No one treatment for Crohn’s disease can relieve everyone’s symptoms all of the time. Perhaps that’s one reason that more than half of those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s, turn to complementary and alternative medicine to boost their health or manage their symptoms, according to a review published in June 2019 in the Journal of Crohn's and Colitis.
“Living with Crohn’s disease is an experiment in and of itself,” says Rainesford Stauffer, 27, who was diagnosed with the condition in 2013. “Taking your health into your own hands is both terrifying and empowering.”
Before you get started, always discuss with your doctor which therapy you’re considering. That way, you can be sure to avoid any negative interactions. Here are 10 practices to try out.
Yoga
“Almost immediately, yoga helped ease my anxiety, which was a side effect of my Crohn’s disease,” says Stauffer, who does hot vinyasa yoga. “I love twists, because they quite literally wring you out, and inversions, partially because they’re just fun and because they reset your entire system.” Yoga is also relaxing and meditative.
Faten Aberra, MD, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, thinks that yoga mostly helps people with Crohn’s cope with stress and improve their well-being. “There have been a few studies in people with ulcerative colitis that show yoga improves well-being and decreases stress and depression,” Dr. Aberra says. “However, more studies are needed, especially in Crohn’s.”
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is used to treat digestive issues such as gas and diarrhea, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). “Chamomile tea’s sedative effects are also extremely mild, so you can drink it at any time of the day without fear of falling asleep in the middle of something important,” says Jennifer Williamson, ND, a physician who practices in Burlington, Vermont. According to a study in Molecular Medicine Reports, “Chamomile is especially helpful in dispelling gas, soothing the stomach, and relaxing the muscles that move food through the intestines.”
Broth
A cup of warm broth doesn’t just make you feel better when you’re sick — it has real benefits. A study published in 2021 found that bone broth boasts anti-inflammatory properties and its consumption can reduce the symptoms for ulcerative colitis and IBD. Initial research indicates that the collagen protein found in bone broth can also promote healing in the gut’s mucosal lining, which is often compromised during a Crohn’s flare.
Cook up a rich broth at home with chicken bones, carrots, onions, celery, and garlic, which may help soothe inflammation while providing a boost of key nutrients, Williamson says. (If you’re sensitive to onions and garlic, you can skip them.)
There are no downsides to purchasing bone broth versus making your own. When purchasing, look at the ingredients list to ensure that actual bones are used and avoid bone broths that include additives such as sugars and gums.
Acupuncture
“The ancient practice of acupuncture may be helpful for people with Crohn’s disease,” says William Rollow, MD, the director of Integrative Health Practices, an integrative medicine practice in Ellicott City, Maryland. “The mind-body connection in Crohn’s and other gastrointestinal disorders is often significant, and acupuncture can help with this.” Acupuncture, particularly when combined with moxibustion, a therapy that involves burning herbs on targeted parts of the body, has been shown to improve quality of life for people with Crohn’s disease, according to a review published in July 2019 in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
Mindfulness
A mindfulness practice can help you control your anxiety and improve your quality of life. Plus, it may help lower inflammation levels in people with Crohn’s disease, according to research published in April 2020 in the journal Scientific Reports. Stress can be a significant issue for people with Crohn’s disease and can even trigger flares. And because relaxation techniques like meditation, mindfulness, and deep breathing won’t harm your traditional Crohn’s disease treatment plan, you can try these alternative therapies without worry.
Probiotics
The NCCIH notes that probiotics, or good bacteria, can ease digestive issues and may be used for IBD, although more research is needed to know which probiotics are most effective. A study published in 2020 found that the effects of probiotics were inconclusive. However, they can’t hurt. You can find probiotics in yogurt that contains live and active cultures or in supplement form. Speak to your doctor before taking any supplements.
Hypnosis
Although research into hypnotherapy and IBD is lacking, particularly in people with Crohn’s, this alternative therapy has shown potential to put IBD in remission and may possibly lower inflammation in people with ulcerative colitis, according to a review published in January 2017 in the journal Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology. Similarly, a study published in 2022 in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition found that hypnotherapy was effective in relieving pediatric IBD and abdominal pain. If you’re interested in trying it, look for a hypnotherapy practitioner experienced in working with people with gut-related disorders.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback has become increasingly popular in assisting with stress relief, especially in people with chronic conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s. Biofeedback measures functions such as muscle contractions, heart rate, and breathing through electrical sensors attached to your body. That information is then analyzed by a biofeedback provider, who can teach you how to use mindfulness techniques such as meditation to alleviate stress. While there have been no studies to show the benefits of incorporating biofeedback into an IBD management routine, it can assist in relieving stress, which can reduce inflammation caused by a flare-up.
Ira Daniel Breite, MD
Medical Reviewer
Ira Daniel Breite, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He is an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also sees patients and helps run an ambulatory surgery center.
Dr. Breite divides his time between technical procedures, reading about new topics, and helping patients with some of their most intimate problems. He finds the deepest fulfillment in the long-term relationships he develops and is thrilled when a patient with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease improves on the regimen he worked with them to create.
Breite went to Albert Einstein College of Medicine for medical school, followed by a residency at NYU and Bellevue Hospital and a gastroenterology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Working in city hospitals helped him become resourceful and taught him how to interact with people from different backgrounds.
Madeline R. Vann, MPH, LPC
Author
Madeline Vann, MPH, LPC, is a freelance health and medical writer located in Williamsburg, Virginia. She has been writing for over 15 years and can present complicated health topics at any reading level. Her writing has appeared in HealthDay, the Huffington Post, Costco Connection, the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Huntsville Times, and numerous academic publications.
She received her bachelor's degree from Trinity University, and has a master of public health degree from Tulane University. Her areas of interest include diet, fitness, chronic and infectious diseases, oral health, biotechnology, cancer, positive psychology, caregiving, end-of-life issues, and the intersection between environmental health and individual health.
Outside of writing, Vann is a licensed professional counselor and specializes in treating military and first responders coping with grief, loss, trauma, and addiction/recovery. She is a trauma specialist at the Farley Center, where she provides workshops on trauma, grief, and distress tolerance coping skills. She regularly practices yoga, loves to cook, and can’t decide between a Mediterranean style diet and an Asian-fusion approach.