HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

How do you feel about natural approach for Crohns?

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/2/2012 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
I was interested if people believe in natural approach for Crohns? I know I really do but not sure about other opinions.
Posted 5/2/2012 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
My signature is a short synopsis of what works for me. It is much easier to maintain remission without drugs than trying to end a full-blown flare in the first place. I needed drugs (antibiotics) for ending my last serious flare.

Basically my protocol is diet modification which is mostly avoiding gluten foods along with an eclectic list of other individual triggers such as shellfish. My most effective supplement is probiotics which I take everyday. Extra supplements are needed to quickly recover if I inadvertently eat something that causes problems. So far I have been able to control my disease pretty effectively.
Posted 5/2/2012 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
I don't "believe" in any treatment in as much as I don't approach my illness with faith. I choose to assess the scientific data about whatever approach is being discussed.
Posted 5/2/2012 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with kazbern. Alternative meds work. Traditional meds work. Lots of both kinds don't work too. Be objective, take notes, try different things and you should find some supplements, meds, techniques, etc that can help at least alleviate your symptoms. I have found many that have helped and many that have not. Don't try to convince yourself something helps even though you know it really isn't.

Also everyone is different. Some supplement or food could induce a flare in me and cause you no problems at all. In the end, be your own advocate and if something works for you, stick with it.
Posted 5/2/2012 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
I am in agreement with Levi :)
Posted 5/2/2012 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
InnaL, there alot of people in the Chrons and UC forum who use alternative methods of treatment, such as supplementation or diet modification, to name a few in my signature, if you have any questions.
Posted 5/2/2012 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
So far the natural and alternative treatments are the only ones that have helped, except for entocort, but I have osteopenia so any kind of steroids are a bad idea, really. ( My mom who has cd has been on steroids for 40 years and her vertebrae are crushing causing a great deal of pain.) I've tried pentassa and azathioprine but couldn't tolerate either. Also I'm 50 and worry about the wisdom of suppressing the immune system right when the chances of getting breast, skin and other types of cancer increase anyway.

LDN, and a restricted diet, (no gluten, etc, etc,) plus other natural treatments have kept me out of serious trouble so far. I just tapered off of entocort and am now trying enteral nutrition, (just drinking ensure and no other food or liquid except water). I feel like it might be working and seems to have stopped the flare that started when I did my entocort taper. I'll know more about how well enteral nutrition is working in a week or so and post about it then.

Best wishes to all!
Posted 5/2/2012 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
I've been sick for 21 yrs with crohn's...I'm either allergic or non-responsive to traditional oral RX/treatment (other than rectal meds when needed) so I had no choice but to put aside my skeptisism regarding the natural approach and low and behold I actually found a combination of naturals and diet altering along with regular exercise to have some benefit (listed in my sig below).

Although I am still not and likely won't be (unless a cure is found in my lifetime) not in full remission, I'll take what ever relief I can find.
Posted 5/2/2012 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
I do both medicinal treatment & alternative treatment. It's the best of both worlds. I have seen A LOT more improvement in my health with medical treatment rather than alternative treatment though. When I'm in pain & having bloody diarrhea let's just say I reach for my steroid suppositories & lortabs before I touch my alternative "drugs" :)
Posted 5/2/2012 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
I tried alternative meds and ended up in hospital because they didn't agree with my body. It works differently with everybody, so its worth a shot if conventional medicine fails you.

Diet is a huge factor though!
Posted 5/3/2012 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
I am open to any remedy that helps, "natural" or pharmaceutical. In my opinion, natural is no better than pharmaceutical. I've come to realize that they're all modified, extracted, boiled down to make stronger, mixed with other ingredients, and it all comes from planet Earth.

If I drank the entire bottle of Oil of Oregano in my cupboard or ate all my probiotics at once, it'd cause an overdose and some sort of reaction, same as any pharmaceutical med.

Everything in moderation, and always be monitored by a doctor, whatever your treatment.

Cheers!
Posted 5/3/2012 2:42 AM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...
I've been sick for 21 yrs with crohn's...I'm either allergic or non-responsive to traditional oral RX/treatment (other than rectal meds when needed) so I had no choice but to put aside my skeptisism regarding the natural approach and low and behold I actually found a combination of naturals and diet altering along with regular exercise to have some benefit (listed in my sig below).

Although I am still not and likely won't be (unless a cure is found in my lifetime) not in full remission, I'll take what ever relief I can find.

I love seeing this in writing! As my naturopath told me back during major flaring, there is a time and place for conventional medicine, and i'm worthy of it, but there are always many options for treatment out there. :)
Posted 5/3/2012 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
stereo, my GI actually encourages me to take the naturals and even suggested yrs ago that I see a naturopath cuz his theory is, it doesn't matter what it is that makes you feel better as long as something(s) does/do...he even told me that the bee propolis was great because it's 100% non-toxic and if I was getting any benefit from it to continue taking it indefinitely and that it wouldn't interfere with oral RX that are used to treat IBD...even though I'm allergic to those RX, but it's good info for others that want to try some naturals along with their oral RX.

My GI is one of the top lead researchers for crohn's and colitis in Canada, so his encouragements spoke volumes to me.

Posted 5/6/2012 8:11 AM (GMT 0)
Yes I agree with everyone's previous comments! I have been on all the Meds and have had various side effects from each one. The last med was Humira and I got numbness of my feet and hands. Something you certainly DON'T need when you have to run to the washroom! One drug that has worked for me is Prednisone but it thins the bones and so now I have Osteopenia which is one level higher than Osteoporosis.
I have taken Grape Seed Extract pills which kept me symptom free for over a year, but then I got a big attack and it seemed not to help. So I think the drugs help but they do have side effects, and the natural helps but may help slower, but they don't have as severe side effects as the drugs unless you overdo it with them.
So like others I would encourage you to find what helps you and then stick with it.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply