Everyone Healthy Library
Pseudomembranous Colitis
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
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Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Linked signs and symptoms
4Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
Linked drugs / medications
1Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
12Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Surgery
1Medical therapy
2Alternative and complementary therapies
5Alternative medicine
3Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
5These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
Biological markers/agents
7This visual map shows biological markers/agents reported as increased or decreased with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
7- Alpha-2-Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.6–1 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Beta GlobulinReference range exampleAll: 0.7–1.2 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Chloride (Stools, Cl)Reference range exampleAll: 0–4 mmol/dayLinked diagnostic testsStool Electrolyte Analysis (Fecal Electrolytes)
- Fecal BloodReference range exampleAll: 0–2 mLLinked diagnostic testsFecal Occult Blood Test
- PlateletsReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 150–450 109/L; Adult ( > 16y): 135–380 109/LLinked diagnostic testsPlatelet Count
- Sodium (Na, Stools)Reference range exampleAll: 0–20 mmol/dayLinked diagnostic testsStool Electrolyte Analysis (Fecal Electrolytes)
- Stool pHReference range exampleNewborn (0 - 1month): 5–7.5; All: 6.5–7.5Linked diagnostic testsStool pH Test
Often decreased
0No markers in this group.
Introduction / full article
Pseudomembranous Colitis
Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
Venus Flytrap Extract (Carnivora, Dionaea Muscipula) [1, 18, 19, 20]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Venus flytrap extracts can help in the treatment of pseudomembranous colitis. More research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Turmeric [1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that turmeric can help in the treatment of Pseudomembranous Colitis. More research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis) [1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Weakly against (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Goldenseal helps to treat Pseudomembranous Colitis. More studies are needed. Goldenseal may produce toxic effects, including depression, constipation, rapid heartbeat, stomach pain, mouth ulcers and vomiting.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Comfrey (Blackwort, Symphytum Officinale) [1, 2, 3, 4]:
Please note, this herb is TOXIC IF TAKEN ORALLY, OR IF APPLIED TO AN OPEN WOUND. Can cause severe liver or kidney damage and lead to death. May ONLY be used as a cream over intact skin, and does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Strongly Against (ONLY TO BE USED AS A CREAM OVER HEALTHY SKIN. If taken orally to treat Pseudomembranous Colitis, Comfrey can lead to severe liver and kidney damage, and can even lead to death.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Black Walnut (Juglans Nigra):
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: no recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that Black Walnut helps to treat pseudomembranous colitis)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary References
Treatments:
1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19460762
3. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/comfrey
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2103401
5. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/goldenseal
6. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/goldenseal/
7. Tierra Michael (1998): The Way of Herbs. New York, Pocket Books
8. Grieve M. (1971): A Modern Herbal. New York, Dover Publications, Inc
9. Mills S. and Bone K. (2000): Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Philadelphia, Churchill Livingstone
10. Tice Raymond (1997): Goldenseal and Two of its constituent alkaloids: berberine and hydrastine Research Triangle Park, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, in Seiger E: Review of Toxilogical Literature
11. http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/ellingwood/hydrastis.html
12. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/turmeric
13. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html
14. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/turmeric/index.htm
15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1668932.stm
16. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/28/curry-kills-cancer-cells-and-other-health-benefits-of-the-nations-favourite-dish-115875-21779950/
17. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=turmeric
18. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/venus-flytrap
19. Parimala, R. & P. Sachdanandam 1993. Effect of plumbagin on some glucose metabolizing enzymes studied in rats in experimental hepatoma. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 12(1): 59–63.
20. http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/318/2/484