Crohn's disease
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease three years ago and have taken varying combinations of Mesalazine, Aziathroprine and Prednisolone without much success. Are there any alternative treatments that might help?
An inflammatory disease which affects the small intestine and the first part of the colon, Crohn’s can cause serious problems with the absorption of the nutrients you do eat and is likely to be exacerbated by wheat, dairy and yeast in your diet. While it can cause bloody stools, which is frightening, it is also highly responsive to simple dietary changes. Switching patients to a high fibre, low-sugar diet, for example, resulted in a 79% reduction in hospital admissions in one study while others show stepping up the amount of sugar in the diet always worsens the symptoms.
Nutritionists believe Crohn’s disease is the result of food intolerances. Yeast and cheese, for instance, are both high in histamine - the same substance the body secretes during an allergic response. People with Crohn’s disease may lack the chemicals which would normally breakdown this substance in the body. They are also more likely to smoke so if this includes you, try and stop.
Zinc, folic acid and vitamin B12 are all needed to repair the intestinal cells damaged by Crohn’s disease. Deficiencies in all three, plus iron, are common in sufferers. The essential oils in fatty fish have an anti-inflammatory action that will help. Herbs such as slippery elm, aloe vera and marshmallow have the same soothing action.
This is such a serious condition, it would be unwise to try and treat yourself. Instead, find a qualified nutritionist with a special interest in digestive disorders. Sophie Shand is a colon specialist who says rehydration is also important in tackling this condition. She recommends you aim for 4 pints of water daily and that you take pre-soaked linseed to further reduce inflammation and to help the colon return to a regular pattern of elimination.
*Sophie Shand practises at Farmacia. Call 0171-831 0830 for details.