pb4

Here's a link about bee propolis...

http://www.naturalbloom.com/articles/view.php?article=55

I had heard about it from another IBDer about 5 yrs ago on another board and have been using it everyday since, infact my GI encourages me to continue with it, he's all for "whatever works stick with it" plus he said even if it didn't help my many symptoms that it's an excellent source of dietary supplementation since us IBDers often have troubles getting all our nutrients via food alone.

For me it's helped cut back daily BM's, stopped all my lower back pain which is where I had pain during every BM (to the point of tears) and stopped my mucus and all my bleeding...I didn't take it for one day to see what if anything, would happen and the first thing I noticed was bleeding so I started back on it and havn't missed a day since.

It has helped immensely in conjunction with fibre supplements, probiotics, omegas 3-6-9, vitamins A and C-calcium ascorbate, proper diet (no processed foods, fast-foods, refined sugar, sugar substitutes of any kind, caffeine or animal fat).  I also exercise regularly with cardio and weights 4-5 days a week and drink only chamomile tea and water.

Don't take bee propolis or any other bee products if you're allergic to bees.

:)

In my 17 yrs of this DD I've tried all the oral drugs out there to treat my crohns-colitis (CD affecting the colon) and I'm either allergic or non-responsive...even pred wore off on me so I was really left with no other choice then to try the natural route and to be honest I'm quite glad, instead of my hair falling out it's healthier than ever, no side-effects from the natural stuff I take, if anything there's added benefits, energy, stabalized mood, great skin, nails and hair...so I'm glad it worked out the way it has for the most part, no full remission but with my anal disease they didn't think I'd have much of a chance of that anyways, so I'll take what I can get.

I have symptoms still of some frequency issues and urgency, those are the 2 main symptoms I have, both have lessend thanks to the above mentioned that I take...an average of 5 times a day compared to 30+ is liveable enough, still not great especially because of the urgency issues but considering I have IBS as well things could definitely be alot worse.

I'm very lucky that I've gotten the bleeding and lower back pain controled (stopped) I have formed stools but I will say during my menstral cycle anything can happen and it's never good, I get looser stools and more frequencies but alot of that may have to do with the IBS since my first 12 yrs of CD even though I was flaring (I have been ever since I got sick) I never had such pronounced period issues like I developed 5 yrs ago now which is one other reason why my gastro believes that I'm also suffering with IBS.

:)

I'm glad you're encouraged to alter your diet and add exercise (both are so important for proper bowel function)...people generally don't like change, I was a sugar junkie pretty much all of my life and can never get those yrs of abusing my body with junk back but you know what they say, better late than never.

Never had kidney stones and touching wood that I never do...I don't think that C-calcium ascorbate increases that risk, I've never heard that so I hope not, the ascorbate is essential because that's what makes it easy on the gut, I've thankfully had no issues from taking it (it's been a good 3ish yrs now since I added them to my daily regime).

I hope even if the colozal works for you that you still incorporate healthy diet and exercise, every bit helps.

Good luck!

:)