Living with Chron’s Disease often means adjusting to an unpredictable routine of flares and quiet spells, food sensitivities, and energy swings that seem to come out of nowhere. It’s a condition that touches not only the gut but the day-to-day quality of life. For those looking beyond prescriptions, surgery, or restrictive diets, there’s growing interest in natural tools that focus on the body as a whole. These kinds of approaches may not replace traditional care, but they can offer gentle support that fits into a larger healing picture. Many people find comfort in working with professionals who understand how to bring the gut, immune system, and nervous system back into balance. And that’s where a naturopathic path often begins.
Gut-Soothing Herbs And Healing Plants
When dealing with Chron’s Disease, the gut lining is often inflamed, irritated, or even damaged. That can lead to trouble digesting food, absorbing nutrients, or simply feeling okay after meals. Certain herbs are known for their gentle ability to soothe, cool, and repair the lining of the digestive tract over time. Slippery elm and marshmallow root, for example, are rich in mucilage, a substance that creates a slippery coating along the gut wall. This can help reduce discomfort and create a more hospitable environment for healing.
Licorice root, when taken in its deglycyrrhizinated form (DGL), has long been used to help reduce inflammation in the stomach and intestines. It acts almost like a soft cushion, calming irritation without interfering with stomach acid. Aloe vera juice can also be helpful, especially when used short-term to ease flare-up symptoms. These herbs don’t act overnight, and they need to be used carefully—ideally under the guidance of a practitioner who understands how to blend them with a patient’s current medications and condition. That’s part of what makes working with naturopathic doctors in San Diego such a valuable step for those with long-term digestive struggles.
Food As Medicine For A Calmer Digestive System
What goes into the body can either fan the flames of Chron’s Disease or help put them out. Certain foods are naturally anti-inflammatory and gut-friendly, helping to calm the immune response and support healing from the inside out. Bone broth is one of the most commonly suggested additions. Rich in collagen and minerals, it provides building blocks for the gut lining and can be sipped even during a flare when solid food feels like too much. Cooked vegetables—especially those in the squash and carrot family—tend to be better tolerated than raw ones and can provide fiber without scraping the gut wall.
Fermented foods like sauerkraut or kefir might be helpful for some, thanks to their natural probiotics, but can also be too harsh during active inflammation. That’s why personalization is so important. Food sensitivity testing, elimination diets, or targeted nutrition plans can be worth exploring. These strategies work best when developed with professionals who have experience supporting people with chronic gut issues. Some patients benefit from targeted supplements like L-glutamine, which supports gut lining repair, or omega-3 fatty acids, which help fight inflammation. A custom plan made through naturopathic consultations in San Diego may help map out exactly what a specific body needs—and what it doesn’t.
Mind-Gut Tools That Actually Help
Chron’s Disease isn’t just about food and digestion—it often has a deep connection to stress and the nervous system. Many people notice their symptoms get worse when they’re under pressure or going through emotional changes. That’s no coincidence. The gut is sometimes called the “second brain” because of how closely it’s tied to mood, hormones, and the nervous system. So taking care of mental health becomes an important piece of managing this condition.
Tools like mindfulness, yoga, breathwork, and guided meditation are gentle practices that encourage the body to shift out of fight-or-flight mode. Over time, they can help calm the immune system and allow the gut to function more normally. Regular sleep, light exercise, and even simple pleasures like walking outdoors or spending time with pets have an impact too. This connection is often overlooked in traditional care, but holistic practices take it seriously.
Another option that some find helpful is IV therapy in San Diego, which can support hydration and nutrition when digestion is compromised. During a flare, it’s not always possible to absorb nutrients properly through food alone. IV support allows vitamins, minerals, and other key nutrients to bypass the gut and go straight into the bloodstream. This approach may help reduce fatigue, speed recovery, and even lower inflammation when used as part of a bigger plan made with trained providers.
Why A Naturopathic Approach Matters
When looking at Chron’s Disease through a naturopathic lens, the focus isn’t just on symptoms—it’s on the bigger picture. Why is the gut acting up? Is the immune system stuck in overdrive? Could hormones, stress, or even past infections be playing a role? A naturopathic provider looks at all of these factors and helps build a treatment path that honors each person’s unique story.
At Avena Natural Health, patients often begin with a full intake session where everything—from lifestyle and diet to lab results and emotional health—is taken into account. From there, custom protocols may include herbs, nutrition guidance, gentle detox support, stress-reduction techniques, and sometimes IV therapy in San Diego to bridge gaps in nutrition or hydration. These strategies are carefully tailored to the individual and grounded in a belief that the body is designed to heal—sometimes it just needs the right support to do so.
It’s not about replacing every conventional treatment. Instead, it’s about creating a better balance. Many patients feel that having a team that listens, adapts, and respects the body’s own pace makes all the difference. Healing from Chron’s Disease isn’t always linear. There are good days and hard days. But with the right natural supports and compassionate care, there’s room for progress—and even relief.
Finding a path that works often begins with a conversation. Scheduling a session with Avena Health can be a helpful step in uncovering the natural strategies that may ease discomfort, restore energy, and make each day feel more manageable.
Media Credit: All photos licensed from Adobe.
Dr. Laura Kostrzewski, a San Diego native, completed her undergraduate degree at California Polytechnic State University, earning a BS in animal science with minors in Spanish and Psychology. She then earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and taught fifth grade in the central coast of California for two years. After being extremely involved in her grandfather’s journey with Parkinson’s disease and end-of-life care, Dr. Kostrzewski decided to move back to San Diego and enroll at Bastyr University California. Dr. Kostrzewski received her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University California in June of 2019, and then went on to complete her residency at Bastyr. Before AVENA Wellness, DR. K started her own private practice, focusing on management of neurodegenerative conditions, and continued teaching at Bastyr as adjunct faculty, until founding Avena Health.