By Michelle Armstrong
In February of 2005, my son came down with a mysterious illness that caused him to have fistulas exiting his body. For three years we moved from state to state in search of a diagnosis, which finally came in 2008. The causes of his problems were Crohn’s and Perianal Diseases. Over the course of 33 years, my family has been deeply involved in the alternative medicine movement. My son was raised on both soy and organic milk and I processed his baby food myself. I rarely battled anything other than an occasional virus but he struggled with mysterious fevers that had no other symptoms. Sometimes, as the saying goes, “life comes at you fast” and you have to roll with the punches and when the fistula’s appeared, I knew I needed to act quickly.
Never a family to give up, my mother and I worked on finding some natural solutions while we were seeing specialists in Indiana. It took a little over a year, but we found the winning combination (which I will go over later). After we left Tennessee and moved to Seattle, we met Micah’s new Gastroenterologist who was very impressed with his care. After more tests and an exploratory surgery, he concluded that the only sign of Crohn’s Disease in my son’s body was the Perianal Disease (chronic fistulas which form from the intestinal tract and exit the body). Through much prayer to God for guidance, He opened door after door to show us the right supplements for Micah’s healing.
Micah had testing at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee which revealed infection in his intestines. Prior to and during this time, he had Crohn’s episodes (cramping and diarrhea) that put him in isolation for hours at a time. The episodes finally stopped a little over a year ago. So, while we continue to work on what he needs in order to solve the slow healing process he is going through with the chronic fistulas, we will continue with the combination he currently takes to keep the Crohn’s away.
We are firm believers that the body heals from the inside-out. Micah’s Seattle Children’s doctors are in agreement with us on this ideology. When there are issues that cause complications in other areas of the body, we must look at what the body is lacking. Crohn’s (IBD, or Irritable Bowel Disease) is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the intestines. As a result, a lot of important nutrients are lost due to inflammation. Protein is one nutrient that is important to increase in the diet of a Crohn’s patient. Also, I would like to add that we have been on vegan diets as well as vegetarian and still managed to get more than enough protein in our bodies. So, it is not at all impossible to live either lifestyle and still have healing take place in your body if either are preferred.
Another important nutrient that is extremely important to add is Omega 3 (this was per his Gastroenterologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital). Micah currently takes 1000mg of this daily. This supplement also includes EPA and DHA. Now, one thing with taking supplements is we always need to know what is okay to take and what isn’t. Just because it is natural does not mean it is without side effects. Fish oil (Omega 3) lowers blood pressure. So, if you are already on medication to lower blood pressure, you’ll want to discuss this with your physician before adding this to your daily diet regime.
Micah also takes Daily Essential Enzymes (Source Naturals is my favorite and an award-winning supplement). I am a HUGE fan of adding enzymes to a person’s diet for regulating the digestive system. These healed my gall bladder within a year’s time and I still have my gall bladder today. We take two each, daily. Micah also takes two Kyo-Dophilus brand probiotic supplements per day (we prefer this brand because it is high in probiotic cells, the more the merrier — 1.5 billion in this brand). These also aid in regulation of the digestive system as well as fight infection, which is a key aid to healing Crohn’s.
A good multi-vitamin is also a very good thing to find. We struggle with this because most over-the-counter vitamins are not as nutritional as they look. Sugar, dyes and other preservatives are used in the manufacturing and preservation of vitamins. So, I just recommend something that avoids sugar and preservatives that are not natural. This may come at a higher cost but is easier on the stomach. Micah has always had issues in this area and we continue to test different brands of vitamins in an effort to find one that is not expensive yet tolerable.
And last but not least, Green Magma (Barley Grass). Now, we had to remove these from Micah’s diet because they affected his seasonal allergies in Washington. We are waiting for his body to adapt to the allergens that are natural to this area. Once he adapts, he should be able to return to these. We have noticed no difference so far. He has been off of these for two weeks. Green Magma is Barley Grass Juice Powder in a tablet form. Six per day is a good amount to take. Barley grass is full of high levels of vitamin B1, calcium, iron, carotene and vitamin B12. It is an excellent source of enzymes. Because Micah already takes Essential Enzymes, I believe he will be okay without this.
One last thing before I wrap this up is this: “Where do I find supplements that won’t break my purse straps?” Well, I have three places I highly suggest: Swanson Vitamins, Puritan, and Vitamin Shoppe. I placed these in order from best bargains to good bargains to, “Hey, I’m out and where is the cheapest place to find these in my neighborhood now?” Make certain you fill out the forms for each place so you will receive emails with discounts as well as “Like” them on Facebook (always a great way to find “hidden” bargains only announced on their pages).
I hope this information has been helpful to you and encourage you to do extensive research before modifying the intake of supplements, herbs or medications in your daily diet. As I mentioned before, it has taken us several years to find the right combination. And although it is “spot on” for Micah, it may take variations for you or your loved one (we are all “uniquely and wonderfully” made). Exercise caution, use wisdom and ask questions. Thanks, and here’s to good health!
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Michelle Armstrong is a freelance writer and single mother who resides in Seattle, Washington. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies and History from the University of Indianapolis. She has had experience with health supplements and nutrition for 33 years. She welcomes any questions and strives to help others who are seeking alternative methods of healing. You may contact her at perettirocks@yahoo.com.
These are the exact gummy vitamins I bought for my three year-old. They’re definitely tasty…I have to use real self-discipline to not take them myself (be sure to store them up high and out of the reach of your young ones).
