Natural Remedies for Treatment of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Crohn's disease and colitis are chronic, often debilitating diseases. If you have been diagnosed with Crohn's or colitis you should consult a doctor. There are several different types of medications your doctor may use to assist you in bringing your Crohn's or colitis under control.

At present, there is no cure for Crohn's or colitis. However, each year knew information is learned about the genetics, immune system, environmental triggers, and the function of microbes in the intestines than doctors even knew a few years ago.

No one medication will work for every Crohn's or colitis patient. Additionally, you may use a particular medication for a given period of time and then your body may stop responding to it. Discuss all medication options with your physician.

You may want to explore alternative medicine or natural remedies for treating Crohn's or colitis. Do not be afraid to approach this topic with your physician, especially if you are having difficulty getting your disease into remission.

There may be a natural remedy for Crohn's or colitis that you'd like to try. Do so with your physician's oversight. Do not allow an herbalist or unlicensed medical advisor to make changes to your medications or add natural remedies without first discussing the option with your gastroenterologist and/or your internist. They will be aware of any possible dangers or drug interactions related to your condition.

You will likely find your doctor is more open to non-traditional medicine or natural remedies than you may suspect. They will probably suggest natural remedies be used to complement current medical therapy, not replace them. Your doctor's number one goal and concern should be to help you get your disease in remission, not sell pharmaceuticals.

Most commonly used natural remedies for Crohn's and colitis include vitamin and mineral supplements; herbs; prebiotics; probiotics; omega 3 fatty acids; garlic; ginger; peppermint.

Probiotics is currently on the forefront of treatments and food supplements for their potential benefits to the intestinal tract. Colitis patients who have had a colectomy and developed inflammation in their intestinal pouch are encouraged to use probiotics to fight the infection. Antibiotic induced diarrhea may also be helped by the use of probiotics.

Dr. Philip B. Miner, Jr., J.D., President and Medical Director of the Oklahoma Foundation for Digestive Research, has tracked 7 natural, biologically based remedies that circulate on the internet, among Crohn's and colitis forums. He has tracked the use and reported results of capsaicin, the Lemon Detox Diet, garlic, peppermint, aloe vera, evening primrose oil, and fish oils. His results have been reported in Take Charge, by Margaret W. Crane.

I've seen the results of some of these treatments personally. I'll share Dr. Miner's finding, Margaret Crane's report, and what my best friend's personal experience with natural remedies has been.

Capsaicin is said to deplete a cellular substance known as P, found in chili peppers. P is involved in the transmission of pain from the skin to the spinal cord. Many people use capsaicin as a natural remedy for pain, cramping, bloating, and diarrhea.

There is no scientific evidence supporting the use of capsaicin. Some Crohn's and colitis patients report that capsaicin has helped them. My friend's case of Crohn's is quite advanced; she has not even given capsaicin consideration. Speaking the words "chili" or "pepper" would send her to the restroom. Many Crohn's and colitis patients cannot handle any kind of spice or derivative of a spice at all.

The Lemonade Detox Diet is another natural remedy Crohn's and colitis patients have used to ameliorate the symptoms of their diseases. The Lemonade Diet that has been around since 1941 calls for the use of mineral water, maple syrup, lemon, and cayenne pepper. The new Detox diet has been modified a bit. The Lemonade Detox diet calls for several days of fasting while using the Lemonade Detox Diet to clean your system. It is said to clean your digestive system, including your liver and bile ducts.

I tried the Lemon Detox Diet for one day. I started with the best intentions, but found that it made me weak. Further research showed that it strips the body of vital nutrients and minerals in the process of cleaning one's digestive system. This cannot possibly be a good natural remedy for those whose digestive tract is already compromised. In severe cases of Crohn's and colitis, this diet can cause a lot of damage.

In general, the Lemon Detox Diet is not healthy for anyone. The dangers of the Lemon Detox Diet have been well documented.

Garlic is a natural remedy for a range of issues. However, it tends to overactivate the immune system. The immune systems of Crohn's and colitis patients are already too active. Garlic is not recommended by doctors or Crohn's and colitis patients who have tried it. It aggravates pain and fever.

Aloe vera is sold in health food stores and all over the internet as a natural remedy for the symptoms of Crohn's and colitis. Some people with mild cases have Crohn's and ulcerative colitis report aloe vera is soothing. It comes in liquid form, like other juices. I and my friend with Crohn's have both used aloe vera for its reported healing. We've seen it work on external wounds and decided to give it a try for the digestive tract.

I found aloe vera's only benefit for a healthy individual to be its use as a laxative if needed. I would not recommend using aloe vera for the treatment of Crohn's disease or colitis. My friend used it. It caused diarrhea, weakened her for days and did nothing for her pain.

As we read more about the use of aloe vera, despite claims on the internet and claims by mild sufferers of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, we found it is not a good natural option for IBD or IBS sufferers. Not only does it cause diarrhea, which is already one of the most difficult symptoms of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, but it is another natural remedy which activates the immune system. One of the earmarks of Crohn's and colitis is that their immune system is overactive, leading to the destruction of potentially good bacteria in the digestive tract.

Evening primrose oil and borage contain gamma-linolenic acid. These natural remedies have been reported by people who suffer with rheumatoid arthritis as an anti-inflammatory. The use of the fatty acid has spread among others who suffer inflammatory diseases. My friend has not tried these. No clinical trials have been conducted, but no negative benefits have been reported.

Fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids, which have proven beneficial in cardiovascular disease. Because of the way in which omega-3 fatty acids alter molecular pathways that are related to allergic reactions and inflammation it is believed that this may be a beneficial natural remedy for Crohn's and colitis symptoms. Despite a number of studies on omega-3 fatty acids, little research has been done in the area of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.

There are so many benefits of fish oils, omega-3's, that it shouldn't be harmful for Crohn's and ulcerative colitis patients to use supplements. The best source of omega-3 for IBD patients is found in fish.

The two natural remedies that have proven helpful in alleviating some symptoms of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are ginger and peppermint. My friend has used both primarily in tea. There are prepared teas which contain peppermint or ginger. These have proven effective. We have also made our own teas using ginger poultice and peppermint oil.

Both ginger and peppermint are still quick go-to remedies to alleviate cramps and bloating. Peppermint candy and ginger ale, age old stomach remedies, do seem to help. If you elect to try ginger ale, it is a good idea to shake down and release as much carbonation as possible, as carbonation can aggravate Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.

Any lingering symptoms should be addressed by a doctor. Even when a remedy is labeled "natural" it is not necessarily safe. Also, be cautious of internet pills which promise to cure your Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, or at least put it in remission. Many are made with the ingredients listed here in a blind swing at helping Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. Others do not even reveal their ingredients. These pills and other "natural remedies" may be approved by the FDA as consumable food, but their effectiveness as medications is not governed by the FDA.

Sources:

ccfa.com

Crane, Margaret W, "Natural Remedies and Inflammatory bowel Disease." Take Charge.
New York, 2008, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.