By Arthur A. Burley 
What is Crohn’s disease and how can I help?
Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition of the bowel, is an inflammation that causes irritation. It makes it difficult to digest foods, absorb nutrients, and has a tendency to have irregular bowel movements. There is currently no cure, but conventional medical treatments can help manage the symptoms.
You may also be interested in complementary therapies if you have Crohn’s disease. These natural remedies can be combined with the prescribed treatment plan to ease the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. These six complementary therapies have been proven to be effective in treating Crohn’s symptoms.
Vitamin supplements
Crohn’s disease can affect the body’s ability absorb nutrients. Supplements can be helpful in addressing many Crohn’s-related mineral and vitamin deficiencies.
Anemia can occur in people with Crohn’s due to blood loss caused by inflammation of the intestines. Anemia can be managed with iron supplements. Iron supplements can be taken orally or intravenously.
Vitamin D supplements may be an option for those with Crohn’s disease. Vitamin D is important for the metabolism of calcium and bone health. Crohn’s can affect both.
Probiotics
Probiotics, a type of beneficial bacteria, can help maintain the balance in your intestine. Probiotics can also prevent harmful bacteria from growing and causing problems in the digestive system.
Probiotics may be able to help Crohn’s patients stay in remission, according to evidence. Probiotics can also prevent pouchitis, which is a condition that often occurs after colon surgery.
Probiotics are generally safe. Probiotics are available in capsules or powders in many forms and can be found in yogurt, miso and tempeh.
Turmeric
Turmeric, a spice that has been used in India as a medicine for centuries, is known to be a powerful and versatile ingredient. It’s used often as a complement to Crohn’s because of the anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and immunomodulatory properties of curcumin, one of its main components.
You can take it orally as a supplement, or mix it with water to make powdered. You can also sprinkle turmeric directly on foods, but this may not have enough curcumin for the desired anti-inflammatory properties.
People with Crohn’s disease can safely use turmeric. It can cause diarrhea and bloating in some cases.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese therapy practice, involves inserting thin needles into the skin to stimulate certain sites called acupoints.
The effectiveness of acupuncture in treating Crohn’s disease has been proven by research. Its effects on cell responses and secretions can reduce inflammation and reverse tissue damages.
Side effects of acupuncture can be mildly bleeding or superficial hematomas around acupoints. It is generally safe to use.
Mindfulness techniques
For Crohn’s patients, mindfulness techniques like yoga and meditation may be of benefit. People with Crohn’s have higher levels of anxiety and stress, so mindfulness practices can be helpful in preventing stress from causing flare-ups and exacerbating symptoms.
Most gyms and community centers offer intro yoga classes. There are many instructional videos available online for those who feel more comfortable doing yoga at home. You can also find online meditation and deep breathing exercises that are very easy to follow.
Even if you don’t have Crohn’s symptoms, mindfulness techniques can dramatically improve your quality-of-life. They don’t have side effects!
Exercise
Regular exercise is a good idea. It has also been proven to be beneficial for Crohn’s disease. It will improve your overall well-being and can increase your bone mineral density.
Exercise can also increase the production of IL-6, a protein code gene that can help to increase peptides in repair of intestinal damage.
While most exercise is safe, certain physical activities can worsen Crohn’s symptoms, including fatigue, joint pain and diarrhea. Before you start any exercise regimens, talk to your doctor.