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Boswelia, Qing-Dai.. other alternative treatment options

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/5/2020 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, I was curious to know if anyone has any experience taking Boswelia or other natural supplements to treat UC / Proctitis. I recently read somewhere that Boswelia can help with chronic conditions such as IBD, asthma, etc. Have any of you taken it in addition to your meds or instead of your meds? If so did you have any side effects? Did it help at all? Are there are any other alternative therapies that you have heard of that have been beneficial to others? Thanks.
Posted 7/5/2020 11:38 AM (GMT 0)
Not all supplements works for everyone just as not everybody reacts the same to certain meds. I take curcumin, a concentrated extract from turmeric, and it seems to help. Boswellia doesn't agree with me at all but I have seen posts here from some who swear by it.

Did your doctor recommend miralax? If not then many here get good results with psyllium instead. I would ask Quincy if she believes you should consult with your doctor if a mesalamine enema would be more effective for proctitis than suppositories.
Posted 7/5/2020 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
I have been searching for natural remedies as well. I took qing dai couple weeks ago and had a lot of nausea, pain, and diarrhea i think i took too much for my body to handle but maybe you should give it a shot. I started boswellia slowly and havent seen much of a difference. I am starting kefir soon.
Posted 7/9/2020 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I agree that everyone responds to meds / supplements differently. My doctor has recommended miralax for a while now. In the past I tried Metamucil ( at the time I was flaring and it made things worse) and then another time I tried stool softeners but they didn't seem to help. I've been in remission for a while but am not too keen to stay on imuran long term so am looking into natural remedies just out of curiosity.

Are you taking curcumin pills? Is there a certain brand you recommend? Thanks. I remember taking turmeric / black pepper pills and chewing on fresh turmeric when I was trying to get out of my flare some years ago but haven't taken any for some time.

IamCurious said...
Not all supplements works for everyone just as not everybody reacts the same to certain meds. I take curcumin, a concentrated extract from turmeric, and it seems to help. Boswellia doesn't agree with me at all but I have seen posts here from some who swear by it.

Did your doctor recommend miralax? If not then many here get good results with psyllium instead. I would ask Quincy if she believes you should consult with your doctor if a mesalamine enema would be more effective for proctitis than suppositories.

Post Edited (LookingForAnswers7) : 7/8/2020 10:17:05 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/9/2020 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, yes I'm keen to learn about natural remedies. Sorry to hear that you didn't feel well after taking qing dai. Can you share where you bought it from.. is it in capsule or pill form? And the same for boswelia as well, seems like a lot of options come up when I search online so am wondering if there's a certain brand that's more popular.



deee19 said...
I have been searching for natural remedies as well. I took qing dai couple weeks ago and had a lot of nausea, pain, and diarrhea i think i took too much for my body to handle but maybe you should give it a shot. I started boswellia slowly and havent seen much of a difference. I am starting kefir soon.

Posted 7/9/2020 12:19 PM (GMT 0)

LookingForAnswers? said...
Is there a certain brand you recommend?
I remember taking turmeric / black pepper pills and chewing on fresh turmeric

The problem with curcumin is that it is not easily assimilated into the body. That is why many formulas include black pepper to make it more easily absorbed. But black pepper can be problematic for those of us with sensitive guts.

The brands listed below are easily absorbed. Right now I am experimenting with both curcumin alone or curcumin with added Black Cumin Seed Oil. BCO is supposedly also helpful for colitis but of course you know that not all meds/supplements work for everyone. So far BCO hasn't given me any problems.

https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/item02407/curcumin-elite-turmeric-extract

https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/item02310/black-cumin-seed-oil-curcumin-elite-turmeric-extract

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20658190/
Conclusions: BCO, by preventing inflammatory status in the blood, partly protected colonic tissue against experimental ulcerative colitis
Posted 7/9/2020 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
I take turmeric/curcumin with black pepper and it has never given me issues, but I don't think it's strong enough to affect inflammation in the colon a whole lot. I actually take it for arthritis in my hands (helps a TON). I do take qing dai and have never had side effects - just the capsules from Amazon (Baicao Acu & Moxa Essences company). It HAS to be taken on an empty stomach or it can cause tummy upset. And it should be taken with a good bit of water - I accidentally burped it up once and it exploded in my throat/back of mouth and it was one of the worst experiences of my life! I got out of the habit of taking it (2 pills/day) and would take it periodically.

Recently fell back into a flare which I think was either caused by an extreme amount of stress over last 2 months or antibiotics (or both, when it rains...). Now I'm doubling the qing dai (so I take 2 in the morning and avoid food for a while, then 2 in the afternoon when my stomach is empty again). And I'm doubling my probiotics as well - taking one with the afternoon QD as well as one at night. And I'm being sure to take turmeric each day. And doing a LOT of praying! smile Once things are back to normal, I'll take one probiotic at night and QD every other day or so.
Posted 7/9/2020 10:11 PM (GMT 0)

LookingForAnswers7 said...
Thanks, yes I'm keen to learn about natural remedies. Sorry to hear that you didn't feel well after taking qing dai. Can you share where you bought it from.. is it in capsule or pill form? And the same for boswelia as well, seems like a lot of options come up when I search online so am wondering if there's a certain brand that's more popular.


I ordered the Qing Dai from acupuncture atlanta after reading up about it on the forum which is where many people got it from. I was taking it twice a day 1/4 teaspoon in powder form with warm water. I will tell you something though, the one week I did take it my crp levels went down which i only noticed happening when i was on 40mg prednisone. I recently did blood work again and my crp went up and i believe it is because i am not taking the qing dai anymore. I am using the boswellia from the brand superior labs i did a bit of research, i do believe brands make a difference.

Posted 7/9/2020 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
@KrissyP I have been really wanting to give Qing Dai another shot as i saw my inflammation markers down the week i took it but i did not have any physical difference rather i noticed more diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain. I am wondering maybe i took it the wrong way? I took 1/4 teaspoon twice a day with water. Could you please give me all the details about it. Did you take qing dai to reach remission? I have been flaring for 10 months and really hoping to reach remission the natural way.
Posted 7/11/2020 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for the info everyone, appreciate it. I wonder if there's anyone who successfully was able to get off all meds and only take qing dai, curcumin, etc and stay in remission.. probably wishful thinking for me smile Guess I'll feel better if I'm able to get off of Imuran and just stay on mesalamine long term.
Posted 7/12/2020 5:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, @LookingForAnswers7

Qing Dai was huge in my recovery... just half a teaspoon in the morning and half teaspoon before bed at night.

I also cut out nuts, seeds and anything that's rough on the gut (raw veg, corn, etc.) to give my epithelial layer the best possible chance of healing. I eat anything now as I've been in remission for 5 years. As a lot of people have said, what works for one might not work for someone else but for me personally, these two things were key.

I was diagnosed in 2012 with Pancolitis and it was pretty aggressive -- 10+ trips a day, blood, fever, the full works. So, have hope, try everything and find what works best for you : )

Kev
Posted 7/12/2020 12:34 PM (GMT 0)

Kevin Watson said...
I was diagnosed in 2012 with Pancolitis and it was pretty aggressive -- 10+ trips a day, blood, fever, the full works...
Qing Dai was huge in my recovery... just half a teaspoon in the morning and half teaspoon before bed at night...
I eat anything now as I've been in remission for 5 years

I noticed that until last night you haven't participated in HW since 2019. Thanks for returning to HW to share your experience.
Posted 7/12/2020 4:04 PM (GMT 0)

Kevin Watson said...
Hey, @LookingForAnswers7

Qing Dai was huge in my recovery... just half a teaspoon in the morning and half teaspoon before bed at night.

I also cut out nuts, seeds and anything that's rough on the gut (raw veg, corn, etc.) to give my epithelial layer the best possible chance of healing. I eat anything now as I've been in remission for 5 years. As a lot of people have said, what works for one might not work for someone else but for me personally, these two things were key.

I was diagnosed in 2012 with Pancolitis and it was pretty aggressive -- 10+ trips a day, blood, fever, the full works. So, have hope, try everything and find what works best for you : )

Kev

Hi do how exactly do you take QD empty stomach? When I took it i had a lot of stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea maybe i took too much or the wrong way? Did you take it with water?
Posted 7/13/2020 12:11 AM (GMT 0)

IamCurious said...

Kevin Watson said...
I was diagnosed in 2012 with Pancolitis and it was pretty aggressive -- 10+ trips a day, blood, fever, the full works...
Qing Dai was huge in my recovery... just half a teaspoon in the morning and half teaspoon before bed at night...
I eat anything now as I've been in remission for 5 years

I noticed that until last night you haven't participated in HW since 2019. Thanks for returning to HW to share your experience.

Just happy to be able to share... it was this community that inspired me to reach out and try different things. I still have a supplement cupboard stuffed full of herbs, vitamins and remedies that made no difference to me whatsoever but I can't bear to throw them out of some were pretty pricey! How's things with you?

Kev
Posted 7/13/2020 12:16 AM (GMT 0)

deee19 said...

Kevin Watson said...
Hey, @LookingForAnswers7

Qing Dai was huge in my recovery... just half a teaspoon in the morning and half teaspoon before bed at night.

I also cut out nuts, seeds and anything that's rough on the gut (raw veg, corn, etc.) to give my epithelial layer the best possible chance of healing. I eat anything now as I've been in remission for 5 years. As a lot of people have said, what works for one might not work for someone else but for me personally, these two things were key.

I was diagnosed in 2012 with Pancolitis and it was pretty aggressive -- 10+ trips a day, blood, fever, the full works. So, have hope, try everything and find what works best for you : )

Kev

Hi do how exactly do you take QD empty stomach? When I took it i had a lot of stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea maybe i took too much or the wrong way? Did you take it with water?

Is the Qing Dai a fine blue powder? I only ask as there might be other preparations that might not be as well crushed. I get it very cheap in a 500g bag for about £17. I load half a teaspoon, put it in my mouth and wash it down with some water or a cup of tea. You can take it with our without food but the only way to know if it was the blue stuff or the food that may have caused your cramping is to start by taking it by itself (45 mins before your first meal of the day and 2 hours after you last meal). Hope it helps.
Posted 7/13/2020 2:16 AM (GMT 0)

Kevin Watson said...

deee19 said...

Kevin Watson said...
Hey, @LookingForAnswers7

Qing Dai was huge in my recovery... just half a teaspoon in the morning and half teaspoon before bed at night.

I also cut out nuts, seeds and anything that's rough on the gut (raw veg, corn, etc.) to give my epithelial layer the best possible chance of healing. I eat anything now as I've been in remission for 5 years. As a lot of people have said, what works for one might not work for someone else but for me personally, these two things were key.

I was diagnosed in 2012 with Pancolitis and it was pretty aggressive -- 10+ trips a day, blood, fever, the full works. So, have hope, try everything and find what works best for you : )

Kev

Hi do how exactly do you take QD empty stomach? When I took it i had a lot of stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea maybe i took too much or the wrong way? Did you take it with water?

Is the Qing Dai a fine blue powder? I only ask as there might be other preparations that might not be as well crushed. I get it very cheap in a 500g bag for about £17. I load half a teaspoon, put it in my mouth and wash it down with some water or a cup of tea. You can take it with our without food but the only way to know if it was the blue stuff or the food that may have caused your cramping is to start by taking it by itself (45 mins before your first meal of the day and 2 hours after you last meal). Hope it helps.

Yes it is i got it from atlanta acupuncture treasures of east brand. Food does not normally cause me cramping i was on prednisone for couple months and after stopping it ive had stomach cramps on and off. But when on qing dai it increased a bit. I was taking 1/4 teaspoon twice a day with water.
Posted 7/14/2020 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Something for inspiration:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc6540767/

Somebody said...

Although some herbal remedies have been used for treatment of IBD patients were effective, there is no strong evidence for recommendation of these drugs in IBD as a single effective treatment.

Posted 7/14/2020 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Right, your article said:

“Although some herbal remedies have been used for treatment of IBD patients were effective, there is no strong evidence for recommendation of these drugs in IBD as a single effective treatment.”

My question is what strong evidence is there for recommendation of any med as a single effective treatment, (besides prednisone, I guess, but that has its own problems).
Anyway the previous paragraph of that article also said:

“In UC patients, the extract of A. paniculata, gel of Aloe vera, powder of curcumin, and juice of wheat grass (T. aestivum) in comparison to placebo significantly increased the remission maintenance or response. Seeds of Plantago ovata and gum resin of Boswellia serrata showed efficacy the same as mesalazine, whereas in UC therapy, the oil of evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) had the relapse rate the same as omega-3 fatty acids.

"In CD therapy, T. wilfordii and Artemisia absinthium both were superior to placebo group in induction of remission, as well as in clinical recurrence prevention of postoperative CD.”
Posted 7/14/2020 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
Strong evidence is:
-several successive clinical trials with positive score (benefits are grater than risks).
All FDA approved drugs have succeeded in such trials. It means that benefits of all FDA approved drugs are greater than risks generally speaking. It does not necessarily mean that everybody will tolerate certain approved drug. Everybody is different. Risks can exceed benefits for small percentage of people. For example allergic reaction. Actually It is statistical evidence with outliers on both sides.

Look at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/clinical_trial

Example of "A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind Study":

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/nct02093663
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