🌾 Coeliac Disease & Herbal Medicine – Natural Support for Gut Healing

Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition triggered by the consumption of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Even small amounts of gluten can cause damage to the small intestine, leading to a range of symptoms and long-term health consequences.

While the cornerstone of treatment is a strict gluten-free diet, herbal medicine can play a valuable supportive role in gut healing, immune regulation, and symptom relief.

📊 How Common Is Coeliac Disease in the UK?

Coeliac disease is more common than many people realise:

  • Diagnosed cases: ~125,000 people in the UK

  • Estimated actual cases: Around 1 in 100 people — meaning over 500,000 are likely living with undiagnosed coeliac disease

🤒 Common Symptoms of Coeliac Disease

Symptoms vary widely and can range from digestive complaints to general fatigue and skin issues:

Adults may experience:

  • Chronic tiredness or fatigue

  • Diarrhoea or loose stools

  • Bloating and abdominal discomfort

  • Weight loss or malabsorption

  • Anaemia (often iron or B12 deficiency)

  • Mouth ulcers

  • Depression or mood changes

  • Osteoporosis (from long-term nutrient malabsorption)

In children:

  • Poor growth

  • Weight loss

  • Irritability

  • Delayed puberty

  • Abdominal bloating and discomfort

Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH):

A form of coeliac disease that appears as itchy, blistering skin rashes—especially on the elbows, knees, buttocks. People with DH often have underlying gut damage even if they don’t have obvious digestive symptoms.

🩺 Suspect Coeliac Disease? Here’s What to Do

If you suspect you may have coeliac disease:

  1. Do NOT stop eating gluten before testing. Removing gluten too early may cause false-negative results.

  2. Visit your GP and ask for a coeliac screening blood test.

  3. If the blood test is positive, a small intestine biopsy (via endoscopy) is usually needed for confirmation.

  4. Once diagnosed, return to your medical herbalist for supportive herbal treatment.

💡 Even if your GP is unfamiliar with coeliac disease, be persistent and request the necessary tests. Awareness is improving, but not all healthcare providers are fully informed.

🌿 Herbal Medicine in the Treatment of Coeliac Disease

While there is no herbal cure for coeliac disease, herbal medicine can offer significant support during and after diagnosis:

🔄 Gut Healing & Repair

  • Soothing herbs to calm inflammation in the gut lining

  • Mucilaginous herbs to protect and rebuild the intestinal wall

  • Bitters and carminatives to improve digestion and nutrient absorption

⚖️ Immune System Support

  • Modulating herbs to help balance autoimmune responses

  • Anti-inflammatory herbs to reduce chronic inflammation

💪 Symptom Management

  • Relief from bloating, discomfort, and irregular bowel movements

  • Improved energy levels through enhanced nutrient uptake

  • Support for associated conditions like dermatitis herpetiformis or anaemia

🧪 Herbs Commonly Used in Coeliac Disease Support

Your medical herbalist will tailor the formula to your needs, but commonly used herbs include:

  • Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra) – protects and soothes the gut lining

  • Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis) – mucilage-rich for intestinal repair

  • Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) – calming, anti-inflammatory, and digestive

  • Turmeric (Curcuma longa) – potent anti-inflammatory and liver-supporting

  • Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) – helps with liver detox and healing

  • Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) – reduces gut inflammation and acidity

  • Gentian (Gentiana lutea) – improves digestion and appetite

  • Nettle (Urtica dioica) – mineral-rich, supports immune and skin health

👨‍⚕️ All prescriptions should be guided by a qualified medical herbalist based on your unique presentation, medical history, and current medications.

🍞 Gluten-Free Diet: The Foundation of Recovery

After diagnosis, you’ll be referred to a dietitian who will guide you in removing all sources of gluten from your diet — for life. This includes avoiding:

  • Wheat (including spelt, khorasan, durum, semolina)

  • Barley

  • Rye

  • Oats (unless certified gluten-free)

Healing Time:

  • Most people feel significantly better within a few weeks

  • Full intestinal healing can take 6 months to 2 years, depending on the severity and duration of damage

Herbal medicine can help speed up recovery and support you through the adjustment period.

🌿 Support Your Gut Naturally – Work with a Medical Herbalist

If you’ve been diagnosed with coeliac disease, or suspect gluten is affecting your health, a medical herbalist can:

  • Create a personalised herbal protocol for gut and immune support

  • Help manage lingering symptoms like fatigue, bloating, or rashes

  • Recommend safe, gluten-free herbal remedies

  • Support your long-term health and nutritional recovery

📧 Contact Alan Hopking, Medical Herbalist for a consultation
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