Crohns Disease

Don’t take a diarrhea attack lightly.  Aside from causing dehydration, chronic loose bowel movement and watery stools may be an indication of the serious inflammatory disorder known as Crohns disease.  Crohn’s disease can affect any part of your gastrointestinal system, starting from the mouth and all the way down to the rectum, but it is most often seen in the lower portion of the small intestine.   This disease seems to run in families and its symptoms may be experienced by both men and women between the ages of 18 and 30.

Signs and symptoms

Aside from abdominal pain and diarrhea, the following are the usual symptoms of Crohns disease:

1. Rectal bleeding
2. Fever
3. Weight loss
4. Fatigue
5. Arthritis
6. Skin problems
7. Inflammation of the eyes

Causes of Crohn’s Disease
While studies have yet to confirm its real causes, a combination of any of the following may lead to Crohn’s disease:

1. Heredity
2. Environmental factors
3. Infections caused by parasites, bacteria, viruses and fungi
4. Dysfunctional immune system
5. Stress

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that poor liver function or chronic liver qi (energy) stagnation causes gastrointestinal problems.  The liver is in charge of producing bile, a digestive enzyme that aids the small intestines during digestion.  When your liver is not functioning well, it may produce more bile than is needed by your intestine causing diarrhea.

Treatment
There is still no known cure for Crohns disease.  Anyone who suffers from Crohn’s disease may expect to get treatment to alleviate the symptoms, control the inflammation and improve overall health. In some cases, surgery may be required to remove the portion of the intestine that has been damaged by chronic inflammation.  Proper nutrition, lifestyle changes, and a combination of natural and medical therapies all work towards controlling the symptoms and prolonging the period before the next episode of Crohns disease. Before recommending a personalized treatment plan, a naturopath will obtain a blood and urine sample to determine the extent of the bowel and liver toxicity.

Anti-Inflammatory
Natural anti-inflammatory substances found in products like Cartrin and Ultrainflammax work well to reduce inflammation and rectal bleeding.  An improvement in the swelling and bleeding may be seen within 6 to 10 weeks from treatment.

Bowel Cleansing and Liver Detoxification
Once inflammation has subsided, your naturopath may proceed with cleaning your bowel completely and subjecting you to a liver detoxification program.  A clean bowel and detoxified liver are needed for your body to be able to absorb nutrients from the herbal treatment.

Formula to Improve Liver Function
While treatment for Crohn’s disease may vary among patients, two main formulas such as Agastache and Saussurea are highly effective in improving liver energy, preventing diarrhea, promoting regular blood flow while stimulating repair and growth of damaged tissues in the colon.

Diet
You should be able to observe how your digestive system behaves after making changes in your diet to give you an idea of what triggers or aggravates your symptoms.  Limit your intake of dairy products, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid alcohol, caffeine and soda as well as cruciferous foods that promote gas such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and beans.  Choose low-fat foods and spread your meals during the day among 5 to 6 small meals instead of three heavy meals. Consume a healthy diet to restore nutrients that were lost by diarrhea and to improve your immune system.  As stress may also trigger Crohn’s disease, practice relaxation techniques like stretching, meditation, and breathing exercises.