IV Therapy For Crohn’s, Colitis, And Other Digestive Problems

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two closely linked and common autoimmune conditions affecting the digestive systems of many Canadians.

And as a naturopathic healthcare practitioner, I’ve sadly seen a number of them.

In fact, according to research from Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, approximately 233,000 Canadians have these autoimmune diseases.

This makes it about twice as prevalent as HIV and multiple sclerosis, and about equal with epilepsy and type 1 diabetes.

This rate is among the highest of any country on Earth.

But what is Crohn’s disease and what is ulcerative colitis?

Why are they always mentioned side by side?

What do these two diseases have in common?

What happens when you have one of these diseases?

And can naturopathic treatments for digestive issues help?

Keep reading to find out.

What Is Crohn’s And Ulcerative Colitis?

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two of the most common manifestations of a group of autoimmune diseases we commonly call inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.

Both diseases involve an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which disrupts your body’s ability to digest food and absorb nutrients from it.

Some of the most frequent symptoms of this disorder include:

• Abdominal pain
• Cramping
• Gas
• Bloating
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Blood in stool
• Rectal bleeding
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Canker sores in the mouth
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Body ache and joint pain
• Rashes

It’s important to manage your stress and anxiety levels, as both Crohn’s disease and colitis can be triggered and symptoms can flare up due to unmanaged mental health.

Anxiety and stress, the wrong diet, and several other factors (such too much exertion) can cause inflammatory bowel disease to flare.

RELATED: Naturopathic Stress And Anxiety Solutions

Generally, when managed correctly neither disease is considered life threatening.

Crohn’s disease and colitis can be treated though medication, diet, and managing stress levels.

However, if left untreated, they can sometimes lead to life threatening complications, including bowel perforation, intestinal strictures, fistulas, and abdominal distention.

These complications often lead to surgeries requiring an intestinal resection (removal of part of the inflamed intestine).

The difference between the two is that with Crohn’s disease, the inflammation you experience can appear anywhere along your gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the rectum.

Usually, they show up in the colon and lower part of the small bowel, though.

Meanwhile, colitis refers only to a localized inflammation of the colon.

It only affects the large intestine, which includes the rectum where it usually starts, before extending upward through to the colon.

It’s defined as ulcerative colitis when it becomes inflamed and irritated.

You may also find the term “indeterminate colitis” used – this is for cases where it’s unclear whether the IBD is caused by Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Currently, there is no known cure for Crohn’s disease.

Complete surgical removal of the large intestine can get rid of ulcerative colitis, but this is generally only performed in extreme cases.

There are other forms of colitis as well, including collagenous colitis.

What Causes Crohn’s And Ulcerative Colitis?

We don’t currently know what causes Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Genetics may a factor in determining who is diagnosed with IBD.

While research is currently ongoing into some possible causes, a possible link between a particular bacterial strain called Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis has been identified.

However that research is to this point inconclusive.

The Biggest Problem with Crohn’s And Ulcerative Colitis

While the symptoms listed above are no fun to deal with, one of the biggest issues caused by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is malnourishment.

According to a 2006 study in the journal Nutrition, between 65% and 75% of patients with Crohn’s disease are also malnourished.

A major cause of this is due to your body’s reduced ability to absorb nutrients from the food you eat as it travels through the small intestine.

This problem with malabsorption can be the case even for patients whose disease is in remission.

Another study, this one from 2013 in Therapeutic Advances In Gastroenterology, found that patients with Crohn’s disease were unable to meet their daily intake of all nutrients except for vitamin B12, even though they were eating nutritious meals.

In particular, it’s common to be deficient in the following nutrients:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B9
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Calcium
• Zinc

RELATED: The Basics On Vitamins

When your body loses its ability to absorb these and other nutrients, it loses the ability to perform the basic functions it needs to keep you healthy.

This can cause a whole host of health concerns.

But it also creates a vicious cycle.

After all, one of the focuses of naturopathic medicine is to give your body the nutrients it needs to heal itself.

But if your Crohn’s or colitis is stopping you from absorbing those nutrients, it can present a barrier to naturally addressing your condition.

So, what can you do?

Using IV Therapy To Treat Crohn’s And Ulcerative Colitis

One option to consider is naturopathic intravenous infusion therapy, or IV therapy for short.

Through intravenous infusion therapy, your naturopathic doctor will deliver nutrients directly into your bloodstream.

This bypasses your gastrointestinal tract, which is struggling to absorb the nutrients you need.

It’s also the quickest way for your body to receive the nutrients you need.

Questions? Ask Dr. JJ

Intravenous therapy is just one of the ways naturopathic medicine can provide treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

If you’re struggling with these disorders, use the contact form to reach out, and let’s set up a time for an initial consultation.

During that time, you’ll get a chance to sit down with me, Dr. JJ, and ask any questions you have about Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or any other health issues you may have.

From there, we can begin to assemble a plan for diagnosing your illness and providing treatment for it.

Book your appointment with me, Dr. JJ, today.