| Diet is not the only way to reverse, cure, and control | | | | and environmental hazards. There is a possibility that |
| symptoms of Crohn's disease. Complementary and | | | | the inflammatory bowel disease is part of the body's |
| alternative medicine (CAM) is another method that | | | | defense mechanism. |
| many patients are finding effective in controlling this | | | | There are a number of symptoms that are |
| ailment. CAMs are practices, systems and products | | | | associated with Crohn's disease, ranging from mild to |
| that are not considered part of conventional | | | | severe. They include diarrhea, abdominal pain or |
| medicine, but rather are used in conjunction with | | | | cramping with fever, bleeding from the rectum, and |
| conventional Crohn's disease treatments to help ease | | | | appetite and weight loss. Fatigue is also a common |
| the system. | | | | symptom and other bodily organs can be affected. |
| One such therapy useful in treating and said by many | | | | Children who develop Crohns may have delayed |
| to cure Crohn's is probiotics. Probiotics are live | | | | growth and sexual development problems. Fistulas |
| microorganisms, usually good bacteria that help rebuild | | | | and fissures in the body can also develop as a result |
| a person's immune system. These good bacteria can | | | | from Crohns disease. There are five types of Crohns |
| be types of organisms, yeast or algae, and are | | | | disease and depending on which part of the body is |
| available in different types of food supplements. | | | | affected and the severity of the symptoms will |
| Another CAM treatment that can be used is | | | | determine how severe a case a patient may have. |
| acupuncture. The practitioner would concentrate on | | | | Two often the more severe the case of Crohn's the |
| the areas that are afflicted and use the needles in | | | | more patients seek out alternative Crohn's Disease |
| the appropriate positions along the body. Other types | | | | therapies when conventional medicine doesn't work. |
| of Crohn's disease treatment include: behavioral | | | | Because of the nature of Crohn's disease, a proper |
| therapy; hypnosis; meditation; relaxation therapy; and | | | | diet and alternative medicine therapies may go a long |
| biofeedback. The success of a CAM in helping the | | | | way to controlling the symptoms and severity of |
| symptoms also depends on how much a patient | | | | each individual patients case and even provide a cure. |
| believes in the therapy. | | | | Diets high in protein (especially from oily fish such as |
| A type of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's | | | | salmon and tuna) help fight the protein deficiency |
| disease therapies continue to be explored in case | | | | caused by diarrhea. Complex carbohydrates found in |
| studies and research labs in hope to rid this chronic | | | | vegetables and fruit provide needed fiber. Patients |
| disorder of the digestive tract that can affect | | | | are advised to drink plenty of water and avoid |
| everything from the mouth to the anus. | | | | caffeine. Omega-3 fatty acids and food rich in |
| The majority of patients with Crohns disease have | | | | potassium should also be consumed as part of the |
| irritation of the intestines, a break down of the | | | | diet. |
| microflora, usually focused in the smaller of the two. | | | | If a patient is considering use a complementary and |
| It can affect the colon, although any part of the | | | | alternative medicine to treat their symptoms of |
| gastrointestinal tract can be harmed. Doctor's have | | | | Crohns disease, they need to discuss each option in |
| not yet been able to determine the exact cause of | | | | detail with their primary care physician. With a firm |
| Crohn's disease and are less open minded to | | | | game plan in hand, may sufferers of this debilitating |
| alternative therapies. Some things that may cause it | | | | condition can find relief from alternative therapies. |
| can include a weakened immune systems, genetics, | | | | |