Recent studies have validated past research works by showing how herbal medicine and acupuncture can alleviate chronic ulcerative colitis symptoms. Chronic ulcerative colitis is an intestinal problem involving inflammation that most typically bothers the most inner lining of the rectum and large intestine. The inflamed tissue may spread deeply into the regions that are affected. In terms of biomedical therapies, what are commonly used include surgical extraction of the affected parts of the intestines, immunosupression, and anti-inflammatory medications. The modalities used by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), on the other hand, include Chinese herbs and acupuncture to help resolve this issue.

Past medical cases in which TCM was used to successfully treat chronic ulcerative colitis go back to over a millennium. Now recent studies have verified what was already encoded in standard Chinese Medicine texts for ages. The procedure adopted in this new study was a standard acupuncture treatment with an herbal enema. The herbs used in the enema are composed of a decoction of Qu Shen and Bai Tou Weng. An antibiotic, sulfasalazine, was the treatment given to the control group for treating Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Two major discoveries were achieved by the study. One was that when combined with Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture provided substantially better results compared to that of the control group. The other discovery was that when herbal medicine and acupuncture are combined, the subjects hardly had any side effects compared to the control group who experienced negative side effects from the antibiotic drug. A total of 62 patients were involved in the study all of whom were suffering from chronic ulcerative colitis. They were randomly grouped into two groups. One group was given sulfasalazine antibiotic and the other treated with herbs and acupuncture. The Clinical Journal of Chinese Medicine published the results of this study.

TCM texts have documented several successful treatments of ulcerative colitis in which herbal tea decoctions were used. The herbal formulas that were used were based on the differential diagnosis of the condition of a patient. Listed below are just some of the typical herbal remedies used by TCM practitioners to help resolve chronic ulcerative colitis symptoms:

Shen Ren Huo Ming Yin
Tong Hsie Yao Fang
Zhao Yao Tang
Chian Pi Wan
Wai Hwa San
Ge Gen Chin Lian Tang
Wang Chin Tang
Ge Gen Wang Liang
Fu Hsi Li Shong Wan
Dang Gui By Hse Tang
Bu Shong Yi Chi Tang
Bai Shu Shao Yan
Bai Tou Weng Tang

All these formulas possess medicinal functions that significantly differ from each other and only a skilled and licensed Chinese herbalist or a licensed acupuncturist trained in Chinese herbal medicine will be able to identify the right kind of formula for a patient’s type of condition. The serious infectious phases of chronic ulcerative colitis may necessitate an anti-toxin treatment formula like Bai Tou Weng Tang; for the chronic phase of this disorder and one marked by fatigue, a formula such as Bu Shong Yi Chi Tang may be required.

Clinical Highlights

In traditional Chinese medicine, removing damp-heat in the Large Intestine is required to treat sub-acute and acute ulcerative colitis. Damp-heat, in TCM terminology, refers to inflammatory issues marked by symptoms such as heat, pain, swelling, redness, mucus and other forms of fluid obstruction. Bai Tou Weng Tang and Hsiao Yao Tang are very good herbal remedies for these medical conditions.

If even amounts of pus and blood are found in the stools, the acupuncturist/TCM practitioner may prescribe Shao Yao Tang; for stools that contain more blood than pus Bai Tou Weng Tang is selected. Bai Tou Weng Tang is a very potent herbal medicine that binds the intestines, cools the blood, and clears poisons, toxins and heat. It is also chosen for bacterial dysentery, acute amoebiasis and severe diarrhea. Usually, Bai Tou Weng Tang is given for the treatment of more severe and acute presentations.

For deficient and very cold chronic cases of ulcerative colitis, anti-toxin herbal remedies such as Bai Tou Weng Tang and Hsiao Yao Tang may not be effective in giving relief. For this type of condition, Fu Hsi Li Shong Wan is an herbal remedy utilized on the other side of the clinical spectrum to treat chronic ulcerative colitis conditions. It works by tonifying the Spleen Qi, expelling cold and warming the middle jiao. Chronic ulcerative colitis and acute ulcerative colitis share symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating and stomach pain. But unlike ulcerative colitis, chronic ulcerative colitis patients usually suffer from exhaustion, have a poor appetite, cold sensation of the lower stomach, often belch, and have a watery stool. The plan of treatment for this condition is to warm the internal body. Chronic ulcerative colitis manifests several challenges to therapy from the Damp-Heat of the Large Intestine to the chilling symptoms of dampness and cold.

The aforementioned studies did not include herbal formulas taken in beverage form but instead utilized herbal decoction enemas along with acupuncture. Not all states have acupuncturists who are trained in preparing herbal enemas. There have been enough studies done to verify the efficacy of this modality. Most acupuncturists, however, are well trained in Chinese dietary therapy. Changes in diet may be needed to help prevent aggravation and exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. The modality of acupuncture aids in significantly accelerating the healing process of the patient.

Acupuncture produces a synergistic effect on the body that helps improve the efficacy of herbal therapy.

Cynthia Chamberlain, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac, Dipl.CH
Eastern Healing Solutions, LLC
10875 Grandview Dr #2250
Overland Park, KS 66210
(913) 549-4322
https://www.overlandparkacupuncturist.com/