Celiac disease is an immune disorder where the body responds adversely with various signs & symptoms by getting triggered by food containing gluten. Gluten is a protein present in wheat, barley, rye, etc. Celiac disease causes serious inflammation and damage to the small intestine. Generally individual of celiac disease suffers for a long time, sometimes lifelong.
If left untreated, celiac disease may lead to various serious outcomes like digestive issues, nutritional deficiencies, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.
Common signs and symptoms suffered by an individual:-
• Diarrhea: the first symptom which most people with celiac disease suffer is very loose and watery stools. Diarrhea becomes chronic in nature, if not treated or managed well.
• Bloating: Inflammatory process in intestines lead to bowel obstruction and gas formation.
• Gas: due to bloating, the intestine slows down absorption and causes fermentation, producing gas. Gas formation is more with some food that gets easily fermented. Gas becomes the most common symptom of an individual due to ill-managed celiac disease.
• Stomach Pain: due to chronic inflammation of the intestine there is a pain in the stomach, which may be crampy in nature.
• Nausea and vomiting: when there is a bloated stomach with pain and gassiness, there is nausea and vomiting of ingesta.
• Fatigue: due to intestinal inflammation the absorption of nutrients gets slowed down, leading to tiredness and fatigue.
• Weight loss: an unexplained weight loss caused due to nutrition deficiency and improper diet. Weight loss may be one of the early signs, which an individual suffers.
• Iron deficiency: anemia occurs due to impaired absorption of nutrients, especially folic acid and iron. Anemia leads to unexplained fatigue, general weakness, headache, dizziness, palpitations, etc.
• Constipation: gluten-free diet leads to reduced intake of dietary fiber. Whereas, chronic inflammation damages the small villi structures present in the intestine, which leads to reduced bowel movements and also absorbs moisture from the stool causing constipation.
• Depression: adults due to chronic suffering may cause deficiency of certain nutrients which support the endorphin release and neural function, resulting in depression.
• Itchy rashes: due to loss of vital nutrients, skin health is compromised, which leads to inflammatory skin lesions “dermatitis herpetiformis” near elbows, knees, and buttocks.
Lifestyle management:
Celiac disease is chronic suffering, hence it should be managed properly with lifestyle, which includes dietary restriction of gluten. Cutting down the intake of processed foods and a gluten-free diet may help to manage the symptoms of suffering.
Food to eat: meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and gluten-free food such as quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat, millets, etc.
Foods to avoid: processed food such as pasta, bread, cakes, pies, Crackers, beer, sauces, etc.
Homeopathic Intervention:
Homeopathy gives a suitable cure in the early stage of suffering, whereas holistic management in the chronic stage. The celiac disease is treated with the concept of the totality of symptoms.
Few homeopathy drugs efficiently used in the treatment of celiac disease with various signs and symptoms are; Natrum Sulph, China, Lycopodium, Carbo Veg, Arsenic Alb, Aloe S, Mercurious Sol, Holarrhena Antidysentrica, etc.
Dr. Harkirat S Wilkhoo
Specialist Homeopath
Specialist Lifestyle Medicine
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