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:

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Extivita Therapies IBD Recovery:

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Neurofeedback

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Supplements

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Nutritional IV Therapy

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy

Listen to Bryce’s experience with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to treat Ulcerative Colitis

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease:

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - Chapel Hill
Many studies on the effects of HBOT on IBD have been conducted. Both animal and human studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory properties of HBOT via decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines (4, 5).


See the page on Crohn’s Disease and the page on Ulcerative Colitis for more information.
Learn more about HBOT

Effects of HBOT on Inflammatory Bowel Disease:

Decreases Inflammation

Decreased Inflammation

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces systemic inflammation by increasing anti-inflammatory gene expression and decreasing proinflammatory genes.
Increases Stem Cell Production

Increased Stem Cell Activity

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy mobilizes stem progenitor cells (SPCs) from the bone marrow, creating the opportunity for tissue regeneration.
Grows New Blood Vessels

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.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - Chapel Hill

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.

Learn more about Neurofeedback

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.

Learn More About Nutritional IV Therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - Chapel Hill
BEMER Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy in Durham, NC

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.​

Learn More About PEMF Therapy

News & Research for Inflammatory Bowel Disease:

Reinforcement of the bactericidal effect of ciprofloxacin on Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm by hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

Oct 6, 2015 |

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection is the most severe complication in cystic fibrosis patients. It is characterised by antibiotic-tolerant biofilms in the endobronchial mucus with zones of oxygen (O2) depletion mainly due to polymorphonuclear leucocyte activity. Whilst the exact mechanisms affecting antibiotic effectiveness on biofilms remain unclear, accumulating evidence suggests that the efficacy of several bactericidal antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin is enhanced by stimulation of the aerobic respiration of pathogens, and that lack of O2 increases their tolerance. Reoxygenation of O2-depleted biofilms may thus improve susceptibility to ciprofloxacin possibly by restoring aerobic respiration.

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References
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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.
  8. Gaby, Alan R. “Intravenous nutrient therapy: the “Myers’ cocktail“. Alternative medicine review: a journal of clinical therapeutic 7 5 (2002): 389-403.
  9. 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 
  10. 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 
  11.  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