Monthly Archives: December 2010

Five Natural Cures For Crohns Disease

Posted on by
Reply

Five Natural Cures For Crohns Disease

When looking for natural cures for Crohn s disease, you should know that there is no known cure yet, but you can use natural remedies to help lessen or eliminate some of your symptoms.

If you see something that claims it is a cure, you might want to skip it. Instead, look for things that can help with your symptoms, but make sure your doctor knows what you are doing.

Some of these natural remedies can help you put your Crohn’s into remission, and that may seem like a cure, but it is likely that this chronic condition will flare up at one point or another in your life until a true cure is one day found.

One of the first natural remedies you can try to help reduce symptoms would be to alter what you eat by following the Specific Carb diet. It is important that you talk to your doctor before you start this, as you may already be having problems with getting nutrients from your food, and this can make that worse. This diet asks you to give up vegetables, foods with preservatives, milk and related milk products, most oats and grains, and sugar. This leaves you with little choice, but you can have fresh cuts of meats and you can have many fruits. It is a lot to give up, but if it works for you, you may be happy to do it.

Another of the natural cures is to take specific herbs to reduce inflammation. These can be dangerous if mixed with some prescriptions, so talk to your doctor before you take anything. If these can succeed in reducing your inflammation, you might find many of your symptoms are going to go away. Another natural option you can try is acupuncture. The main mission behind acupuncture for Crohn’s is to stimulate the points on the body that relate to the digestive system to promote self healing along with the points related to immunity to give your immune system a boost.

Two other types of natural remedies are stress relief and help with depression. Though stress is not a cause of Crohn’s, it can be a trigger for a flare up. You can learn many approaches to help you relax, and these things might help improve quality of life. Activities such as yoga are great at encouraging relaxtion, and you can also employ many different breathing techniques when you are feeling under pressure. Depression is a common problem when flare-ups are bad, as they can make life difficult. You can find someone to talk to about your feelings, and you can also begin an exercise program that might also help alleviate depression.

Just because there are no natural cures for Crohn’s disease does not mean there won’t be one some time in the future. There might also be a medical cure, but for the time being, you can only control the root problem of inflammation, and try to lessen the severity of the symptoms that come with it.

No matter what you want to try, natural or not, you should always make sure your medical doctor knows what you are doing so that they can keep an eye on your level of nutrition. This is already a problem for Crohn’s patients, and could be made worse with some of these natural cures for Crohn s disease. Find a doctor that will work with you when you want to try natural remedies, and keep up with your medical treatments as well.

Day 40&41;- Irritable Bowel Symptoms & Treatment Crohns Diet

Posted on by
Reply

Day 40&41;- Irritable Bowel Symptoms & Treatment Crohns Diet

SUMMARY

Some researchers say that water and juice fasts can help relieve (and even eliminate) symptoms of Crohn’s Disease and Colitis. The fasts help the body to purge itself of impurities. Learn how water/juice fasts can benefit the body.

Crohn’s Disease and Colitis: Water and Juice Fasts

Some researchers believe that water fasts can eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of Crohn’s Disease and Colitis. Indeed, some sufferers will confirm that the fast worked for them. They followed up the fast with a daily raw food diet using organic produce. Of course, nobody should begin a water or juice fast or raw food diet without consulting their doctor.

Water and juice fasts are thought to rid the body of impurities. The fasts are a form of detoxification. During this period, the body will concentrate mostly on getting rid of impurities rather than using energy for digestion. Detoxing allows the body to purge itself of substances that are detrimental to our health.

Body impurities cause bacteria, parasites, and mucus – all three lead to illness. During fasting, the body’s major organs rally to its defense. The lungs, kidneys, liver, colon, and skin destroy toxins, replace damaged cells, and build new ones.

The body heals itself but many people do not realize that our bodies possess that power. Yet with a little help from us, our bodies can go successfully though detoxification. Some believe that detoxification can slow down or reverse the aging process and even reverse diseased tissue caused by Crohn’s Disease and Colitis.

Crohn’s/Colitis water fasts can take impurities from the blood, clean the large intestine, and build up the endocrine system. Yet the fasting process is not easy and is not for everyone. Sometimes people have multiple conditions and fasting would not be wise in their situation.

Even if individuals have no pre-existing conditions, fasting is hard on the body. The process is a shock and a drastic change to one’s system. Indeed, water/juice fasting comes with its own set of side effects – headache, dizziness, coated tongue, metallic taste in the mouth, joint pain, sinus discharges, diarrhea, and dark and bad-smelling urine. Keep in mind that the body is in a state of detoxification.

Actually, severe fasts (and water/juice fasts fall into this category) should be monitored by medical professionals – either at a clinic or as an outpatient under strict supervision. The side effects will dissipate with time and the unpleasant symptoms of Crohn’s Disease and Colitis should also disappear in due course.

Many experts think that people should begin with short fasts (one-day fast per week or even per month) and build slowly and gradually to longer fasting periods (from two-day fasts to seven-day fasts). A weeklong fast is an intense experience. Experts recommend that nobody should try this fast more than four times a year. Some Crohn’s Disease and Colitis sufferers partake of one fast during each season.

Detoxification is a difficult process. It should not be entered into without consultation with doctors as well as adequate supervision. Some sufferers attest to the positive results of water fasting. They claim that their symptoms disappeared after trying the fast and following up with a raw food diet. Yet nobody should take such drastic steps without researching the topic, seeking professional advice, and making an informed decision.

Diet And Home Remedies For Colitis

Posted on by
Reply

Colitis is a disease of the colon, which is a part of the large intestine in between the cecum and rectum. The disease is marked by acute pain and inflammation in the colon often due to ulcerous growth around the walls of the passage. It is also often accompanied by several other chronic conditions. This condition is caused primarily because of severe pressure on the walls of the colon for a prolonged period of time. Dire constipation, indigestion, high-stress lifestyle, or unhealthy food habits can all be the cause of this condition. At other times, antibiotics or other medicines taken in excess dosages or food allergy can cause this condition. A lot of people suffer from this condition because of irregular and inadequate bowel movements or even due to their digestive system being incapable of digesting certain type of food.

The condition of Colitis is marked by extreme pain towards the lower abdomen. It is also accompanied by frequent discharge of stool, blood in stool, and an extreme impulse to clear the bowels. A patient, who suffers from this condition for extended period of time, shows signs of extreme weakness due to rapid loss of blood from the body. Also, because the stool that patients usually pass is watery there is a marked loss of fluid from the body, leaving the patient weak, sometimes with high fever and a tendency to doze off into sleep repeatedly. Patients have also been known to lose all taste sensations for food.

There are a number of home remedies that act as treatment for this condition. Because the disease is intricately related with the food intake, it helps a lot if you follow a strict diet chart that is easy on your digestive system and bowels. Fruits, for instance, and especially apple and bananas form the most important element in the diet for a Colitis patient. Banana helps in clearing the bowel movement and it is advisable the patients consume at least a few bananas everyday to ensure that their bowels are clear on a daily basis. Apple, on the other hand, is rich in iron and phosphate and helps the patient regain strength, by helping in the formation of blood. It is best to boil the apple before serving it to the patient. Also, papaya is extremely good for patients with this condition; it is helpful to have ripe papaya or its juice regularly.

Boiled rice with fresh curd is also an effective remedy for this condition of the colon. Patients must be given a liquid heavy diet, because in this condition there is excessive drainage of body fluids. Coconut water and buttermilk are really helpful as a remedy for this condition. It is advisable to take a drink of coconut water or buttermilk at least thrice or four times during a day. In general, it is advisable for Colitis patients to take a diet rich in green leafy vegetables like cabbages. Patients should rigorously avoid all citrus fruits and of course all kinds of junk food and carbonated drink. A stress free life and healthy diet is an infallible way of preventing diseases like Colitis.

Diet for Crohn’s Disease

Posted on by
Reply

Diet for Crohn’s Disease

It has been noticed that people with Crohn’s disease experience a decrease in appetite that tends to affect the body receiving the daily recommendations of nutrition for good health and healing. Moreover Crohn’s disease has always been associated with diarrhea and the poor absorption of nutrients of the body. However despite all this, there is no special diet that can prevent or treat Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s disease sufferers feel a decrease in appetite, which leads to a deficiency in the nutrition and good health of the patient. Along with diarrhea and the poor absorption of necessary nutrients, Crohn’s disease sufferers tend to lose weight. There is no fixed diet to follow when suffering from Crohn’s disease; however it is advised to drink lots of fluids of about eight to ten serving’s everyday so that the body is kept hydrated and constipation is prevented.

On consultation of the doctor or registered dietitian, the patient may be recommended a multivitamin mineral supplement that will help in the replacement of lost nutrients. It is better to follow a high fiber diet when Crohn’s diet is under control. If eating vegetables raw does not seem to agree with the patient, it is better to cook and steam the vegetables. However with a flare up, the amount of high fiber foods has to be reduced while a low fiber or low residue diet followed. These diets provide some rest to the bowel so that symptoms are minimized.

If the patient is lactose intolerant, it is important that lactose containing food liked dairy products be avoided. Instead lactase enzymes and lactase pretreated food may be eaten. When in a flare up, it is important to nourish the body with small and frequent meals. A high protein diet with fish, eggs and lean meat provide relief from the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

It is also possible to take a pre-digested nutritional drink so that the bowel is given a rest while lost nutrients are replenished by the body to repair it. However this drink should be taken only on the prescription of the dietitian. It is better to limit the intake of caffeine, alcohol and a sweetener, sorbitol as these products only aggravate the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

It is better to limit the intake of foods that produce gas like vegetables from the cabbage family like broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts, onions, chives, dried peas and lentils, peppers and carbonated drinks. Patients whose intestines have been surgically removed have to restrict the intake of fat as these foods cause diarrhea and gas in such patients.

Patients whose ileum (part of the small intestine) has been rejected may require a Vitamin B12 injection. It has been proven through some studies that fish oil and flax seed oil are rather effective for those suffering from Crohn’s disease. Then there are some studies that prove that prebiotics liked psyllium and probiotics which are live culture are very helpful in providing some relief from Crohn’s disease.

On the overall, it can be said that it is important that people with Crohn’s disease follow a nutritious diet and avoid food that tends to worsen symptoms.

Day 3- IBS Diet Crohns Colitis Disease Symptoms & Treatment

Posted on by
Reply

Day 3- IBS Diet Crohns Colitis Disease Symptoms & Treatment

Crohn’s Disease, What it is

Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune disease similar to rheumatoid arthritis. It is rarely fatal. However it is often debilitating and sometimes very painful. Lately, doctors and scientists have taken to using food and diet as a means of controlling this chronic situation. Discover why something as simple as changing your diet may be the answer to curing Crohn’s disease.

Researchers believe that Crohn’s results from a reaction to a virus or a chronic condition such as arthritis. With Crohn’s your own body is the enemy because it generates the conditions necessary to cause flare-ups. These flare-ups can occur anywhere up and down the esophagus to the rectum, in other words up and down the entire gastrointestinal tract. That makes it different from other irritable bowel or gastrointestinal diseases which only affect certain parts of the GI track. These ordinary conditions are also usually not accompanied by the redness and swelling that is found with Crohn’s disease.

The redness and swelling is often accompanied by severe abdominal cramping and frequent bowel movements, diarrhea and over all fatigue. Some doctors believe that stress plays a heavy role in the severity of the symptoms, and may be unmasked, down the road as one of the underlying causes of the disease.

A person can contract Crohn’s disease at any age. However, most sufferers seem to be between the ages of 15 and 30 at their initial diagnosis. It is not clear why, but white women seem to be the most susceptible to the disease. Crohn’s has also been known to flare-up much later in life, usually along with other age related conditions.

Today’s treatment plans include a change of diet as well as an increase in exercise. These changes can be difficult at first, but must be strictly adhered to, if there is to be any success in controlling the flare-ups. Crohn’s is known to go into remission, at times or maybe better words to describe would be cyclical in nature, meaning that Crohn’s will come and go, but never really leave.

During active times, parts of the intestinal walls become inflamed making normal defecation and elimination very, very painful. Sometimes over the counter drugs from diarrhea and constipation may give some relief, for a short time. However, these over the counter drugs are not cures or permanent relief. There is no known cure for Crohn’s disease. Once you’ve seen a doctor, the next step is to find a support group or go online to find up to date information on the latest treatments, diets and research.

Understand that your symptoms may cause complications in other medical conditions. Staying hydrated will help, as will staying active with exercise in order to combat the constant fatigue and fibromyalgia or pain. Getting the right amount of rest is also important in living with this chronic condition. Ask your doctor for the names of several nutritionists who will help you to understand the correlations between chronic diseases and the foods that we consume. Many researchers suspect that most chronic illness is the result of what we ingest. Many doctors are in fact, switching their patients to raw food diets as a means of curing chronic conditions such as Crohn’s disease.

Crohns Disease Treatment

Posted on by
Reply

Crohns Disease Treatment

Crohn’s disease is an inoperable inflammatory bowel disorder and it is quite difficult to live with symptoms and signs of the disease. These symptoms affect the quality of a sufferer’s life. Consequently they opt for Crohns disease treatment. In a case if they do not have any benefit from conventional therapies for the disease, then it is quite comprehensible that they would look for some alternatives to get some relief.

Crohns disease treatment is advised only after proper considerations over the symptoms and their severity. In the beginning, an anti-diarrhea medicine like Imodium A-D, an OTC (over-the-counter) medication can be recommended in Crohns disease treatment. On the other side, a gastroenterologist can recommend Aminosalicycaltes or Corticosteroids if the symptoms of Crohn’s are moderate to mild. Moreover, if both these treatments remain ineffective and are unable to prevent the symptoms from returning after stopping their consumption then a patient is prescribed with the medicines that curb the immune system.   

A sufferer cannot have non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen in Crohns disease treatment because they are considered as triggers to flare-ups and symptoms of the disease. Due to this fact, corticosteroids are widely accepted as treatment of Crohn’s disease, though they cannot be used in long term Crohn’s disease or any other disease as they comprise various serious side effects. These side effects include high blood pressure, osteoporosis and increased risk of infection. If used for long term, one may get addicted to steroid and they even become ineffective in long term use and symptoms of the disease return.

If medicines to suppress the immune system are taken in Crohns disease treatment, then it gives rise to the risk of infection. It is easily understood that a suppressed immune system will not be able to combat infection properly. Including this, one has increased chances of acquiring cancer, as it will not be able to keep a check over the abnormal cells and destroy them, which as result may transform into cancer cells.

In case if symptoms of Crohn’s are extreme, then a gastroenterologist may recommend surgery so as to eliminate that affected parts of the bowel. However, most of the patients avoid this option of Crohns disease treatment, even though surgery may give relief from Crohns disease symptoms.

If one prefers to have natural Crohns disease treatment, then Aloe is scientifically proven natural anti-inflammatory. Natural treatment for Crohn’s is considered effective and harmless for the body as natural anti-inflammatories aim directly at number of inflammatory responses contrary to synthetic anti-inflammatories that aims only one molecule at a time. The foremost benefit of these treatments is that unlike prescribed anti-inflammatories for Crohns disease treatment, they do not obstruct the immune system.     

Before opting for any kind of Crohns disease treatment, it is important that one must take advice from gastroenterologist and then only follow the treatment.   

Crohns Disease Diet

Posted on by
Reply

Crohns Disease Diet

Millions of people all over the world are suffering from Crohn’s disease. Since no cure is available till the date, the best thing that a sufferer can do to live with disease relatively comfortable is to give proper consideration over his/her diet and living style. A sufferer can opt for a Crohns disease diet plan.

Different people have individual Crohns disease diet plan according to their specific individual case and they may require to be changed accordingly. Strict implementation of the diet can prove helpful in getting relief of Crohn’s symptoms.

A sufferer must have a proper Crohns disease plan; however, he/she may have to alter it when pain and Crohn’s symptoms are present. Though proper hydration is always important but it becomes must in diarrhea. One must take at least 8 glasses of water daily and it will be better if the water is purified or bottled. Some studies have indicated that chlorine or other chemicals in tap water can aggravate the symptoms of Crohn’s.

During the remission periods, a sufferer must include sufficient amounts of fiber in Crohns disease diet. It proves helpful in reducing the chances of constipation in sufferer, as inflammation may be increased and consequently symptoms can return back.          

Milk and other dairy products are believed to have hand in causing flare-ups in lactose intolerants and in some others also. It ahs been found in researches that sometimes a bacteria present in milk even if the milk is pasteurized, can lead to Crohn’s disease. However, the consumption of milk form the diet must be compensated by having sufficient amount of calcium from other sources. Almost all seafood and fish are good source to have adequate calcium and this food also has essential omega-3 fatty acids.

Having a high protein but low carbohydrate diet is advised is recommended in Crohns disease diet during the flare-ups. One may have chances of having relief from the symptoms of Crohn’s. it is essential that one selects to have lean sources of protein while following Crohns disease diet because fats, on the other hand, are considered to aggravate diarrhea in some individuals. People with Crohn’s disease may also be recommended to have some pre-digested nutritional drinks to counterbalance the lost nutrients and give bowel a rest.

There are some specific foods and products that are considered to aggravate the symptoms of Crohn’s, thus they must be avoided in Crohns disease diet. Caffeine and alcohol tend to increase diarrhea and are without any nutritional value. Foods that produce gas like cabbage family vegetables, dried peas, beans pepper, onions and carbonated drinks are believed to aggravate Crohn’s symptoms. Thus, one should be very careful while having a diet if suffering from Crohn’s disease so that the symptoms can be reduced.

Day 189- Crohns Diet Symptoms Disease Treatment Colitis IBS

Posted on by
Reply

Day 189- Crohns Diet Symptoms Disease Treatment Colitis IBS

How Do You Know it’s IBS, Colitis and Crohn’s Disease

IBS, Colitis and Crohn’s Disease is a hard conditions to effectively diagnose because the symptoms are many and varied. This chronic illness affects the whole gastrointestinal tract with symptoms depending upon what part of the GI tract is inflamed at any particular time. Several bouts and attacks with certain symptoms will eventually result in IBS, Colitis and Crohn’s Disease diagnosis.

Common symptoms of IBS, Colitis and Crohn’s Disease are persistent diarrhea, abdominal cramps and pain shortly after eating, fever and constant fatigue, weight loss and night sweats Other symptoms include rectal bleeding, and loss of appetite. Sometimes there is pain in the joints, eyes and skin. IBS, Colitis and Crohn’s Disease can also lead to severe complications like an obstructed intestine, usually caused by swelling, ulcers and the formation of scar tissue. Another possible complication is the onset of malnutrition caused by the body’s inability to get the right nutrition to sustain itself on what food is being ingested. In addition, fissures, which are small tears or cuts may appear in the anal canal, along with pus filled abscesses or fistulas.

Doctors and researchers are not sure what causes IBS, Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. What is known is that it is chronic, meaning it is ongoing and incurable, and it is an inflammatory disease of the digestive tract that may come from the interaction of genetics, the environment and the immune system. Still other researchers blame the Western or American diet. Whatever the cause, many researchers think the problem lies buried in the immune system, which activates, but fails to turn itself off when done working. This failure to “turn off” causes the inflammation that damages the intestines resulting in the IBS, Colitis and Crohn’s Disease diagnosis.

IBS, Colitis and Crohn’s Disease can begin at any age, however, it strikes most people between the ages of 15 and 35, and most sufferers are white women of European descent. About 20% of all sufferers also have a sibling, parent or child who also suffers some form of GI tract irritation. It is believed that nearly half a million Americans suffer from Crohn’s Disease alone while the IBS numbers are in the millions. But the numbers could be greater because the symptoms are so similar to a number of other illnesses. So much so, that visiting a doctor is only the first step in what may turn out to be a very long process of recuperation and understanding.

When Crohn’s is suspected, your doctor will order a battery of tests to eliminate all other possibilities, such as irritable bowel syndrome, which causes frequent but painless bowel movements without the involvement of inflammation. Celiac Disease is an allergic reaction to gluten, which damages the small intestine, brought on by eating wheat, barley and oats. Crohn’s can also be misdiagnosed as ulcerative colitis and diverticular disease. Further tests can clear up the confusion between the illnesses.

Some researchers and doctors feel that IBS, Colitis and Crohn’s Disease is curable with the right lifestyle changes and diet, and no medication necessary. None of the approaches taken to combat these disease’s are quick and easy. The sufferer must decide if they’re willing to live with the illness or do what is necessary to defeat it altogether, and act according with food and lifestyle changes.

Crohns Disease & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Is There A Cure?

Posted on by
Reply

Crohns Disease & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Is There A Cure?

For the individuals who suffer from the mysterious symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), or the debilitating symptoms of Crohns Disease the question “Is there a cure?” weighs heavily on their lives. The frustration that results from living with this non-specific illness serves to compound the never ending symptoms. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohn’s sufferers continue to battle the illness while researchers search for causes and cures.


The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) describe Crohn’s as “Crohn’s disease is a chronic (ongoing) disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Although it can involve any area of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, it most commonly affects the small intestine and/or colon.”


Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is described as “A group of symptoms, of unknown cause, characterized by unexplained fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, feeling poorly, trouble thinking, and sometimes, fever and/or lymph node swelling.”


There is currently no cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Chron’s Disease. There is no magic pill, no immunization, and no medication that can rid sufferers of the debilitating symptoms of CFS and CD. However, individuals who suffer from CFS and CD can successfully manage their symptoms. Using current interventions including prescription medications, alternative therapies, and a comprehensive nutritional plan, CFS and CD patients can find relief.


Upon receiving a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Crohns Disease, the patient is advised to seek as much information as possible from current and reputable sources. Because little is still known about CFS and CD, information is limited but available. Reliance on sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and the medical research departments of large universities will yield the best information. CFS and CD patients are advised to beware of quack treatments or anyone offering a “cure”. Armed with information, the CFS sufferer can assist in making the most viable choices for his or her treatment plan.


A reasonable treatment plan should include a combination of therapies. By discussing a plan with a competent medical professional, the patient can assist in developing the best plan for him or her. A medical professional may prescribe prescription drugs that may alleviate the constant fatigue or intestinal pain that accompanies CFS and CD. In addition to prescription medications, seeking the help of a nutritionist will assist in managing the illness. It is common knowledge that a good diet can assist in recovering successfully from many illnesses – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohns are no exception. A reasonable nutritional plan may not only include a diet of whole foods, but may also include nutritional supplements. Additionally, the CFS and Crohns sufferer may find relief with the assistance of alternative therapies. Hypnosis, yoga, massage and other forms of relaxation can provide much needed relief from symptoms.


Although Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohns cannot yet be cured, sufferers can successfully manage their illness using a multi-pronged treatment approach. Being among some of the most difficult illnesses to manage Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohn’s Disease management involves several major lifestyle changes. Commitment to these lifestyle changes may well be the key to ending, or at least, minimizing the suffering.