Home Remedies and Herbs for Crohn's Disease

Crohn’s disease is considered one type of inflammatory bowel disease. It’s often confused with a similar inflammatory bowel disease called colitis. Crohn’s disease is a serious chronic, long-term disease that can cause severe damage to the digestive tract over time. It can cause inflammation to the deep digestive tract tissues, making it difficult to treat and causing potentially debilitating symptoms and complications.¹

Though Crohn’s disease is not a common condition, research shows that worldwide incidences of the disease are increasing steadily. Crohn’s disease can affect anyone of any age and any gender. However, it’s most likely to develop in smokers between the ages of 20 and 29.²
 
What Causes Crohn’s Disease

Doctors still don’t know the exact cause of Crohn’s disease—the underlying triggering factor. However, researchers have identified certain risk factors that are likely contributors to developing Crohn’s disease. Previous research indicated that Crohn’s disease was triggered by diet and stress, but now we know these are simply factors that can aggravate symptoms in people who have already developed Crohn’s disease.¹

Researchers now feel that there is a strong connection between autoimmune reactions and developing Crohn’s disease. It’s possible that in people with Crohn’s disease, their immune systems have tried to combat a certain virus or bacteria, but have also attacked healthy digestive tissue in the process.¹

There is also a hereditary factor, with there being a higher likelihood of developing Crohn’s disease in those whose family members also have the condition.¹ 

Crohn’s Disease Symptoms

Crohn’s disease symptoms vary by case. Some people have manageable levels Crohn’s disease symptoms, while others have much more severe reactions. Crohn’s disease symptoms may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Blood in stool
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Mouth sores
• Weight loss and loss of appetite
• Anal fistulas (pain and inflammation)

Crohn’s disease is also often characterized by periods of flare-ups, whereby symptoms may be in remission and then become triggered (flare-up) periodically.
 
Natural Remedies and Herbs for Crohn’s Disease

To manage Crohn’s disease symptoms, try the following home remedies:

• Slippery Elm - A natural remedy that can help repair damaged digestive tissue while reducing inflammation.
• Probiotics - Probiotics can restore healthy bacteria to the digestive tract and help repair inflammatory damage.
• Turmeric - A powerful natural anti-inflammatory, turmeric can help reduce damage in the digestive tract caused by inflammation.
• Saccharomyces Boulardii - A type of probiotic yeast used to help restore healthy bacteria in the digestive tract, which can repair damage caused by Crohn’s disease.

References

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304 
2. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/crohns-disease/definition-facts