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Top Sources to Cure Crohn's Disease
Crohns Disease is a chronic (ongoing) disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
It generally occurs in the lower part of the small intestine (ileum), but may affect any part of the digestive tract - from the mouth to the anus.
The inflammation extends into the lining of the affected organs.
Pain can result from the inflammation and may make the intestines empty frequently, causing diarrhea.
Crohns Disease is also known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This is the general name for diseases that cause inflammation in the intestines.
Crohns Disease can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are very similar to other digestive disorders like Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Ulcerative Colitis.
Crohns Disease is often misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome,
food poisoning, gastroenteritis, or appendicitis. That's because the pain
is located in the same place - the lower right-hand quadrant of the abdomen.
Crohns Disease may also be called ileitis or enteritis.
Do you have IBD or IBS?
Genova CDSA 2.0 is a simple home stool test that confirms whether you have IBD or IBS.
If you wish to use a drugless approach, see our Crohn's Protocol
using natural supplements & diet with complimentary online support.
What causes Crohns Disease?
There are many theories about what causes Crohns disease, but none has been proven. Studies indicate that the inflammation in IBD involves a complex interaction of factors:
Foreign substances (antigens) in the environment can be the direct cause of the inflammation in Crohns Disease.
Alternatively, these antigens can stimulate the body's defenses to produce an inflammatory response that appears to be permanent.
Researchers think that once the IBD sufferer's immune system is "turned on," it does not know how to properly "turn off" at the right time. This results in inflammation damage to the digestive tract and causes the painful symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease - IBD.
Activation of the immune system in the intestines occurs. The immune system consists of immune cells and the proteins that these immune cells produce. Usually, these cells and proteins defend the body against harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other foreign invaders. Activation of the immune system causes inflammation within the tissues where the activation occurs.
The vulnerablitiy to abnormal activation of the immune system is genetically inherited. Therefore, brothers, sisters, children, and parents of people with IBD are more prone to develop Crohns.
Recently a gene, NOD2 was identified as being associated with Crohn's disease. This gene is important in determining how the body responds to some bacterial products. Individuals with mutations in this gene are more susceptible to developing Crohn's disease.
Many scientists now say that the interaction of outside agents (such as a virus or bacteria) with the body's immune system may either trigger Crohns Disease or cause damage to the intestinal wall which, in turn, leads to chronic (ongoing) inflammation in the intestine.
Those with Crohns Disease generally display abnormalities of the immune system, but doctors do not know whether these abnormalities are a cause or as a result of the inflammatory bowel disease.
Crohns Disease is not known to be caused by emotional distress.
What are the symptoms of Crohns Disease?
Most Common
Less Common
Symptoms can range from mild to severe as Crohns is a chronic disease
with periods in which the disease flares up and is active, followed by
times in which symptoms disappear or decrease, and good health returns.
In general, people with Crohns Disease lead full, active, and productive lives.
What is the treatment for Crohns Disease?
Physicians state that there is no medication that can cure Crohn's disease. Since there is no cure for Crohn's disease, the goals of drug treatments are to try and induce or maintain remissions and minimize side effects of the very treatments used.
Medications for treating Crohn's disease include anti-inflammatory agents such as 5-ASA compounds, corticosteroids, topical antibiotics, immuno-modulators other medications. These drugs have a number of side effects.
Treatment for Crohns Disease also depends on the location and severity of the disease, any complications that may exist, and responses to previous treatment.
The goals of treatment for Crohns are to:
See our effective Crohn's Protocol using natural supplements & diet.
Some people with Crohns have long periods of remission, sometimes years, hen they are free of symptoms. However, Crohns Disease usually recurs at various times during a person's lifetime.
This changing pattern of Crohns means that it is not always possible to tell when a treatment has been successful or not. Predicting when a remission may occur or when symptoms will return is not possible.
Dietary intervention alone has been extremely helpful for many sufferers.
Elaine Gottschall's SCD diet
helps thousands of Crohn's sufferers.
What are the names of & side effects of the drugs used in Crohns Disease?
Pharmaceutical Drugs used in the treatment of Crohns Disease are:
Side Effects
Common Side Effects
Less Common or Rare
Common Side Effects
Less Frequent or Rare
Less Common
Rare
People allergic to aspirin should avoid 5-ASA compounds because they are similar chemically to aspirin.
Common Side Effects
Uncommon Side Effects
Rare Side Effects
The rare side effects of 5-ASA affect fewer than 1 percent of people who take these drugs, but these side effects are potentially very serious.
Rare instances of worsening of diarrhea, cramps, & abdominal pain that may be accompanied by fever, rash and malaise may occur. This reaction is thought to be an allergy to the 5-ASA compound.
5-aminosalicylates and pregnancy
The safety of the 5-ASA drugs during pregnancy and breastfeeding is still being studied. Preliminary studies suggest that they are safe when taken during pregnancy and that women should continue taking these drugs during pregnancy.
Very Common Side Effects
Common Side Effects
Occasional Side Effects
Less Common Side Effects
Common Side Effects:
Less Common:
Rare
Patients on long-term, high dose azathioprine to prevent rejection of the kidney after kidney transplantation have an increased risk of developing lymphoma, a malignant disease of lymph cells. There is no evidence at present that long term use of azathioprine or 6-MP, in the lower doses used in Crohn's disease, increases the risk of lymphoma, leukemia or other malignancies.
Remicade is a monoclonal antibody. It is used to treat Crohn's disease in patients who have not been helped by other medicines and also in patients who have a type of Crohn's disease in which fistulas form. It is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Warning about Remicade
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. The following are important considerations:
Precautions Considering Remicade
Side Effects
Remicade may cause:
More Common
Less Common Side Effects
Rare Side Effects
The majority of the patients who responded to a first infusion of Remicade/infliximab developed recurrence of their disease within three months.
Response to infliximab after repeated infusions sometimes is lost if the patient starts to develop antibodies to the infliximab (which attach to the infliximab and prevent it from working).
TNF-alpha is an important protein for defending the body against infections. Infliximab, like immuno-modulators, increases the risk for infection. One case of salmonella colitis and several cases of pneumonia have been reported with the use of infliximab. There also have been cases of TB reported after the use of infliximab.
Because infliximab is partly a mouse protein, it may induce an immune reaction when given to humans, especially with repeated infusions.
In addition to the side effects that occur while the infusion is being given, patients often develop a "delayed allergic reaction" that occurs 7-10 days after receiving the Infliximab. This type of reaction may cause flu-like symptoms with fever, joint pain and swelling, and a worsening of Crohn's disease symptoms. It can be serious, and if it occurs, a physician should be contacted.
Although Infliximab is only FDA approved for a single infusion at this time, be aware that repeated infusions are likely to be required once Remicade therapy has been initiated.
Rare cases of nerve inflammation like inflammation of the nerve of the eye, has been reported with the use of infliximab.
Infliximab can aggravate and cause the spread of an existing infection. It must not be given to those with pneumonia, urinary tract infections or a localized collection of pus (i.e., abscess).
It now is recommended that people be tested for TB prior to receiving infliximab. People who previously had TB should inform their physician of this before they receive infliximab.
Infliximab can promote intestinal scarring which is part of the process of healing and, thus can worsen strictures which are the narrowed areas of the intestine caused by inflammation and subsequent scaring and lead to intestinal obstruction.
Remicade can cause partial healing/closure of anal fistulae. This interferes with the drainage of fluid through the fistulae, and may result in collections of fluid in which bacteria multiply, which can result in abscesses.
The effects infliximab on the fetus are not known.
The long-term safety and effectiveness is not yet known. Caution is warranted in its use.
Infliximab can cause the spread of cancer cells; therefore, it should not be given to patients with cancer. See more information on Remicade.
Common side effect
General Side Effects
Increases the risk of infection - it should not be given to patients with pneumonia, urinary tract infection or abscess (i.e. localized collection of pus).
Rare Side Effects
Common Side Effects
Antibiotics destroy both good and bad bacteria. Replacement of good bacteria (probiotic category) is essential.
Metronidazole and alcohol together can cause severe nausea, vomiting, cramps, flushing, and headache.
Uncommon Side Effects
It is estimated that as many as one million Americans (one in 300) have Inflammatory Bowel Disease - IBD. The number is evenly split between Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Crohns Disease may occur in people of all ages but is mainly a disease of adolescents and young adults. Crohns generally affects those between 15 and 35.
In another much smaller group of people, Crohns develops between the ages of 50 and 70, a so-called "second wave."
Crohn's disease can also occur in people who are 70 or older and in young children as well. 10% of those affected (an estimated 100,000) are under the age of 18.
Males and females appear to be affected equally.
Who Gets Inflammatory Bowel Disease - IBD?
Safely use natural
supplements and diet to control symptoms of Crohns disease.
What are the complications of Crohns Disease?
The most common complication of Crohns is blockage of the intestine. Blockage occurs because the disease tends to thicken the intestinal wall with swelling and scar tissue, and therefore narrows the passage. Crohns Disease may also cause sores (ulcers) that tunnel through the affected area into surrounding tissues such as the bladder, vagina, or skin.
The areas around the anus and rectum are often involved. These tunnels, called fistulas, are a common complication of Crohns and often become infected (VSL). Sometimes fistulas can be treated with medicine but in some cases they may require surgery.
Nutritional complications are common in Crohn's disease. Deficiencies of proteins (Goatein) and vitamins (Vitamin code) are well documented.
There is also an insufficient calorie intake (SCD recipe book) as a result of inadequate dietary intake, intestinal loss of protein, or poor absorption (malabsorption)
Nutritional supplements, containing both vitamins and minerals, are advised. Supplementation of calcium (GOL Calcium), folate and vitamin B12 (b12 drops) is helpful when malabsorption of these nutrients is apparent.
Other problems associated with Crohns Disease
Some of these problems resolve during treatment for disease in the digestive system, but some must be treated separately.
If you wish to use a drugless approach, see our
Crohn's Protocol
using natural supplements and diet. We offer complimentary online support.
How is Crohns Disease diagnosed?
Genova Labs offers an easy to administer home stool test with markers that tell the difference between IBD (Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis) and IBS (irritable Bowel Disease). If the test shows positive for IBD, further evaluation with a physician is appropriate.
A thorough physical exam and a subsequent series of tests may be required to diagnose Crohns Disease.
Blood tests are run to check for anemia, which could indicate bleeding in the intestines. Blood tests may also uncover a high white blood cell count which is a sign of inflammation somewhere in the body.
The physician may do an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series to look at the small intestine. For this test, the patient drinks barium, a chalky solution that coats the lining of the small intestine before x rays are taken. The barium shows up white on x-ray film, revealing inflammation or other abnormalities in the intestine.
The physician may also do a colonoscopy. In this test, the doctor inserts an endoscope--a long, flexible, lighted tube linked to a computer and TV monitor--into the anus to see the inside of the large intestine.
The physician will be able to see any inflammation or bleeding. During the exam, the doctor may do a biopsy which involves taking a sample of tissue from the lining of the intestine to view with a microscope.
If these tests show Crohns Disease, further x rays of the upper and lower digestive tract may be necessary to see how much is affected by the disease.
Recently, video capsule endoscopy has been added to the list of diagnostic tests for diagnosing Crohn's disease. A capsule containing a miniature video camera is swallowed. As the capsule travels through the small intestine, it sends video images of the lining of the small intestine to a receiver carried on a belt at the waist. Video capsule endoscopy must not be performed in patients who have small intestine obstruction. The capsule may get stuck behind the obstruction and make the obstruction worse
While Crohns is a serious chronic disease with many complications, it is not considered a
fatal illness. Most people with the illness continue to lead useful and productive lives.
What is the difference between Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis?
Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are quite distinct diseases but in practice there are sometimes difficulties distinguishing between them. This is especially true in mild cases - these are usually simply classified as "Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease".
Both Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis have one significant feature in common. They are both marked by an abnormal response by the body's immune system.
The immune system is composed of various cells and proteins. Under normal circumstances, these protect the body from infection. In those with Crohns Disease, the immune system reacts inappropriately.
The immune system mistakes food, bacteria, and other materials in the intestine for foreign or invading substances, and thus it launches an attack. In the process, the body sends white blood cells into the lining of the intestines where they produce chronic inflammation.
These cells then generate harmful products that ultimately lead to ulcerations and bowel injury which manifest as symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease - IBD.
Because the symptoms of these two illnesses are so similar, it is sometimes difficult to establish the diagnosis definitively. In fact, approximately 10% of colitis cases are called Indeterminate Colitis because it cannot be determined whether the condition is Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's disease.
The patterns of inflammation in Crohn's disease are different from Ulcerative Colitis. In Crohns Disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved, and there can be normal healthy bowel in between patches of diseased bowel.
On the other hand, Ulcerative Colitis affects only the superficial layers (the mucosa) of the colon in a more even and continuous distribution, which starts at the level of the anus.
Although Crohns Disease most commonly affects the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and the beginning of the large intestine (the colon), it may involve any part of the gastro intestinal tract - colon, rectum, small intestine (jejunum and ileum), and, occasionally, even the stomach, mouth, and esophagus.
In Ulcerative Colitis, on the other hand, the gastro intestinal involvement is limited to the colon (colitis) and recturm (proctitis). The inflammation also tends to be diffuse and uniform. All of the lining in the affected segment of the intestine is inflamed.
The inflammation caused by Crohn's disease is concentrated in some areas more so than in
others and involves layers of the bowel that are much deeper than the superficial inner layers.
This means that the affected segments of bowel in Crohn's disease can have deep ulcers with
normal lining between these ulcers.
What about Diet and Nutrition for Crohns Disease?
Dietary modifications for Crohns Disease help reduce symptoms, replace lost nutrients, and promote healing.
In Crohns Disease the appetite is often reduced. Also, chronic diseases like Crohns Disease, tend to increase the energy or caloric needs of the body. This is particularly true during episodes of disease "flares ups".
Crohns Disease is associated with diarrhea and poor absorption (malabsorption) of dietary protein, fat, carbohydrates, and water.
All these symptoms rob the body of fluids, nutrients, and a wide variety of
vitamins and minerals.
Restoring and maintaining proper nutrition
is a vital part in the management of Crohns Disease.
Is Crohns Disease caused by Emotional Stress?
There is no evidence to show that stress, anxiety, or tension is responsible for Crohns Disease. No single personality type is more prone to develop Crohns than others, and no one "brings on" the disease by poor emotional control.
However, because body and mind are so closely interrelated, emotional stress can influence the course of Crohns Disease or any chronic illness. People often experience emotional problems before a flare-up of Crohns Disease.
Some of this emotional distress is often a reaction to the symptoms of Crohns itself. Some find it difficult to cope with a chronic illness. Crohns Disease affects their quality of life, their physical and emotional well-being, social functioning, and sense of self-esteem.
Although formal psychotherapy is generally not necessary, some are helped by speaking with a therapist who is knowledgeable about Inflammatory Bowel Disease or about chronic illness in general.
Another alternative is to seek emotional support from families, friends, and physicians.
Relaxation techniques greatly reduce
the symptoms associated with Crohns Disease.
What are the different types of Crohns Disease?
There are 5 types of Crohns Disease. The symptoms and complications of Crohns Disease differ depending on which part of intestinal tract is inflamed.
The disease is named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn. In 1932, Dr. Crohn and his two colleagues, Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr. Gordon D. Oppenheimer, published an important paper describing the features of what is known today as Crohns Disease. Crohns and the related disease, Ulcerative Colitis, are the two main disease categories that belong to the larger group of illnesses called Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
Crohns Disease was first described by Giovanni Battista Morgagni (1682-1771), with subsequent cases being described by John Berg in 1898 and by Polish surgeon Antoni Lesniowski in 1904. Scottish physician T. Kennedy Dalziel described nine cases of Crohns in 1913.
Burrill Bernard Crohn, an American gastro-enterologist, described fourteen cases in 1932, characterizing Crohns Disease as "Terminal Ileitis: A New Clinical Entity".
The description was changed to "Regional Ileitis" on publication. It is by virtue of alphabetization rather than contribution that Crohn's name appeared as first author. This was the first time the condition was reported in a widely-read journal. The disease has come to be known as Crohn's Disease for reasons of publicity rather than precedence. In Poland the disease is known as Lesniowski-Crohn Disease.
Crohns is often mispelled as Crones, Chrones, Krones,or Krohns
Use natural supplements and diet, an effective drugless approach. See our Crohn's Protocol.