Crohn's disease is one type of inflammatory bowel disease. It is a chronic inflammation in any part of the digestive tract, causing diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps, ulcers and bloody stools. If not treated, Crohn’s can cause life-threatening complications, such as obstructed bowels, ulcers, malnutrition, arthritis, gallstones and osteoporosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Conventional treatments can include anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids and sulfasalazine, or immune system suppressors such as mercaptopurine and infliximab. These drugs do not work for everyone and can have mild to serious side effects with long-term use. Herbs can be an alternative solution for Crohn’s that may bypass the side effects of conventional drugs. It is important to consult a health care professional before starting herbal treatment.
Wormwood
Wormwood, or Artemisia absinthium, is a perennial herb with a history of medicinal use. The ancient Romans used it for the pain of colitis, an inflammation of the colon similar to some IBDs. Inflammation in Crohn’s disease is caused by the body’s release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, or molecules that promote inflammation, such as tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 and -6. A study published in the 2010 issue of Phytomedicine tested a standard powder of wormwood and a placebo on 20 adults with verified Crohn’s disease. After six weeks, the study found a significant clinical improvement in patients treated with the herb compared with the placebo group. The herb even improved the mood of the subjects. The researchers state that wormwood’s effects might stem from its ability to suppress tumor necrosis factor. Larger trials are needed to confirm these findings and to determine the safest dose of this herb for Crohn’s patients.
Changtai Granule
Changtai granule is a traditional Chinese medicine formula for inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s. It includes Chinese cork-tree bark, or Phellodendro Chinense; great burnet root, or Sanguisorba officinalis; euphorbia leaves, or Euphorbia humifusa; and marsh pepper leaves, or Polygonum hydropiper. This herbal formula reduces the pain, inflammation and diarrhea, and has a balancing effect on the gastrointestinal tract. A study published in the January 2008 issue of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology tested the formula on animals with induced symptoms of Crohn’s. The study found that after seven days, the treated animals had lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduced inflammation. The treated animals also had less damage to colon tissues. The researchers state that if an imbalance in pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokines is responsible for Crohn’s, this could explain the effect of Changtai granule. The berberine in Chinese cork-tree bark and the flavonoids in marsh pepper leaves and great burnet root are potent anti-inflammatory agents, and Chinese cork-tree bark is also a powerful immune suppressant. This study validates the traditional use of Changtai granule as a remedy for Crohn’s disease, but larger studies on humans are needed to confirm these findings.
Chinese Herbal Formula
Traditional Chinese medicine has a history of treating inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s with complex herbal formulas, and scientists are constantly searching for new formulas. A study reported in the 2008 issue of the American Journal of Chinese Medicine tested a new formula made up of seven herbs selected for their potent anti-inflammatory properties: Korean forsythia fruit, or Forsythia koreana; fumewort leaves, or Corydalis saxicola; tian kui root, or Semiaquilegia adoxoides; dandelion leaves, or Taraxacum officinale; chrysanthemum flowers, or Chrysanthemum coronarium; licorice root, or Glycyrrhiza inflate; and Japanese honeysuckle flowers, or Lonicera japonica. The study found that, compared to control animals, mice treated with the formula developed symptoms more slowly, had fewer ulcers, reduced inflammation and lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The researchers attribute these positive results to the anti-inflammatory constituents in the herbs, such as rengyolone in forsythia, berberine in fumewort, diterpenoids in tian kui, flavonoids in licorice, dandelion and chrysanthemum, and ochnaflavone in Japanese honeysuckle. This study validates the therapeutic benefits of this novel traditional Chinese medicine formula for Crohn’s, but more research on humans is needed to determine the exact active principles responsible for these results.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Crohn's Disease
- PubMed: Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) Suppresses Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Accelerates Healing in Patients with Crohn's Disease
- PubMed: Changtai Granule, a Traditional Chinese Drug, Protects Hapten-Induced Colitis by Attenuating Inflammatory and Immune Dysfunctions
- PubMed: Alternative Medicine Products as a Novel Treatment Strategy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
