INTRODUCTION

For Marta E. Preusser partly because I cannot not love you.

Just for fun… but more than just fun…

Chron’s disease – an autoimmune disorder that can be mild to severely debilitating with premature death, most commonly a chronic, progressive, inflammatory disease of the digestive tract – specifically the bowel – but can affect just about any part or system of the body. Affects joints causing early arthritis, attacks blood cells causing anemia, attacks mucous membranes causing irritation, inflammation…

Causes – probable genetic transmission; 57% of those afflicted are women, 71% Jewish. The most common age of onset is 16 to 21 years. If the patient has one or more close relatives with Chron’s disease, the person is more likely to have the disease her/himself. Rare in tropical areas; primarily a disease of industrialized societies with a 20-fold increase in incidence from 1940 – 1970. Made worse by “nervousness” – individuals who readily perceive stress. Possibly made worse by smoking and alcohol.

Treatment – use links to different drug therapies. Some drugs such as Remicade inhibit the autoimmune factor(s); DMSO reduces the damage due to inflammation and other destructive effects. Supplemental therapies may include anti-emetics – cannabis, compazine, phenergan, haloperidol. Anti-psychotic properties of some anti-emetics may reduce nervousness. Lifestyle and diet are thought to be important.