Breakthrough Crohn’s Disease Guide

Herbal crohn’s teas can be an effective remedy, and can often be used in conjunction with vitamin supplements and the proper diet to further relieve and prevent gastrointestinal symptoms.   Although herbs that are considered beneficial for crohn’s can be taken in forms other than tea (I.E. pills) herbal tea tends to be the best way to treat gastrointestinal issue.

Why?  According to some studies, warm liquid is easy for the body to digest, and allows herbs to come in direct contact with the walls of the stomach and intestines. Conversely, herbal crohn’s supplements in pill form can be difficult to digest, and may contain alcohol which often results in most of the herb being absorbed in the mouth.

The following information is focused on the herbal teas that are considered the best for herbal crohn’s treatment.

Peppermint Tea
Peppermint is made up of the essential oil menthol.  When ingested, menthol produces powerful antispasmodic effects that directly soothe the muscles in the digestive system, aiding in digestion.  Furthermore, peppermint tea has a very calming aroma which can help relax nerves and subdue a nervous stomach.   Peppermint tea can also alleviate stomach cramps and cramping of the intestinal muscles.

Peppermint tea helps alleviate the following crohn’s symptoms:
• Bloating
• Gas
• Flatulance
• Abdominal pain
• Irregular bowel movements

It is best to consume peppermint tea after large meals and before bed.

Chamomile Tea 
Chamomile has been used for centuries in treating a variety of health ailments including common gastrointestinal issues, and is an ideal herbal crohn’s remedy.  Chamomile is a mild sedative and has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and carminative properties that help aid in digestion and soothes and heals the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. 
 

Chamomile tea alleviates and prevents the following crohn’s symptoms:
• Gas
• Flatulance
• Digestive discomfort
• stress

Chamomile acts as a mild sedative, and is therefore best taken before bed.
 

Note:  Chamomile is part of the daisy family.  Therefore, if you are allergic to daisies you should not drink this tea.

Fennel Tea
Fennel has a calming effect on the stomach and is one of the most effective herbal crohn’s remedies for relieving gas pain and reducing flatulence.  Fennel tea aids the digestive tract, and is also recommended for use in conjunction with an herbal laxative to reduce cramps.  In addition, fennel is known for its ability to boost the metabolism and works as a detoxifier.

Fennel tea is considered effective for relieving the following crohn’s symptoms:
• gas pain
• flatulence
• bloating
• stomach pain

Fennel tea is best taken after meals or when symptoms are present.

The following are five herbal crohn’s teas that aid in digestion which you can try:

1. Peppermint tea – see above
2. Chamomile tea – see above
3. Fennel tea - see above
4. Ginger tea – Relieves gas, bloating and pain.  Ginger is exceptional at relieving nausea and vomiting.  It does not have sedative properties, but it can make the body generate more heat and the warm feeling in the stomach may cause discomfort.
5. Lemon balm tea – Relieves pain and discomfort of indigestion, as well as gas and bloating.  Lemon balm is also effective in alleviating anxiety, nervousness and mild insomnia.  Lemon balm is like mint in the sense that it has a soothing effect on the stomach.

Where can you find herbal teas and which are best?  You can find herbal teas in your local grocery store, health food or nutrition stores and online.  Although loose leaf tea is best, teabags are fine as long as you can clearly smell the distinct aroma of the herb through the bag.

In addition, make sure herbal teas are caffeine free as caffeine can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and trigger symptoms.  You should also ensure that the herb is the only or primary ingredient listed in the tea.

Herbal crohns teas are considered safe to consume on a daily basis.  Although you can drink more than one type of herbal tea daily, the trick is to stick to those you find provide you with the best relief from your symptoms.
 

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One of the best ways to maintain a healthy body and avoid malnutrition is to ensure adequate vitamin and crohns supplement treatment.  Many studies that have been conducted on crohn’s sufferers have found that the vast majority of those with crohn’s are generally deficient in vitamins A, B, C, D and E.  The natural deficiency of these vitamins is likely due to dietary restrictions, medications, and poor nutrient absorption. 

Vitamin A – Vitamin A is necessary for a healthy normal immune system function, which is required to maintain a healthy mucous membrane.  The skin and mucosal cells that line the digestive tract, urinary tract and airways, create a barrier and are the body’s initial defence against infection.  Vitamin A also plays a vital role in immune response and in the proper function of the adrenal glands which control the way we respond to stress. 

Vitamin B9 – B9, also known as folic acid or folate, is vital for the production of nucleic acids, proteins that are essential in cell reproduction and separation.

It is thought that a folate deficiency may cause high levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which is believed to play a role in the development of some chronic illnesses.  In addition, B9 vitamin and crohns deficiency can cause intestinal damage and trigger diarrhea.

Vitamin C – Vitamin C is needed to convert folate into folinic acid (its active form).  It is also an essential requirement for the formation of collagen, which the body needs for proper growth, maintenance and development.   When taken with bioflavonoids (a vitamin-like nutrient that helps the body to absorb vitamin C), vitamin C can help alleviate inflammation and may even help prevent the formation of fistulas in crohn’s sufferers.

Vitamin D – Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones and cartilage and helps the body absorb calcium.  Many crohn’s sufferers experience bone loss.  Adding the D vitamin and crohns calcium supplement can improve bone mineral density, and help prevent and control the development of osteoporosis and osteopenia.

Vitamin E – Vitamin E is primarily an antioxidant.  This means it helps protect tissues and cells from the damaging effects of oxidation, which can lead to the formation of many diseases. Vitamin E, in particular, has been found to prevent scarring that can occur from crohn’s disease.

How are vitamins taken?  Most vitamins and mineral supplements are available in caplet, tablet, chewable tablet, and powder form. 

Remember to read all instructions concerning recommended dosages before taking vitamins.  Also, be sure to consult your health care provider about the vitamins for crohn’s treatment you are interested in, or intend to use, prior to taking them.

How to choose quality vitamin and crohns supplements – Not all vitamin supplements are the same, so you should never make the assumption that all products on the market are made with identical ingredients and will provide you with equal nutrients.   To ensure a quality vitamin product keep the following in mind:

• The ingredients used should be all or primarily from organic sources
• Artificial ingredients should not have been part of the manufacturing process.
• Nutrients should have been tested for contamination and toxic substances
• If you have certain food sensitivities make sure that ingredients such as wheat, corn and yeast are not listed in the ingredients.
• All vitamin supplements should have an expiration date
• There is no regulation of vitamin supplements.  This means the dosage claim noted on the label may not be the same as what actually exists within each pill, tablet, etc.  Therefore, it is in your best interest to get in touch with the lab that produces the particular vitamin supplement to find out how their products are tested.  A reputable supplement producing lab will answer all of your questions.

Finally, keep in mind that the best way to obtain quality vitamin and crohns treatment is through your health care provider.

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Following a specific crohns diet is one of the best self healing remedies you can implement in your lifestyle.  The reason is because without proper nutrition a crohn’s sufferer puts themselves at greater risk of malnutrition.  Malnutrition is a problem for many people with crohn’s, as it is estimated that as many as 80 percent of people with the disease experience considerable weight loss.

There are many factors that may cause malnutrition in a crohn’s sufferer.  Malnutrition may occur from –
• Excessive diarrhea
• Difficulty eating due to gastrointestinal discomfort, pain, nausea and diarrhea
• Badly damaged bowel
• Bowel shortened by surgery can prevent the absorption and digestion of sufficient nutrients.
• Certain medications may reduce the body’s stores of some vitamins and nutrients.

Thus, it is imperative that adequate nutrition is absorbed through the right crohns diet to prevent malabsorption.

What is malabsorption?  Malabsorption is when the body does not effectively absorb nutrients (vitamins, minerals, proteins, fat, sugar, etc.) from ingested food.   In order for the body to absorb the nutrients from food, the pancreas, liver, bile ducts, and the lining of the small intestine need to be functioning properly.  It is through the small intestine that nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream.  That is why in most cases, the impairment of food digestion primarily occurs in the small intestine.

The symptoms of malabsorption include: diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration, fatigue, bloating, abdominal pain, skin changes, oily stool and undigested food in stool.

Malabsorption can result in malnutrition, if the body does not receive the sufficient amount of nutrients it requires.  Malnutrition is a serious condition that can lead to total parenteral nutrition (nutrition provided intravenously) if not taken care of by a crohns diet.

To ensure their diet contains adequate nutrients, a crohn’s suffer needs to make certain that their diet consist of –

• Lots of hydrating fluids (approximately 10 glasses per day), especially water. Certain herbal teas (I.E. mint, ginger, etc.) may also be added.  These fluids help to prevent constipation.

• Eat fiber – When you are not suffering symptoms, make sure your crohns diet is rich in insoluble fiber such as bran, apple, raw vegetables, brown rice, wholegrain bread, etc.  However, if you are experiencing crohn’s symptoms or you are prone to diarrhea, focus your diet more on soluble fiber such as the flesh of fruit, oatmeal, soda crackers, cooked vegetables, etc.

• Avoid dairy if you are lactose intolerant.  If you suffer from lactose intolerance, your body can not properly absorb milk sugar which can lead to symptoms such as gas, bloating and diarrhea.

• Eat a crohns diet rich in protein – Fish, eggs, beans, nuts, lean meats, etc.

• Lower your intake of caffeine, alcohol, fats and sugars (especially sorbitol – a type of sweetener) as these foods are known to trigger diarrhea.

Essentially, the key to avoiding malnutrition is to eliminate foods in your diet that trigger or worsen symptoms (particularly severe diarrhea), and introduce other “safe” foods that contain the nutrients your body needs that it cannot obtain from the foods that have been eliminated from your crohn’s diet. 

Since you may not be able to work certain foods into your diet, you may want to talk to your doctor about taking a multivitamin or a specific vitamin and/or mineral supplement to obtain the nutrients your body requires.

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There are different ways you can promote self healing colitis and crohns if you suffer from either of these inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).  Self healing remedies, which are essentially non-drug alternative treatments, are the preferred choice of treatment for many IBD sufferers because most of these remedies are free of negative side effects and encourage the body to heal itself.

The following are 10 self healing colitis and crohns methods you can look into –

1. Diet – Many IBD symptoms are triggered by food products.  Therefore, it’s a good idea to create a food diary and eliminate the foods that aggravate your condition (I.E. fat, sugar, acid foods) and increase those that lower the risk (I.E. most fruits, vegetables, and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids).  Talk to a dietician or your doctor about good food choices and to start a diet plan that works for you.

2. Herbal remedies –   There are many herbal remedies for self healing colitis and crohns treatments. Herbs from plant have been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes including treating gastrointestinal disorders such as crohns and colitis.  Popular herbal remedies that may be used as treatment for inflammation include: cat’s claw, green tea, ginkgo, slippery elm, wild indigo, etc. Herbs may be taken as supplements, added to recipes, in tea, or eaten whole, depending on the herb.  It’s in your best interest to talk with a professional herbalist.

3. Acupuncture – Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of hair-thin needles into specific acupoints in the body to help bring balance back to the body.  Acupuncture can help treat painful symptoms as well as, diarrhea and constipation.  This treatment should be sought from a professional acupuncturist.   

4. Hypnosis – Known as body/mind medicine, this form of self healing colitis and crohns is a treatment that helps to increase relaxation, improve immune function, decrease stress and ease feelings of anxiety.  Hypnosis improves conditions by allowing a patient to use their subconscious to gain control over their symptoms.  Hypnosis should be sought from a psychologist or psychiatrist.

5. Homeopathy – This is a type of treatment that focuses on treating individuals as a whole.  The course of treatment is determined after a person’s physical, psychological and emotional makeup is studied.  This form of treatment is given by a homeopath.

6. Naturopathy – Naturopathy treats a person as a whole - mind, body and spirit.  Naturopathy does not treat the illness, and promotes self-healing by determining what lifestyle changes a person needs in order to achieve and maintain good health.  Many alternative treatments may be recommended including acupuncture, homeopathy, massage therapy, herbs, etc.

7. Probiotics – Some research has found that probiotics, also known as good gut bacteria (I.E. lactobacillus) can improve the symptoms of crohns and colitis.  By providing the stomach with beneficial bacteria it helps to keep other “bad” bacteria under control and bring more balance to the gut flora.

8. Reduce Stress – Anxiety and stress have been shown to trigger and worsen symptoms related to IBD.  Therefore, part of a good self healing colitis and crohns treatment plan is to make sure you find ways to reduce stress.  Stress can be reduced through meditation exercises such as Yoga and Tai Chi, and massage therapy.

9. Reduce bad habits – If you have bad habits such as smoking, overeating, and drinking alcohol, it is imperative you put a stop to these habits right away to avoid triggering and worsening symptoms.

10. Joining a support group –Suffering from crohn’s and ulcerative colitis can be difficult and embarrassing to live with.  It helps to talk with people who understand your physical and emotional conditions.  Treating emotional and psychological symptoms of IBD helps to reduce stress and is an important part of the self healing process.

Despite which self healing colitis and crohns remedies interest you, make sure you consult with your doctor before starting any treatment.  It is important to first obtain his/her advice, and it is a good idea to allow your doctor to monitor your condition to see how you respond to self healing treatments.

Part of the problem with conditions such as crohns and colitis is that vitamin absorption can be limited.  Increasing the amount of vitamins your body absorbs can help with self healing colitis and crohns disease.

Sign up now for a free newsletter that has proven methods for managing Crohn’s Disease naturally at Natural Crohn’s Disease Relief. On the site you’ll also find more about crohns relaxation and information on crohns treatments.