Crohn’s disease

Overview

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, causing inflammation, tissue damage, and a range of debilitating symptoms that significantly impact quality of life. This complex autoimmune condition affects hundreds of thousands globally, with causes involving genetic predisposition, immune system dysfunction, gut microbiome imbalances, environmental triggers, and dietary factors. The disease progresses through periods of active inflammation (flares) and remission, often requiring lifelong management^[7]. While conventional medicine provides essential diagnostic tools, pharmaceutical therapies including immunosuppressants and biologics, and surgical interventions when necessary, many individuals benefit from complementary approaches that reduce inflammation, support gut healing, and address the whole person. Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Health (TCIH) modalities offer valuable support for managing Crohn's disease through anti-inflammatory nutrition, stress reduction, herbal medicine, and mind-body practices that work synergistically with conventional treatments.

Common Causes and Contributing Factors

• Genetic susceptibility - Family history and specific gene variants significantly increase risk, with mutations affecting immune function and intestinal barrier integrity
• Immune system dysregulation - Abnormal immune response mistakenly attacks beneficial gut bacteria and the intestinal lining, causing chronic inflammation
• Gut microbiome imbalance - Disrupted bacterial diversity, reduced beneficial species, and overgrowth of inflammatory bacteria contribute to disease development and progression⁷
• Environmental triggers - Smoking, certain infections, antibiotic use, and exposure to pollutants may activate disease in genetically susceptible individuals
• Dietary factors - Western diet high in processed foods, emulsifiers, and artificial additives may compromise intestinal barrier function and trigger inflammation
• Increased intestinal permeability - Leaky gut allows bacterial components and food particles to cross the intestinal barrier, triggering inappropriate immune responses
• Chronic stress - Prolonged stress exacerbates inflammation, alters gut motility, and negatively impacts the gut-brain axis, affecting disease activity
• Vitamin D deficiency - Low vitamin D levels correlate with increased disease severity and may contribute to immune dysregulation
• NSAID use - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can damage the intestinal lining and trigger flares in susceptible individuals
• Early life factors - Cesarean delivery, formula feeding, and early antibiotic exposure may influence microbiome development and disease risk

Signs and Symptoms

• Persistent diarrhoea - Frequent loose or watery stools, often with urgency, potentially containing blood or mucus during active inflammation
• Abdominal pain and cramping - Often in the lower right abdomen, ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain that disrupts daily activities
• Rectal bleeding - Blood in stool varying from bright red to a darker, tarry appearance, depending on the location of inflammation
• Weight loss and malnutrition - Unintended weight loss due to reduced appetite, malabsorption of nutrients, and increased metabolic demands from inflammation
• Fatigue and weakness - Profound exhaustion related to chronic inflammation, anaemia, poor nutrient absorption, and disturbed sleep
• Fever - Elevated body temperature during flares, indicating active inflammation and sometimes infection or abscess formation
• Mouth sores - Painful ulcerations in the mouth, often appearing during disease flares as an extra-intestinal manifestation
• Perianal complications - Fissures, fistulas, abscesses, or skin tags around the anus, causing pain and drainage
• Joint pain - Inflammatory arthritis affecting large joints as an extra-intestinal manifestation of systemic inflammation
• Reduced appetite - Decreased interest in food due to pain, nausea, or fear of triggering symptoms, contributing to nutritional deficiencies

Holistic and TCIH Approaches

Holistic and Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Healthcare (TCIH) care supports the digestive, immune, emotional, and whole-system wellbeing of individuals living with Crohn's disease, alongside appropriate clinical care.

• Naturopathy emphasises identifying individual triggers through elimination diets and food sensitivity testing, supporting intestinal healing with nutrients like L-glutamine and zinc, addressing dysbiosis with targeted probiotics, and utilising natural anti-inflammatory agents while monitoring disease activity in collaboration with gastroenterologists^[2,3].
• Herbal Medicine offers botanicals with anti-inflammatory and gut-healing properties, including curcumin for reducing inflammatory markers, slippery elm for soothing intestinal lining, boswellia for immune modulation, and marshmallow root for protective mucosal support, carefully selected to complement conventional treatments without interactions.
• Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine address Crohn's disease by regulating immune function, reducing inflammation through specific point selection, supporting spleen and stomach qi to improve digestion, and utilising herbal formulas tailored to individual patterns of dampness, heat, or deficiency affecting the intestines^[4].
• Ayurveda views inflammatory bowel conditions as imbalances in pitta (fire element), recommending cooling, soothing foods, specific herbs like liquorice and aloe vera, gentle detoxification practices, and stress-reducing lifestyle modifications to calm internal inflammation and restore digestive harmony.
• Mind and Body Therapies, including meditation and yoga, help manage the significant psychological burden of chronic illness, reduce stress-related flares, improve pain tolerance, and enhance quality of life through nervous system regulation and cultivation of resilience^[5,6].
• Nutritional Therapy develops individualised dietary protocols such as Specific Carbohydrate Diet, Low-FODMAP approach, or Mediterranean diet patterns that reduce inflammatory triggers, heal intestinal lining, correct nutritional deficiencies common in Crohn's disease, and support gut microbiome diversity while maintaining adequate nutrition^[2.3].

Self-Care and Lifestyle Practices

• Keep a food and symptom diary - Track meals, symptoms, stress levels, and bowel movements to identify personal triggers and patterns for better disease management
• Follow prescribed medications consistently - Adhere to treatment regimens even during remission to prevent flares and reduce long-term complications^[7]
• Eat smaller, frequent meals - Consume 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day to reduce digestive burden and improve nutrient absorption
• Prioritise stress management - Develop daily stress-reduction practices, as stress significantly impacts disease activity and symptom severity
• Stay adequately hydrated - Compensate for fluid losses from diarrhoea by drinking water throughout the day and considering electrolyte replacement during flares
• Quit smoking - Smoking worsens Crohn's disease outcomes, increases complications, and reduces treatment effectiveness
• Exercise appropriately - Engage in gentle to moderate physical activity during remission to reduce inflammation, support mental health, and maintain bone density^[5]
• Ensure adequate sleep - Prioritise 7-9 hours of quality sleep to support immune function and reduce systemic inflammation
• Build a support network - Connect with others who have IBD through support groups or online communities for emotional support and practical advice
• Plan for flares - Prepare low-residue foods, have heating pads available, and maintain open communication with healthcare providers for managing symptom increases

When to Seek Professional Support

Conventional medical practitioners, including gastroenterologists, should be consulted for proper diagnosis through colonoscopy and imaging, prescription of appropriate immunosuppressive or biologic therapies, monitoring of disease progression and complications, and coordination of surgical intervention if needed. Regular follow-up appointments are essential for adjusting medications, screening for complications, and assessing nutritional status. Immediate medical attention is required for signs of complications, including severe abdominal pain, high fever, signs of bowel obstruction (severe bloating, inability to pass gas or stool), significant bleeding, or symptoms of perforation.

A verified SoulAdvisor practitioner can work collaboratively with gastroenterologists to provide anti-inflammatory dietary guidance, address nutritional deficiencies safely given absorption issues, support stress management and mental health, optimise gut microbiome health through targeted probiotics, and offer complementary therapies that reduce inflammation and support quality of life. This integrative approach recognises that Crohn's disease requires multifaceted care addressing physical symptoms, nutritional needs, emotional well-being, and immune function, empowering individuals to actively participate in disease management through comprehensive support that combines medical treatment with holistic strategies for achieving and maintaining remission