Crohn's Disease Overview

Crohn's Disease Overview

Crohn's Disease is a chronic inflammation of the intestines, bowel or digestive tract. This disease is one of a number of similar colon related diseases known as inflammatory bowel diseases, or IBD. Crohn's disease can affect any area of the digestive tract from mouth to anus, but it's most often found in the lower area of the small intestine, known as the ileum.

The inflammation is usually found deep within the lining of the organ affected, which causes both pain and frequent diarrhea from the intestines being emptied continuously. Sometimes the diarrhea is bloody too.

Crohn's disease affects men, women and children, though the actual cause is not known. There are some indications of hereditary and genetic links though. About 20% of Crohn's disease sufferers have family members who also have some form of inflammatory bowel disease, with siblings being the most common. There are also a variety of theories and studies which we'll cover in more detail throughout this series.

A related IBD known as Ulcerative colitis affects the top layer of lining in the large intestine, which can make diagnosis of Crohn's disease more difficult. To make things even more complicated, many of the symptoms of this disease mimic a disorder known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS.

One of the defining symptoms of Crohn's Disease is bleeding however. Doctors can test for blood in the stools; perform blood tests for anemia, because this could be an indication of internal bleeding of the intestine; and perform an upper GI, or gastrointestinal series, which is an x-ray process that will reveal inflammation and abnormalities in the intestine.

Other symptoms of Crohn's disease include abdominal pain or tenderness - particularly high on the right side - fever, weight loss, being tired, having sores around the anus which produce discharge, ulcers on the tongue or cheek, inflamed eyes, painful or swollen joints and red bumps on your skin.

In addition to the diagnosis methods already mentioned, doctors might also decide to do a colonoscopy. This involves inserting a flexible tube into the anus to see inside the large intestine. The tube is often hooked to a TV or computer monitor so the doctor can see internal inflammation or bleeding during the examination. Sometimes they'll take a tissue sample as well, to send to the lab for further testing.

If the colonoscopy shows inflammation or bleeding, the doctor normally orders additional x-rays of both the upper and lower intestines to see how far the disease has progressed.

There are a whole host of complications which can arise with Crohn's disease. Ulceric sores can tunnel through the tissue and affect surrounding organs such as the bladder, skin and vagina for instance. These tunnels, commonly called fistulas, often become infected.

Nutritional deficiencies are well documented side effects of Crohn's disease, though some researchers question whether these might actually contribute to the disease instead. Other complications of Crohn's disease can include kidney stones, arthritis, skin problems, eye inflammations, liver diseases, and more.

As we've talked about in previous herbal and alternative remedy article series, when the colon or bowel is sick, the entire body reflects that sickness, and the documented side effects and complications of Crohn's disease is an excellent example of this concept.

In this series on Crohn's disease, we'll look closer at modern medical science treatments, theories on causes, the candida fungus connection, side effects and complications, controlling Crohn's with diet and herbs, and healing Crohn's with herbs and natural remedies.

Modern Treatments for Crohn's Disease

Modern science and medicine feel there is no actual cure for Crohn's Disease, so treatments attempt to manage symptoms instead. There are many different treatments used to try and control or reduce the symptoms of Crohn's disease and the complications it can create within other areas of the body.

Which treatments are chosen depend on the specifics of a given Crohn's disease case. How severe the disease is for instance, or where it's located in the body are two considerations. Others treatment factors to consider include what complications are already in progress, and how the patient has responded to previous treatments.

Much of the treatment for Crohn's disease revolves around correcting vitamin and nutritional deficiencies, controlling or stopping the bleeding, controlling inflammation, and relieving other symptoms such as pain and diarrhea. Crohn's disease treatment methods usually involve the use of drugs, nutritional supplements, or surgery. In some cases a combination of these treatments is used.

Modern medicine currently feels it's possible to use treatments to control the disease, but there is no known official cure. Some people can go into remission from Crohn's disease though, and sometimes that remission can last for years. Unfortunately the sporadic remission patterns make it difficult to know if any one individual or combination of treatments caused the remission.

When drug treatments are tried for Crohn's disease, there can be a variety of different medications involved. Many attempt to reduce inflammation, and some of these contain a substance known as mesalamine. Unfortunately there are side effects from these drugs, some of which are the same as the disease symptoms. Side effects from drugs containing mesalamine can include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and headaches.

An herbal anti-inflammatory option which doesn't have these common side effects is White Willow, but this is not known to be used by most modern medical professionals. We'll go into further detail about herbal remedies and treatments later in this series.

Another type of prescription drug which seems to be more effective on active Crohn's disease are those which contain corticosteroids. These unfortunately can leave you more susceptible to infections though, and they too contain some unpleasant side effects.

Then there are immune suppressing drugs used for treating Crohn's disease as well. These drugs attempt to suppress the immune system which causes inflammations to occur. The problem herbalists see with this approach of course, is that suppressing the body's immune system is suppressing one of it's primary defense mechanisms. And this leaves your body more susceptible to additional infections or diseases.

Doctors often treat Crohn's disease with antibiotics however, because of the common problem with fistulas becoming infected. Bacterial overgrowth is also found to be quite common with Crohn's disease sufferers, and these bacteria again can create additional infections or other health problems.

The diarrhea and stomach pain is often reduced or eliminated with the reduction of inflammation, but sometimes doctors will prescribe additional medications to treat these symptoms, as well as fluids and electrolytes for those who have become dehydrated from the chronic diarrhea.

Surgery is sometimes used to remove part or all of the intestines. Unfortunately this will help with the disease, but not fully cure it. It's not uncommon for the area right next to a previous inflammation, to become inflamed itself.

Note: Some statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice.

Theories on the Causes of Crohn's Disease

What causes Crohn's disease is a hotly debated and controversial topic. Several theories abound about the causes of Crohn's disease. Some say it's a disease caused by the body's own immune system, while others feel it's a genetic and hereditary issue. Others however, feel that dietary habits and poor nutrition actually cause this disease, while many more point to bacteria and fungus as being the cause. Let's look at each theory more closely.

Crohn's disease sufferers often have severe vitamin and nutrition deficiencies. Some experts feel this is a side effect of the disease itself, because the inflamed intestinal walls prevent proper absorption of vitamins and minerals from foods eaten. Compounded by the frequent emptying of the intestine, there isn't much time for the body to actually absorb nutrition available from foods and drinks.

Other experts however, feel that Crohn's disease might actually be caused by a lack of proper nutrition. Some studies for instance, show that many people diagnosed with Crohn's disease have diets high in sugars and simple starches, yet low in fiber, vitamins and other essential nutrients. Diets high in fiber are known to be beneficial to our digestive system, and not eating enough fiber can cause digestive related problems such as constipation, hemorrhoids, liver or gall bladder problems, and more. Many natural remedy experts feel that an unhealthy colon will actually cause common skin conditions and problems too, such as Psoriasis.

A modern day American diet is not nearly as high in vitamins and nutrients as it needs to be either. People don't eat enough simple things such as raw fruits and vegetables for instance, and they opt for quick microwave or fast food meals instead of the more nutritious home cooked foods.

The genetic and hereditary theories are based on the fact that roughly 20% of people with Crohn's disease have a blood relative who also has some sort of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The counter-argument to this of course, is that since most of those cases involve siblings, the problem could very well be caused by eating and dietary habits instilled in the family as they were growing up.

The immune system is another culprit blamed by some experts, and this theory is controversial as well. Common medical treatments for Crohns disease includes the use of drugs which will suppress the body's immune system. Some studies however, have shown that a weak immune system could actually be the cause of Crohn's disease instead. And by boosting that immune system, the studies showed significant improvements in the Crohn's disease patients.

The most promising studies on the causes of Crohn's disease though, point to a potential link between fungus bacteria known as Candida. Crohn's disease patients are known to have an overabundance of yeast causing bacteria in their system, and some studies have even shown that various IBD's have occurred in children and adults who recently underwent heavy prescription antibiotic use for another infection. Antibiotics are well known to be a common cause of a multitude of various yeast infections, because they kill all the friendly flora in the body, which gives the Candida bacteria room to flourish.

So, due to the wide variety of beliefs and theories about the causes of Crohn's disease, one individual's treatment may vary from another's based on what they personally believe, or what their chosen primary care provider believes.

The Role Of Candida Fungus In Crohn's Disease

Candida albicans is a yeast or fungus like bacteria that lives in everyone's body. When the body is healthy though, the candida is kept under control by other, so called "friendly" flora which also lives inside our body. Candida flourishes best in the human digestive tract, intestines and bowels. When the balance of bacteria and flora is upset within the human body, Candida is often able to gain a large foothold with little to no competition. This causes a host of different infections, symptoms, and conditions.

When Candida is left unchecked in the body, it can cause problems such as oral thrush, vaginal yeast infections, athlete's foot, and digestive disorders among other things. Prescription antibiotics are a known cause for yeast and fungus related infections in the human body, and many researchers feel there is enough evidence to point to these being a suspicious culprit in the development of Crohn's disease too.

Some studies have shown the development of Crohn's disease or other inflammatory bowel disorders after the use of broad spectrum antibiotics for instance, while others have shown the use of specific candida causing foods to also be a contributing factor.

The problems arise when treatments for Crohn's disease are chosen. If the disease is actually caused by yeast and fungus bacteria, then a first step in treatment should involve balancing the digestive bacteria in the body. Doctors and medical scientists however, choose to use drug treatments which might actually make the conditions worse.

In attempts to reduce inflammation in Crohn's disease for instance, some drugs are used which will suppress the body's immune system. And by suppressing that immune system, you subject it to potentially developing even more problems because it doesn't have it's natural defense systems operating at full capacity. Additionally, drugs such as steroids and immune suppressors can allow the candida to flourish.

Alternative and herbal remedy specialists feel you should treat for a candida yeast or fungal infections instead. Using simple inexpensive, gentle herbs such as garlic can kill the candida and fungus overgrowth in the digestive tract. Garlic will also treat the common infections that crop up as side effects of Crohn's disease too.

Another natural method to control yeast and fungus overgrowth is to simply change the foods you eat. Some foods - such as those very high in simple sugars and starches - help candida to flourish and thrive. Gluten and grains can often cause candida overgrowth as well, so avoiding these in your diet is often an excellent way to balance the flora in your intestines, while reducing the inflammation commonly found with Crohn's disease as well. Natural yogurt on the other hand, can supplement the friendly flora in your system, which will naturally start reducing the candida bacteria too.

Complications of Crohn's Disease

As mentioned previously, there are a variety of complications that can arise with Crohn's disease. These complications run the gamut from digestive related issues such as internal bleeding, diarhhea, and intestinal blockages, to seemingly unrelated health issues such as kidney stones, infections, arthritis, skin conditions, and eye inflammations.

Modern medical science isn't quite sure why all of these complications can arise with Crohn's disease, but herbal and alternative remedy specialists feel they have the answer. Crohn's disease is a colon related health problem, and when your colon is unhealthy, the rest of your body is too.

The liver, small and large intestine, and bowel are the primary means for waste and toxin disposal by your body. When one or more of these elements is unhealthy, it can have a severe impact on the rest of your body.

Just having a backed up colon can cause a variety of chronic conditions and health problems. Some people for instance, will experience skin eruptions and build up such as with Psoriasis, while others may experience problems with their appendix, gall bladder, and kidneys.

The basic premise is simple when you know how the colon and waste disposal system of your body works. Bile is created by the liver as a by product of filtering out toxins and other harmful substances from your body. That bile is sent through the intestines, and slowly moves through in the form of solid waste. Eventually it's disposed of through your regular bowel movements.

If a person is not having regular bowel movements however, that waste and toxic material stays within your digestive system. And if it stays there too long, it can create infections, and leak toxins into other organs and areas of the body through your thin colon walls, all of which creates various other health problems. Often there are parasites within the intestines and bowels too, and these can create additional infections, inflammations and misc health problems which often seem completely unrelated. The colon however, is connected to every part of your body. And it can have a dramatic effect on every part of your body too.

So by simply cleaning the entire colon, you can potentially resolve many misc health and medical problems because you're flushing old toxic waste out instead of poisoning your body with it.

Most of the complications noted as being caused by Crohns disease are often treated by herbalists in similar manners. The success of this approach alone suggests these herbal and natural approaches are actually on the right track with potential causes of diseases and health conditions.

Fighting infections naturally for instance, is done with herbal antibiotics or anti fungals such as garlic. These same herbs will kill parasites and fungus related bacteria in your system, which will in turn reduce chronic inflammation such as that commonly seen with Crohn's disease.

Internal bleeding of the intestines, another common complication of Crohn's disease, can also be treated with herbs such as Cayenne. Treating for an infection and toxic build up at the same time is essential however, to prevent future flare ups and problems which originally caused the inflammation and bleeding to begin with. Using other herbs and remedies which sooth the inflamed tissues can help with pain complications in addition to the inflammatory problems as well.

Intestinal blockages are also treated with colon healing herbs and remedies. Flushing the colon with an herbal enema for instance, will clear a colon blockage quickly. Taking herbs which flush the colon is another method for clearing a blockage naturally.

So, from an herbal and natural remedy philosophy, cleansing and healing the colon will normally resolve most - if not all - so called complications which arise from Crohn's disease.

Managing Crohn's Disease Symptoms with Herbs

Managing the symptoms, side effects and complications which arise with Crohn's disease is the primary goal of most doctors and medical specialists. The same effects however, can be achieved by using safer, more gentle substances in your body instead of the commonly prescribed drugs. There are many herbs and herbal remedies which work quite well for addressing, reducing, and in some cases eliminating the side Crohn's disease symptoms and side effects.

Internal bleeding is a common complication of Crohn's disease, and this can be dangerous if left untreated. An herbal way to treat bleeding however, is the use of Cayenne. Simple cayenne pepper such as what you use to flavor meals at the dinner table will stop external and internal bleeding. Cayenne is an herb also known as Capsicum, and it can be purchased in capsule form at almost any drug, herb, or natural health store.

Inflammation of the intestinal lining is another common complication of Crohn's disease, and there are several herbs which can help reduce or eliminate this problem as well. White willow is a natural anti-inflammatory herb which will also reduce pain for instance.

Slippery Elm is a wonderful herb to use for both inflammation and diarrhea though. This herb coats, soothes and heals irritated and inflamed tissues in the stomach, bowels and kidneys. Slippery elm is also one of the best herbs to use for diarrhea. It normalizes the stools, while soothing and healing the intestinal tract lining.

Intestinal blockages are a common side effect of Crohns disease too, because the inflamed intestinal tissue can create scars with shrink the passageway. Since Slippery Elm helps normalize stools, this can be an herb to help with blockages as well. Alternatively you might try an herbal laxative instead, such as Senna or Cascara Sagrada.

Another frequently seen complication of Crohn's disease are subsidiary infections caused by fistulas which have reached out to other organs such as the kidneys, bladder or vagina. An excellent herbal treatment for infections is Garlic. This is a powerful antibiotic and anti fungus herb which can solve a variety of infection and bacteria related problems inside the body.

Using these herbs and others like them to treat Crohn's disease symptoms and complications is a much more gentle and safer way to treat your body. These herbs have little to no harmful side effects, and they have the added benefit of being extremely high in essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients your body desperately needs when you have Crohn's disease.

Healing Crohn's Disease with Herbal Remedies

As touched upon in a previous section of this series, many of the side effects, symptoms and complications can be treated and managed using simple herbs or herbal remedies. What many people don't realize though, is that the problems might be curable using these same herbs and herbal remedies too.

This is a controversial topic as we've discussed previously, and part of the controversy stems from differing beliefs about the possible causes of Crohn's disease. There is also very little scientific evidence or studies which have been conducted on using herbal and natural remedies to treat or cure diseases. Some people feel this lack of evidence and study is caused by the fact that pharmaceutical companies are unable to make large profits on herbal products, because they can't be patented. Whatever the reason though, many thousands of people have used herbs and herbal remedies successfully for thousands of years, and they continue to do so today.

Once your Crohn's disease symptoms and complications are under control, it is time to help your body start healing itself. Just using the herbs already to control and reduce symptoms is an excellent first step, because many of these same herbs are used in the healing process as well.

Slippery Elm for instance, which may have been used to help soothe the inflammation of the intestinal lining, can continue to be used for ongoing soothing and healing. Since this herb heals as well as soothes, Crohn's disease sufferers may want to consider adding it to their daily vitamin and herbal intake for several weeks to a month.

Garlic is another very important herb that's used in the initial steps for controlling symptoms and complications of Crohn's disease, and it is yet another one that should be used regularly for several weeks. If the inflammation of your intestinal tract lining is caused by bacteria, fungus, or other infections, the garlic will heal those infections and kill the harmful bacteria in your system.

Garlic will normally clear up most infections within 7-10 days, so how long you take it will depend on the severity of your particular case. Continuing to take garlic for several weeks or months however, will go a long way towards helping other areas of your body to heal, become balanced, and more normalized. Garlic will also help expel any parasites that might be in your colon or other organs.

Other herbs and remedies to use for healing should revolve around liver and colon cleansing, toning, and improved functionality. Some people might prefer to go on a full detox juice diet, to help cleanse and flush their body quickly. The lemonade diet is a good option for liver cleansing particularly.

Other less drastic approaches simply include adding certain herbs to your daily routine. Dandelion for instance, is a must for cleansing and toning the liver. Yellow Dock is another excellent liver toning herb.

Capsicum, a.k.a. Cayenne, is an herb that should be used as well, because it helps stimulate your body into healing faster.

Healing Crohn's Disease with Colon Cleansing

Many herbalist and natural remedy specialists feel the best way to help start the healing process from Crohn's disease is through the use of colon cleansing. Colon cleansing is a process which flushes out your entire digestive tract quickly, pulls mucus and parasites from the colon, and helps remove toxic wastes and poisons fast. The faster these things can be removed from your body, the faster your body is able to start healing itself.

Using enema based colon cleansing solutions also allows you to use herbs in other ways. Instead of - or sometimes in addition to - ingesting the herbs and remedies by mouth, you add them to the enemas for direct cleansing, bacteria fighting, coating and soothing of the colon and intestinal walls.

Using enemas for healing is a distasteful thought for some people when they first hear about it. However since many Crohn's disease sufferers may be facing drastic measures such as surgery to remove part of their intestines, this might not be so objectionable as it might have previously been. Colon cleansing can be accomplished without enemas however, the process simply takes a little longer to accomplish.

If you choose to use enemas for colon cleansing however, there are several herbal based ones you should try, for the same reasons the herbs are taken orally.

A garlic enema for instance, will kill parasites, pull mucus from the colon, and help fight infections anywhere in the body. Catnip enemas can help soothe the entire digestive system, bring down fevers, and reduce or stop pain. Cayenne enemas can stop internal bleeding of the digestive tract. Slippery Elm enemas help coat the inflamed tissues of the intestinal lining, and help relieve diarrhea while starting the healing process. Aloe Vera enemas will also coat the colon walls and start promoting healing.

An alternative way to do a colon cleanse without using enemas is to change your diet, and a third way is to simply take colon cleansing herbs.

Changing your diet to a juice fast for a week or two is usually an excellent way to cleanse your colon and all major organs in your body. One of the best to use for liver and colon related problems is the lemonade juice fast, but using any type of fruit or vegetable juices is fine for fasting. When it's time to come off your fast though, be sure to do it slowly and properly.

Alternatively you can simply use colon cleansing herbs. Some of these will stimulate bile production in the liver, some will stimulate the intestines and colon to move waste out faster, and some will act as intestinal "scrubs" or "broom" to flush out old, sticky, hardened fecal matter.

Crohn's Disease Misc.

One of the biggest problems in trying to treat any illness or disease, is first knowing what the actual problem is. Crohn's disease for instance, has very similar symptoms to other inflammable bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, and misc digestive disorders. Because of this, it's very important to know what your medical condition or problem is before trying to treat it. And this rule applies whether you choose to use conventional medical treatments or herbal and alternative treatments.

Appendicitis for instance, has similar symptoms to other digestive disorders. It's caused by an inflammation or blockage of the appendix, which is a small finger shaped pouch which is attached to the upper area of your small intestine. Sometimes the appendix is blocked by fecal matter or other substances, and that can cause symptoms similar to Crohn's disease such as fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

There are no known alternative or herbal treatments to cure or prevent appendicitis though, and the only modern medical treatment known for this condition is surgery. Appendicitis happens most often in children ages 10-20, but it can occur at any age. And it can be a life threatening condition within 48 hours too, so getting quick hospital attention is essential.

Another digestive tract disorder that's quite similar to Crohn's disease is known as Celiac disease. This is a genetic disorder that tends to affect people of European descent, but it's also been known to affect Hispanics, African Americans and Asians as well. Celiac disease is caused by an intolerance of gluten products. ingesting gluten products such as wheat, rye and barley will damage the intestines of a person with Celiac disease.

Symptoms of celiac disease can be quite similar to Crohn's disease and even appendicitis in some ways. Abdominal pains, diarrhea - sometimes with blood, failure for children to grow at normal rates, lack of appetite, weight loss, and mouth sores. Treatment of celiac disease however, is a simple matter of avoiding gluten in your diet.

Ulcerative colitis, sometimes referred to as simply colitis, is yet another digestive related disease which is quite similar to Crohn's. Also like Crohn's, the causes of Ulcerative colitis are not really known, but some specialists think it's caused by a problem with the body's immune system attacking the colon.

The main difference between ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease is the location of the inflammation. Crohn's is found most often in the small intestine, and the inflammation usually runs deep into the intestinal lining. With Ulcerative colitis however, the inflammation is in the top layer of the intestinal lining, and is found more often in the large intestine instead.

From an herbal perspective, Ulcerative Colitis is treated much in the same way as Crohn's disease, because they're believed to have the same root causes.

The point of this article however, is to stress the importance of being aware of the various diseases and conditions that could be causing your problems. Knowing what's going on is always the very first and most important step to any kind of treatment, management, or cure.

Note: Some statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice.

Go Back from Crohn's Disease Overview to
Health Conditions Articles Index