HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR CELIAC DISEASE

Celiac disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy), sometimes called sprue or coeliac, is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It is a digestive disorder caused by an abnormal immune reaction to gluten.

If you have celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response in your small intestine. Over time, this reaction damages your small intestine's lining and prevents absorption of some nutrients (malabsorption). The intestinal damage often causes diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anemia, and can lead to serious complications.

In children, malabsorption can affect growth and development, in addition to the symptoms seen in adults.

 Following a strict gluten-free diet can help manage symptoms and promote intestinal healing.

As many as 30 percent of people with celiac disease may not have, or be able to maintain, a good response to a gluten-free diet. This condition, known as nonresponsive celiac disease, is often due to contamination of the diet with gluten. Therefore it's important to work with a dietitian.

People with nonresponsive celiac disease may have additional conditions, such as bacteria in the small intestine (bacterial overgrowth), microscopic colitis, poor pancreas function, irritable bowel syndrome or intolerance to disaccharides (lactose and fructose). Or, they may have refractory celiac disease.

In rare instances, the intestinal injury of celiac disease persists and leads to substantial malabsorption, even though you have followed a strict gluten-free diet. This combination is known as refractory celiac disease.

Causes

Celiac disease occurs from an interaction between genes, eating foods with gluten and other environmental factors, but the precise cause isn't known. Infant feeding practices, gastrointestinal infections and gut bacteria might contribute to developing celiac disease.

Sometimes celiac disease is triggered — or becomes active for the first time — after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection or severe emotional stress.

When the body's immune system overreacts to gluten in food, the reaction damages the tiny, hair-like projections (villi) that line the small intestine. Villi absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the food you eat. If your villi are damaged, you can't get enough nutrients, no matter how much you eat.

Some gene variations appear to increase the risk of developing the disease. But having those gene variants doesn't mean you'll get celiac disease, which suggests that additional factors must be involved.

The rate of celiac disease in Western countries is estimated at about 1 percent of the population. Celiac disease is most common in Caucasians; however, it is now being diagnosed among many ethnic groups and is being found globally.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of celiac disease can vary greatly and are different in children and adults. The most common signs for adults are diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss. Adults may also experience bloating and gas, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, and vomiting.

However, more than half of adults with celiac disease have signs and symptoms that are not related to the digestive system, including:

·         Anemia, usually resulting from iron deficiency

·         Loss of bone density (osteoporosis) or softening of bone (osteomalacia)

·         Itchy, blistery skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)

·         Damage to dental enamel

·         Mouth ulcers

·         Headaches and fatigue

·         Nervous system injury, including numbness and tingling in the feet and hands, possible problems with balance, and cognitive impairment

·         Joint pain

·         Reduced functioning of the spleen (hyposplenism)

·         Acid reflux and heartburn

Children

In children under 2 years old, typical signs and symptoms of celiac disease include:

·         Vomiting

·         Chronic diarrhea

·         Swollen belly

·         Failure to thrive

·         Poor appetite

·         Muscle wasting

Older children may experience:

·         Diarrhea

·         Constipation

·         Weight loss

·         Irritability

·         Short stature

·         Delayed puberty

·         Neurological symptoms, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, headaches, lack of muscle coordination and seizures

In rare instances, the intestinal injury of celiac disease persists and leads to substantial malabsorption, even though you have followed a strict gluten-free diet. This combination is known as refractory celiac disease.

Risk factors

Celiac disease can affect anyone. However, it tends to be more common in people who have:

·         A family member with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis

·         Type 1 diabetes

·         Down syndrome or Turner syndrome

·         Autoimmune thyroid disease

·         Microscopic colitis (lymphocytic or collagenous colitis)

·         Addison's disease

·         Rheumatoid arthritis

Complications

Untreated, celiac disease can cause:

·         Malnutrition. The damage to your small intestine means it can't absorb enough nutrients. Malnutrition can lead to anemia and weight loss. In children, malnutrition can cause slow growth and short stature.

·         Loss of calcium and bone density. Malabsorption of calcium and vitamin D may lead to a softening of the bone (osteomalacia or rickets) in children and a loss of bone density (osteoporosis) in adults.

·         Infertility and miscarriage. Malabsorption of calcium and vitamin D can contribute to reproductive issues.

·         Lactose intolerance. Damage to your small intestine may cause you to experience abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating lactose-containing dairy products, even though they don't contain gluten. Once your intestine has healed, you may be able to tolerate dairy products again. However, some people continue to experience lactose intolerance despite successful management of celiac disease.

·         Cancer. People with celiac disease who don't maintain a gluten-free diet have a greater risk of developing several forms of cancer, including intestinal lymphoma and small bowel cancer.

·         Neurological problems. Some people with celiac disease may develop neurological problems such as seizures or peripheral neuropathy (disease of the nerves that lead to the hands and feet).

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance  at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When Celiac disease   is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms.

ARSENICUM ALBUM 30—Arsenic album is an excellent remedy for Celiac disease with great prostration. Diarrhea with small. Dark. Offensive stools with much prostration, worse at night. The patient feels burning pain and pressure in rectum and anus. Cramping pain in intestines along with stool. Arsenic alb is also indicated for Celiac disease with extreme weight loss. Heartburn , gulping up of acid and bitter substances which seem to excoriate the throat. Burning pain in stomach. Nausea , retching and vomiting after eating and drinking. Thirst for small quantities of water at frequent intervals .  Anguish and restlessness accompany along with all these symptoms.

CARBO VEGETABILIS 30—Carbo veg is best for Celiac disease with cadaverous smelling stools , followed by burning. Flatus hot, moist offensive. Putrid stool with ineffectual urging, even soft stool passed with difficulty. Abdomen greatly distended, especially upper part, worse lying down, better passing wind. Flatulent colic, forcing the patient bend double. Cannot bear tight clothing around waist and abdomen. Digestion slow, food putrefies before it digests. Burning pain in stomach extending to back along spine with coldness. Contractive pains extending to chest with distension of abdomen.

CHINA 30-China is one of the top remedies for Celiac disease with undigested, frothy, dark, foul, watery, bloody and painless stools. Stools with very weakening  with much flatulence.  Diarrhea with weakness and fatigue. Flatulent abdomen.  Belching  of bitter fluid or regurgitation of food., gives no relief. Much flatulent colic, better from bending double. Heat in abdomen as if hot water running down.

LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM 30—Lycopodium clavatum is indicated foe Celia disease with flatulent abdomen. Flatulence, much noisy , pressing out. Immediately after eating, abdomen is bloated and full. Fermentation in intestines like yeast is working. Sensation of something up and down as of a hard body rolling , when turning to the right side. Gnawing pain in abdomen.

KALI CARBONICUM 30—Kali carb is indicated for Celiac disease with flatulent abdomen. Abdomen distended with flatulence, hard, tympanitic and cold. Throbbing pain at navel. Constipation alternates with diarrhea. Stomach distended with flatulence, very sensitive.  Epigastrium is very sensitive externally. Anxiety felt in stomach. Nausea and sour belching.

NATRUM SULPHURICUM  30—Natrum sulph is an excellent remedy for Celiac disease with diarrhea with yellow watery stools. Stool is involuntary when passing  flatus. Great size of fecal mass is characteristic to Natrum sulph. Rumbling , gurgling in bowels , then sudden noisy spluttering stools in the morning or drives from bed. Foamy or yellow diarrhea , mixed with green slime. Bruised pain and urging to stool. Burning in abdomen. Cramps around umbilicus. Pain abdomen , better by gently rubbing the abdomen.