Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, colitis)

Almond mushroom

Agaricus subrufescens

Inflammatory-bowel-disease trials (AndoSan, 50 ulcerative colitis and 50 Crohn's patients, 21 days): in ulcerative colitis symptoms, fatigue and quality of life improved versus placebo; in Crohn's symptoms improved within the group but not significantly versus placebo.

Cuachalalate

Amphipterygium adstringens

An ethanol bark extract reduced colon inflammation and raised survival in mice with chemically induced colitis.

Curry leaf

Murraya koenigii

Only animal data: an Ayurvedic polyherbal suspension containing curry leaf, Burma dhaniya and sapota reduced colitis damage and oxidative stress in mice.

Golden lace

Patrinia scabiosifolia

Bai jiang cao is an ingredient of Chinese prescriptions used for ulcerative colitis, and an extract eased chemically induced colitis in mice; there are no trials of the herb alone.

Great burnet

Sanguisorba officinalis

In mice with chemically induced colitis, the extract suppressed inflammation by shifting gut macrophages to an anti-inflammatory profile through autophagy; there are no human studies.

Hairy agrimony

Agrimonia pilosa

The Xian-He-Cao-Chang-Yan formula, in which Agrimoniae Herba is the main herb, improved chemically induced colitis in mice by shifting macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory profile; there are no human trials.

Hyacinth orchid

Bletilla striata

In China Bletilla powder is added to enemas for ulcerative colitis, where it is described as forming a protective gel on the mucosa; its polysaccharide reduced colitis damage and inflammatory signalling in experimental studies. Controlled human data were not found.

Indian frankincense

Boswellia serrata

For inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, chronic colitis with diarrhoea), small trials cited by WHO found a resin preparation comparable to sulfasalazine in ulcerative colitis (82% vs 75% remission after 6 weeks) and to mesalazine in Crohn's disease. These trials were small and not placebo-controlled.

Sargent gloryvine

Sargentodoxa cuneata

Water extracts of the stem eased chemically induced colitis in mice (2.58 g/kg by mouth) and changed their gut bacteria. The authors say it is used clinically in China for ulcerative colitis, but no human trials were found.

Sha ren

Wurfbainia villosa

In mice with chemically induced colitis, a water extract of the fruit (100–500 mg/kg daily) reduced weight loss, colon shortening and inflammatory markers. Animal data only.

Silverweed

Potentilla anserina

In mice with DSS-induced colitis, total flavonoids from the rhizome reduced inflammation and restored gut barrier and microbiota; laboratory work only.

Suma

Hebanthe eriantha

In rats with chemically induced colitis, a root extract (200 mg/kg) given after the injury reduced colonic damage and inflammatory markers. Animal work only.

Tormentil

Potentilla erecta

An open study in 15 people with active ulcerative colitis found the colitis activity index fell from 8.3 to 3.9 on 2,400 mg/day of extract.

Tree of heaven

Ailanthus altissima

The bark is used in Chinese medicine for bowel disorders, including ulcerative colitis. In mice with chemically induced colitis it reduced colonic injury and inflammatory cytokines, and its quassinoid ailanthone reduced inflammatory signals in cells. Animal and cell data only.

Wormwood

Artemisia absinthium

In a double-blind trial in 40 people with Crohn's disease tapering steroids, 65% of those given wormwood were in near-complete remission after 8 weeks, versus none on placebo. One small trial; not confirmed.

Wu yao

Lindera aggregata

A water extract reduced colitis in mice with chemically induced ulcerative colitis.