Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease in the gastrointestinal tract. It is considered an autoimmune disorder because the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue within the body. It is chronic and may appear and reappear at times, with minor to severe symptoms. The symptoms include abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea, sometimes constipation, bloody stools, fatigue, weight loss, anemia, increased gas, and loss of appetite. Crohn’s can affect different parts of the intestines, it starts as inflammation and abscesses, which progress into ulcers, overtime lesions may worsen and potentially cause bowel obstruction (Merck Manuals, n.d.). It’s important to see a doctor right away if you are experiencing severe abdominal pain, fever, bloody stools, nausea and vomiting, or diarrhea lasting more than two weeks. Blood tests, stool samples, CT scans, and colonoscopies can be used to discover Crohn’s. Currently, there are no known cures or causes. It usually begins when a person is in their teenage years, often showing symptoms before 15 years old. Mayo clinic states that it’s possible that Crohn’s could be triggered by an environmental factor or bacteria, when the immune system tries to fight off the invading microorganism or environmental triggers, an atypical immune response causes the immune system to attack the cells in the digestive tract (Mayo Clinic, 2020).
Although there are many debilitating symptoms that can come and go, it can be properly managed. Depending on the severity and progression, lifestyle changes, drug therapy, holistic modalities, and holistic nutrition can prevent flare ups, sometimes surgery may be necessary. It’s important to know that not one treatment works for everyone and with each person a different method may be required. The main goal when working with Crohn’s is to reduce inflammation, which triggers a flare up. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet, consuming foods that support gut health, and drinking plenty of clean water are all powerful steps on the path to balance. There have been multiple studies to show the effectiveness of using herbal remedies to soothe the digestive system and provide anti-inflammatory benefits. In one study, Aloe Vera proved to be a safe and powerful anti-inflammatory that reduced the histological disease activity in 44 patients over the course of 4 weeks (Triantafyllidi, 2015). As you can see, natural remedies are proving effectiveness in multiple areas, it’s important to manage stress and mental health when dealing with imbalances within the body, there is always a remedy in nature that can help guide us to a more balanced state.
References:
Shiland, B. (2023). Mastering Healthcare Terminology (7th ed.). Elsevier.
Crohn Disease - Gastrointestinal Disorders. (n.d.). Merck Manuals Professional Edition. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal-disorders/inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd/crohn-disease#:~:text=Pathophysiology%20of%20Crohn%20Disease
Mayo Clinic. (2020, October 13). Crohn’s disease - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304#:~:text=Crohn
Triantafyllidi, A., Xanthos, T., Papalois, A., & Triantafillidis, J. K. (2015). Herbal and plant therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Annals of Gastroenterology, 28(2), 210–220. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367210/
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