Using Cat's Claw and Astragalus in Crohn's Disease

Latest research, news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4740632.stm, indicates that the mechanism of Crohn's Disease may be an under active immune response that becomes overactive because it did not respond in time. As my Crohn's Disease will not go into remission I am attempting to boost my immune system response. I am about to try Cat's Claw for the first two weeks monitoring any changes in the body. I then intend to add Astragalus in the third week, so I can monitor any changes each herb is having on my body. I intend to start with a dosage of 3 grams a day taken in capsules made from the powdered herb that I will make up myself. If no response I intent to increase the dosage by 1 gram a week until I do perceive a difference in the pattern of the disease. Would you advise a different course of action or is it OK to go ahead?

I suggest that these herbs should not be your complete treatment. Please see our website at www.richters.com for more information about herbal treatment for Crohn's.
Some important additions to your treatment should be:
* daily stress reduction exercises of your choice. (for example, yoga, meditation, tai chi, walking in nature). Stress is a big factor in exacerbating Crohn's
* a very simple diet or well cooked rice and root vegetables, or easy to digest soups, avoiding all caffeine, dairy products, artificial colourings, flavourings and sweeteners
* take soothing slippery elm as a tablet or a gruel, three times daily'
* a clove of chopped or crushed raw garlic three times daily on an empty stomach to kill bacteria and balance intestinal flora
* vitamin and mineral supplements, since the poor condition of the intestine in Crohn's impedes their absorption from the diet. Specifically helpful are: calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamins C, E and B complex, high doses of evening primrose oil.
* vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements are best taken in liquid form or powdered form because of absorption difficulty.