Crohn's Disease and Colitis
As those of you who suffer from— or have family members who suffer from— Crohn's Disease and Colitis know, these are debilitating and painful conditions. There are, however, simple steps you can take to begin the healing process.
Firstly, it is important to look at the root cause, and some common culprits that result in these conditions:
Antibiotic Use: Most if not all of us have unfortunately taken oral antibiotics at least once in our lives. This essentially removes our entire microbiome, good along with bad, and sometimes our gut flora never recovers. To exacerbate this already compromised condition, many of us are exposed to antibiotics in the chicken, red meat and dairy we consume. It is of utmost importance to source your meat from organic if not regenerative or pasture raised farms that do not employ antibiotics. Regularly consuming naturally fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut or kimchi, or fermented drinks such as kombucha or kvass can help rebalance your gut microbiome over time.
Dairy, Wheat and Sugar: These foods can negatively impact your health, especially in the ways that they are now processed and have become overly industrialized and often, chemically laden (e.g. glyphosate in wheat). They are known to create a damp constitution in many people, which can majorly contribute to gut and other issues. Dr. Wu says that you must remove these three foods entirely if you suffer from Crohn’s or Colitis.
A Cold and Damp Constitution: This constitution can certainly arise from use of antibiotics or the foods mentioned above, and it can also come about from other sources. In TCM, the practitioner helps the patient to achieve health by balancing imbalanced aspects of their health through the use of herbs, Acupuncture, Tui Na, and other healing methods. In this case, a widely used herbal formula can be very helpful:
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San (Agastache Formula)
A very widely used herbal formula in China for any kind of gastrointestinal disorder
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San is a powder that can be taken orally but is also especially effective when mixed into a paste using Huo Hsiang Cheng Chi Shuei (below), which is a liquid, and placed into the belly button. This should be taped over and kept on for 24 hours, and used daily or every other day as needed. Using these two formulas together, and placing them in the belly button can be even more effective than taking either formula orally.
Huo Hsiang Cheng Chi Shuei
One of the most popular remedies in China for any kind of stomach/GI ailment
Disclaimer: All above articles are for reference only. If patients are interested, please consult a professional practitioner Traditional Chinese Medicine for a consultation.