Gastrointestinal Health Tip - Coping With Crohn's

Crohn’s disease is one type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). In Crohn’s disease, inflammation damages the whole wall of the colon, not just the superficial lining. Crohn’s disease can involve the small intestine as well and is often resistant to treatment. The goal of treatment should not be to suppress the inflammatory process but to encourage remission.

The following steps may help bring the disorder under control:

• Avoid coffee, decaf, all other sources of caffeine and all stimulant drugs.
• Avoid milk and all milk products.
• Avoid products sweetened with sorbitol.
• Take slippery elm in the form of a gruel.
• Take enteric-coated capsules of peppermint oil between meals to relieve the spasmodic component of inflammatory bowel disease.
• Practice breathing exercises.
• Because this is a stress-related disease, take a biofeedback course and experiment with hypnotherapy and other methods of relaxation.
• Consider psychotherapy to work on emotional conflicts that can exacerbate symptoms.