10 Alternative Therapies for Crohn's Disease
There’s no one treatment for Crohn’s disease that can relieve everyone’s symptoms, all of the time. Perhaps that’s one reason why about 60 percent of people who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s, turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments to boost their health or manage their symptoms, according to research published in June 2016 in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
“Living with Crohn’s disease is an experiment in and of itself,” says Rainesford Alexandra, 24, who was diagnosed with the condition in 2013. “Taking your health into your own hands is both terrifying and empowering.”
Before you get started, however, always tell your doctor about which therapy you’re considering. That way, you can be sure to avoid any negative interactions. Here are 10 practices to try out.
Yoga
“Almost immediately, yoga helped ease my anxiety, which was a side effect of my Crohn’s disease,” says Alexandra, who does hot vinyasa yoga five days a week. “I love twists, because they quite literally wring you out, and inversions, partially because they’re just fun and because they reset your entire system.” Yoga is also relaxing and meditative: Faten Aberra, MD, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, says that in her opinion, yoga mostly helps people with Crohn's cope with stress and improve their well-being.
Slippery Elm
Alexandra takes slippery elm — an herbal supplement that’s also recommended by Jennifer Williamson, ND, a physician who practices in Burlington, Vermont. Used by Native Americans to treat digestive problems as well as wounds, “slippery elm can be healing to Crohn’s disease,” Williamson says, and is available as a tea, tincture, or capsule.
However, since slippery elm is an endangered plant, you may want to consider using other inflammation-reducing herbs like marshmallow and licorice over the long-term, she adds. Because slippery elm can affect your digestive tract, talk to your doctor before starting it — and if you do get approval, don't use it within two hours of taking other medications or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Chamomile
Used to treat digestive issues like gas and diarrhea, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), “chamomile tea’s sedative effects are also extremely mild, so you can drink it at any time of the day without fear of falling asleep in the middle of something important,” says Williamson.
Broth
Cook up a rich broth at home with chicken bones, carrots, and celery, which may help soothe inflammation while providing a boost of key nutrients, Williamson says. (If you’re sensitive to foods like onions and garlic, you can skip them.)
Acupuncture
“The ancient practice of acupuncture may be helpful for people with Crohn's disease,” says William Rollow, MD, MPH, a clinical assistant professor of family and community medicine at the University of Maryland and director of clinical services at its Center for Integrative Medicine in Baltimore. “The mind-body connection in Crohn’s and other gastrointestinal disorders is often significant, and acupuncture can help with this.” Acupuncture along with moxibustion, a therapy that involves burning herbs on targeted parts of the body, has been shown to improve quality of life as well as lab measures of Crohn’s disease, a team of researchers reported in the August 2014 issue of World Journal of Gastroenterology.
Diet
Avoid foods that trigger your Crohn’s disease symptoms or bother you during a flare. If you aren’t sure which foods are to blame, Williamson suggests trying the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, which eliminates all grains and foods with lactose and sucrose. These foods may actually feed some of the bacteria in your gut that could aggravate your Crohn’s disease, she says. Start with a restrictive diet of broth, cooked carrots, and chicken and then gradually add in the permitted foods, she says.
Mindfulness
A mindfulness practice can help you control your anxiety and improve your quality of life, according to research published in the March 2016 journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. As Alexandra knows firsthand, stress can be a significant issue for people with Crohn’s disease and can even trigger flares. And because relaxation techniques like meditation, mindfulness, and deep breathing won’t harm your traditional Crohn’s disease treatment plan, you can try these alternative therapies without worry.
Probiotics
The NCCIH notes that probiotics — or “good” bacteria — can be used to ease digestive symptoms and may be used for IBD, although more research is needed to know which probiotics are most effective. You can find probiotics in yogurt that contains live and active cultures or take a supplement. The goal is to help rebalance your digestive system and possibly maintain remission after a Crohn’s disease flare.
Fish Oil
Fish oil is rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, or healthy fats that are an important part of any diet. Williamson recommends eating flaxseed that’s been soaked in water, another source of omega-3 fatty acids and one that also can soothe the lining of the digestive tract.
And while taking a supplement could help reduce the inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease, it can also increase symptoms such as gassiness, according to the NCCIH. Plus, fish oil supplements can increase bleeding; during an active flare (or if you've had problems with bleeding in the past), check with your doctor about the appropriate amount to take.
Hypnosis
Although research into hypnotherapy and IBD is sparse, this alternative therapy has shown potential for improving your quality of life, reducing your symptoms, and possibly modulating the immune response in other gut disorders. A review of research into gut-directed hypnosis published in the June 2015 issue of Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics suggests that this treatment approach is safe and effective for people with irritable bowel syndrome. If you're interested in hypnotherapy, look for a hypnotherapy practitioner experienced in working with people with gut-related disorders.
0 comments