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