Crohns Disease

What is Crohns disease?
Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which involves ongoing (chronic) inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn's-related inflammation usually affects the intestines, but may occur anywhere from the mouth to the end of the rectum (anus).

What Causes Crohns disease?
While the exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown, the condition is linked to a problem with the body's immune system response. Normally, the immune system helps protect the body, but with Crohn's disease the immune system can't tell the difference between good substances and foreign invaders. The result is an overactive immune response that leads to chronic inflammation. This is called an autoimmune disorder.

There are five different types of Crohn's disease:

• Ileocolitis is the most common form. It affects the lowest part of the small intestine (ileum) and the large intestine (colon).
• Ileitis affects the ileum.
• Gastroduodenal Crohn's disease causes inflammation in the stomach and first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
• Jejunoileitis causes spotty patches of inflammation in the top half of the small intestine (jejunum).

Crohn's (granulomatous) colitis only affects the large intestine.

The disease may occur at any age, but it usually occurs in people between ages 15 - 35.
sourced from www.medline.com

How can chiropractic help?

The Chiropractic Approach
The bowels are the largest internal organ of the body. The nerve supply that regulate the bowel is enormous, it is estimated that 15 of the 33 nerves that leave the spinal cord, via the vertebra, help manage the digestive system. Considering that Crohn's disease can develop anywhere between the stomach to the rectum it is vital that the nerve supply to these digestive organs are well maintained-particularly if you  suffer with Crohn's Disease. If  the nerve supply becomes restricted 'crimping' as they exit the spinal cord  through the vertebra, (creating a 'jam') this condition is known as a  Subluxation. Subluxations (joint restrictions) are what Chiropractors treat. It is not only about sore backs, it is also about turning on the 'nerve energy' that supports this amazing body that we live within.

From research files
I have selected 2 case studies that are helpful.

1)  Long term remission and alleviation of symptoms in allergy and Crohn's disease patients following spinal adjustment for reduction of vertebral subluxations. Takeda Y, Arai S, Touichi H, Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research  4(4) 2002 (November, 2002)

2)  Subluxation location and correction (31-year-old with Crohn's disease) Goldman, SR  Today's Chiropractic July/August 1995 p.70-74.

Chiropractic can help.
Every day thousands of patients visit Chiropractic officer's with different health issues, patients do not realise the variety of conditions that we treat. So we encourage you to call our office and talk with us,- maybe you, or maybe a friend you know,- could be helped.