supplements for Crohn's Disease

Crohn’s disease can be a very uncomfortable disorder to have.  It causes an inflammation of the digestive tract, ranging from the mouth to the anus.  The inflammation can cause extreme pain or cramping in the abdomen and intestines, and very commonly cause diarrhea.  In addition, Crohn’s disease may cause ulcers, nutritional deficiencies, bloody stool, and vomiting.  While there are periods of remission, there is no cure for Crohn’s disease.  People who develop the disease have it for life, and when its symptoms are active, it can destroy one’s ability to be a normal citizen in society.

It is not surprising, then, that those inflicted with Crohn’s disease often look for complementary or alternative disease treatments to suppress the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.  The main disease treatment for Crohn’s disease has always been anti-inflammatory drugs to combat the inflammation in the intestines.  More serious cases may require a combination of medications or even surgery.  Mild symptoms may be resolved using antidiarrheal medicine such as loperamide.  Other medications include medicines that suppress the immune system, or colon disease medicine.  In more severe cases, there are additional disease treatments available.

For those who do not have access to medical care, or do not experience success with these drugs, they may try other supplements to further increase the medical attention for their Crohn’s disease.  Some of these alternative disease treatments are listed below:

1.  Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are generally good for the health of a human being, but also have anti-inflammatory properties.  These acids are often found in fish such as salmon and tuna and other sources such as walnuts, canola oil, or pumpkin seeds.  Studies have found inconsistent results regarding the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty aids in stopping relapse of Crohn’s, but it does not stop people from trying.  Since omega-3 fatty acids are healthy in general, including effectively reducing the risk of heart disease, it is a safe attempt at quelling the symptoms of Crohn’s.

2.  Boswellia

Also known as frankincense, Boswellia is an herb that has been found to give benefits to those suffering from symptoms of Crohn’s disease.  It is often sold as a dietary supplement, and is easy to find, but is not approved as an official disease treatment.

3.  Slippery Elm

Slipper Elm supplements have historically been used as a remedy to treat intestinal issues.  The supplements are made from the bark of an elm tree.  The effects on Crohn’s disease have not been studied, but it has been found to possess a significant amount of antioxidants, beneficial to disease treatment.

4.  Bromelain

An enzyme found in pineapples, bromelain is extracted from stems and juices of pineapples.  It has been used for digestive issues and is used in Germany for sinusitis.  While there is still no evidence of its efficacy in suppressing Crohn’s disease, there have been reports of it being effective in inducing remission.

These alternative disease treatments may help an individual suppress his or her symptoms of Crohn’s disease, but one should always consult their doctor before using such disease treatments.

Prevent Lyme Disease

Disease treatment varies between each type of disease.  Many disease treatments will involve medication, while other disease treatments may involve therapy or counseling.   For some diseases, however, disease treatment may involve preventative measures.  Some disease treatment will even be more abnormal and peculiar.

One type of disease treatment that is preventive and peculiar is the treatment for Lyme disease.  Lyme disease is a disease caused by the bite of a tick infected with a specific bacterium.  If you are bit by a tick, you have the chance to be infected by Lyme disease.  Understanding the specific disease treatment for Lyme disease is important.  If you are infected with Lyme disease, or suspect yourself of being infected, go to a doctor immediately.  Tell him that you think you have been bit by a tick, and may have contracted Lyme disease as a result.  He will then check for tick bites and a rash.  Should you be diagnosed, he or she will start you on a long trial of antibiotics to cure the disease.

What may be more important than the disease treatment of Lyme disease is its prevention.  Lyme disease can be easily spread through the bite of a tick and it is more common in certain places around the world, but it be easily treated and prevented.   Reducing the amount of ticks on their hosts may be an effective way to prevent Lyme disease.

With many diseases and their disease treatments focusing around medication, prevention of Lyme disease remains unique.  Some of these prevention techniques include the management of host animals, vaccination, and prompt tick removal.

Some tips and information about the prevention of Lyme disease are listed below:

1.  Tick removal

Even though the cause of the disease is the bite of a tick, its is estimated that probability of transmission is near zero when the tick is promptly removed, or removed within 36 hours.  It can be smart to do what you can to avoid being bit by a tick.  Wearing long sleeved shirts or pants can prevent bites; light clothing can help detection before the tick attaches itself.  Outdoor pets can bring ticks into the house, raising the risk of being bit.  If you do see a tick on you, it is recommended that you remove it by pulling straight up, without twisting.

2.  Management of host animals

The white-tailed deer is the most common host animal that ticks need for reproduction.  If the deer population is reduced, it is suggested that the lower number of ticks may result in lower tick-borne diseases.  It is not easy to simply reduce the population of an animal, however.

3.  Vaccination

There was once a vaccine for Lyme disease produced by GlaxoSmithKline.  The vaccine, named LYMErix, was found to give protective immunity in 76% of adults and 100% of children.  It was not very cost efficient, however, and was reported to cause autoimmune side effects.  Despite a lack of evidence to support these claims, LYMErix was pulled from the market in 2002.  There are new vaccines being researched using a different method of vaccination.