Health Topics > Immune system > crohnsdisease(cd)
CROHN’S DISEASE (CD)
What is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn's disease - or ileitis as it is sometimes called - is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory reaction that may affect the gastrointestinal tract from the oesophagus to the anus. However, it most often attacks the last part of the small intestine where it joins the colon in the ileocaecal area.
In Crohn's disease, all layers of the bowel can be affected; eventually scarring may cause narrowing of the intestinal wall. It is an autoimmune disorder.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of CD can be many and may include:
- abdominal pain
- anaemia
- fatigue
- flatulence
- bleeding
- watery/bloody stools
- chronic diarrhoea,
- loud intestinal noises
- fever
- weight loss
- loss of appetite
- nausea and fissures in the anal area.
CD bears many similarities to Ulcerative Colitis. See information on UC here.
Recommended books
- The Healthy Liver & Bowel Book
- The Liver Cleansing Diet Book
- MAGNESIUM The Miracle Mineral You won't believe the difference it makes to your HEALTH! This is my latest book and discusses magnesium as being essential for hundreds of chemical reactions that take place in the body every second, with recent findings also indicating that it offers a wide range of important health-promoting benefits.
- Raw Juices Can Save Your Life
Recommended treatment
Conventional medical treatment includes antibiotics, anti inflammatory agents and/or surgery to remove the diseased portion of the intestine.
- Abdominal X rays may reveal a thickened, scarred and narrowed intestinal wall.
- Stool tests will test positive for blood and pus.
- Barium enema X ray shows lesions in the ileum.
Your specialist may also request a gastroscopy or colonoscopy.
Raw juicing
See CD recipes in --"Raw Juices Can Save Your Life"-- book page 105.
Diet
Diet must be adjusted according to the severity of the symptoms. The goals are good nutrition and prevention of a secondary infection. Follow the vital healthy eating principles outlined on pages 20-30 of "The Healthy Liver & Bowel Book"
The diet must exclude all cow's milk products and gluten. See the recipes in the book The Ultimate Detox.
If the ileum is diseased, be aware that vitamin B 12 deficiency may occur.
Recommended supplements
Magnesium tablets or powder
- Take 2 – 4 tablets daily or 1 teaspoon daily in water or raw juice. Magnesium plays an essential role in maintaining and promoting efficient muscle function and nerve transmission. It is a potent muscle relaxant, useful in spasms, twitches and cramping. Magnesium is also needed during bouts of diarrhoea.
Flaxseed or Fish Oil capsules
- Take 3 capsules daily - omega 3 fats are very useful for those with digestive problems and will also help soothe the colon by reducing inflammation and pain.
Fibre powder
- Take 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon one or two times daily in water or raw juice. A good fibre powder will include vegetable powders as well as ginger to help soothe the colon and regulate bowel actions. Very useful for those with irritated or inflamed digestive tract.
Selenium tablets
- Take 2 - 4 tablets daily - supplementation with antioxidants such as selenium and vitamin C is important as they are proven to exert a protective effect against many types of cancers, including bowel cancer.
Vitamin D capsules
- Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common and can promote autoimmune disease.