Crohn's Disease & Fenugreek

Crohn's Disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects any area of the gastrointestinal tract. There is no known cure for Crohn's Disease, but use of the anti-inflammatory herb fenugreek helps reduce the pain associated with some symptoms of this illness.

History

• The fenugreek herb is used worldwide to treat the symptoms of Crohn's Disease. It has been traced to ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, as well as the Mediterranean, China, Africa and southern Europe. In addition to reducing inflammation from Crohn's Disease, fenugreek also increases milk production in nursing mothers and improves glucose tolerance in patients suffering from diabetes.

Considerations

• Although there is no determined cause of Crohn's Disease, heredity does appear to increase the risk for developing this chronic condition. Dietetic alterations reduce the probability of this illness developing and lessen the frequency of painful flare ups. Recommended diet changes include drinking more water and eating cooked vegetables, fresh cabbage and papaya; avoid meat and dairy. A vegan diet is recommended for patients suffering from Crohn's Disease or those with a high genetic risk for developing the condition. Fenugreek is recommended daily in addition to prescription medications, as it aids in the digestive process and effectively reduces diarrhea.

Identifying Crohn's Disease

• Blood tests confirm the Crohn's Disease diagnosis and are typically followed by a barium X-ray to determine the condition's severity. Barium is a chalky substance that is ingested to highlight the entire digestive tract, for easier identification of more severe symptoms, like inflamed ulcerations or fistula of the bowel. Doctors may recommend higher doses of fenugreek in addition to prescription medications if these painful symptoms are detected.

Function

• Fenugreek is a digestive aid that reduces symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. However, fenugreek should not be used alone for Crohn's Disease; prescription medications used in conjunction with fenugreek control more severe symptoms, like weight loss, fatigue and skin rashes.

Misconceptions

• Crohn's Disease is easily confused with ulcerative colitis, which is also an inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's Disease can attack any part of the digestive tract, whereas ulcerative colitis only impacts the colon. Fenugreek can be used to lessen the symptoms of both of these inflammatory bowel conditions.

Types

• Crohn's Disease is not unique to humans. Dogs, cats and other animals also suffer from this chronic inflammatory bowel disease. A veterinarian must confirm a diagnosis of Crohn's Disease and will prescribe medications; fenugreek may also be given to animals in small doses to relieve painful abdominal swelling.

Warning

• The most common side effect of fenugreek is gas. In rare cases, fenugreek has been associated with allergic reactions like numbness, swelling and difficulty breathing; it can also cause urine to smell like maple syrup.