From a western medical point of view, Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation of the digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition and the inflammation caused by Crohn's disease can involve different areas of the digestive tract in different people.
From TICM viewpoint, Crohn's disease can be divided into different categories such as Spleen Deficiency, Spleen and Kidney Deficiency, Damp Heat and Stagnation of Energy and Blood.
Spleen Deficiency - a weak spleen as a result of excessive intake of cold and raw food therefore the Spleen and Stomach can't digest and breakdown food. Symptoms include frequent and severe diarrhoea, watery stools with undigested food, abdominal pain, severe fatigue, poor appetite, poor digestion and gastric discomfort after food intake.
Spleen and Kidney Deficiency - results from having the symptoms which look like early morning diarrhoea and abdominal pain that increases with cold but decreases with defecation with an intolerance to cold.
Damp Heat - when Damp Heat is trapped in the Large Intestine there will be sudden onset of uncomfortable symptoms like diarrhoea, mucous and blood in the stools, abdominal fullness and pain and extreme urgency to defecate. The heat travels upwards and symptoms experienced are extreme thirst and the craving for cold water and irritability.
Blood and Energy Stagnation: is severe abdominal pain and fullness with a palpable mass in the right lower quadrant that is similar to appendicitis. Again diarrhoea is a symptom along with poor appetite, a decrease in muscle mass and lethargy.
Use the below as a guide to the dos and don'ts to assist in the treatment of Crohn's disease.
The number one tip that gets commonly overlooked is emotional and not physical. Make sure you are dealing with your emotions and start writing down your feelings, dig deep, try new healing modalities to deal with your feelings.
Do more walking in nature.
Do more meditation and deep breathing exercises for relaxation.
Do focus in salah ensuring movements are as per Sunnah.
Do support your liver function as well to ease stomach discomforts.
Do more acupuncture to help with stress and improve digestive health.
Do hijama wet cupping to detoxify the body.
Do discuss your symptoms with your TICM doctor to find the right mixture of herbs.
Do drink cinnamon or turmeric tea due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Avoid cold and icy drinks.
Avoid raw and uncooked foods.
Avoid hectic and rushing lifestyle.
Avoid milk and all cow dairy products.
Avoid emotional stress and stressful situations.
Avoid unhealthy relationships at work and at home.
Avoid carbonated beverages, strong tea, coffee, and all other high caffeine and stimulants.
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