Written by John Immel, Asheville, NC

The symptoms of Crohn's are pain in the lower right side of the abdomen with diarrhea, fever and weight loss. Crohn's in the ileum presents with abdominal pain above the pubic bone. Crohn's starts with inflammation around Peyer's patches that spreads through the wall of the intestine, causing fibrosis. The wall of the intestine becomes thick and rigid, with a cobblestone appearance. The inflammation narrows the intestines causing stricture. The inflammation may lead to fistula, adhesions and anal lesions. The likelihood of contracting Crohn's increases 30 times if a family member has the disease.

Crohn's is a Vata pushing Pitta disorder with poor digestion, inflammation, fermentation, and stagnation of food in the cecum. The cecum is a general hotspot for digestive disorders in Ayurveda as food tends to stagnate there and ferment. Crohn's is considered an auto-immune disorder in western medicine. As Crohn's may damage the terminal ileum, bile acid malabsorption is common.

Ayurvedic Treatment Approach

  • Massage of the cecum
  • Soluble fiber
  • Herbs to soothe inflammation and detoxify the colon
  • Therapeutic Enemas
  • Avoid hot, sharp foods that irritate the digestive tract
  • Kitchari cleanse to reset your body for a healthy new start

The symptoms of Crohn's are pain in the lower right side of the abdomen with diarrhea, fever and weight loss. Crohn's in the ileum presents with abdominal pain above the pubic bone. Crohn's starts with inflammation around Peyer's patches that spreads through the wall of the intestine, causing fibrosis. The wall of the intestine becomes thick and rigid, with a cobblestone appearance. The inflammation narrows the intestines causing stricture. The inflammation may lead to fistula, adhesions and anal lesions. The likelihood of contracting Crohn's increases 30 times if a family member has the disease.

Crohn's is a Vata pushing Pitta disorder with poor digestion, inflammation, fermentation, and stagnation of food in the cecum. The cecum is a general hotspot for digestive disorders in Ayurveda as food tends to stagnate there and ferment. Crohn's is considered an auto-immune disorder in western medicine. As Crohn's may damage the terminal ileum, bile acid malabsorption is common.

Ayurvedic Treatment Approach

  • Massage of the cecum
  • Soluble fiber
  • Herbs to soothe inflammation and detoxify the colon
  • Therapeutic Enemas
  • Avoid hot, sharp foods that irritate the digestive tract
  • Kitchari cleanse to reset your body for a healthy new start