Named after the doctor who identified the disease, Dr. Burrill B. Crohn, Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
While comparable to ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease is not the same illness.
An estimated 700,000 Americans suffer from Crohn’s disease; it affects men and women of any age. The most commonly affected age group is 15 to 35 years of age.
There is currently no cure for Crohn’s disease, but there are viable treatment options for the painful symptoms. Chiropractic care is one such option.
Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease
Typically, Crohn’s disease causes swelling along the lining of the bowel tissues, specifically where the small bowel (called the ileum) ends and the colon begins.
This swelling can be exceedingly painful resulting in abdominal discomfort, severe and persistent diarrhea, malnutrition, fatigue, and weight loss.
Consider Conservative Treatment
There is no known cure for Crohn’s disease, but there are several treatment methods. The most common treatment is prescription drug therapy and even surgery.
As chiropractors, we recommend choosing moderate, non-surgical forms of treatment when possible.
Complementary Medicine, Chiropractic and Crohn’s Disease
Multiple surveys have revealed that 51 percent of patients with inflammatory bowel disease use reciprocal medicine for treating their illness. These studies indicate an increase in people seeking alternative treatment approaches.
A 2007 study on Crohn’s sufferers found that 12 of the 17 participants who received chiropractic adjustments “showed long-term and stable remission of their symptoms.”
They also found “that vertebral subluxation is a common and characteristic finding in patients with allergies and Crohn’s disease.”
A 2003 case study by Dr. Charles L. Blum describes a 32-year-old female patient suffering from inflammatory bowel disease that was relieved of this chronic condition following chiropractic care.
Anti-Inflammatory Omega-3s
Known for their anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3 fatty acids may have a positive role in treating the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
A 1996 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Crohn’s disease sufferers taking fish oil were twice as likely to stay in remission as those who took a placebo.
