Natural medicine can be used to effectively manage and treat many digestive conditions and concerns, including bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, IBS and Crohn’s disease.
Although many people may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed when discussing their bowel health, the team at Energie Natural Health as highly professional and very experienced. We understand that these conditions are very personal, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
WHAT IS IBS?
IBS is short for Irritable bowel syndrome, a disorder that affects the bowel.
IBS is very common and affects one in seven Australians including both adults, adolescents and children.
IBS often occurs in bouts, these bouts are generally brought on by eating certain food, changes in diet, stress and hormones. The gastrointestinal tract or intestines become very sensitive to various stimuli resulting in diarrhoea and constipation.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME?
Everyone is different and so is the way individuals experience IBS.
Symptoms can vary from person to person including;
- Abnormal stool frequency – more or less than you would normally experience
- Abnormal stool consistency
- Pain and or discomfort in the abdominal area
- Straining during a bowel movement
- Feeling of incomplete bowel movements
- Urgency with bowel movements
- Diarrhoea or constipation, or both alternately
- Bloating
- Flatulence
- Mucus in your stool
- Fatigue and difficulties concentrating
- Anxiety and depression
- Overweight or obese
WHAT IS CROHN’S?
Crohn’s disease is typified by inflammation of the digestive system. Inflammation can occur anywhere along the digestive tract but is most commonly found in the small intestines or colon.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Crohn’s disease at this stage. However, Crohn’s disease can be well managed using natural or alternative medicine to ensure sufferers can live a fulfilling and wonderful life.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CROHN’S DISEASE?
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease are often severe in nature and can fluctuate from no symptoms to severe symptoms across the individual’s lifetime.
Symptoms can include:
Chronic diarrhoea
Blood in stools
Mucus in stools
Unexplained weight loss
Fever
Abdominal pain and or tenderness
Feeling a mass like structure in the abdomen
Rectal bleeding
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease will differ based on the affected area on the bowel.
HOW CAN NATURAL MEDICINE HELP WITH IBS & CROHN’S?
Historically the treatment for both IBS and Crohn’s has been pharmaceutical medication.
Now more and more people are looking towards alternative and natural medicine to help treat and manage their digestive conditions and symptoms.
Natural medicine has shown to have excellent results in the treatment and management of Crohn’s and IBS. Natural medicine is not hard on our bodies and ensures you not only get relief from your condition, but your body is well looked after too.
Nutritional supplements, probiotics and prebiotics are usually recommended by our nutritionist to provide support for sufferers. They may help improve the integrity of the gut and reinoculate the good bacteria improving the function of our digestive system.
Acupuncture is an ancient practice that is used to treat various conditions including digestive conditions. Thin needles are painlessly inserted into different sites of the body to encourage the release of hormones and chemical messengers. These hormones and chemical messengers help to block pain in IBS and Crohn’s sufferers to help them live full lives with their daily symptoms.
Herbal and botanical treatments are also a great alternative to prescribed medicine to ease symptoms, reduce pain and increase quality of life.
Aloe vera juice
Slippery elm bark
Chamomile
Peppermint