These are my 2 favourite natural treatments to provide quick relief from abdominal pain and cramping.

Treatment 1 - Hot Magnesium Bath
Magnesium is nature's muscle relaxant. It plays an important role in the production and transfer of energy, in muscle contraction and relaxation and in nerve conduction. However, if you take magnesium orally, it can irritate your colon and act as a laxative. This is not a good idea if you are prone to loose bowel movements or diarrhoea. So the solution is to use transdermal magnesium (absorbed through the skin).
Fill your bathtub with hot water and then add 30ml of magnesium oil (which is supersaturated magnesium chloride condensed from seawater) along with 1 cup of Epsom salts. 
If you are on a budget just using Epson Salts is fine. Most of my patients use this method and always respond with a positive outcome.

Now since the magnesium is going in through your skin, it is not passing through your digestive system therefore you are not triggering a bowel movement.

If you also want to make your bath smell nice (which can also help you relax), add any essential oil that you like directly to your bath, or to your Epsom salts and stir well. Add about 5 to 10 drops to each cup of Epsom salts, or add the oil directly your bath. To relax, add essential oils of either lavender  or jasmine. Of course there are many other oils you could use but I have just included the most popular and also my favourites. If you would like to use this bath to invigorate add essential oils of rosemary, eucalyptus or peppermint. I like peppermint. 

Treatment 2 - Hot Castor Oil Pack
Chinese medicine, ayurvedic medicine and naturopathy recommend castor oil packs because of their ability to promote healing and to reduce inflammation. They also improve elimination and circulation, especially of the lymphatic system.

I have, in the past used a hot castor oil pack repeatedly on myself for many reasons (usually pain, cramping or spasming) and it has never failed to provide significant and usually total relief. So why does it work?

It works because a hot castor oil pack is very effective at relaxing cramping or spasming muscles anywhere in the body. The oil is also absorbed into the lymphatic circulation to provide a soothing, cleansing and nourishing treatment, which stimulates immune function and tones internal organs. 

Materials Needed:
• Castor Oil 
• White cotton flannel twice the size of your abdomen (this is so you can fold it in half and cover the entire area)
• Hot water bottle, heating pad or wheat pack (I like a hot water bottle)
• Thin towel (a baby’s cloth or an old nappy cloth work well)
• Sheet of plastic (a garbage bag will work)
• Old bath towel
• Old t-shirt and track suit pants (to stop the castor oil from destroying your other clothes)

Procedure:
Step 1. Cut a piece of plastic 5cm bigger then the flannel you are using.
Step 2. Pour 1/4 cup of castor oil over the flannel and then fold the towel in half to saturate the entire towel.
Step 3. Lay the old towel on the surface you will be lying on (this is to protect your bed, couch from stains)
Step 4. Lie on your back and place the saturated flannel on your abdomen and then cover with the plastic and the old towel. 
Step 5. Place a hot water bottle over the old towel and plastic, and then wrap the bath towel around you to hold it all snug.
Step 6. Relax for 30 to 60 minutes. Meditate or listen to relaxation music. [My wife always suggests a Face Mask at this time...... Go for it if you want}
Step 7. Once your relaxation time has finished remove the oil with warm water and soap. 

I store the materials required for the hot pack in a large zip-lock bag. You can reuse it many times, adding more oil as needed to keep the pack saturated. Replace the pack after it begins to change colour (usually after several months). Do not wash the flannel - just throw it out.

FINAL NOTE:
As with everything else, you must be careful about your source of castor oil. Much of the oil currently sold in stores is derived from castor seeds that have been heavily sprayed with pesticides, solvent-extracted (hexane is commonly used), deodorized, or otherwise chemically processed, which damages beneficial phytonutrients and may even contaminate the oil with toxic agents.

Remember if you have any more questions then please free to email me at [email protected] or visit my Facebook Page at My Crohn's Doctor.

Yours in Health and Wellness
Dr Michael

My Crohn's Doctor
www.mycrohnsdoctor.com


LEGAL DISCLAIMER - This article (including links to any/all website pages, blog posts, blog comments, forum, videos, audio recordings, etc.) is not intended to replace the services of a physician, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the information for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have an urgent medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. Any application of the recommendations in this email is at the reader's discretion. My Crohn's Doctor and Dr Michael are not liable for any direct or indirect claim, loss or damage resulting from the use of this email. Readers should consult their own physicians concerning the recommendations in this article.