Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are 2 types of autoimmune inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that affect various parts of the gastrointestinal system. Alongside with mainstream medical treatment, both these conditions can be co-managed with naturopathic treatment to bring about a reduction in symptoms and better health outcomes for people suffering with IBD. As I have family members with this crohn’s in remission, I am well versed on managing this.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease generally affects the distal ileum (last part of the small intestine) or the colon. Common symptoms that people with Crohn’s may experience include chronic diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss. Malabsorption is common and leads to other conditions such as osteoporosis.
Remissions do occur with well managed Crohn’s disease. Unfortunately surgery may be required at times, if obstruction occurs.
My aim is to educate my clients about how to manage their condition to avoid surgery. There are specific herbs that are most often equally as helpful as drugs to reduce the inflammation, address the spasm and heal the digestive lining.
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis usually begins in the rectum and as it develops, it affects the mucosa of the colon, sometimes spreading to the entire colon.
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis may include attacks of bloody diarrhoea with mucus present, strong defecation urgency and lower abdominal cramping.
Other symptoms that may occur include fatigue, fever and weight loss. As with Crohn’s disease, remissions are common.
Naturopathic management of IBD
Although naturopathic treatment can be used to successfully manage IBD, it must be noted that as with other autoimmune conditions, naturopathic treatment may take up to 12 months or more with ongoing naturopathic care and flare ups may still occur from time to time.
Naturopathic treatment of IBD addresses these conditions from various angles in order to treat the whole person.
Intestinal inflammation needs to be reduced and the microbiome balance restored, as well as intestinal permeability corrected. This may be achieved through the use of specific herbal medicine, nutritional powders and/or supplements and probiotics, as well as dietary modification to support the healing process.
Malabsorption is common at this time. Accordingly, it is also important to restore digestive function in order to aid the body to more effectively break down and absorb nutrients from our diet. There are numerous studies supporting the use of herbal medicine such as.
Secondly, the nervous system must be supported in order to reduce stress, fatigue and to increase psychological resilience as stress exacerbates and drives this condition. This can be achieved with a combination of herbal medicine and lifestyle modification such as exercise, meditation, or hypnotherapy/counselling.
Supporting the immune system with herbs such as Hemidesmis may down-regulate the auto-immune attack on the intestinal tissue.
Finally, ensuring continuity of treatment and compliance with herbal prescriptions will help to ensure that patients are giving their bodies the best chance to heal. Please note, I work with both excellent herbal supplements, teas and liquid tinctures based on client preference (as compliance is key)
If within the clients budget, I may order a complete digestive stool analysis or GI360 to obtain specific information about your biochemistry and microbiome which facilitates a targeted approach. Refer to GI360 testing.
Through the use of an integrative approach alongside your mainstream medical treatment, naturopathic treatment can yield effective results for patients with IBD.
