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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/27/2009 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone tried and had any luck/success (or not) with acupuncture and/or herbal meds or supplements?

I started acupuncture last week and so far haven't noticed any real improvement. My understanding is that the effects are cumulative, but I'm curious how many sessions it would take for me to see results, if any. I was laid off last month and my insurance doesn't cover it, so I'm a little stressed about the financial end of things. My GI wants me to go on Remicade. My acupuncturist seems to think she can help me avoid going that route. I'm currently experiencing swelling in my right ankle daily (for the last three months) and pain in the left side of my jaw. Colonoscopy revealed two areas of inflammation. I just don't want to get as sick as I did the last time, so I am looking for any and all noninvasive, but helpful approaches that I can find.

Acup suggested today that I start taking Isatis Cooling tablets- some kind of Chinese herb that's supposed to address inflammation in the gut. Any one heard of this?

Thoughts?

I currently take: 2 pills Pentasa 2x a day, turmeric, fish oil, Vitamin D, acai berry, Osteo-biflex, multi vitamin, Align probiotic and now Isatis Cooling tablets.

Posted 5/27/2009 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
I was wondering this myself. My mom knows of a lady who has Crohns for 15 years. She is still on Asacol and she says when she starts to feel a flare up she goes to her accupunturist? and after 4-6 weeks she is feeling better. She also takes some kind of chinese herbs. However, I am unsure if her case is really mild or if it is helping that much.

Amy
Posted 5/27/2009 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
I've been taking lingzhi (reishi) since around last November (over six months now) and it seems to have completely cured me. OK, not really "cured" because there is no cure for Crohn's disease, but it has put the disease into remission. I made a major post on it here:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1385214

I was hoping to gather up a few other volunteers on this forum to try lingzhi for long enough to see if it really was so effective for anybody with Crohn's. Some others seemed initially enthusiastic and said that they would try it, but it looks like nobody followed through for very long (or if they have, they haven't posted their experience). Too bad - all I can is, lingzhi works for me. I am not taking any other drugs now, and I feel fine. Previously, a "good day" was less than 10 watery bowel movements.

Do note that my experience is mainly with lingzhi in its "pure" form (ie dried mushrooms). The stuff that gets sold in capsules over the Internet may be of dubious quality. Not that there aren't good brands, but I don't know how you assess quality in such prepared medications, because lingzhi isn't controlled in any way by the government.

best regards and good health,
Robert
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