Naturopathic Treatments For Crohn’s Disease
Your digestive system is a pretty important part of the body.
It moves food from your mouth, through the digestive tract to your stomach, secretes hormones to help digest food, and absorbs nutrients for your body to use.
When you have a condition which affects the functioning of the digestive system, you might consider looking at naturopathic digestive treatments to help get things running smoothly again.
Today we’re going to have a closer look at Crohn’s disease, its symptoms and some strategies for managing them.
What Is Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease affects the colon and small intestines.
It’s a type of inflammatory bowel disease, and the precise cause is unknown.
The severity of Crohn’s disease can range from mild to severe, and this can fluctuate over time.
In some cases, it can lead to life-threatening complications.
Symptoms Of Crohn’s Disease
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:
● Weight loss
● Diarrhea
● Frequent bowel movements
● Abdominal cramps
● Fatigue
● Blood in the stool
● Fever
● Low appetite
What Causes Crohn’s Disease
The precise cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown, however there are risk factors which can make someone more likely to develop it.
Some of these risk factors include:
● Genetic/hereditary factors: a person is more likely to develop Crohn’s disease if they have family members who also have it
● Environmental factors
● Immune system factors: There may be an immune system trigger which causes an abnormal immune response which results in Crohn’s disease.
● Age: Crohn’s is more likely to develop in young people and is generally diagnosed before the age of 30
● Smoking: cigarette smokers are more likely to develop Crohn’s and can make symptoms more severe.
● Ethnicity: those of Eastern European & Jewish descent are more likely to develop Crohn’s
In addition, people who use certain medications including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) may experience bowel inflammation which makes Crohn’s worse.
Naturopathic Treatments For Crohn’s Disease
Although there is currently no known cure for Crohn’s, there are ways to manage the disease and make it easier to live with.
In this section, we’ll have a look at some natural ways to take control of your Crohn’s to help you live more comfortably.
Keep reading to learn more.
1. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice which involves using thin needles inserted at specific points of the body.
A 2014 study in the World Journal of Gastroenterology looked at the efficacy and safety of acupuncture as a way to provide treatment for Crohn’s disease.
This study found the group who received acupuncture experienced significant reductions in the severity of Crohn’s than the placebo group.
2. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is good for more than just flavouring your baking or topping off your morning latte.
It also has anti-inflammatory effects which may help reduce symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
A study in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry found mice given cinnamon extract had lower levels of inflammation and tissue damage than mice given a placebo.
3. Omega-3 Supplements
Fish oil supplements which contain Omega-3 fatty have been shown to contain anti-inflammatory properties which can be used to help manage Crohn’s disease.
A study in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews suggests use of Omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent relapse of Crohn’s disease in patients who experienced remission.
4. Peppermint
There are a number of herbal remedies which can help reduce symptoms of Crohn’s, and peppermint is one of them.
In 2018, a study in the American Journal of Translational Research looked at the effects of menthol, the main ingredient in peppermint and its effects on inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s.
It was determined menthol has a significant anti-inflammatory effect, and helped prevent side effects such as weight loss due to inflammation of the bowel.
5. Curcumin
Curcumin is a member of the ginger family and the main component of the spice turmeric.
It’s known to have a number of health benefits, including antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.
A 2019 study looked specifically at its effects on intestinal inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s and colitis.
The study found the use of curcumin may be promising as a way to provide treatment for intestinal inflammation, however, suggests further study is needed in this area.
Book An Appointment With Dawdy Naturopathic
Are you suffering from digestive symptoms which you can’t quite get under control?
Have you noticed you’re experiencing abdominal cramps without being able to figure out why?
Maybe you’ve recently lost a lot of weight even though you haven’t changed your eating or exercise habits.
Or perhaps you’ve been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or another form of inflammatory bowel disease and are looking for help in managing your symptoms.
I’m Kimberly Dawdy, ND and I can help you diagnose your symptoms, and create a plan to help you manage them.
Contact me today for more information or to set up an appointment.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND
Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic
6899 Sunset Blvd,
Greely, ON K4P 1C5
-https://g.page/dawdynaturopathicclinic
Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic offers a variety of naturopathic health solutions for individuals and families in Ottawa and the surrounding area.
