Crohn’s Disease and Colitis Symptoms
Crohn’s Disease and Colitis are two chronic auto-immune diseases that affect the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract.
They share similar symptoms as described separately below.
Crohn’s disease;
Crohn’s Disease affects the whole gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Patches of healthy tissue are seen between the inflamed areas. Normally, Crohn’s disease affects the last part of the ileum (small intestine).
Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
Ulcerative Colitis affects the lower part of the colon (large intestine) and rectum. UC commonly presents as continuous lesions of inflammation.
With both conditions, sufferers are symptom-free between flare-ups.
Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease and Colitis can include:
- Diarrhoea mixed with blood/mucus
- Severe abdominal pain
- Unintentional weight loss
- Anaemia
- Severe fatigue
- Mouth ulcers and/or cracks at the side of the mouth that don’t heal
Conventional treatments are oral steroids, immune-suppressants, or in extreme cases bowel surgery ending with an external stoma bag.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the bowels, skin and lungs are all linked energetically.
Five top tips for coping with Crohn’s Disease and Colitis:
- Avoid inflammatory foods:
In my June 2021 article, I discuss inflammatory foods and nutrition in detail, but here are the main things to try to avoid or lessen in your diet: dairy, gluten, fatty meats, and processed foods.
- Demulcents, which can be soothing to the gut:
Marshmallow and slippery elm bark are healing and have been used for many years to ease gut inflammation. Most health food shops sell these or email me for details of where to buy them.
- Soft and tender cooked Carrots:
Soft and tender cooked carrots are easy to digest, so do not irritate an inflamed gut.
- B vitamins:
A good B complex vitamin can be good for sores in and around the mouth. This may be needed in a sublingual (under the tongue) form, especially if the person has suffered Crohn’s or UC for many years. The absorption from the gut is compromised; hence, a sublingual spray will ensure the B vitamins are absorbed into the system.
- Probiotics:
Consuming probiotics for ‘3 weeks on 1 week off’ cycle can help to heal a sore gut. They greatly aid the gut microbiome in producing Vitamin B12, Vitamin K2, and calcium. Examples of probiotics: kimchi, bio-live yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut etc.
Homeopathic remedies are wonderfully gentle and effective at treating the painful symptoms of a flare-up. They are also fabulous at tackling the side effects of conventional medication used to treat Crohn’s and UC. Read my case study here.
