My son has Crohn's. My husband had 3 surgeries. Here's why I started this.

By Kate — naturopath and Crohn's carer at The Crohn's Method. Written from professional training and lived family experience, to support (not replace) your medical care. Published 2026-07-10.

# If You're New Here: What The Crohn's Method Is Really About

The Crohn's Method is a space for families navigating Crohn's disease — built by a naturopath who is also a Crohn's mum and wife. My son has Crohn's and is now in deep remission. My husband was diagnosed young, had three surgeries with complications, and has been in deep remission for over 20 years with zero flares. Everything here blends clinical naturopathic knowledge with what I've learned walking this road beside the people I love most — and it always supports, never replaces, your medical team.

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## Why I Started This (And Why It Took Me So Long)

When my son was first diagnosed, I did what any parent does: I searched everywhere.

I found patient blogs written by people sharing their own symptoms. I found clinical foundation websites full of important but impersonal information. I found influencers promising to "reverse" Crohn's naturally, which made me angry in a way I couldn't quite articulate at the time.

What I couldn't find was someone who was both.

Someone who understood the pathophysiology of intestinal inflammation AND had sat in a hospital waiting room at 11pm wondering if their child was going to be okay. Someone who could talk about fecal calprotectin AND also knew what it felt like to quietly cry in a supermarket aisle because you can't figure out what to cook for dinner that won't hurt your kid.

That gap is why The Crohn's Method exists.

Bright photograph of a light wood kitchen table with a white ceramic mug of tea, an open notebook with handwritten notes, and a small bunch of fresh herbs in a glass jar, shot in bright natural daylight from above

## What "The Crohn's Method" Actually Means

It's not a diet. It's not a supplement protocol. It's not a promise.

The Crohn's Method is a framework for thinking about Crohn's disease — for families, for carers, and for people with Crohn's themselves — that holds two things at once:

Clinical knowledge matters. Crohn's is a complex, immune-mediated condition. The gastroenterologists, the biologics, the monitoring — these are not optional extras. They are the foundation. According to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, consistent medical management is the cornerstone of achieving and maintaining remission. I will never, ever tell you otherwise.

Naturopathic support matters too. Sleep, nutrition, stress, gut microbiome health, nutrient repletion, nervous system regulation — these are not "alternative" to medicine. They are what happens in the hours and days and weeks between appointments. And as a naturopath, this is where I can genuinely help.

The key takeaway: The Crohn's Method is about filling the gap between your gastroenterologist's expertise and the rest of your life — with evidence-informed, family-tested, clinically grounded support.

Light and airy close-up of a white marble surface with a small glass bowl of turmeric powder, a wooden spoon, and scattered fresh ginger root, flooded with bright natural daylight from a nearby window

## Our Family Story (The Short Version)

My husband was diagnosed with Crohn's when he was young. Before we had our son, before I had finished my naturopathic training, he went through three surgeries — with complications that made an already frightening experience even harder. He came out the other side. More than 20 years later, he has had zero flares. He is in deep remission. That outcome didn't happen by accident, and it didn't happen from supplements alone — it happened because of excellent medical care, consistent monitoring, and the kind of daily lifestyle support that doesn't get talked about enough.

Then our son was diagnosed.

I will not pretend that my training made that moment easier. It didn't. But it did mean I knew what questions to ask, what to watch for, and how to support him in the spaces his gastroenterologist couldn't reach. He is now in deep remission too.

This is why I advocate so strongly for early screening when Crohn's runs in a family. The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and gastroenterology guidelines increasingly support monitoring first-degree relatives — and my own clinical view, shaped by our family's experience, is that blood tests and fecal calprotectin from around age 10 onwards (when there's a family history) can genuinely change outcomes. Early detection is not fear — it's power.

Overhead flat lay of a bright white linen cloth on a light wood surface with a small bowl of blueberries, a glass of water, a white ceramic plate with sliced banana, and a few green leaves, in bright natural daylight

## What You'll Find Here

Every piece of content I create — whether it's a newsletter, a video, or a post — is built on three pillars:

1. Honesty about what naturopathy can and cannot do. I will never claim to cure Crohn's. I will never tell you to stop your medication. I will never use fear to sell you something. What I will do is share what the evidence says, what our family has experienced, and what I've seen work in clinical practice — clearly labelled as support, not treatment.

2. Specificity over generality. "Eat well and reduce stress" is not advice. I'll tell you which specific nutrients are commonly depleted in Crohn's and why. I'll tell you what a low-residue meal actually looks like on a plate. I'll tell you what to say to a school or an employer when your child or you are having a flare week.

3. The family lens. Whether you're a person with Crohn's, a parent, a partner, or a carer — this space is for you. Crohn's doesn't live in one body. It lives in a whole family.

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## Common Questions From People Who Are New Here

Is this channel for people with Crohn's, or for carers?

Both. My content is shaped by my dual role — naturopath and family carer — so it speaks to anyone navigating Crohn's, whether that's personally or alongside someone they love.

Do you recommend stopping medication or using natural treatments instead?

Never. Everything here is designed to support your medical team's plan, not replace it. Always work with your gastroenterologist.

My child was just diagnosed. Where do I start?

Start with the newsletter — I'll send you the most important things I wish I'd known in those first weeks. And know this: an early diagnosis, as frightening as it is, is one of the best things that can happen. It means you can act early.

What is fecal calprotectin and why do you mention it so often?

Fecal calprotectin is a stool test that measures inflammation in the gut. It's non-invasive, can be done at home, and according to the NHS and gastroenterology guidelines, it's one of the most useful tools for monitoring IBD activity — including in children. It's why I advocate for it as part of early family screening.

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If you've made it this far: welcome. I'm so glad you're here. Subscribe below and I'll be in your inbox every week — warm, practical, and always honest.

— Kate

The Crohn's Method

Not medical advice. Always work with your gastroenterologist.