In addition to medications, there are several complementary options that may help reduce symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss. This condition can be mild, moderate, or severe. And depending on its severity, Crohn’s can be debilitating and affect your quality of life.
Crohn’s disease can cause complications like ulcers in the digestive tract and bowel obstruction. Treatment often includes anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressants. These medications can reduce inflammation. Antidiarrheal medication and pain relievers can also help ease symptoms.
But while these are common treatments for this disease, these aren’t the only options available to you. Several less common remedies may also ease your symptoms.
Stress doesn’t cause Crohn’s disease. But emotional stress, anxiety, and depression can worsen symptoms and lead to flare-ups.
You’ll also learn how to identify warning signs of depression, as well as practical techniques to lessen stress on your own. These techniques might include deep breathing exercises and meditation.
Learning how to gain control over your thoughts can be the start to successfully reducing your Crohn’s disease symptoms.
Hypnotherapy is an alternative treatment that uses deep relaxation to produce a heightened state of awareness. This therapy can treat a variety of conditions and help a person break free of bad habits.
Different types of hypnotherapy are available. This includes therapy designed to ease symptoms associated with digestive disorders. This is known as gut-focused hypnotherapy.
With this therapy, your therapist will help you reach a state of deep relaxation. Once you’re relaxed, they’ll teach you how to control gut function through visualization and imagery.
A 2023 study that used adjunctive virtual hypnotherapy in Crohn’s investigated whether symptoms improved as a secondary outcome. Results showed that symptom reduction was greater in those who underwent hypnotherapy.
Acupuncture is a holistic technique that uses needles to stimulate certain points of the body. This technique can relieve pain and reduce the severity of conditions like Crohn’s disease.
This method is effective because it encourages the body to heal itself naturally through nerve stimulation. According to
Fish oil may also be an effective remedy for symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Fish oil comes from the tissue of oily fish and is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, this dietary supplement offers many other health benefits. One example is reducing inflammation in the body.
Researchers conducting an older research review concluded that insufficient evidence prevents recommending fish oil for Crohn’s disease. There have been mixed results, and it may only slightly improve relapse rates, but more research is needed.
Fish oil is not suitable for everyone, so talk with your doctor before taking the supplement.
Another uncommon remedy for Crohn’s disease is glutamine. This is an amino acid that serves as an energy source for the cells in the lining of the intestines.
Glutamine has anti-inflammatory properties and protects the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research reports that the supplement may reduce inflammation in the intestinal tract. Less inflammation can also lead to fewer symptoms of Crohn’s disease. This can help you achieve remission and stay in remission.
More research is needed on the effectiveness of glutamine for Crohn’s, as a 2021 review of research indicated that inconclusive data on whether glutamine works.
Again, consult your doctor before taking a glutamine supplement.
Prescription anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications can reduce symptoms of Crohn’s disease. But lesser-known remedies for Crohn’s disease may provide relief and improve your quality of life. Don’t stop taking your medication without first speaking with your doctor.
Consult your doctor first to discuss possible alternative therapies and then decide which therapy, if any, may be right for you.