Tagged As: Crohns Disease
Question:
I would be interested in any information on Crohn's disease and herbs used to alleviate symptoms in place of steroids. My husband can only reduce to 10 mg per day before symptoms appear - this may always be the case - but we hate the side effects. Currently he takes Una da Gata (Cat's Claw combo) to build his immune system and a Yucca/devils claw combo for joint pain. We have a very open minded internal med Dr. who respects our choices.
Answer:
There is an article in the Lancet. Volume V.II, 1985. Pages 177-180. Crohn's Disease: Maintenance of Remission By Diet. Alun, Jones ... et al. Anyways the gist of it is that they all went on spring water and an elemental diet. (We had Greg on turkey soup broth and water.) They then started adding foods in and if they bugged them they cut that food out of their diet. Out of about 110 people, 50 decided medication and surgery was easier. Of the 60 who remained, 10 did not stay in remission and found that diet did not help, the good news is 50 who stuck to their diets have been 3 years in remission. Greg is now 1 1/3 years in remission which was unimaginable before we did this to him. The things that bother him are gluten, corn, yeast, tap water, coffee, additives, alcohol, and chocolate. Anyway the main food intolerances listed are wheat, dairy products, brassicas, maize, yeast, tomatoes, citrus fruits, eggs, tap water, coffee, banana, potato, lamb, pork, beef, rice, tea, fish, onions, chicken, barley, rye, turkey, additives, alcohol, chocolate, shellfish, and swede. It worked for Greg and it has worked long enough that now our doctor is telling his other Crohn's patients to give it a try. My husband was diagnosed with Crohn's of the Colon with symptoms described above. Since going totally gluten free he has been symptom and medication free and even the brain fog and lack of energy which he never really realized he had (I sometimes now feel he has an overabundance of energy) are also gone. I have often wondered if he was a misdiagnosed celiac but his symptoms remained all through his teen years and we are not willing to try a gluten challenge just to test for celiac. In his words I don't care if it's Crohn's or Celiac, I am happy to be gluten free and healthy. As an aside he did have Crohn's ulcers in his intestine - lots and very bad according to his last colonoscopy before the gf diet. He also fell to 97 lbs before diagnosed and put on medication. He now is about 160 lbs and definitely not overweight. Acidophilus (non dairy form) 1 tsp. in a glass of water twice daily......aids in digestion Garlic capsules (Kyolic) 2 capsules with meals.... odorless garlic that combats free radicals involved in Crohn's disease. Aids healing. Protein supplements (free form amino acids from Ecological Formulas) plus magnesium..... 1,000 mg daily
Add to favorites