Ulcerative Colitis
People Are Having Too Much Fun on Drug Commercia…
Have you ever seen prescription drug commercials on a smart phone, tablet, laptop or television? It’s hard NOT to. They have proliferated like wildfire on a parched plain. If Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.,…
Side Effects of TNF Blockers: Enbrel, Humira, Re…
Most drugs are double-edged swords. In other words, they have the potential both to help and to harm. But some medications have sharper blades than others. TNF blockers are great examples of this deal…
Show 1358: Upsides and Downsides of Immune-Modif…
This week’s radio show features one of our favorite guests, Dr. Robynne Chutkan. She is a gastroenterologist in Washington, DC and is a brilliant communicator. You may want to listen to it through y…
TNF Blockers and Your Immune System: Beware IMID…
Your body is constantly seeking balance. Think of it as a finely tuned seesaw. This is especially true for your immune system and a key player called tumor necrosis factor or TNF. Some of the most luc…
Do Colon Bacteria Trigger Chronic Inflammatory D…
Could you use “we” in referring to yourself? Sure, Queen Elizabeth did that, and probably King Charles does, too. That's the Royal We. But the rest of us who are not royalty should get used to thi…
Show 1321: Rebalancing Our Microbiome Through Pe…
This week on our nationally syndicated radio show, we consider how to maintain a healthy balance in our gut microbiome. Each of us carries a vast collection of microbes in our digestive tracts. Althou…
New Nasty Warnings for RA Drugs Rinvoq and Xelja…
What’s wrong with the FDA? On the one hand, the agency just issued scary new warnings for two popular rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs. On the other hand, it allows commercials for these drugs that m…
Show 1179: What Should You Do About Digestive Di…
Have you ever had horrible heartburn or a really bad bellyache? Most of us have experienced digestive distress at one time or another. When do you need to seek medical attention for your problem? What…
What Happened to Archway Coconut Cookies?
For years, readers used to tell us that they used Archway Coconut Macaroon Cookies as a remedy for diarrhea. Donald Agar was the first to discover this and share it with us. Many others agreed with hi…
Will You Have Better Poop With Blackstrap Molass…
Some home remedies are perennially popular. Others are more unusual. Although we have heard from readers that blackstrap molasses can ease hemorrhoids, we were surprised when a reader reported that ta…
Do People Who Eat Fish Grow Old More Healthfully…
Does eating fish or taking fish oil make any difference for your health? For decades, researchers have touted the anti-inflammatory benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. They have sug…
Vitamin D Has an Impact on Ulcerative Colitis
Serum levels of vitamin D make a difference for people with ulcerative colitis. That is the conclusion of a new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Ulcerative colitis is a condition in w…
Heavy Antibiotic Use May Predispose People to Bo…
Antibiotics have long been thought of as silver bullets against infection. There is no doubt that such drugs save many lives each year. But there is also a growing recognition that overuse may have un…
Coconut Counters Chronic Colitis
Q. Thank you for writing about coconut for treating ulcerative colitis. I was diagnosed with colitis in 1980, and had three feet of my colon removed. My condition was moderate to severe and I was taki…