Here’s a look at 5 treatments for Crohn’s disease that may be classified as home remedies. They are sometimes used alone or in combination with drug therapy. One or more of these may help keep your symptoms in check.
Keep a Food Diary
Some people have found that certain foods worsen their symptoms. There is no list of common foods to avoid. It is not known if the foods increase inflammation in the bowel or if the worsened symptoms are due to individual food sensitivities.
If you think that certain foods may be making your condition worse, you may be able to discover your personal “triggers” by keeping a food and symptoms diary. It’s pretty simple to do. In one column, you would write down everything you eat during a day. In another column, you would write down your symptoms.
In this way, you may be able to find a pattern of good days or bad days and the foods that could be to blame. Looking for food sensitivities is a particularly good idea if your doctor-prescribed Crohn’s disease treatments are not working that well.
Try Gluten Elimination
Gluten is a protein found in wheat. In a condition called celiac disease, people lack the necessary enzyme to digest gluten. The symptoms of celiac disease are similar to those of Crohn’s, although they may be more severe. The only treatment for celiac is eliminating gluten from the diet, for life.
There is reason to believe that many people are sensitive to the gluten protein. They have “gluten intolerance”. It’s pretty easy to find out if gluten sensitivity is causing problems for you. You simply avoid wheat: bread, baked goods, foods containing flour. Since it could significantly improve your symptoms, it is worth a try.
Consider Foods, Spices or Supplements with Natural Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Many treatments for Crohn’s disease, including steroids, target inflammation. Crohn’s is an inflammatory bowel disease. Research has shown that there are many natural anti-inflammatories. They are not accompanied by the side effects that accompany anti-inflammatory drugs. You can include the foods, spices or supplements in your daily diet. Some things to consider include kiwifruit, turmeric and omega-3 fish oil.
Limit Your Fiber Intake
While fiber is important for good health, when you are having flare-ups, it is a good idea to avoid foods that are high in fiber. The idea is to give the bowel a break. Apple peels, broccoli, cauliflower and fiber-rich cereals are among the foods to avoid because of their fiber content.
Limiting fiber intake is one of the Crohn’s disease treatments commonly recommended by the Mayo Clinic and other health care facilities. Once the flare-up has subsided, fiber should be added back into the diet, slowly.
Learn and Use Stress Management Techniques
While stress is not a cause of the condition, it can make symptoms worse. It is not possible to completely avoid stress. We all encounter stressful situations on a daily basis. But you can learn and use stress management techniques, especially if you believe that excess stress may be causing you problems. The deep breathing exercises of yoga are an example of effective and natural stress management.
Alone or combined with other treatments for Crohn’s disease, any of these 5 natural remedies could be helpful for keeping your symptoms in remission. Since they are all safe, there’s no reason not to give them a try.
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