Natural/alternative cures for Crohn's disease?

[Buttercat Apocalypse]

I've been a fool to wait so long, but now I have to stop trusting my doctor more than I have to and start doing my own research.

I don't like these immunosuppressants. The doctor tells me I need them, but my intuition says no, no, no.

So what's left? I do believe that the biggest factor is diet. A while back I had a bag of factory-made garlic bread, for instance, and looking on the back the ingredients had more E-numbers than real food. That evening, I got very badly sick. If I'm putting poison in my body, no wonder (also, no wonder we get corhn's disease in the west but not in developing countries). A lot of people seem to get benefits from the specific carbohydrate diet, and do you know, it looks a lot like the raw food diet might: much less processed gunk.

Anyone else have experience with Crohn's?

[sepiagal]

Some think Crohns is about a candida problem. The specific carb diet is needed for a candida problem.

You can eat animal protein on the specific carb diet so I don't think it is the same as going raw.

I've read that pantothenic acid is good for Crohns. I would suggest using all forms, pantethenate and pantethine.

[pharmboy]

Originally Posted by Buttercat Apocalypse

I've been a fool to wait so long, but now I have to stop trusting my doctor more than I have to and start doing my own research.

I don't like these immunosuppressants. The doctor tells me I need them, but my intuition says no, no, no.

So what's left? I do believe that the biggest factor is diet. A while back I had a bag of factory-made garlic bread, for instance, and looking on the back the ingredients had more E-numbers than real food. That evening, I got very badly sick. If I'm putting poison in my body, no wonder (also, no wonder we get corhn's disease in the west but not in developing countries). A lot of people seem to get benefits from the specific carbohydrate diet, and do you know, it looks a lot like the raw food diet might: much less processed gunk.

Anyone else have experience with Crohn's?

There is a research paper where Crohn's was sent into remission on a strict diet of organic red meat and spelt bread. Google red meat and Crohn's and it should pop up. There is evidence that a lack of vitamin D is a culprit.

[bdp]

Your intuition is right. Crohn's and other irritable bowel diseases can be controlled or cured by dietary measures.

Dr. Mcdougall - Crohn's Disease
Eat Right America - Nutritional Care vs. Autoimmune Diseases
Dr Fuhrman's Healthy Times Newsletters: Issue 35

I think that newsletter is $7 to download, but it's definitely worth it. I'm not affiliated with the site.

The bottom line is that most chronic diseases are prevented, controlled, improved or reversed with a diet of natural, unprocessed, mostly-raw plants. Those that support the Paleo diet have similar claims.

[Buttercat Apocalypse]

Wow thanks for all those answers guys, I can't believe I put this research off for so long.

[SilverFirePrime]

I've been dealing with it for a number of years. I find that the worst culprits for me are anything spicy, and difficult to digest (corn, nuts, leafy greens).


Buttercat: I wouldn't completely forgoe the immunosuppresants, as when my body starts fighting any sort of a cold or infection, the first few days can be pretty bad as my immune system starts fighting hard.

[Buttercat Apocalypse]

Originally Posted by SilverFirePrime

I've been dealing with it for a number of years. I find that the worst culprits for me are anything spicy, and difficult to digest (corn, nuts, leafy greens).


Buttercat: I wouldn't completely forgoe the immunosuppresants, as when my body starts fighting any sort of a cold or infection, the first few days can be pretty bad as my immune system starts fighting hard.

Yes, but if you reduce the immune system long term you get more infections. I kept on getting infection after another during one period until I finally gave up the pills without telling my parents. It was killing me.

[JAX]

My brother had great results with changing his diet, I don’t remember the specifics, but I will connect with him soon and share with you. One thing I do remember is no wheat and no gluten. He had all sorts of alternatives to pasta and bread. It worked very well for him. He no longer has to be so strict with his diet. Good luck with it.
JAX

[pharmboy]

Here is the link. Crohn's may have more to do with toxins than exactly what we eat.
Organic diet may benefit Crohn's disease patients

[Monique7nuns]

I was diagnonsensed w/Crohn's in 2005.. and experienced chronic symptoms from it and other related digestive imbalances (IBS) since 2000. It didn't take me long to realize traditional medical has no clue. They just want to give you a "bandaid" pill like anything else. There is loads of info about alternative treatments about digestive disorders out there and the only way to figure it out is to try them. It's really hard and even moreso if you have emotional eating issues, like me.

If you're diciplined and ready to get the job of healing done, try Bee's Candida Plan. She also has a support group where she personally answers questions about it. As a member for most of this year I've never seen her ignore anyone. She gives so much of herself, it's amazing.

I've been toying around with the program most of this year as well, but the sugar beast combined w/my own emotional eating issues have proven to be difficult challenges.. even after all the hell I've gone through. My diet has gone through roller coaster changes, but noticable overall improvement of the symptoms has been experienced when I was able to consistently abstain from processed grains and processed sugars. You'll see that Bee's plan calls for complete abstance of each in ALL forms.

Let me know if you have any questions. I'd be happy to discuss it further. Good luck!

[Buttercat Apocalypse]

Damn, I'm bowled over by the support I'm getting here. Let me share what I've descovered so far.

Firstly, a few weeks ago I got a reading with Erin and this was one of the issues we went over. I trust Erin's stuff very much seeing as so much of it was clearly true, and my own intuition is pretty good too, especially now. I've been using my intuition a lot for this issue, and it has served me very well. But anyway what Erin recommended was a) a herb or something like that (that bit was vague, she wasn't quite sure what she was seeing) and b) Chiropractic, Nutrition and Dietary Supplements, Dr. Anita Pepi. I really like the look of dr. Pepi, and I've asked to get a phone consultation. As for the first one, very shortly after the reading synchronicity brought my way a herb called Verbena which I never heard of in Britain, but I was in France where it's a common drink. It makes me feel a lot better. Also important is just to drink a lot to make sure nothing stays stuck in the intestine - keep it all moving.

I've also got rid of gluten and am being very conscious about following my intution regarding which foods to eat and which not. I'm not eating corn, no soya, and nothing processed if I can avoid it: if there's an E-number and I really want to eat it, I search the number on the internet first. You'd be shocked at the **** they put in things. Avoid artificial sweeteners particularly, they are poison.

Finally, I've gotten Aloe Vera juice (it kept popping up - I think my guides were sending me a message) brand "lily of the desert" which has a real great energy to it, and has the irritant substances removed. It tastes a bit wierd but it instantly made me feel better. It's the real deal guys, look into it.

I'll keep updating if anyone is getting some help out of this information.

[Monique7nuns]

That's great to read how you're intuition is guiding you through. Ideally I've always thought that is how it should work but when you start going through 'healing reactions' (detox) it doesn't always seem that way.

I was curious about verbena and looked up its therapeutic properties

"..used for a variety of ailments including relief of digestive tract spasms, reduction of fever, strengthening of the nervous system, stress relief and as an anti-spasmodic and expectorant. Lemon verbena has the ability to help break down cellulite, as well as to exert a soothing, healing and toning effect on the skin.

..Lemon verbena tea is believed to help regulate the menstrual cycle and assist with symptoms of PMS. It has also been found useful in the treatment of Crohn's disease; an autoimmune disease which affects the gastro-intestinal tract."

I'm currently drinking a minimum of 1 cup of herb water per day with peppermint, dandelion and milk thistle. I'll have to see if I can find some lemon verbena too. Does it taste much like lemon? It looks like it is commonly used in place of it. I imagine it could carry some of the same benefits as lemon only without the citric acid, which is what I'm very sensitive to.

[Buttercat Apocalypse]

Originally Posted by Monique7nuns

That's great to read how you're intuition is guiding you through. Ideally I've always thought that is how it should work but when you start going through 'healing reactions' (detox) it doesn't always seem that way.

That's odd, I've been experimenting a lot but haven't really experienced much of this "detox" stuff, not even when I transitioned to a vegan diet.

I was curious about verbena and looked up its therapeutic properties

"..used for a variety of ailments including relief of digestive tract spasms, reduction of fever, strengthening of the nervous system, stress relief and as an anti-spasmodic and expectorant. Lemon verbena has the ability to help break down cellulite, as well as to exert a soothing, healing and toning effect on the skin.

..Lemon verbena tea is believed to help regulate the menstrual cycle and assist with symptoms of PMS. It has also been found useful in the treatment of Crohn's disease; an autoimmune disease which affects the gastro-intestinal tract."

I'm currently drinking a minimum of 1 cup of herb water per day with peppermint, dandelion and milk thistle. I'll have to see if I can find some lemon verbena too. Does it taste much like lemon? It looks like it is commonly used in place of it. I imagine it could carry some of the same benefits as lemon only without the citric acid, which is what I'm very sensitive to.

I don't know if lemon verbena is the same as what I'm drinking, but yeah, it does taste vaguely lemony. I'd just say it tastes like verbena though

[Andrew Gubb]

Bought three month's worth of this: vegan Omega-3. This was recommended in one article on Crohn's I read, quite apart from it being great for general health. Water4life :: health-giving vegetarian dietary supplements

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by Buttercat Apocalypse

I've been a fool,
I don't like these immunosuppressants. The doctor
tells me I need them, but my intuition says no, no, no.

but now I have to stop trusting my doctor more than I have
and start doing my own research.
So what's left? I do believe that the biggest factor is diet.

(also, no wonder we get Crohn's disease in the west,
but not in developing countries).

Anyone else have experience with Crohn's?

Actually, you were on the right track, by asking:
WHY are poorer countries with less food-choices, yet
often not nearly as sick with a majority of "chronic"-diseases than the educated?-West.
iow, tell people odd schtuff long enough, until they believe.

Continue your own research, and you will discover...
many "chronic"-diseases, are the workings of a mistaken mind. Get this healed, and live joyful!

[namitsu]

I've been diagnosed with colitis ulcerosa for about a year and ive been using these enema medicine (i also use methotrexate and adalimumab because I also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis). For about a month I've changed my diet to exclude processed food as much as possible and it's starting to have effect, but it did ONLY after I STOPPED with the enema form of medication (mesalazinum). Perhaps it's not the same as chron's, but it's similar. I largely eat a lot of different colors of steamed veggies, fish (or chicken) and rice for dinner, throughout the day it's more fruit and some nuts. In addition I followed this guide to try and help me with my RA, it might have helped with my colon too:

Dr. Klaper's Nutritional Strategy

Found that on Paleolithic Diet Page (Paleo Diet, Caveman Diet, Hunter/Gatherer Diet) I think.

Also, this video has some good insight.

[Andrew Gubb]

Originally Posted by namitsu

Dr. Klaper's Nutritional Strategy

Found that on Paleolithic Diet Page (Paleo Diet, Caveman Diet, Hunter/Gatherer Diet) I think.

Also, this video has some good insight.

Thanks for the links! Checking them out now.

Update on my journey: I've ditched infliximab and I'm feeling better and better about it. I hate pretty much all artificial drugs. Just because 99% of people don't have any VISIBLE side effects within a FEW YEARS doesn't make it safe at all. On the other hand, very few plants, in moderation, that taste good are poisonous. Hmm...

So I'm taking turmeric now which is supposed to have the same anti-inflammatory effect as cortisone. THOSE BASTARDS GAVE ME STERIODS AND THEY COULD HAVE GIVEN ME A ****ING SPICE!!!

And continuing my research...

[Andrew Gubb]

The guy who does that video is GREAT.

I noted down Klaper's recommended supplements. I didn't know you could get non-dairy acidophilus -- def worth a try.

Paleo diet links are interesting. Some of them are more or less good -- there was one site that debunked vegetarianism in a pseudo-authoritive turn that really got under my skin (and it discarded breatharianism out of hand -- tell that to my friend who lived a whole year without eating, hah).

Interesting, this paleo diet, how it tells you to avoid beans and grains. Grains I think is because wheat has been messed up by too much selective breeding-- no other reason, not because it's more natural or anything: rice, millet, buckweat and quinoa are OK in my opinion. Rice particularly makes me feel great. Raw (sprouted) quinoa makes me a bit sick, though... cooked was great when I ate it. Buckweat is great cos it's edible raw without soaking. I throw it over all my salads. I soak integral basmati rice, which is quite edible, though not in huge amounts like cooked.

I love sprouted chickpeas and lentils, though admittedly I find it hard to eat more than a handful like that. They make me feel great, warm inside after. I should do some more research on those I guess. I want them to be a staple.

[namitsu]

Originally Posted by Andrew Gubb

Thanks for the links! Checking them out now.

Update on my journey: I've ditched infliximab and I'm feeling better and better about it.

I'm glad to be of help with the links.
So, you feel better about it, but how about the symptoms? Or is it too early to tell just now? I remember I ditched methotrexate for like a month and my symptoms got worse. Ofcourse it's so hard to tell if it's that or some other factor, it's hard and difficult to find out.

So I'm taking turmeric now which is supposed to have the same anti-inflammatory effect as cortisone. THOSE BASTARDS GAVE ME STERIODS AND THEY COULD HAVE GIVEN ME A ****ING SPICE!!!

That's interesting. But that's a pretty big claim. Do you get results or did you just start with the turmeric? I'm gonna look into it.

[namitsu]

Originally Posted by Andrew Gubb

The guy who does that video is GREAT.

I noted down Klaper's recommended supplements. I didn't know you could get non-dairy acidophilus -- def worth a try.

I went to get all of them (ordered from the net), and I've been using them for a month now. With, I must say, good results. Yeah, that lorax guy has some really insightful information in his videos .

Interesting, this paleo diet, how it tells you to avoid beans and grains. Grains I think is because wheat has been messed up by too much selective breeding-- no other reason, not because it's more natural or anything: rice, millet, buckweat and quinoa are OK in my opinion. Rice particularly makes me feel great.

I eat rice too and yeah, it makes me feel great as well. I think that grains are to be avoided (at least from a paleo point of view) first of all because it's excluded from the paleo diet: They just weren't around. Second, they aren't edible when raw. The toxins aren't completely gone after heating either. The reason they can be preserved for so long is precisely because of these toxins. Same with beans and potatoes. I eat rice because I know it's not harmful for my bowels. As a matter of fact, they put rice substances into bowel supporting products (like the one mentioned in dr. klapers list: 'ultra sustain' or something). As you could probably conclude from there, if I keep my bowels healthy that can help with my arthritis too.
I kind of look at the paleo diet as a basis for my current diet and then I add some foods that from experience I know make me feel better. I just try and see.

[Monique7nuns]

Regarding grains and legumes on the Paleo diet: INTRODUCTION TO THE PALEOLITHIC DIET

That article explains the biological evolution of those plants and why their not recommended. It's pretty interesting.

----------------------

Something else new I recently learned re IBD - A guy named Paul Nison wrote a short book about his experience with Healing Inflammatory Bowel Disease.. (Crohn's and in his case Ulcerative Colitis) and he says he's done it by going raw. This is the first time I've heard of going this route. He begins with green juices, a few supplements and blended salads to heal and detox then to get your blood tested to figure out how to cater a diet best to suit the needs of the individual.

further proving the point that there is no one "right" way to do it - although I sure wish there was... and that I knew what it is

[Andrew Gubb]

Originally Posted by namitsu

I'm glad to be of help with the links.
So, you feel better about it, but how about the symptoms? Or is it too early to tell just now? I remember I ditched methotrexate for like a month and my symptoms got worse. Ofcourse it's so hard to tell if it's that or some other factor, it's hard and difficult to find out.

That's interesting. But that's a pretty big claim. Do you get results or did you just start with the turmeric? I'm gonna look into it.

For both things, it's too soon to say the results. But even later, I don't know if I could really give you a good answer. I'm changing so many things in my life all at the same time, so tracing back the effects to the causes is hard. Intuitively, both of these things feel right, however. That's all I can say.

[Andrew Gubb]

Originally Posted by Monique7nuns

Something else new I recently learned re IBD - A guy named Paul Nison wrote a short book about his experience with Healing Inflammatory Bowel Disease.. (Crohn's and in his case Ulcerative Colitis) and he says he's done it by going raw. This is the first time I've heard of going this route. He begins with green juices, a few supplements and blended salads to heal and detox then to get your blood tested to figure out how to cater a diet best to suit the needs of the individual.

further proving the point that there is no one "right" way to do it - although I sure wish there was... and that I knew what it is

I might get that book, thanks.

I don't know if I've wrote this on this thread but I'm trying raw as well. I seem to be getting along fairly well so far (3 weeks or so).

[Monique7nuns]

Hi Andrew..

I was wondering if you got the Paul Nison book? After listening to the Gabriel Method meditation last night I couldn't get to sleep so I felt a little inspired to read the Nison book.. getting books and not reading them is something I do quite a bit - - Anyway, it's only 80 or so pages long and I finished it in one sitting.

His main thing is to go through a detox period depending on the severity of your condition. Phase 1 of the detox consists of green juice, water, almond milk and supplements for up to 5 days (if you have moderate to serious inflamation - pain - anywhere in the digestive track because it gives it a rest) Then you add blended salads and some low glycemic fruits w/the juice like apples to detox and heal until you are pooping normally.. from there it's a matter of gradually figuring out how raw whole foods work best for you.

Aside from that, how is raw working with or for your IBD?

[Andrew Gubb]

Originally Posted by Monique7nuns

Hi Andrew..

I was wondering if you got the Paul Nison book? After listening to the Gabriel Method meditation last night I couldn't get to sleep so I felt a little inspired to read the Nison book.. getting books and not reading them is something I do quite a bit - - Anyway, it's only 80 or so pages long and I finished it in one sitting.

His main thing is to go through a detox period depending on the severity of your condition. Phase 1 of the detox consists of green juice, water, almond milk and supplements for up to 5 days (if you have moderate to serious inflamation - pain - anywhere in the digestive track because it gives it a rest) Then you add blended salads and some low glycemic fruits w/the juice like apples to detox and heal until you are pooping normally.. from there it's a matter of gradually figuring out how raw whole foods work best for you.

Aside from that, how is raw working with or for your IBD?

Thanks for that, that sounds very interesting and even synchronistic. I recently got a really incredible energy healing but after I didn't feel that perfect, so I realised I still have physical aspects to take care of.

Getting into the swing of Raw was quite hard and definitely set off my symptoms in the short term, but now I'm doing really well on it and even having solid poops quite frequently (big thing for me!!) The other day I tried eating cooked rice (this used to be the cooked food that made me feel the best sense of wellbeing) and it made me vomit, so I can say that I'm probably raw for life, but since I realised that, I realised that it hasn't cured me, either. Only a piece of the puzzle.

Then I remembered something specific which Erin told me in the reading: that I needed to find some sort of herb to flush everything out of me, that there was some stuff that was in me rotting and poisoning me. So I thought that was verbena which I discovered a couple of days after the reading; but no, the other day I saw this by complete synchronicity and my intuition bells went right off. Crohn's disease Seekers, behold, the power of Cat's Claw: Sangster's Health Centres :: Natural Living Magazine Online Archives

So I'm going to arrange some sort of purifying fast, and looking for synchronicity to bring me a good naturopath. That book, I'm getting it, it could well be exactly what I need

[Monique7nuns]

Originally Posted by Andrew Gubb

Thanks for that, that sounds very interesting and even synchronistic. I recently got a really incredible energy healing but after I didn't feel that perfect, so I realised I still have physical aspects to take care of.

Getting into the swing of Raw was quite hard and definitely set off my symptoms in the short term, but now I'm doing really well on it and even having solid poops quite frequently (big thing for me!!) The other day I tried eating cooked rice (this used to be the cooked food that made me feel the best sense of wellbeing) and it made me vomit, so I can say that I'm probably raw for life, but since I realised that, I realised that it hasn't cured me, either. Only a piece of the puzzle.

Then I remembered something specific which Erin told me in the reading: that I needed to find some sort of herb to flush everything out of me, that there was some stuff that was in me rotting and poisoning me. So I thought that was verbena which I discovered a couple of days after the reading; but no, the other day I saw this by complete synchronicity and my intuition bells went right off. Crohn's disease Seekers, behold, the power of Cat's Claw: Sangster's Health Centres :: Natural Living Magazine Online Archives

So I'm going to arrange some sort of purifying fast, and looking for synchronicity to bring me a good naturopath. That book, I'm getting it, it could well be exactly what I need

That's great! I can only imagine how profound having a normal or close to normal bowel movement feels. It sounds like the effects of cat's claw may also be profound in conjunction with a nutritious diet. I may pick some of it up at the co-op next time I'm there.. at this point it wouldn't hurt to try.. which I'm beginning to think about the Nison raw healing route as well.. And that IS pretty major for me.

I was wondering, are you doing or taking any of the following?

digestive enzymes
probiotics
chlorophyll via wheat grass shots, algae or dark leafy greens
colonics

[RubberDuck]

I can only second to follow your intuition on this.

My recommendation would be:

Avoid:
Immunosuppressants
Antibiotics (only to be used as a last resort) It seems to be a triggering factor in many autoimmune deceases
Coffee
Spicey food etc.

Look into:
Aloe Vera (as you use already)
Medical Mushrooms
The benefits of faste (If you are not to skinny already)
Change of diet
Green tea
Personal Development (I can recommend the Sedona Method Course)

Regards,
RD

[Andrew Gubb]

Originally Posted by Monique7nuns

That's great! I can only imagine how profound having a normal or close to normal bowel movement feels. It sounds like the effects of cat's claw may also be profound in conjunction with a nutritious diet. I may pick some of it up at the co-op next time I'm there.. at this point it wouldn't hurt to try.. which I'm beginning to think about the Nison raw healing route as well.. And that IS pretty major for me.

I was wondering, are you doing or taking any of the following?

digestive enzymes
probiotics
chlorophyll via wheat grass shots, algae or dark leafy greens
colonics

Not really, apart from chlorophyll by eating salads (but not really consciously)... and I'm thinking of colonics... can you expand on them a bit?

[Andrew Gubb]

Originally Posted by RubberDuck

I can only second to follow your intuition on this.

My recommendation would be:

Avoid:
Immunosuppressants
Antibiotics (only to be used as a last resort) It seems to be a triggering factor in many autoimmune deceases
Coffee
Spicey food etc.

Look into:
Aloe Vera (as you use already)
Medical Mushrooms
The benefits of faste (If you are not to skinny already)
Change of diet
Green tea
Personal Development (I can recommend the Sedona Method Course)

Regards,
RD

Some good advice there... Medical mushrooms and green tea I didn't know about, is green tea that great? As for the mushrooms, I think I saw a little bit about them, reishi and stuff like that, good anti-inflammatories no?

Personal Development? I'm always interested in that I checked out sedona.com, and I'll look into it deeper later... thanks!

[RubberDuck]

Originally Posted by Andrew Gubb

Some good advice there... Medical mushrooms and green tea I didn't know about, is green tea that great? As for the mushrooms, I think I saw a little bit about them, reishi and stuff like that, good anti-inflammatories no?

Personal Development? I'm always interested in that I checked out sedona.com, and I'll look into it deeper later... thanks!

Aloe Vera and Medical mushrooms are in same catagory, both contains a beneficial kind of polysaccharides. They are not directly anti-inflammatories, but helps your immune system and has the function of incapsulating the bacteria flora in your gut so your immune system does not see this as something in need of attack.

I don't have any direct documentation for the green tea, but see some indications that this could be helpful. Especially if it is replacing coffee..

Personal development and avoiding any kind of stress is very important, maybe the sole most critical factor.

There is a new product called Dicoflor 60, which I would recommend to try as well.


RD