6 alternative therapies for colitis and Crohn's
Want to ease pain and inflammation? Consider these complementary care options.
Jan, 2026
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Going Alternative
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be hard to reign in. When conventional treatments have too many side effects or just don't get symptoms under control, many people turn to alternative care. While not completely proven, some complementary therapies may help ease ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease symptoms and make daily life a little more bearable.
We asked Robin Miller, MD, an integrative medicine specialist, for smart tips to help people with IBD and caregivers figure out which options might work. Remember to always talk with your healthcare provider (HCP) first.
Written byMichael Gollust.
Medically reviewed byMegan Burke, MD.
Sources: Lamb CA + 10
- Lamb CA, Kennedy NA, , et al. British Society of Gastroenterology Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Adults. Gut. 2019;68(Suppl 3):s1-s106.
- Song G, Fiocchi C, Achkar JP. Acupuncture in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. 2018;25(7):1129-1139.
- Coelho MR, Romi MD, et al. The Use of Curcumin as a Complementary Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials. Nutrients. 2020 Jul 31;12(8):2296.
- Weng W, Goel A. Curcumin and colorectal cancer: An update and current perspective on this natural medicine. Seminars in Cancer Biology. 2022;80:73-86.
- Jakubczyk D, Leszczyńska K, Górska S. The Effectiveness of Probiotics in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)—A Critical Review. Nutrients. 2020;12(7).
- Scaioli E, Salice M, Belluzzi A. Omega-3 as a Part of the Dietary Guidance for Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Beyond the Natural Sources. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 Jun;19(6):1296-1297.
- Bendix M, Dige A, et al. Seven Weeks of High-Dose Vitamin D Treatment Reduces the Need for Infliximab Dose-Escalation and Decreases Inflammatory Markers in Crohn's Disease during One-Year Follow-Up. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 26;13(4):1083.
- Narula N, Cooray M, et al. Impact of High-Dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation in Patients with Crohn's Disease in Remission: A Pilot Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Study. Dig Dis Sci. 2017 Feb;62(2):448-455.
- Lin SC, Cheifetz AS. The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2018 Jul;14(7):415-425.
- Catanzaro D, Rancan S, et al. (2015) Boswellia serrata Preserves Intestinal Epithelial Barrier from Oxidative and Inflammatory Damage. PLoS ONE 10(5): e0125375.
- Khan I, Samson SE, Grover AK. Antioxidant supplements and gastrointestinal diseases: A critical appraisal. Med Prin Prac. 2017 March;26:201-217.
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