Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most prevalent IBD conditions, and both are likely caused by a mix of genetic and environmental factors that result in issues with the immune response (1). IBD patients have consistently displayed higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines (2) as well as nitric oxide, both of which can lead to tissue damage (3).
Extivita Therapies for IBD:
Extivita Therapies IBD Recovery:
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Neurofeedback
Supplements
Nutritional IV Therapy
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy
Listen to Bryce’s experience with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to treat Ulcerative Colitis
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease:
See the page on Crohn’s Disease and the page on Ulcerative Colitis for more information.
Effects of HBOT on Inflammatory Bowel Disease:
Decreased Inflammation
Increased Stem Cell Activity
New Blood Vessel Formation
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy stimulates the formation of new blood vessels, healing injured tissues that were unable to get nutrients and oxygen.
Neurofeedback for Inflammatory Bowel Disease:
There is scientific evidence showing the intimate connection between the gut and the brain, and the effect of this shared interaction on gut and psychological well-being. Patients with IBD may benefit from integration of mind and body interventions which may help decrease triggers such as stress and anxiety (6). Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback which may be helpful in treating symptoms of IBD by calming the nervous system.
IV Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease:
Patients with IBD are at risk for nutrient deficiencies because of reduced dietary intake, inflammation, and the underlying malabsorption (7). Antioxidant depletion can result from dealing with oxidative stress from inflammation occurring in IBD (9). Myers’ cocktail is a form of nutrient therapy which contains vitamin C, magnesium, B12, B6, B5, B complex, and calcium given intravenously (through the veins) (8) . This process bypasses the digestive system and a much higher level of nutrients and antioxidants is directly delivered to your cells. Myers’ cocktail and glutathione are safe and effective adjunctive treatments for IBD.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy for IBD:
According to studies, the microcirculation and inside lining of the blood vessels play a critical role in body’s immune balance. In IBD, micro vessels in chronically inflamed and can result in decreased oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues. In addition, micro vessels are also found to have reduced vessel diameter, vascular density, and diminished blood flow (10, 11). When used in conjunction with HBOT, PEMF therapy may lead to improved microvascular function, blood flow, and therefore tissue and organ health.
News & Research for Inflammatory Bowel Disease:
Combining infliximab, anti-MAP and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for resistant fistulizing Crohn’s disease.
Fistulizing Crohn’s disease (CD) presents a therapeutic challenge as fistulae are notoriously difficult to heal. Mycobacterium avium ss paratuberculosis (MAP) treatment in CD is gaining attention. We evaluated healing of CD fistula(e) using a novel combination therapy. Nine consecutive patients who failed to heal fistulae on conventional treatment including anti-TNF, were treated with at least three doses of infliximab, 18-30 courses of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and anti-MAP antibiotics comprising rifabutin, clarithromycin and clofazimine. All patients achieved complete healing of fistulae by 6-28 weeks and follow-up for mean 18 months.
Hyperbaric oxygen for patients with chronic bowel dysfunction after pelvic radiotherapy (HOT2): a randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled phase 3 trial.
Abstract: Hyperbaric oxygen has been used as a therapy for patients experiencing chronic intestinal syndromes after pelvic radiotherapy for decades, yet the evidence to support the use of this therapy is based almost exclusively on non-randomised studies. We aimed to...
Enhanced colonic nitric oxide generation and nitric oxide synthase activity in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
Recent studies have suggested that nitric oxide (NO.), the product of nitric oxide synthase in inflammatory cells, may play a part in tissue injury and inflammation through its oxidative metabolism. In this study the colonic generation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and nitric oxide synthase activity was determined in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Colonic biopsy specimens were obtained from inflammatory bowel disease patients and from normal controls. Mucosal explants were cultured in vitro for 24 hours and NOx generation was determined. Nitric oxide synthase activity was monitored by the conversion of [3H]-L-arginine to citrulline. Median NOx generation by inflamed colonic mucosa of patients with active ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis was 4.2- and 8.1-fold respectively higher than that by normal human colonic mucosa. In ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis nitric oxide synthase activity was 10.0- and 3.8-fold respectively higher than in normal subjects.
References
- Mattos, Bruno Rafael Ramos de, Maellin Pereira Gracindo Garcia, Julia Bier Nogueira, Lisiery Negrini Paiatto, Cassia Galdino Albuquerque, Caique Lopes Souza, Luís Gustavo Romani Fernandes, Wirla Maria da Silva Cunha Tamashiro, and Patricia Ucelli Simioni. “Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Overview of Immune Mechanisms and Biological Treatments.” Mediators of Inflammation 2015 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/493012.
- Papadakis, K. A., and S. R. Targan. “The Role of Chemokines and Chemokine Receptors in Mucosal Inflammation.” Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 6, no. 4 (November 2000): 303–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/ibd.3780060408.
- Rachmilewitz, D., J. S. Stamler, D. Bachwich, F. Karmeli, Z. Ackerman, and D. K. Podolsky. “Enhanced Colonic Nitric Oxide Generation and Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity in Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.” Gut 36, no. 5 (May 1995): 718–23. https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.36.5.718.
- Akin, M. L., B. M. Gulluoglu, H. Uluutku, C. Erenoglu, E. Elbuken, S. Yildirim, and T. Celenk. “Hyperbaric Oxygen Improves Healing in Experimental Rat Colitis.” Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine: Journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc 29, no. 4 (2002): 279–85. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12797669
- Granowitz, E. V., E. J. Skulsky, R. M. Benson, J. Wright, J. L. Garb, E. R. Cohen, E. C. Smithline, and R. B. Brown. “Exposure to Increased Pressure or Hyperbaric Oxygen Suppresses Interferon-Gamma Secretion in Whole Blood Cultures of Healthy Humans.” Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine: Journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc 29, no. 3 (2002): 216–25. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12670123
- Yeh, Ann Ming et al. “Mind-Body Interventions for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.” Children (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 4,4 22. 3 Apr. 2017, doi:10.3390/children4040022
- Waśko-Czopnik, Dorota, and Leszek Paradowski. “The influence of deficiencies of essential trace elements and vitamins on the course of Crohn’s disease.” Advances in clinical and experimental medicine : official organ Wroclaw Medical University vol. 21,1 (2012): 5-11.
- Gaby, Alan R. “Intravenous nutrient therapy: the “Myers’ cocktail“. Alternative medicine review: a journal of clinical therapeutic 7 5 (2002): 389-403.
- Yan, Haiyan et al. “Ascorbic acid ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammation in dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in mice.” International journal of clinical and experimental medicine vol. 8,11 20245-53. 15 Nov. 2015
- Deban, Livija et al. “Multiple pathogenic roles of microvasculature in inflammatory bowel disease: a Jack of all trades” The American journal of pathology vol. 172,6 (2008): 1457-66. doi:10.2353/ajpath.2008.070593
- Hatoum, Ossama A et al. “The vascular contribution in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.” American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology vol. 285,5 (2003): H1791-6. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00552.2003