Disease Index Homeopathy Papers

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Crohn’s and Colitis – A Homeopathic Approach

Written by Danny Thomas

The author discusses inflammatory bowel disease and describes some of the remedies often indicated. The most useful tool in treatment is accurate case taking and history. Proper administration of the treatment plan, nutritional, and lifestyle advice and patient compliance pay dividends in healing. These are the key remedies in treating IBD that we have implemented successfully.

Disease information

IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) is a group of inflammatory conditions (Crohn’s disease (Homeopathy for Crohn’s Disease) and ulcerative colitis) mainly affecting the large and small bowel. The distinguishing features of Crohn’s and UC depend on the location and presentation of the inflammatory changes. UC primarily affects the colon and rectum, while Crohn’s can affect any portion of the GI tract from the mouth to anus. The majority of clinical cases affect the terminal ileum (portion connecting the small and large intestine). Furthermore, UC is limited to the mucosa or lining of the gut, while Crohn’s affects the whole bowel wall, resulting in skip-like “transmural lesions.” Unlike UC, Crohn’s is widely regarded as an autoimmune condition.

While the causes of IBD are unknown, symptoms include:

  • abdominal cramps

  • gas

  • bloating

  • frequent loose stools

  • tenesmus

  • fever

  • weight loss

  • development of fistula

Secondary complications and symptoms include:

  • mouth sores

  • skin rashes

  • arthritis

IBD typically strikes both genders equally, most often developing during the teenage years or early adulthood. Caucasians, patients of Jewish descent and patients with a family history of IBD are at an increased risk of developing IBD. IBD is most often confused or misdiagnosed initially as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While both can cause chronic digestive problems, the key feature in IBD is the presentation of inflammation, ulcers and a damaged digestive tract, all of which are absent in IBS.

Several diagnostic tests for IBD are available including barium X-ray, CT, MRI, wbc count, ultrasound and/or colonoscopy.

Homeopathic treatment plans for IBD

In clinical practice I have come across countless cases, in various stages of IBD and have had extremely positive results. The most useful tool in treatment is accurate case taking and history. Many patients typically ignore or neglect key symptoms that help accurately determine the most beneficial remedy or remedies for treatment. Proper administration of the treatment plan, nutritional, and lifestyle advice and patient compliance pay dividends in healing. These are the key remedies in treating IBD that we have implemented successfully

Nux Vomica (Colubrina)

  • Stomach: Sour taste, and nausea in the morning, after eating. Weight and pain in stomach; worse, eating, some time after. Flatulence and pyrosis. Sour, bitter eructations. Nausea and vomiting, with much retching. Ravenous hunger, especially about a day before an attack of dyspepsia. Region of stomach very sensitive to pressure. Epigastrium bloated, with pressure as of a stone, several hours after eating. Desire for stimulants. Loves fats and tolerates them well. Dyspepsia from drinking strong coffee. Difficult belching of gas. Wants to vomit, but cannot.

  • Abdomen: Bruised soreness of abdominal walls. Flatulent distension, with spasmodic colic. Colic from uncovering. Liver engorged, with stitches and soreness. Colic, with upward pressure, causing short breath, and desire for stool. Weakness of abdominal ring region. Strangulated hernia. Forcing in lower abdomen towards genitals. Umbilical hernia of infants.

  • Stool: Constipation, with frequent ineffectual urging, incomplete and unsatisfactory; feeling as if part remained unexpelled. Constriction of rectum. Irregular, peristaltic action; hence frequent ineffectual desire, or passing but small quantities at each attempt. Absence of all desire for defecation is a contra-indication. Alternate constipation and diarrhea-after abuse of purgatives. Urging to stool felt throughout abdomen. Itching, blind hemorrhoids, with ineffectual urging to stool; very painful; after drastic drugs. Diarrhea after a debauch; worse, morning. Frequent small evacuations. Scanty stool, with much urging. Dysentery; stools relieve pains for a time. Constant uneasiness in rectum.

Mercurius Corrosivus

  • Stomach: Incessant, green, bilious vomiting. Epigastrium very sensitive.

  • Abdomen: Bruised sensation; cecal region and transverse colon painful. Bloated; very painful to least touch.

  • Stool: Dysentery; tenesmus, not relieved by stool; incessant. Stool hot, bloody, slimy, offensive, with cutting pains and shreds of mucous membrane.

Ornithogalim Umbellatum

  • Stomach: Tongue coated. Agonizing feeling in chest and stomach, starting from pylorus with flatus that rolls in balls from one side to the other; loss of appetite, phlegmy retching and loss of flesh. Gastric ulceration even with hemorrhage. Pains increased when food passes pyloric outlet. Vomiting of coffee-ground-looking matter. Distention of stomach. Frequent belching of offensive flatus. Painful sinking across epigastrium.

Arsenicum Album

  • Stomach : Cannot bear the sight or smell of food. Great thirst; drinks much, but little at a time. Nausea, retching, vomiting, after eating or drinking. Anxiety in pit of stomach. Burning pain. Craves acids and coffee. Heartburn; gulping up of acid and bitter substances which seem to excoriate the throat. Long-lasting eructations. Vomiting of blood, bile, green mucus, or brown-black mixed with blood. Stomach extremely irritable; seems raw, as if torn. Gastralgia from slightest food or drink. Dyspepsia from vinegar, acids, ice-cream, ice-water, tobacco. Terrible fear and dyspnea, with gastralgia; also faintness, icy coldness, great exhaustion. Malignant symptoms. Everything swallowed seems to lodge in the esophagus, which seems as if closed and nothing would pass. Ill effects of vegetable diet, melons, and watery fruits generally. Craves milk.

  • Abdomen.–Gnawing, burning pains like coals of fire; relieved by heat. Liver and spleen enlarged and painful. Ascites and anasarca. Abdomen swollen and painful. Pain as from a wound in abdomen on coughing.

  • Rectum.–Painful, spasmodic protrusion of rectum. Tenesmus. Burning pain and pressure in rectum and anus.

  • Stool.–Small, offensive, dark, with much prostration. Worse at night, and after eating and drinking; from chilling stomach, alcoholic abuse, spoiled meat. Dysentery dark, bloody, very offensive. Cholera, with intense agony, prostration, and burning thirst. Body cold as ice. Hemorrhoids burn like fire; relieved by heat. Skin excoriated about anus.

Bryonia

  • Stomach: Nausea and faintness when rising up. Abnormal hunger, loss of taste. Thirst for large draughts. Vomiting of bile and water immediately after eating. Worse, warm drinks, which are vomited. Stomach sensitive to touch. Pressure in stomach after eating, as of a stone. Soreness in stomach when coughing. Dyspeptic ailments during summer heat. Sensitiveness of epigastrium to touch.

  • Abdomen : Liver region swollen, sore, tensive. Burning pain, stitches; worse, pressure, coughing, breathing. Tenderness of abdominal walls.

  • Stool: Constipation; stools hard, dry, as if burnt; seem too large. Stools brown, thick, bloody; worse in morning, from moving, in hot weather, after being heated, from cold drinks, every spell of hot weather.

Lycopodium

  • Stomach: Dyspepsia due to farinaceous and fermentable food, cabbage, beans, etc. Excessive hunger. Aversion to bread, etc. Desire for sweet things. Food tastes sour. Sour eructations. Great weakness of digestion. Bulimia, with much bloating. After eating, pressure in stomach, with bitter taste in mouth. Eating ever so little creates fullness. Cannot eat oysters. Rolling of flatulence. Wakes at night feeling hungry. Burning eructations rise only to pharynx there burn for hours. Likes to take food and drink hot. Sinking sensation; worse night.

  • Abdomen: Immediately after a light meal, abdomen is bloated, full. Constant sense of fermentation in abdomen, like yeast working; upper left side. Hernia, right side. Liver sensitive. Brown spots on abdomen. Dropsy, due to hepatic disease. Hepatitis, atrophic from of nutmeg liver. Pain shooting across lower abdomen from right to left.

  • Stool: Diarrhea. Inactive intestinal canal. Ineffectual urging. Stool hard, difficult, small, incomplete. Hemorrhoids; very painful to touch, aching.

Nux Moschata

  • Stomach: Excessively bloated. Flatulent dyspepsia. Hiccough, and craving for highly-seasoned food.

  • Abdomen: Paralytic weakness of intestines. Enormously distended. Stool is soft, and yet is unable to expel it, even with long straining. Faintness during or after stool. Protruding piles.

Podophyllum

  • It affects chiefly the duodenum, small intestines, liver, and rectum. Gastro-enteritis with colicky pain and bilious vomiting. Stool is watery with jelly-like mucus, painless, profuse. Gushing and offensive.

  • Stomach: Hot, sour belching; nausea and vomiting. Thirst for large quantities of cold water. Vomiting of hot, frothy mucus. Heartburn; gagging or empty retching. Vomiting of milk.

  • Abdomen: Distended; heat and emptiness. Sensation of weakness or sinking. Can lie comfortably only on stomach. Liver region painful, better rubbing part. Rumbling and shifting of flatus in ascending colon.

  • Rectum: Diarrhea of long standing; early in morning; during teething, with hot, glowing cheeks while being bathed or washed; in hot weather after acid fruits. Morning, painless diarrhea when not due to venous stasis or intestinal ulceration. Green, watery, fetid, profuse, gushing. Prolapse of rectum before or with stool. Constipation; clay-colored, hard, dry, difficult. Constipation alternating with diarrhea. Internal and external piles.

Vertarum Album

  • Stools large, with much straining until exhausted, with cold sweat. Diarrhea very painful, watery, copious, and forcibly evacuated, followed by great prostration. Evacuations of cholera morbus and true cholera when vomiting accompanies the purging.

** All remedy notes were used from Homeopathic Materia Medica by William Boericke MD presented by Medi – T. http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/p.htm**

Dr. Danny Thomas B.Sc., D.M.S., H.D.
Alberta Homeopathic Medical Clinic & Alberta Thermography Clinic
Specialists in Medical Infrared Thermography
#310, 7 St. Anne St. St. Albert, AB T8N 2X4
Tel:  780.459.5996
Fax: 780.665.6123
www.askdrthomas.com www.albertathermographyclinic.com

About the author

Danny Thomas

Dr. Danny Thomas- B.Sc, DMS, HD, CCT -graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Biochemistry after which he completed research studies on the prevention of restenosis in patients with balloon angioplasty. Dr. Thomas completed his degree with the publication of his thesis: "A Homeopathic Therapeutic Evaluation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Ulcerative Colitis & Crohn's Disease."
Dr. Thomas works full time as the clinical director at Alberta Homeopathic Medical Clinic located in St. Albert, AB with a special interest in Gastrointestinal Health, Pediatrics and Women's Health. In addition to private practice, Dr. Thomas teaches at the Canadian Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture and is the clinical director of Alberta Thermography Clinic, specialists in Medical Infrared Imaging.

13 Comments

  • I HAD BEEN TO DOCTORS SEEKING HELP FOR A WIDE RANGE OF MY SYMTOMS WITH NO RESULTS. I HAD BEEN KEEPING A LIST OF MY SYMTOMS AND FOUND THAT TESTS REVEALED NOTHING TO SUGGEST WHAT WAS GOING ON; ALSO DOCTORS DIDN’T SEEM TOO INTERESTED IN LISTENING TO ME! I BELIEVE THAT NOT HAVING INSURANCE AND MONEY TO PAY ALSO PLAYED A PART IN NOT GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME. I HAD BEEN HAVING A WIDE RANGE OF PROBLEMS-NAIL FUNGUS, EYE PROBLEMS, EXPLODING DIAREHHEAS, SWELLING IN ABOMEN, PAIN-EVERYWHERE, UPON WAKING THE BOTTOMS OF MY FEET FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN BEAT WITH A BASEBALL BAT (STONE-BRUISED FEELING), JUST NEVER KNOWING WHAT ELSE I WAS GOING TO WAKE UP WITH THE NEXT DAY! I THOUGHT MENAPAUSE-AS I WAS 43 AT THE TIME OF ALL THIS ERRATIC PROBLEMS. SINCE I HAVE FOUND THE CAUSE OF ALL MY PROBLEMS AND HAVE WRITTEN A PAPER TO HELP OTHERS AS NOW I AM 52 AND MOSTLY BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AT LIVING A RELATIVELY NORMAL LIFE. NOT TO SAY THAT IT IS A CURE FOR ALL BUT IT CHEAP AND EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE. THANK THE INTERNET AND ANOTHER BOOK I READ BY PREVENTION-I NOW AM ABLE TO THINK OF LIVING INSTEAD OF WANTING TO KILL MYSELF. THE INFLAMMATION ISSUES WERE THE LAST STRAW! I JUST DIDN’T THINK I COULD TAKE ANOTHER DAY! I DEVELOPED A PATCH ON MY FOOT THE RESEMBLED RINGWORM AND HAVE NO CATS-WHICH I THOUGHT WAS THE CAUSE AND TREATED IT AS SUCH. TO NO AVAIL! SO I WENT TO A DERMATOLIGIST WHO SUGGESTS THAT WITH THE OTHER SYMTOMS I RELATED TO HER-YEAST INFECTION COULD BE THE CAUSE BUT WAIT TILL THE BIOPSY COMES BACK. I DIDN’T WAIT. I CAME HOME AND SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT ALOT ABOUT YEAST. AND ALOT OF MONEY WAS BEING ASKED FOR TO HELP-WHICH I DIDN’T HAVE! SO I SEARCHED IN MY-WHAT I CALL MY HEALING FOODS BOOK(WRITTEN BY PREVENTION AND A GAL BY THE LAST NAME YEAGER) AND FOUND AN ANSWER! PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL SEND IT TO ANYONE FOR FREE! YOUR COSTS IS ABOUT $40.00-$50.00 A MONTH AND IF YOU ARE AT WITS END LIKE I WAS THAT IS A SMALL COSTS TO SEE IF IT WILL HELP YOU TOO! WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU FEEL BETTER AND THESE THINGS ARE SO EASY AND CHEAP WHY NOT GIVE IT A TRY?! E-MAIL ME AT: [email protected]. THANKS!

  • DEAR DR.
    YOU HAVE GIVEN VERY USEFULL DESCRIPTION OF MEDICINES. I HAVE FOUND MERC COR AS BEST AMONG ALL OTHER MEDICINES. I HAD A CHRONIC CASE OF UC. I HAVE TRIED MANY MEDICINES ON HIM BUT ALL MEDICINES GAVE HIM TEMPORARY RELIEF. I THEN GOT A SMALL PIECE OF HIS STOOL AND PREPARED A BOWEL NOSODE FOR HIM ONLY IN 30 C WHICH CURED HIM BY ONE DOSE FOR 6 MONTHS AND LATER ON WHENEVER HE REPORTED FOR SOME TROUBLE AFTER HE ATE MANY SWEETS AND OILY SUBSTANCE BUT EVERY TIME HE SUFFERED VERY MILD AND SAME PREPARED NOSODE WAS RAISED BY 10C POTENCY AND GAVE HIM A DOSE AND HE BECAME ALRIGHT. THE SAME MEDICINE IS PRESERVED BY CHANGING ITS WATER EVERY WEEK. HE IS OK NOW. THANKS
    DR SHEKHAR

  • My son is sufring from inflammatory juvenle polyp,specimen -‘rectal polyp’,was been opreated in. March2014,my son is six years and nine month at the present in 2015,but again in february my son told me that he had a pain in abdormnal area below the beli also a drop blood is coming after potty n with a potty ,so we again went for colonoscopy and doctor had gone through scopy it was again another polyp,so doctor again suggested for surgery and surgery was done by the doctor in swarooprani medical college allahabad under the guidence Dr S.P.Mishr head gastro department .

  • pls suggest me some useful remedies for colon enlarge to the left side of my abdomen only.And treatment should be taken for this prloblems.

  • I am suffering from HLAb27positive.I have IBS/IBD as diagonised by doctors.In around 4-6 months, I have slight red blood with my stool. I take medicine for 5days,and Other times I am okay.I was taking Aleopathy medicine. so, stopped it, and starting Homeopathy medicine. But it hasn’t helped. Since 5-6months, I am having too much gastric problem.I am having constipation, and I have to wait for 1-2hours for the stool to pass. In within time, I take a lot of water and tea, then Only I can go to the toilet. Then only I feel releived. I still feel something remaining.Please suggest

    • Dear Puran pradhan,
      We have a homoeopathic company by name Mother India Pharmaceuticals,
      Which may take care of your problem.
      Please contact me at Secunderabad, 09848011454.
      Regards,
      Dr.Ravi Rao

  • I want to buy some books related to stomach problems, mainly of Ulcerative Colitis/ IBD/IBS, gastric problems, stomach/intestine pain. I know my problems very well. Please suggest me some Homeopathic books, publication etc., contact numbers, address etc. all

  • My name is Asif Khan
    I am 35 year old

    Medical diagnosis:-
    X — RAY BARIUM ENEMA

    Whole large gut is well filled and visualised from anal
    canal to the caecum. Smoothening of colon with loss of
    haustrations seen in sigmoid colon and
    descending colon. No filling deffect, narrowing,
    diverticulosis or polyposis seen.

    Post evacuation double contrast film shows good emptying.
    it reveals the same pathology.

    IMPRESSION:
    CHR. INFLAMMATORY DISEASE OF SIGMOID AND
    DESCENDING COLON. ? NON SPECIFIC COLITIS.

    suggest me some medicine

  • Have had various mixes of most of the above symptoms since 19 years old or so (now 67) and was in and out of sickness with various of the symptoms at times very severe . Finally in my 30’s, I discovered digestive enzymes and was much better, however discovered the hard way that unprotected ox bile and pancreatin (not enteric coated) really tore up the upper stomach. Docs didn’t have much for me in those days or now really but through experimentation and study have found a system that works nicely for most of the time and eat mostly what I want (still not a lot of ice cream as my genetics are seemingly not from dairying heritage but can now do some!) Of course, a fiber regimen is essential. I tried to be more hard core with a vegetable diet but it didn’t seem to be that helpful. My wife , the normal cook, won’t go that radical anyway. I find zinc carnosine coater helpful with my thin stomach lining (in fact all my linings seem to be genetically thin) and nervous stomach disposition . Those 2 together were the jinx for sure! Inflammation from those likely started that bowling ball rolling and with the inflammation caused thereby the food allergies started in and away we go! After getting into Homeopathy for allergies (Alergenia Has a number of antigens) I was shocked to begin to pick off my environmental allergies very rapidly with the drops! I then decided to make my own for some things and for food allergies as well. I loved my wife’s tuna casserole but it didn’t like me so I made an antigen for it appropriately I called Tuna Casserole Antigen since that was the basis for it! Took care of milk, gluten, eggs and whatever else was bothering in that recipe. Now I can eat it no problem. Then did a corn as food antigen and others until now I am doing much better with most everything. Still need the enzymes etc of course as I’m perennially short of those. Occasionally have fits and spurts of esophageal cramps and irritation, not from acid usually since the enzymes take care of that normally. I do use a good teaspoon a day of sodium bicarbonate with the fiber before a meal or 2 to keep the ph in check and a 1/4 t with cherry pie or other particular acidic foods which can cause problems. The esophagus can stop working at times from stress and/ or irritation from too hot of coffee or other irritants such as hot sauce and especially bothersome, roast beef grainyness! I finally stopped the cramping when it comes by quickly smearing a little Cobroxin Homeopathic up and down the outside of my throat and the hollow at the base thereof and on the Solar Plexus nerve center as well and may use Arnica gell as well especially if I haven’t done it soon enough. If I catch it very soon when I just start to feel the tension there, I can just go on eating, otherwise it takes just a few minutes of no swallowing to normally get over the lockup. I mention the later condition as it probably goes with the General stomach/nerve/ syndrome often times.
    Hope this is helpful to some of you if not TMI ! De

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