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New kid on the block - holistic road!

Hi everyone, I'm no longer a lurker but plucked the courage to be a poster. I was diagnosed with Crohns in 2012. Since then I have had one major flare in 2014 which hospitalised me for some time. I am a bit different to a lot of crohnies in the fact that I do not use conventional medication. Some mind find that crazy, stupid, inspiring - it's at the end of the day a personal choice.

I control my Crohns through a strict paleo diet, essential oils and supplements under the supervision of a naturopath.

As a lot of people think holistic methods are a fair bit of hocus pocus - I recently did a very dangerous experiment where I stopped all treatment and deviated from my diet considerably, just the usual things people eat like chocolate bars and ice cream, not even in excess! I have been fighting a flare since then, 2 weeks ago.

I would love to hear anyone's stories about holistic methods they found worked for them! I'm not about the negatives. If you don't agree that is absolutely fine but please do not be nasty about it. We all choose our own journey.
 

nogutsnoglory

Moderator
Welcome. I understand the desire for the holistic route and it does help some but I've seen most run back to allopathic doctors having gotten very sick.

I was paleo and thinking my diet and supplements would heal me but instead I got the sickest I ever was. I respect your journey but please be careful.
 
Thanks for your post no guts no glory. This is the path I have chosen and so far the only failure I have had was brought on by myself.

I would never try and encourage others to take a certain route. As we all have a very personal journey.

As I said in my previous post. I am under the care of a naturoptah and regularly see my specialist who was under the impression I was doing so well due to mercaptapurine! He was quite shocked when I told him I had actually never take it :)
 
Hi Chappington, I hope you can recover from this flare quickly. Have you thought about combining Enteral Nutrition with your holistic approach? For example drinking a polymeric formula like Modulen for 4-8 weeks to get back to health and then resuming with your paleo diet.
 

valleysangel92

Moderator
Staff member
Hello there

It's great to see that your chosen method is making you feel well!

I would advise caution though, deviating from your specialists advice is risky, and you should always make sure that they know what you are (or aren't) taking as it can cause a lot of problems if they think you're taking one med and you're taking another etc. If you collapsed they would look in your records to see what you've been prescribed, so always make sure it's up to date to say you aren't taking what they've advised etc.

Also please ensure you are being carefully monitored with blood tests and the appropriate imaging. It's very easy for IBD to fester unnoticed until it's suddenly got you on your knees.
 
I know someone who is controlling their Crohn's through a special diet (not sure on the name). So far it has worked for her...
Not sure what I think on the whole holistic approach..
 
I controlled my crohn's with the SCD for three years and no hospital visits. It can be done but you have to eat very cleanly and the SCD is probably the most strict in that regard. The only reason I am not on it now is because I am pregnant with my little one and he needs more than that diet allows. Once I give birth I will be back on the diet very strictly.
 
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