Complementary and alternative natural therapies for Crohn’s disease: a holistic approach to mitigating chronic intestinal inflammation
Wojciech Wiśniewski
2026-03-17
5 min. read
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Crohn’s disease, categorized as one of the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), is defined by extensive, segmental inflammation that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract—from the oral cavity to the anus. Initially, inflammatory lesions are confined to the mucosal lining, but as the condition progresses, they penetrate deeper into the intestinal wall, leading to ulcerations, strictures, and fistulas. Conventional treatment relies primarily on pharmacological interventions (including immunosuppressants, biologics, and corticosteroids), yet complementary natural approaches are increasingly recognized for their role in alleviating symptom severity, enhancing patient quality of life, and mitigating the adverse effects associated with standard therapies.
Probiotics and their derivatives
Probiotics are living microbes that are given in appropriate quantities to improve the bacterial flora of the intestine and to benefit from the health benefits resulting from their use. However, they are often prescribed to individuals after prolonged use of antibiotics for the purpose of restoring the structure of the gut. The source of probiotics may be dairy fermentation products, medicines and dietary supplements. For this purpose, strains of bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Escherichia coli and yeast of the cerevisiae saccharomyces are used.
Prebiotics
These are food ingredients that are not digestible and absorbed in the small intestine, but at the same time stimulate the growth and activity of selected microorganisms in the large intestine and thus have a beneficial effect on the health of the person taking them. Therefore, the most beneficial approach is to combine a probiotic dose with a prebiotic, that is, a microorganism feed, in order to obtain better results. Preparations containing such a compound are called a synthesis.
Fish oil
Fish oil is a source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, i.e. eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaene acid (DHA). These acids can be synthesized in the human body from α-linolenic acids (napkin oil, flaxseed oil) or supplied with food. The source of these compounds are fatty marine fish, i
Supplements
One of the supplements that could have a beneficial effect on the course of the disease is glutamine. It belongs to the exogenous amino acids, which the body cannot synthesize on its own and must be supplied with food. It has been shown that during inflammatory processes in the body the demand for this compound increases. This reaction has thus become a source of interest for scientists who wanted to study the effects of glutamine in the treatment of Crohn's disease. Unfortunately, despite the promising results of some studies, there are currently no reliable results that would indicate a high level of effectiveness of the production of glutathione suppressants in treating this type of disease.
Fresh or chilled
Alloes eliminate constipation, stimulate the removal of toxins from the body, and regulate the bacterial flora of the large intestine This mechanism is considered beneficial to aid in the treatment of Crohn's disease. Furthermore, the compounds contained in aloe vera are not only anti-inflammatory, but also antibacterial and antifungal, thus maintaining a beneficial environment within the small intestine.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a painless and safe form of treatment to help balance the work of all internal organs. In eastern medicine, the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders is one of the main areas of research interest, and more and more scientific research is focused on assessing the impact of this type of therapy on inflammatory bowel disease. Again, the results of these analyses are ambiguous, but some point to improving the quality of life of patients by using such aids.