Effective Herbal Remedies for Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that requires careful and individualized treatment. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers several herbal formulations that can help manage symptoms and support long-term wellness. Treatment strategies vary depending on whether the condition is in the active or remission phase.

Active Phase of Ulcerative Colitis

During the active phase, common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, passage of pus and blood in stool, and a feeling of incomplete evacuation. Many patients experience damp-heat stagnation, which calls for heat-clearing and dampness-resolving formulas. One effective option is Gegen Qinlian Wan, which can be modified based on individual symptoms. Another recommended remedy is Fengliao Changweikang Granules, known for its ability to clear internal heat and resolve dampness. Additionally, formulations based on Baitouweng Tang (in granule or pill form) and Shaoyao Tang (also available as pills or granules) are widely used to address inflammation and gastrointestinal discomfort during this stage.

Remission Phase of Ulcerative Colitis

In the remission phase, symptoms such as bloody mucus in stool tend to subside, but patients may still feel fatigued or weak—indicating qi deficiency. At this stage, the focus shifts to strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi, or even warming and nourishing the spleen and kidneys. Recommended remedies include Shenling Baizhu Wan, Sishen Wan, and Lianli Tang (available as granules or pills), all of which support digestive health and immune function while helping to prevent relapse.

Individualized Treatment Based on Syndrome Differentiation

Successful management of ulcerative colitis with TCM depends heavily on syndrome differentiation. In cases of excess pattern (shi zheng), it's essential to determine whether the cause is damp-heat retention, qi stagnation, or blood stasis. For deficiency patterns (xu zheng), identifying the affected organs—especially the spleen, stomach, and kidneys—is crucial for selecting the most appropriate treatment plan. By tailoring herbal prescriptions to each patient's specific condition, better outcomes and improved quality of life can be achieved.