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Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffAbout half of those with inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, have used some form of alternative or complementary therapy. Side effects and ineffectiveness of conventional therapies may be among the reasons for seeking alternative care.
The majority of these therapies aren't regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers can claim that their therapies are safe and effective, but don't need to prove it. Because even natural herbs can have side effects and cause dangerous interactions, talk to your doctor before trying any alternative or complementary therapies.
Currently, no alternative therapies have good evidence supporting their use in treating ulcerative colitis, but some that may eventually prove beneficial include:
- Prebiotics. Early research suggests that prebiotics — natural compounds found in plants, such as artichokes — may play a role in treating ulcerative colitis. Prebiotics help fuel beneficial intestinal bacteria.
- Probiotics. Because bacteria in the gut have been implicated in ulcerative colitis, researchers suspect that adding more of the beneficial bacteria (probiotics) that's normally found in the gut might help combat the disease.
- Fish oil. Fish oil acts as an anti-inflammatory, and one study that included large doses of fish oil — 15 or more capsules a day — suggested a possible benefit, although this has not been proved.
- Aloe vera. While one small trial found a benefit to taking aloe vera gel daily, the evidence is not strong.
- Acupuncture. Several studies have found acupuncture to be of benefit to people with ulcerative colitis. The procedure involves the insertion of fine needles into the skin, which may stimulate the release of the body's natural painkillers.
If you decide to try an alternative therapy, be sure to tell your doctor so that he or she can let you know about any potential interactions. You can also find out if a particular therapy has been studied in reputable trials by calling the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at 888-644-6226 or by looking on its Web site.
- About ulcerative colitis and proctitis. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. http://www.ccfa.org/info/about/ucp. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Ulcerative colitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec02/ch018/ch018c.html. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Peppercorn MA, et al. Medical management of ulcerative colitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Ulcerative colitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colitis/. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Accutane (prescribing information). Nutley, N.J.: Roche; 2008. http://www.rocheusa.com/products/accutane/pi.pdf. Accessed June 23, 2009.
- Inflammatory bowel disease. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2008. 60th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/144932667-4/854785995/1621/261.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4435-2..50133-3--cesec17_2085. Accessed June 21, 2009.
- Rutgeerts P, et al. Biological therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases. Gastroenterology. 2009;136:1182.
- Enck P. Acupuncture treatment in gastrointestinal diseases: A systematic review. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2007;13:3417.
- Picco MF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. July 20, 2009.
