Alternative Medical Practitioners for IBD

Alternative medical practitioners (AMP) for IBD are extensive and varied. They can help you feel supported, teach you alternative practices. And map out a healing plan that works for you.

There are a range of benefits of seeing an AMP, and there are a wide range of alternative medical practitioners for IBD available.

Including;

• Naturopath

• Acupuncturist

• Dietician

• Chinese Medicine Practitioner

• Coaches

We will discuss some of the benefits of seeing an AMP. As well as look into some of the alternative medical practitioners available for IBD.

Some Benefits of Alternative Medical Practitioners for IBD

Like many things in life, it can take a village to manage IBD. And part of this village may be an alternative medical practitioner for IBD (AMP). There are a range of benefits of adding an AMP to your toolkit.

An AMP can help you find hidden tricks or triggers to help manage your disease. If you need help with your diet, a nutritionist, or dietician could be of service. If past trauma is a big trigger for you, perhaps seek out a mental health specialist. Or if stress is a common trigger, maybe a yoga teacher, or retreat practitioner could be of assistance.

These people can help you find answers. And they can help you feel heard. Often doctors do not have time to discuss diets, stress, or lifestyle factors. But these are an essential aspect to anyone’s healing. An AMP can help you find answers, and make a plan in managing your concerns.

It is estimated that between 21-60% of IBD patients use some form of AMP.

Some reasons for using AMP include:

• Wanting to use holistic approaches to supplement allopathic therapy

• Wanting to seek out herbal remedies that are more natural, less toxic, and harmless

• A lack of response to or undesirable side effects of allopathic therapy

• The desire for more control of the disease and symptoms

• To improve quality of life.

Despite the widespread use of alternative medical practitioners for IBD. Up to 75% of patients do not discuss their usage of AMP with their physicians.  It is very important that you discuss any AMP treatments, or protocols with your doctor.

You do not need your doctors approval (TIPS on how to self advocate here). But some alternative medical practices can interfere with allopathic treatments. Your doctor needs to know all of this information in order to provide you with safe care.

Let’s look into some alternative medical practitioners for IBD available.

Naturopath

Naturopathic medicine is a system that uses natural remedies that allow the body to heal itself. For an IBD patient that may mean having your food sensitivities tested. You may be given certain herbs that can slow down bowel motility, or ease other IBD symptoms. You might be given information on healthy eating and stress management. You may be treated for parasites.

I have seen many naturopaths over the course of my IBD healing journey. I have had mixed results. They have always made me feel supported, and seen. They have helped me understand my diet, and helped me with supplements and herbs for IBD. But no naturopath has been able to help me get into remission and stay there.

That does not mean that will be your experience.

If you’re just starting your journey with AMP, a naturopath is a great place to start.

Acupuncturist

An acupuncturist uses Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques in the form of acupuncture. An acupuncturist can offer a few treatment options to an IBD patient. Including moxibustion, and acupuncture. Both have been proven to reduce inflammation.

Dietician

A dietician is a regulated, health professional. Who specializes in nutritional therapy, malnutrition, and dietary treatments of diseases and conditions. They use food to improve health.

An IBD dietician may have knowledge of specific IBD diets. Such as a dietician who specializes in FODMAP, SCD, IBD-AID or an anti-inflammatory diet. They may be able to help you find your trigger foods, learn about diet in general, and create meal plans.

It is very important to see a dietician who has knowledge of IBD.  You may be able to find one through Google who offers online appointments.

Chinese Medicine Practitioner

A traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (CMP) practices a form of Chinese Medicine. This is a science that goes back thousands of years. And they are trained to treat a wide variety of diseases.

A CMP might give a patient with IBD herbal remedies. The may give general advice on diet and lifestyle. They may use acupuncture, or massage as part of their treatment plan.

Mental Health Specialist

These can include therapists, psychologists, or psychiatrists. These professionals help patients manage mental illnesses. Patients with IBD have a 1 in 3 chance of having anxiety, and a 1 in 4 chance of having depression symptoms. A mental health specialist may be able to help with this. As well as health anxiety and any other mental health concerns you may have.

Again, it would be beneficial to see a specialist who has experience working with patients who have chronic health issues.

Coaches

There are so many people out there offering their services for every single thing you could possibly think of.

It does make sense to learn as much as you can from other people. People who have the same disease as you, and have healed themselves. Just take extreme caution and watch out for people taking advantage. Or those who over promise and under deliver.

A great place to start is checking out some Instagram profiles. Or reading blogs, like this one! ( hehe).

 

As you can see there are many useful forms of alternative medical practitioners for IBD. Ranging from those with general knowledge like a naturopath.  To those with specialized skills like an acupuncturist.

Having a team that includes an alternative medical practitioner for IBD may make you feel better supported.  And it may help you find answers, and create a healing plan that works for you.