Coeliac disease
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy tissues of the body. It is a chronic digestive disease caused by gluten intolerance. Gluten is a component of wheat, rye, oats and barley. When patients eat a gluten-containing diet, the body’s immune system attacks the gluten as if it were an antigen. This can trigger a range of symptoms such as diarrhoea, bloating and flatulence, abdominal pain and weight loss due to malnutrition. Natural remedies can help counter nutritional deficiencies and a gluten-free diet must be adopted to minimise the effects of the condition.