Crohn’s disease is one of the most common types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis is another common form of IBD. The difference between Ulcerative colitis and Crohns is that Crohns can be a more severe version affecting your entire digestive track from mouth to colon. Unlike Crohns, Ulcerative colitis is located only on the colon.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flares up the lining of the gut affecting nutrient absorption as well as increasing inflammation in the gut. Inflammation can spread increasing your chances of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. serious complications include intestinal obstruction, ulcerations, colon cancer and malnutrition.
Acute flare up symptoms of Inflammatory bowel disease:
Diagnosis of Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis can be done through endoscopic tests such as Colonoscopy, Sigmoidoscopy, Barium X-ray and CT scans. These tests are also useful in distinguishing between the different IBD types such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis.
Predisposing factors to Crohns / Ulcerative colitis / IBD:
Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis can be well managed using Naturopathic Medicine. Naturopathic treatment of IBD consists of removing causing factors of flare ups, managing flare ups, further adjusting your treatment to make sure you stay in remission and heal the gut. Dr. Tali uses evidence based integrative medicine, well researched effective treatment therapies for IBD and individualizes the protocol specifically for you and your needs, considering your risk, history, medication use and other health factors. This can be done by nutritional assessment, Food sensitivities testing may be beneficial in order to reduce inflammation.
The most important approach for Dr. Tali`s IBD treatment is to reduce inflammation and minimize oxidative stress that it causing the damage to your gastrointestinal tract. It’s also important to restore nutritional status due to the common nutrient depletion in IBD patients and optimizing absorption.
Education plays a big role for IBD approach as certain dietary modifications have been shown to be as effective as some Crohn’s medications. You may already be taking prescription medications and Dr. Tali will adjust treatment in order to maximize benefit and work on reducing medication dosage (if needed / wanted).