What Alternative Medicine Offers

Up to 50% of people with inflammatory bowel disease seek “alternative" treatments. Known as “Alternative Medicine” because it falls outside the realm of conventional medicine, it includes chiropractic care, naturopathy, homeopathy, herbalism, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, meditation, yoga, acupuncture and diet-based therapies, among many others. These practices may be based on traditional medicine, folk knowledge, spiritual beliefs, or newly conceived approaches to healing. When they’re used in conjunction with conventional methods they’re also known as Complementary Medicine --the umbrella term is “CAM” for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Complementary medicine offers a way to take back some control over our bodies and be more involved with our own health. It also offers a means of addressing the root of the health problem rather than just focusing on the symptoms.

For people with any Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, or IBD’s, we can recommend a few things that have been known to help:

• Some studies have found that fish oil and flax seed oil may be helpful in managing IBD.

• Some also suggested the role of prebiotics such as psyllium in the healing process.

• Probiotics (live culture) may also be helpful in aiding recovery of the intestines.

• Aloe Vera has been found to be the most widely used herbal therapy by patients with active ulcerative colitis.

But ultimately, the choices are up to you as to what feels right to you, and what eases your symptoms.