natural remedies/spices - Crohns Disease Forum - Support group and forum for IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

RHOV · 08-17-2008, 04:09 AM

there have been lots of posts about the possible benefits of things like mangosteen juice, or aloe, or pineapple, etc. I was wondering if anybody actually incorporates some of these things into their diets.

I haven't experimented with any exotic fruits, but I have heard that turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, so I put curry powder into EVERYTHING. i also drink green tea and try to add ginger and mint to my foods.

It's not hard to add particular spices to soups or rice/pasta or eat probiotic yogurt. Does anyone else do anything like this?

08-17-2008, 11:17 PM

I have tried aloe vera, ginger, peppermint, cod liver oil, papaya, yogurts, slippery elm bark and marshmallow root. Aloe vera supposedly has anti-inflamatory and healing properties, it does make sense(if youve ever had bad sunburn Aloe Vera helps applied topically). Cod liver oil contains high amounts of omego 3 fats which some researchers believe have anti-inflamatory properties and can aid in the repair of the damaged intestinal lining. The papaya has natural digestive enzymes. I have personally found slippery elm bark and marshmallow root to be very helpfull as the are demulculents and sooth the lining of the intestine. i dont know yet if the aloe vera, cod liver oil, and papaya actually work but i guess they cant hurt. However, note that the outer latex or skin of the aloe vera plant is irritating to the digestive tract and is historically used as a laxitive so if you want to try it, i would advise getting juice or gel that is made from the inner fillet not whole leaf. In my search for natural anti-inflamatories and immunosuppressors i have read alot on marijuana being very benifitial as an anti-inflamatory, immunosuppressor and pain reliever for crohn's. It is actually legal as medical treatment for crohn's in washington. Has anyone used it for treatment or know more about it as a treatment option?

RHOV · 08-17-2008, 11:47 PM

If I buy an aloe plant, could I peel it and eat it? or would i have to juice it or boil it? I'm not sure where I can find aloe juice or gel that is safe for consumption.

I've heard about the marijuana. I actually clipped out a newspaper article about it a few months ago. I don't think I would ever try it unless it was the absolute LAST resort!

08-18-2008, 01:50 AM

Im not sure exactly how the aloe vera goes from plant to bottle of juice so i dont want to give advise on that but i can tell you that i live in connecticut and you can get it here at whole foods, or the vitamin shop, i dont know if you have any where you are from but im sure you can get it online. Do you live in washington? Maybe you could see what you GI dr. has to say about marijuana as treatment or if he has treated or prescribed it to anyone. Also, is modern medicine not working for you or do you just want to supplement it with alternative medicine/ try to lower dosage/ wein off medicine/ what is your goal for seeking these alternative treatments?

RHOV · 08-18-2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james

Im not sure exactly how the aloe vera goes from plant to bottle of juice so i dont want to give advise on that but i can tell you that i live in connecticut and you can get it here at whole foods, or the vitamin shop, i dont know if you have any where you are from but im sure you can get it online. Do you live in washington? Maybe you could see what you GI dr. has to say about marijuana as treatment or if he has treated or prescribed it to anyone. Also, is modern medicine not working for you or do you just want to supplement it with alternative medicine/ try to lower dosage/ wein off medicine/ what is your goal for seeking these alternative treatments?

I've been on Remicade for about 6 months and it's been kind of a roller coaster trying to find the right dosage so I can stay in "remission" between infusions. So I guess I just want to see if there is anything that I can do that doesn't involve a drug that might also help. I've made some dietary changes which seem to be working so far. I haven't had a major flare since January, but I would like to put an end to having symptoms show up randomly and the mini-flares before infusions. I'm willing to experiment with something like aloe. The next time I see a whole foods I may stop by and see if I can find some. then I'd have to figure out what to do with it.

I do live in Washington. I'm pretty sure that my GI won't prescribe marijuana because a) I don't need it; b) I go to Children's hospital and they probably won't give me marijuana if i can't even legally buy a pack of cigarettes yet; and c) I don't want anything to do with marijuana unless I have no choice (and I have lots of choices left before I get to that!) and there's just something that makes me hesitate about using an illegal drug even if it would be legal for medical purposes. Too much stigma and controversy.

08-18-2008, 10:36 PM

sorry, i just assumed you were older. how old are you? As far as im concerned if it worked as a treatment or supplement to treatment i would strongly consider it an option considering it's lack of short term and long term side effects.

RHOV · 08-18-2008, 11:39 PM

I'm 17, so I'll be in the Children's system until I go to college.

I can understand why people may use marijuana for Crohn's; and if it works, go for it. I just don't think it's something I would consider unless I was out of options.

08-17-2008, 04:09 AM	#1
RHOV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 739	natural remedies/spices there have been lots of posts about the possible benefits of things like mangosteen juice, or aloe, or pineapple, etc. I was wondering if anybody actually incorporates some of these things into their diets. I haven't experimented with any exotic fruits, but I have heard that turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, so I put curry powder into EVERYTHING. i also drink green tea and try to add ginger and mint to my foods. It's not hard to add particular spices to soups or rice/pasta or eat probiotic yogurt. Does anyone else do anything like this?

08-17-2008, 11:17 PM	#2
james Guest Posts: n/a	natural remedies I have tried aloe vera, ginger, peppermint, cod liver oil, papaya, yogurts, slippery elm bark and marshmallow root. Aloe vera supposedly has anti-inflamatory and healing properties, it does make sense(if youve ever had bad sunburn Aloe Vera helps applied topically). Cod liver oil contains high amounts of omego 3 fats which some researchers believe have anti-inflamatory properties and can aid in the repair of the damaged intestinal lining. The papaya has natural digestive enzymes. I have personally found slippery elm bark and marshmallow root to be very helpfull as the are demulculents and sooth the lining of the intestine. i dont know yet if the aloe vera, cod liver oil, and papaya actually work but i guess they cant hurt. However, note that the outer latex or skin of the aloe vera plant is irritating to the digestive tract and is historically used as a laxitive so if you want to try it, i would advise getting juice or gel that is made from the inner fillet not whole leaf. In my search for natural anti-inflamatories and immunosuppressors i have read alot on marijuana being very benifitial as an anti-inflamatory, immunosuppressor and pain reliever for crohn's. It is actually legal as medical treatment for crohn's in washington. Has anyone used it for treatment or know more about it as a treatment option?

08-18-2008, 01:50 AM	#4
james Guest Posts: n/a	aloe Im not sure exactly how the aloe vera goes from plant to bottle of juice so i dont want to give advise on that but i can tell you that i live in connecticut and you can get it here at whole foods, or the vitamin shop, i dont know if you have any where you are from but im sure you can get it online. Do you live in washington? Maybe you could see what you GI dr. has to say about marijuana as treatment or if he has treated or prescribed it to anyone. Also, is modern medicine not working for you or do you just want to supplement it with alternative medicine/ try to lower dosage/ wein off medicine/ what is your goal for seeking these alternative treatments?

08-17-2008, 11:47 PM	#3
RHOV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 739	If I buy an aloe plant, could I peel it and eat it? or would i have to juice it or boil it? I'm not sure where I can find aloe juice or gel that is safe for consumption. I've heard about the marijuana. I actually clipped out a newspaper article about it a few months ago. I don't think I would ever try it unless it was the absolute LAST resort!

08-18-2008, 10:36 PM	#6
james Guest Posts: n/a	sorry, i just assumed you were older. how old are you? As far as im concerned if it worked as a treatment or supplement to treatment i would strongly consider it an option considering it's lack of short term and long term side effects.

08-18-2008, 11:39 PM	#7
RHOV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 739	I'm 17, so I'll be in the Children's system until I go to college. I can understand why people may use marijuana for Crohn's; and if it works, go for it. I just don't think it's something I would consider unless I was out of options.