Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

What is Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the anus. However, it most commonly involves the small intestine, particularly the ileum (the last part of the small intestine), and the beginning of the colon (large intestine). Crohn’s disease can involve multiple layers of the intestinal wall, leading to a variety of complications.

The exact cause of Crohn’s disease remains unknown, but it is believed to result from a combination of factors, including genetic predisposition and immune system dysfunction, and may be triggered by environmental factors.

The symptoms of Crohn’s disease include abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and ulcers. They can vary in severity and frequency, and they may come and go over time. Some individuals with Crohn’s disease may experience mouth ulcers or canker sores.

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the colon and rectum. Unlike Crohn’s disease, which can involve any part of the GI tract and multiple layers of the intestinal wall, UC is limited to the innermost lining of the colon.

The exact cause of UC is unknown, but like Crohn’s, it’s thought to involve a combination of genetic predisposition, immune system dysfunction, and environmental triggers.

Symptoms of UC include bloody diarrhea, rectal urgency, abdominal cramping, and fatigue. Severity ranges from mild to severe and often follows a pattern of flares and remission.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for IBD

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine work by targeting the underlying imbalance causing the disease. The TCM diagnosis for an individual with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis will depend on the specific pattern of disharmony or imbalance observed.

During the initial visit, I will take a detailed medical history and evaluate the tongue and pulse to determine the appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan. Key symptoms to determine the imbalances are abdominal pain, appetite, consistency of bowel movements, fatigue, as well as feelings of hot and cold.

The most common disharmonies for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis include Qi deficiency, heat toxicity, and damp heat. In UC specifically, flares are frequently tied to heat toxicity. Other factors may include liver Qi stagnation, Qi vacuity, and blood stasis.

The treatment approach in TCM is personalized to each patient. It will include a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine. The goal is to remove the imbalances as a means to restore balance. These therapies have been shown to reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and stop the pain in both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a natural treatment for Crohn’s disease that works by stimulating the body to Acupuncture is a natural treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis that works by stimulating the body to reduce inflammation, release natural painkillers, and stimulate gut motility. In this way, it targets the root causes of the condition, allowing the body to heal itself.

Acupuncture treatment is customized to each patient. To create the customized acupuncture therapy I will focus on reducing symptoms and working to treat the underlying inflammation. We call this treating both the root and the branch of the condition.

Acupuncture point prescriptions will be made in order to address the specific imbalances. Some of the points on the abdomen will help reduce pain and promote gastric motility such as

• ST25 (Tianshu): ST25 helps regulate the intestines, relieve abdominal pain, and promote bowel movement.
• CV12 (Zhongwan): CV12 is an important point for strengthening the Spleen and Stomach, harmonizing the Middle Jiao, and alleviating abdominal pain and distention.
• CV6 (Qihai): CV6 is a point that tonifies the Qi, strengthens the Spleen and Stomach, and helps alleviate abdominal pain and distention.

Other points may be chosen to address different aspects of the pattern imbalance such as:

Qi Deficiency:

• ST36 (Zusanli): This point strengthens the Spleen and Stomach, and supports the overall Qi. Moxibustion can also be done on this point.
• SP3 (Taibai): This point tonifies the Spleen and helps resolve Dampness.

Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine:

• ST25 (Tianshu): This point regulates the intestines and clears Heat.
• ST37 (Shangjuxu): This point helps to eliminate Damp-Heat from the intestines.
• LI11 (Quchi): This point clears Heat and resolves Dampness.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be used along with your conventional treatments. Patients come in 1-2 times per week depending on the severity. After an initial treatment course of 8-12 visits, the benefits are greater and more long-lasting. Treatment effects are cumulative. Many patients are stable and remain pain free without regularly needing acupuncture. For others, we may create a maintenance program with one visit every other week or once a month.

How Acupuncture Works

Research has shown that acupuncture has anti-inflammatory effects. One way acupuncture reduces inflammation is by regulating pro and anti-inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. It can reduce proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) while increasing interleukin-10 (IL-10) which is an anti-inflammatory cytokine (1). Balancing these chemicals can help alleviate the inflammation in the intestinal mucosa.

Acupuncture has also been shown to reduce pain overall by stimulating the body to release natural pain-relieving chemicals. Another possible way acupuncture helps is through the modulation of the gut microbiota.  Emerging research suggests that acupuncture may influence the composition and function of the gut microbiota, which will help maintain gut homeostasis, reduce inflammation, and improve overall gut health (2). 

Many clinical trials have also shown that acupuncture is safe and effective treatment for reducing Crohn’s disease symptoms. Not only does acupuncture reduce symptoms but it can also improve the quality of life and general well-being. (2,3,4,5)

Herbal Medicine

After the initial visit, we will discuss the treatment plan. Some patients will also use herbal medicine to help reduce inflammation, improve the immune system, and reduce pain.

Chinese herbal medicine, much like acupuncture, targets the specific pattern of disharmony contributing to your symptoms. An herbal formula is a combination of 4-12 herbs, chosen to address both the root cause (underlying imbalance) and the symptoms or manifestations (also known as the “branch”) of a disease.

Different formulas are selected to match your pattern. For damp-heat in the large intestine, formulas built around Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) — such as Shaoyao Decoction and Huangqin Decoction — are commonly used and have been shown to reduce inflammatory markers and support a healthier balance of gut bacteria (6). For Qi deficiency, formulas such as Sijunzi Decoction and Shenling Baizhu Powder are more typically indicated, while liver Qi stagnation or spleen-kidney yang deficiency call for formulas such as Tongxie Yaofang or Sishen Pill, respectively (6). Separately, a multi-center randomized controlled trial matched three patent herbal formulas to disease severity — mild, moderate, and severe — and found their effects on clinical remission comparable to mesalazine, a standard first-line medication, while also improving gut microbiota diversity (7).

In my practice, herbs are combined to address your primary imbalance while also targeting your specific symptoms — diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping — and calming inflammation. The exact combination and proportions depend on your pattern and symptoms, and may change as treatment progresses.

I also work closely with your healthcare team to ensure the safe and effective use of herbal medicine alongside your overall treatment plan.

Diet

In TCM, the Spleen governs digestion — it’s responsible for transforming food into energy, and for moving toxins (dampness) out of the body. When the Spleen is weak, undigested food and dampness accumulate, which shows up as loose stools, bloating, and fatigue — the same pattern we see driving many cases of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Diet is one of the most direct ways to support the Spleen and reduce this dampness.

Cold and raw foods (iced drinks, salads, raw fruit in excess) are considered taxing on the Spleen’s digestive fire, while warm, cooked foods — soups, stews, congee, steamed vegetables — are easier to digest and help the Spleen do its job. Overly greasy, fried, or heavily processed foods also generate dampness and can worsen symptoms, as can excess sugar.

For patients with more heat-based patterns (damp-heat), we also look at reducing foods that are considered warming or spicy — chili, alcohol, and excess red meat — since these can aggravate inflammation from a TCM perspective.

There’s also a yin-yang balance to consider: periods of flare often call for more yang-supportive foods (warming, easily digested) to rebuild strength, while remission allows for a broader, more balanced diet. Rather than a single rigid protocol, dietary guidance is adjusted to your pattern and where you are in the disease course — something we discuss and refine together as treatment progresses. Read more about eating with yin and yang.

Conclusion: 

If you’re living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis and interested in exploring the potential benefits of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, schedule a consultation with us. We are committed to helping you achieve a better quality of life through holistic healthcare and personalized treatment plans. Call us today at 212-319-5757 or book an appointment online.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. For specific treatment call us or find a local practitioner.

References:

1. Yang, X., He, M., Tang, Q., Wang, Z., Jin, D., Wu, X., … Li, T. (2023). Assessment of anti-inflammatory efficacy of acupuncture in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med, 74, 102946. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102946
2. Bao, C., Wu, L., Wang, D., Chen, L., Jin, X., Shi, Y., … Wu, H. (2022). Acupuncture improves the symptoms, intestinal microbiota, and inflammation of patients with mild to moderate Crohn’s disease: A randomized controlled trial. EClinicalMedicine, 45, 101300. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101300
3. Joos, S., Brinkhaus, B., Maluche, C., Maupai, N., Kohnen, R., Kraehmer, N., Hahn, E. G., & Schuppan, D. (2004). Acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of active Crohn’s disease: a randomized controlled study. Digestion, 69(3), 131-139. doi:10.1159/000078151
4. Schneider, A., Streitberger, K., & Joos, S. (2007). Acupuncture treatment in gastrointestinal diseases: a systematic review. World J Gastroenterol, 13(25), 3417-3424. doi:10.3748/wjg.v13.i25.3417
5. Bao, C. H., Zhao, J. M., Liu, H. R., Lu, Y., Zhu, Y. F., Shi, Y., … Wu, H. G. (2014). Randomized controlled trial: moxibustion and acupuncture for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. World J Gastroenterol, 20(31), 11000-11011. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i31.11000
6. Wang, T., Liu, X., Zhang, W., Wang, J., Wang, T., Yue, W., Ming, L., Cheng, J., & Sun, J. (2024). Traditional Chinese medicine treats ulcerative colitis by regulating gut microbiota, signaling pathway and cytokine: Future novel method option for pharmacotherapy. Heliyon, 10(6), e27530. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27530
7. Li, N., Shang, X., Shi, L., Li, Y., Mao, T., Wang, Q., Li, J., & Peng, G. (2025). Effects of three Chinese herbal therapies on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid metabolism in patients with mild, moderate, and severe ulcerative colitis: Multi-center, randomized, controlled trials. International Immunopharmacology, 152, 114444. doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2025.114444