Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammation of the small or large intestine, or both. The majority of cases involve the terminal ileum, the lowest part of the small intestine. The inflammation can cause pain and make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea. About 6 to 7 out of 100,000 people develop Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is often accompanied by these signs and symptoms.

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain, swelling
• Fatigue
• Weight loss, malnutrition
• Fever

While a specific cause of Crohn's disease is not known, the most popular theory is that the body's immune system reacts to a virus or a bacterium by causing ongoing inflammation in the intestine.

The following categories of people are at higher than average risk for Crohn's disease.

• People 15 to 25 and 55 to 65 years of age
• Jews (three to eight times more common than the general population)
• Caucasians are more at risk than blacks
• Females are slightly more at risk than males.
• People with a family history
• Smokers

Your health care provider can help make a diagnosis and guide you in determining which treatment or combination of therapies will work best for you. A physical exam may reveal signs of malnutrition, an abdomen that is tender or distended, hyperactive bowel, or openings in the intestinal wall. In addition, your health care provider may have laboratory tests done on your blood, and may send you for barium X rays, ultrasound, radiography, or other types of imaging.

Some treatments, including surgery, may delay recurrence of the disease or provide temporary relief from symptoms, but there is no cure for Crohn's disease.

Your provider may prescribe the following medications.

• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone or parenteral corticosteroids, to prevent or suppress inflammation
• Sulfasalazine, in oral form or enema or suppository, to help control inflammation
• Immunosuppressives, to block the immune reaction that contributes to inflammation
• Antidiarrheal drugs
• Antibiotics
• Psychotropic agents, such as antidepressants

Seventy percent of patients with Crohn's disease undergo surgery to correct abscesses, openings in the intestinal wall, obstruction, and other problems caused by the disease. Repeated surgeries are sometimes necessary.

A comprehensive treatment plan for Crohn's disease may include a range of complementary and alternative therapies. Mind-body therapies, such as meditation, yoga, and tai chi may help reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms during active disease.

Following these nutritional tips can help minimize effects of the disease and promote better health.

• Eliminate all known allergens in addition to highly allergenic foods linked to Crohn's disease, specifically wheat, corn, and dairy.
• Avoid saturated fats and foods that tend to cause inflammation, such as caffeine, animal products, sugar, and alcohol.
• Eliminate refined and processed products.
• Increase fiber and omega-3 oils (for example, take 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily).

Potentially beneficial nutrient supplements include the following.

• Acidophilus (1 capsule with meals)
• Vitamin A (50,000 IU a day)
• Vitamin E (400 to 600 IU a day)
• B₁₂ (1,200 mcg a day)
• Folate (800 mcg, 1,200 mcg a day with sulfasalazine use)
• Vitamin C (1,000 mg three times a day)
• Calcium (1,000 mg a day)
• Magnesium (400 mg a day)
• Zinc (30 to 40 mg a day)
• Selenium (200 mcg a day)

The use of certain herbal remedies are also known to minimize effects of the disease and promote better health. These herbs include the following.

• Robert's Formula, a combination of a variety of herbs, for soothing intestinal tissues, restoring the integrity of the intestinal barrier, and reducing inflammation
• Flavonoids, such as quercetin (500 mg) before meals, to help reduce inflammation and minimize reactions to food sensitivities
• Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) tea (1 quart a day). Make a cold water extraction by soaking one heaping tablespoon of root in one quart of cold water overnight. Drink throughout the day.

An experienced homeopath can prescribe a regimen for treating Crohn's disease that is designed especially for you. Some of the most common acute remedies for diarrhea are listed below.

• Aloe
• China officinalis
• Podophyllum
• Mercurius vivus

Acute dose is three to five pellets of 12X to 30C every one to four hours until symptoms are relieved.

Acupuncture may help normalize digestive function.

Massage may help relieve stress.

Within 10 years of a diagnosis of Crohn's disease, 60 to 70 percent of patients have surgery, with 70 percent requiring a second surgery one year later. Patients can expect to have periods of remission. However, the mortality for people with Crohn's disease is twice that of the general population. Complications from the disease include bowel obstruction, abscesses, and openings, as well as a younger onset and higher incidence of colon cancer than the general population.

Patients should be closely monitored during periods of active disease. Due to the chronic nature of this disease and its long duration, counseling and support may be helpful.

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