Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease Naturally

IBD

Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, is a chronic disease that causes inflammation of the colon and small intestine. The inflammation can continue for some time and will usually recur over your lifetime. More than 600,000 Americans are diagnosed with some kind of inflammatory bowel disease every year. The two major types of IBD are Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Although these diseases are different the symptoms are similar. They include: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding from the colon/intestines, joint pain, fevers and weight loss. For those living with IBD, living a normal life is difficult. Eating, sleeping and having a social life are significantly compromised. Unfortunately, the medications that are used to treat IBD can have dangerous side effects and are not always effective. The mainstays of traditional medical treatments are immunosuppressive drug, steroids and surgery (including removing the colon). If you are suffering from IBD and not responding to medical treatment, considering having your colon removed, or just would like to explore your options, maybe I can help.

Naturopathic support for IBD

Patients that come to see me for this concern will get a 2 prong treatment approach. The first is support. During your first initial intake, I will establish a diagnosis, do a complete physical exam, order lab work and take a thorough history. At this appointment, I will evaluate any supportive diet or supplemental therapies that you may need. For instance, people with IBD have greater intestinal permeability. In other words, the lining of the gut is compromised, allowing larger proteins and nutrients out and bacteria in. Because of this problem, specific diet changes should be implemented. This permeability and inflammation of the small intestine or colon, can lead to impaired absorption of important nutrients and vitamins. Outcomes of this problem, such as anemia and nutrient deficiencies (like B12 and folic acid) will be evaluated. Other natural support may be used to modify inflammation such as essential fatty acids and probiotics. Studies are now supporting probiotics as effective as prescription drugs as treatments for IBD.

Homeopathy for IBD

The second aspect of treatment will be at your second visit, where your homeopathic case will be taken. I will take into account all the individualizing symptoms of your specific IBD case. This will allow me to find the most specific homeopathic medicine for you. Homeopathic medicines are naturally occurring substances that are used to treat disease. They are selected for very particular reasons based on how your symptoms are expressed. This part of the plan is designed to decrease your susceptibility to this disease. I use homeopathy to treat most of my patients, because I find that this form of therapy produces the most long term and lasting effects. Homeopathy works by triggering your body to self-heal, therefore treating the underlying predisposition to developing IBD. For example, you may be reactive to different foods, but this is a symptom of an unbalanced body. What homeopathic treatment will do is decrease your body's susceptibility to be reactive to stress and foods. With continued homeopathic therapy, the healthier the person becomes, and the less medications, supplements and diet changes are needed to keep them symptom free.

If you think this approach maybe for you, call Dr. Natalie Ham at 480-456-0402 and schedule an appointment or free 15 min consult.