a cup of coffee in the morning and even eat a small amount of gluten without any discomfort. I also stopped losing weight. Hooray!
(an iHaveUC.com Amazon affiliate link, to show an example, not in any way connected to the writer of this story)
My question, has anyone else been using Polypodium Leucotomous for UC? Any issues or thoughts?
Thank you,
Medications:
None
written by Fred S.
submitted in the colitis venting area
I am 47 year old from Fall River, Massachusetts. I work as a project manager for a Network Engineering firm. Interests include gardening, computers and reading.
