Natural forms of treatment

[ImDan]

I'm interested to try some natural forms of treatment such as diet, nutrition, natural anti inflammatories etc

I'm getting faceal calprotectins every 3 months so thought I'd use this to see how it affects the level of inflammation from my stool tests.

But what is the best kind of advice to get? Nutritionalist, homeopathy or holistic doctor?

 

[Beach]

Good question. Obviously, there isn't a single alternative doctor that has solutions for our IBD conditions. Everyone has a different opinion on what helps and what is not worth the cost. My two cents is this:

I guess to mention at the beginning, the main goal is to get healthy. Use what ever tools available to make that possible. Don't pass up prescription drugs if they can help. It's good naturally to have a healthy appreciation of side effects and to minimize them when possible.

For alternative drugs, many find the generic drug Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) beneficial. LDN tends to have few side effects. It doesn't work for all, but for many nice improvements are seen in those with Crohns and colitis. I was recently reading a book on LDN's use in the UK and Ireland. The author said it isn't always easy to find a doctor willing to prescribe it but there are a few to do.

There are many web sights dedicated to LDN's use, and books written on its benefits. A Google search will show them. On this sight more can be read on LDN here:

http://www.crohnsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32

Probiotics and FMT are a hot topic for many to discuss. There are several threads written on the topic. You might do a search on them.

For diet, the most popular diet tried is the SCD. The paleo diet is more flexible and sometimes followed. I personally enjoy Wayne Perky's book and support sight. He writes mainly about MC but his ideas can apply to other IBD conditions such as Crohns' and Colitis.

Wayne's sight can be viewed here:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=d6ee03b568e0b186186a5812dbe41ddc

In the UK, retired Dr. John Hunter is the expert for Crohn's dietary ideas. There are a few on this sight that have tried his ideas, some with success and others not. An article on his work can be read here:

How to tackle Crohn's Disease without the help of drugs

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1076594/How-tackle-Crohns-Disease-help-drugs.html

I'm personally a fan of energy medicine ideas. Obtaining some sensible sun exposure I've found beneficial for my health. I avoid being burnt basically.

I enjoy the practice of grounding, which is as it sounds walking barefoot on the grass. When in doors I use a grounding pad. The company selling the pads has a patent on them lowering inflammation. More can be learned in this video.

http://www.drsinatra.com/boost-heart-health-through-grounding/

Good luck. Hope that helps and best with testing, which ever direction you take with this.

 

[ImDan]

Good question. Obviously, there isn't a single alternative doctor that has solutions for our IBD conditions. Everyone has a different opinion on what helps and what is not worth the cost. My two cents is this:

I guess to mention at the beginning, the main goal is to get healthy. Use what ever tools available to make that possible. Don't pass up prescription drugs if they can help. It's good naturally to have a healthy appreciation of side effects and to minimize them when possible.

For alternative drugs, many find the generic drug Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) beneficial. LDN tends to have few side effects. It doesn't work for all, but for many nice improvements are seen in those with Crohns and colitis. I was recently reading a book on LDN's use in the UK and Ireland. The author said it isn't always easy to find a doctor willing to prescribe it but there are a few to do.

There are many web sights dedicated to LDN's use, and books written on its benefits. A Google search will show them. On this sight more can be read on LDN here:

http://www.crohnsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32

Probiotics and FMT are a hot topic for many to discuss. There are several threads written on the topic. You might do a search on them.

For diet, the most popular diet tried is the SCD. The paleo diet is more flexible and sometimes followed. I personally enjoy Wayne Perky's book and support sight. He writes mainly about MC but his ideas can apply to other IBD conditions such as Crohns' and Colitis.

Wayne's sight can be viewed here:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=d6ee03b568e0b186186a5812dbe41ddc

In the UK, retired Dr. John Hunter is the expert for Crohn's dietary ideas. There are a few on this sight that have tried his ideas, some with success and others not. An article on his work can be read here:

How to tackle Crohn's Disease without the help of drugs

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1076594/How-tackle-Crohns-Disease-help-drugs.html

I'm personally a fan of energy medicine ideas. Obtaining some sensible sun exposure I've found beneficial for my health. I avoid being burnt basically.

I enjoy the practice of grounding, which is as it sounds walking barefoot on the grass. When in doors I use a grounding pad. The company selling the pads has a patent on them lowering inflammation. More can be learned in this video.

http://www.drsinatra.com/boost-heart-health-through-grounding/

Good luck. Hope that helps and best with testing, which ever direction you take with this.

Hi Beach,

Thanks for the information.

I'd really like some specialist advise - do you know what the best kind of practitioner would be for this? Such as Nutritionalist, homeopathy or holistic doctor?

I'll be honest when i first started reading about crohns I was all for top down therapy with all the studies supporting it. However after starting on a course of pentasa and steroid pills, it started really making me depressed and constantly reminding me of the disease. I feel like I want to give it my best shot living with it naturally so I can live a normal life. I'm either in the very early stages of it or asymptomatic but I know I'd rather live life for as long as possible drug free and looking for some expert advise to help me with this.

 

[Beach]

I understand. We all have to make our choices with our lives on how to handle our diseases. I'm sorry to hear the problems the drugs have given you.

I wish I could provide a clear answer to your question on who would best to visit and set up an alternative Crohns health plan. Here in America many that wish to try a more natural approach typically begin with visiting a chiropractor. From my understanding there are all sorts of chiropractors with different specialities. Some swear by them and feel they receive good results. Others I hear think poorly of them.

I haven't visited one of the local chiropractors where i live, but know a nutritionist that works with one. She impressed me as knowledgeable in IBD diet ideas.

 

[my little penguin]

Your GI can advise you
Some have had luck with scd diet
The proven diet is exclusive enteral nutrition ( formula only )

It is as effective as steroids

There is also small studies on the crohns exclusive diet
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=71686

Please keep being monitored by more than just fecal cal
Since disease can be silently causing damage
More than a few folks had no symptoms and normal bloodwork etc but had inflammation going on that required surgery

Tagging clash

 

[Jennifer]

Definitely your GI and you could have a Dietitian as well since they are more knowledgeable than a Nutritionist and are an actual health professional with a college degree.

Keep us posted on how you're doing with your diet and good luck to you.

 

[Beach]

Jennifer,

I know you are not keen on dietary ideas as you have told me yourself. If it matters, the nutritionist I talked with and know has a college degree in nutrition from the University of Illinois. She was a top graduate in her class.

 

[Charlotte.]

I'm interested to try some natural forms of treatment such as diet, nutrition, natural anti inflammatories etc

I'm getting faceal calprotectins every 3 months so thought I'd use this to see how it affects the level of inflammation from my stool tests.

But what is the best kind of advice to get? Nutritionalist, homeopathy or holistic doctor?

Have tried different ones so far.

Can recommend: Consulting a nutritionist specialised in IBD (so much better quality of life from that), audio-guided meditation/ imaginary journeys (audio) for feeling more relaxed and trusting the own body, acupuncture for pain (for my arthritis joint pain in fact), homeopathy for gastritis (was effective when PPIs were not, now dealing with that issue again, but it DID help when conventional medicine did not), working out regularly (swimming), probiotics.


Can not recommend: Traditional Chinese Medicine for IBD (tea, nutrition with the five elements); glutamin; vitamin supplements; bovine colostrum; going vegan, going gluten-free, going grain-free, going starch-free; wheat grass powder, barley grass powder; full elimination diet (Prof Hunter, Cambridge/ UK), amino-acid therapy (if you google for amino-acid responsive Crohn's, non-scientific as just a case study with one patient)

 

[ncman]

I'm currently doing the elemental followed by LOFFLEX/elimination diet, and know of one other person who is doing well on it as well. I've recently submitted my calprotectin, and if that comes back ok, it will show the inflammation has been kept at bay for over a year now as a result of the diet.

 

[Eridon2002]

Heed myLittlePenguin's advice about making sure you are monitoring your inflammation with not just Fecal Cal. You can be asymptomatic but still be incurring damage in your intestines. For me, I've been trying diet(no processed foods, homemade fermented foods, probiotics), exercise and herbs(Cat's claw and Prunella Vulgaris).

Journal article on anti-inflammatory activity of Prunella Vulgaris
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4635162/

Cat's Claw-believe anti-inflammatory method of action is suppressing TNF-a(like Humira and Remicade)
https://www.drugs.com/npp/cat-s-claw.html

 

[InstantCoffee]

Andrographis paniculata and Boswellia have some clinical evidence supporting their use for Crohn's.

Also DHEA but you should ideally consult an endocrinologist with this.

Zinc is another supplement that anyone with crohn's induced diarrhea should be taking, possibly in large doses. You should get regular testing of your blood copper and zinc levels to make sure neither is too high or low.

I'm also a strong advocate for psyllium husks and intermittent fasting.