Crohn's disease

[Steve M.]

Hi All,

I'm trying to obtain some information for a good friend of many years. I tried searching up information here on Crohn's disease but there was little if any information. My Friend Chuck knows a couple at his work and the woman in the relationship is suffering from severe Crohn's disease. These are the few facts I know followed by a couple of questions I have:

She is/has been suffering from Crohn's disease for some time. She is miserable and feeling constantly bloated. (from what I understand) Crohn's disease causes severe inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract (to say the least, I imagine).

The Doctor(s) have her eating a kind of insect for food intake. I can't remember particularly what it is.
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Is there any possibility that time in the FIR blanket could/would have any negative affect on her?

When I read about the disease on wikipedia _http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crohn%27s_disease it talked a lot about inflammation.

"Medication

Acute treatment uses medications to treat any infection (normally antibiotics) and to reduce inflammation (normally aminosalicylate anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids). When symptoms are in remission, treatment enters maintenance with a goal of avoiding the recurrence of symptoms. Prolonged use of corticosteroids has significant side-effects; as a result they are generally not used for long-term treatment. Alternatives include aminosalicylates alone, though only a minority are able to maintain the treatment, and many require immunosuppressive drugs."

Of course, on the link there is no reference to FIR blanket usage. I'd really like to get more information to my friend to pass along to the couple. Supposedly, Chuck will be having them ask her doctor about the use of FIR, but I can't be certain, nor Chuck or the couple/family will make mention, or if the Doctor knows anything about it (FIR blanket). From my own experience with FIR (down 13 lbs. and 2" on the belt line) it is awesome! And from what I understand there are absolutely no negative health issues associated with it -outside of having to downsize to new clothes. :)

Any advice/info would be appreciated and shared.

1,000 thanks for your time!

 

[Bidoche]

Changing the diet would be the first step and I'm sure many on this forum could help out there. What has been recently discovered for Crohn's disease is to use sublingual (under the tongue) vitamin D3. Check out this article on Dr. Mercola's site (and read the comments):

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/02/20/vitamin-d-fights-crohns-disease.aspx

I hope this helps.

 

[Gaby]

FIR blanket will help, but the diet is very important as well. Eliminating gluten and dairy, and doing an elimination diet (Ultra Simple diet) for a couple of weeks to calm down the immune response will help a lot. There is more information in the book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Autoimmune Disorders" by Stephen Edelson which touches a lot of the information discussed here in the forum. Edelson talks about Crohn's disease and the role of diet, bacterias, heavy metals, candida overgrowth, etc. He gives detox recommendations including saunas, supplements, dietary changes, deep breathing meditation (how about the EE program ;))

Crohn's disease is an extreme form of inflammation and it is an autoimmune disease, but your friend's friend condition can definitely change for the better, starting with the diet. It is important to eliminate wheat and dairy, and to eat high-fiber (veggies, fruits) organic foods. They will definitely benefit from reading Edelson's book.

 

[Steve M.]

Thanks Bidoche, Psyche,

I will pass this information along including the links here and elsewhere. I've also copied links to the ultra simple diet and others and will burn a copy of the FIR podcast.

 

[RyanX]

I have an old friend who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease last year. He had to stay overnight at the hospital a couple of times I think, but they couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. At first they diagnosed him with a Clostridium difficile infection, but then changed this to Crohn's disease after it didn't respond well to whatever anti-biotics they gave him at the time.

It made me suspect that Crohn's disease is kind of a catch-all for a constellation of digestive symptoms and that its roots lie with food allergies, toxins and inflammation, OSIT.

I've urged my friend to change his diet, but he has a long road ahead of him. He has problems with alcohol and I believe this is contributing to his digestive problems. He claims he is getting help for this, but I have my doubts. :/

Balberon, I hope your friend can get the right information and take the steps needed to recover.

 

[RyanX]

Some general info on the use of Tumeric and Crohn's disease:

http://www.turmericinfo.com/curcumin_crohnsdisease.html

Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the digestive system, is a form of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. Also called ileitis or enteritis, common symptoms include abdominal pain and diarrhea, as well as weight loss, joint pain, fever, and rectal bleeding.digestive system diagram Crohn’s can affect any part of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but is most commonly found in lower part of the small intestine, in an area called the ileum.

While the specific cause of Crohn’s disease is not known, the most popular theory is that it is the result of the immune system’s inappropriate response to the presence of normal stomach bacteria. Mistaking this harmless gut flora for harmful bacteria or infectious disease, the body produces an excess of white blood cells, which attack the lining of the intestine and cause painful inflammation in the GI tract. If untreated, the inflammation can ultimately lead to ulcers.

Crohns disease is not curable, but while the condition is chronic, it is also usually intermittent. Suffers experience both flare-ups and periods of dormancy in which they are largely symptom free. What causes such fluctuations in the severity of the disease is not known, but certain factors may play a role in minimizing symptoms, foremost of which are diet and nutrition. One longstanding remedy used to alleviate the discomfort caused by Crohn’s is turmeric.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a spice and food coloring related to the ginger family and a common ingredient of curry is also a staple of traditional medicine in both India and China. It is also known to have been employed by the Ancient Egyptians as a healing plant. More recently, scientists and medical researchers are turning their attention to turmeric as they investigate its potential for both preventing and curing various diseases. Studies have indicated that curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, may be effective in reducing and even preventing both ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease. In research carried out on mice, scientists found that mice fed on a diet rich in curcumin experienced less intestinal inflammation when exposed to irritants.

This is because turmeric, an anti-inflammatory, decreases congestion and inflammation in the mucus membranes. The mucus membranes, which coat the stomach and intestines as well as the throat and lungs, are vulnerable to swelling and irritation in the face of conditions such as Crohn’s. Turmeric not only reduces this irritation, it also has antibacterial properties, thus preventing infection.

Because Crohns is not curable, but only manageable, treatment depends largely on the location and severity of the disease, as well as the body’s reaction to various treatments. Doctors treating Crohn’s disease attempt to relieve symptoms and alleviate pain, and thus focus largely on controlling the inflammation and correcting any nutritional deficiencies that may result from the disease. Treatment generally includes a combination of prescribed drugs, nutritional supplements and dietary adjustments.