Insomnia Relief. Help for Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis

New This Week — Vitality 101 News: October 14, 2008

Insomnia Relief. Help for Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis

Dear Readers,

Inflammatory Bowel Disease, most commonly manifesting as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease, affects ~ 1 million Americans. It is one of over a hundred Autoimmune Illnesses, in which the body's defense forces (immune system) mistakenly attacks the body—in this case the small or large intestines.

Although standard medical therapies consist largely of steroids (prednisone), immune suppressants and modifiers (e.g., Remicade), salicylates (Asacol—a good treatment) and sometimes surgery to treat complications, the good news is that natural therapies can be very effective to treat both the cause of the inflammation and the inflammation itself.

HELPFUL TOOLS

More Help for Insomnia

Insomnia is a major problem—especially for those with CFS and fibromyalgia. The sleeping problem is often triggered by your sleep center (the hypothalamus) not working. When this happens, it can cause your adrenal stress hormone to be low during the day (when it should be high), and high at night (when it should be low so you can sleep). This can cause you to feel "brain foggy" all day—and wide awake with a racing mind when it's bedtime.

We've discussed many natural and prescription treatments that help insomnia. There is now an exciting new natural remedy for sleep that has been shown to lower bedtime cortisol/adrenal stress hormone levels by 40% (while leaving them OK during the day when you need them). This product works beautifully in some folks and not at all in others (depends on whether your insomnia is caused by high night time cortisol or other causes). It often works quickly (the first night) and you will certainly know if it is helpful by the time you finish one bottle. It can be used along with any natural or prescription sleep treatments.

It is called "Sleep Tonight!" (by Enzymatic Therapy) and can be found in most health food stores and also on our website. Take 1 or 2 at bedtime.

RESEARCH BRIEFS

Boswellia for Colitis

Boswellia (frankincense) helpful for colitis—even the rare collagenous colitis. Read more »

Hormone Replacement Therapy May Decrease IBD

Hormone replacement therapy may decrease inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) in menopausal women. Read more »

Does Vitamin D Protect Against Colon Cancer?

As inflammatory colitis increases colon cancer risk, this could be very protective. Read more »

Could Low Vitamin D Levels Contribute to Obesity?

FEATURED QUESTIONS FROM READERS

Q: Is there help for collagenous colitis? Answer »

COOL STUFF

Which gender is more perceptive?

Check this out! Watch video »

JOKE OF THE WEEK

What is the Hardest Age???

"Sixty is the worst age to be," said the 60 year old man. "You always feel like you have to pee and most of the time you stand there and nothing comes out."

"Ah, that's nothin" said the 70 year old. "When you're 70, you don't have a bowel movement any more. You take laxatives, eat bran, sit on the toilet all day, and nothin' comes out!"

"Actually," said the 80 year old, "80 is the hardest age of all."

"Do you have trouble peeing too?" asked the 60 year old.

"No. I pee every morning at 6 am sharp. I pee like a race horse—no problem at all."

"So, do you have a problem with your bowel movements?" asked the 70 year old.

"Nope, I have one every morning at 6:30."

Exasperated, the 60 year old said, "You pee every morning at 6:00 and have a bowel movement every morning at 6:30. So what's so bad about being 80?"

"I don't wake up till 7:00."