Crohn's Disease Research
Alternative
& Complementary Therapies
Hypnotherapy/Psychotherapy
& Crohn's Disease
All physical diseases including cancer, heart disease and even skin complaints
have been helped with Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy. The power of suggestion and mental
imagery is a tool all too often overlooked but which can be of immense help to Crohn's
disease sufferers. Remember also that Crohn's disease is a stress related disease and
Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy are both excellent aids to help control emotional stress.
A controlled study in Europe involving 266 patients
suffering from Crohn's disease revealed that psychotherapy is an important element in the
treatment of this disease. The researchers found that psychotherapy can improve the
therapeutic possibilities of drugs, diet and surgery. Psychotherapy combined with
relaxation and removal of stress were considered along with the personality of the patient
before the outbreak of the disease. It was suggested that unknown emotional conflicts such
as depression, mental lability and anorexia may influence the course of the disease (1).
(1) Psychotherapy of Crohn disease Zur Psychotherapie des
M. Crohn. Feiereis H Langenbecks Arch Chir 1984, 364 p407-11
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Acupuncture
& Crohn's Disease
Acupuncture has traditionally been successfully employed in China to treat
most illnesses. There is little doubt that acupuncture is an excellent therapy for people
suffering with this condition; in 1979 the World Health organisation listed 40 major
diseases that could find relief by acupuncture treatment and diseases of the intestinal
tract were included in that number. (1)
This is not surprising since acupuncture works through the
nervous system and energy channels in the body and has also been shown to cause the brain
to release endorphines and encephalins (natural pain killers), boost the immune system and
calm the nervous system. It has also been established that all psycho-physiological health
problems (of which Crohn's disease is included) are particularly suitable for acupuncture
treatment (2)
(1) Dr S Fulder- The Handbook of Complemnetary Medicine
(Coronet books)
(2)Mann F The Treatment of disease by acupuncture. Part 1 & 2 (Heinnemann Medical
Books)
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