If you’re living withCrohn’s disease, medication is usually the go-totreatmentfor thisinflammatory bowel disease(IBD). But using natural remedies might also help yourflare-up symptoms.
Curious about usingalternative medicineand other natural treatments? Here’s what science has to say about the most common natural remedies forCrohn’s disease.
Natural remedies for Crohn’s disease
There’s still no cure forCrohn’s(yet!). But these natural remedies and tips might help ward off or soothe symptoms of a flare-up:
Lifestyle changes to naturally treat Crohn’s
1. Steer clear of triggers
It’s no secret that certain things are more likely to trigger a Crohn’s attack. That doesn’t mean your condition is your fault, BTW. But it does mean you can often help easesymptomswith a few lifestyle tweaks.
When possible, steer clear of theseknown triggers:
2. Be kind to your GI with your diet choices
When you’re living with Crohn’s,foodcan feel more like a foe than a friend. But good ol’Hippocrateswas onto something when he said “Let food be thy medicine.”
There’s no one-size-fits-allCrohn’s disease diet, butexpertsoffer these tips for going easy on your gut:
3. Tune in and chill out
Have you ever noticed how easily mentalstresscan lead to aheadacheor upset stomach? The mind-body connection is real, y’all.
TheCrohn’s & Colitis Foundationsuggests that mind-body therapies can help folks living with Crohn’s disease. A few ideas:
Crohn’s disease supplements and herbs
4. Try probiotics
Crohn’s disease can mess up the balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut. And when the bad bacteria take over, you can experience everything frombloatinganddiarrheato painfulconstipation.
Since a balanced gut is so critical to proper digestion, some folks with Crohn’s takeprobioticsupplements or nosh onprobiotic-rich foodslike:
More research is needed to prove the benefits of probiotic intake for Crohn’s, butsome evidencesuggests thatprobioticshelp folks feel better in the early stages of the disease.
5. Or prebiotics
Prebioticshelp probiotics thrive. So incorporating more prebiotics into your diet is like offering backup to the good gut bacteria.
One tiny,3-week studyof folks with Crohn’s found that ingesting 15 grams of oligofructose and inulin (2 prebiotics) each day led to a significant reduction in diseasesymptoms. More research is needed, but this small study seems promising.
You can boost your intake with theseprebiotic-rich foods:
Just make sure you talk to your doctor before adding any probiotic or prebiotic supplements to your diet.
6. Snag some fish oil
Fish oil is brimming with anti-inflammatoryomega-3 fatty acids. That’s whyexpertsfrequently recommend it for folks with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s.
Researchfrom 2014 (throwback to Disney’s OG “Frozen”!) suggested that fish oil could help reduce symptoms of Crohn’s. A 2019researchreview also suggestedomega fatty acidsfor soothing IBD — but the researchers concluded that more research is necessary to pinpoint the best dose and delivery.
As with any supplement, it’s best to check with your doc before poppingfish oil capsules. Plus, fish oil can interfere with some prescription meds.
7. Give curcumin a try
Curcumin gives the spiceturmericitsanti-inflammatorypowers. Since Crohn’s is aninflammatorycondition, some folks take curcumin to help soothe their angry intestines.
A 2019research reviewconcluded that curcumin may play a future role in dialing down GIinflammation. The researchers ultimately said more studies are needed.
In 2020, astudyof Crohn’s patients in Japan found that taking 360 milligrams a day for 12 weeks led to significant healing of anal lesions. That’s a #win for anyone living with IBD.
Science is still unclear on exactly how and how muchcurcumincan help with Crohn’s. If you’re curious about tryingcurcumin supplementsfor Crohn’s, run it past your doctor first.
8. Bring on the bromelain
Bromelainis a natural enzyme found inpineapples🍍.
Some peeps take bromelain supplements to soothesensitive stomachsor relievediarrhea. Research seems promising — but it’s important to know thatstudiesso far have been done on animals, not humans.
One 2017study, for instance, found that bromelain improved IBD symptoms in rats.
9. Thunder god vine, anyone?
Thunder god vine, thunder duke vine,Tripterygium wilfordii… Whatever you call it, this herbmight bea helpful remedy for Crohn’s disease.
In one olderresearch review, scientists found that taking thunder god vine supplements helpedCrohn’s diseasepatients prevent relapses after surgical intervention.
Because the research is so slim, it’s important to talk with your doctor about taking this herb forCrohn’s disease.
10. Experiment with aloe vera
Aloe vera— so cool, so fresh, so soothing. It’s got a reputation for calmingpsoriasisandeczema, but what about Crohn’s?
Recentresearchon animals suggests that rectal application of aloe vera extract (yep, we’re talkin’ suppositories) could reduce inflammation and promote healing during a flare-up. But we still need more research on humans to know the full effect.
11. Consider ACV
Apple cider vinegar(ACV) has been waaaaaay overhyped as a cure for everything fromdandruffto warts. And now we’re suggesting it as a natural remedy against an incurable GI disease?!
Here’s the thing: ACV is not going to cure Crohn’s. It might not even soothe your symptoms. But a 2016animal studydid find that ingesting vinegar might boost good gut bacteria and lead to lower levels of inflammation. This might help ward off nasty Crohn’s flares.
Evidence is pretty slim and preliminary, but there’s probably no harm in shaking up anACV dressingfor your lunchtimesalad.
Essential oils for Crohn’s disease
12. Reach for patchouli, lavender, and peppermint essential oils
TBH, there’s not a ton of research on usingessential oils for Crohn’s disease, but some folks use them to ease symptoms via aromatherapy or massage.
If you do want to use essential oils, research shows these ones might help (just note research is mostly from animal studies and not real-life essential oil use):
As with other natural remedies, talk with your doc before addingessential oilsto your treatment plan.
You should also NEVER ingest essential oils. If you get the A-OK to add essential oils to your Crohn’s treatment plan,diffusingor topically applying essential oils that are diluted in a carrier oil is the way to go.
While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It’s important to talk with your healthcare provider before you begin using essential oils and be sure to research the quality of a brand’s products. Always do apatch testbefore trying a new essential oil.
Alternative medicine treatments for Crohn’s
13. Try acupuncture
You might think it’s balderdash, but yes,researchsuggests thatacupuncturedoesrelieve pain. And thatmight includeabdominal pain or other irritation andinflammation from Crohn’s.
TBH, there just aren’t enough studies to confirm if, when, and how muchacupuncturecan help with Crohn’s symptoms — but anecdotal accounts say it might be worth a shot.
14. Incorporate biofeedback
Biofeedbackis a type of therapy that teaches you to control your body’s involuntary processes:
Researchers still aren’t sure exactly how biofeedback works. But the key takeaway is that for some folks with chronic conditions, itdoesworkto help them manage symptoms.
What’s the tea on THC?
Some folks with Crohn’s use medicalcannabisorCBDto manage their symptoms.
Limited researchsuggests that compounds of the cannabis plant can dial down:
That said, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved medical cannabis as a treatment for Crohn’s disease. And we need more research to understand the link between cannabis and IBD.
For now, consider the laws in your area and talk with your doctor before tryingweedorCBDfor Crohn’s disease.
When to see a doctor
Crohn’s disease isn’t just a pain. It can lead to serious GI damage, including bowel obstructions and ulcers.
While natural remedies can help soothe symptoms, it’s important to work with a doctor to help manage your condition with a long-term treatment plan. And if you notice new or worsening symptoms (hello, fiery diarrhea that doesn’t respond to meds), it’s time to make another appointment with your doctor or gastroenterologist.
