I have just read back on your comments Mark about treating the cause and not the symptoms. I totally agree and to treat the cause is obviously the best way to go.
However the big problem with IBD and probabley alot of other diseases no-one is able to tell what has caused it. What triggers in one person may not be the same as the next.
IBD has been linked to many things, a bacteria out of control in the gut after gastroenteritis, measles gab, cows milk, external factors, genes, the list is endless.
I wish I knew what has caused the disease in me then it would be so easy just to treat it.
It is a vicious circle. You take steriods or such like drugs and they control the inflamation whilst you take them but when you stop your body doesn't store these medications and more times than not the symptoms come back. I have to look at trying to keep myself healthy so that when I stop taking medication my body will be healthy enough to keep going or I can then try alternatives.

I have used alternative medicines and these things have gone some way to help improve the symptons but if I stopped taking the western medicines then it is almost certain that a major flare-up would occur fairly quickly not leaving me enough time for the alternatives to start working.

I hope that one day soon someone will be able to pin point the cause and find a cure!

I will be using your sources mentioned to further equip myself, Thanks