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Many herbs make move to medicine cabinet MLive.com, MI - Could your spice cabinet replace your medicine cabinet in treating or reducing the risk of health threats such as heart disease and cancer? ... Dad hits the road for daughter Berkeley Independent, SC - Crohn?s disease and ulcerative colitis are collectively known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Crohn's disease is a chronic disorder that causes ... Press of Atlantic City Guts and Glory 5K Run set for Aug. 9 Press of Atlantic City, NJ - Aug 1, 2008 By DEBRA RECH For The Press, 609-463-6719 OCEAN CITY - Renee Brennan, of Ocean City, has struggled with Crohn's disease for 35 years, but the Crohn's and ... Cancer patient's recovery amazes doctors Scotsman, United Kingdom - Jul 28, 2008 She also suffered from Crohn's Disease, an unrelated disorder which causes an uncomfortable inflammation of the bowel, and doctors suggested removin g her ... Genetic haul lifts hopes on Crohn's Boston Globe, United States - Jul 7, 2008 Researchers have pinpointed 32 genes linked to Crohn's disease, a dire gastrointestinal disorder that affects a half-million Americans, they said in the ... Mystery donor to gran's rescue Manchester Evening News, UK - After the decision last week Mrs Murphy's husband Michael, who has Crohn's disease, said that in protest he would stop taking his medication once she died. ... Tummy trouble Bournemouth Daily Echo,  UK - Jul 30, 2008 Robert was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammation of the wall of the intestinal wall. The disease is becoming more common, and most cases ... Sussex man finding relief from painful disease Kings County Record, Canada - Jul 14, 2008 There is no known cure for Crohn's disease. Hatt said he will likely be on the drug for the rest of his life. He said thus far, Humira hasn't posed any ... Exeter woman raises awareness for Chron's and Colitis Foundation Exeter News-Letter, NH - Jul 15, 2008 It is estimated as many as 1.4 million Americans have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, however, many more suffer in silence due to potential ... General in Crohn?s war leaves Milwaukee Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI - Jul 6, 2008 Treatment There is no medical cure for Crohn's disease, but there are drugs that can control it. The most commonly prescribed drugs are antibiotics, ...

Is there an alternative cure for Crohn's disease?

 Crohn's disease is caused by inflammation in the wall of the bowel and is characterised by bouts of pain and diarrhoea which can be bloody. The condition can affect any part of the gut, but classically causes inflammation in the last part of the small intestine.

There are two approaches to Crohn's disease which I have found to be quite effective in many individuals. One of these is to eliminate refined carbohydrates, and in particular, sugars known as 'disaccharides' (e.g. sucrose and fructose). The concept here is that these foods feed organisms within the gut which might trigger or worsen Crohn's disease. This approach has been popularised by Elaine Gotschall, an American nutritionist who herself was introduced to this treatment through her work with the gastroenterologist Dr Sidney Haas. More details about the specifics of this diet can be found in Elaine Gotschall's book entitled Breaking the Viscous Cycle (Kirkton Press, Kirkton, Ontario, Canada). There is at least some experimental evidence which suggests that a low carbohydrate diet can be effective in controlling Crohn's disease. In one study, a low-sugar, high-fibre diet led to a 70 per cent reduction in hospitalisations compared to individuals who did not change their diet.

The other major approach which tends to be used to treat Crohn's disease centres around the identification and treatment of food sensitivities. There is some evidence that food intolerance can be a factor in Crohn's disease. In one study, the most common food triggers were found to be cereals, dairy and yeast. Identification of individual food sensitivities is not always easy, and your daughter might find seeking the advice of a practitioner is useful in this respect. A good nutritionist, naturopath or kinesiologist may well be able to help your daughter. Practitioner lists can be obtained from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, Blades Court, Deodar Road, London SW15 2NU; The General Council and Register of Naturopaths, 2 Goswell Road, Street, Somerset, BA16 0JG; The Kinesiology Foundation, PO Box 83, Sheffield, S7 2YN.

Crohn's sufferers can have multiple nutritional deficiencies because they tend not to absorb nutrients very effectively. It is a good idea for sufferers to take a potent, high quality multivitamin and mineral preparation every day. Nutrients which might be of particular importance are zinc, vitamin 12 and folic acid, as they can help in the repair of the cells which line the intestinal tract. Useful daily doses of these nutrients are 30 - 45 mg of zinc (balanced with two to three mg of copper), 800 mcg of vitamin B12 and 800 mcg of folic acid.