Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a painful inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. It’s estimated that 1.3% of the US population struggle with IBD.
This article gives a review of the scientific research behind the best herbs for inflammatory bowel disease and its symptoms.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview:
Inflammatory bowel disease is considered a gastrointestinal (GI) chronic inflammatory disease that can be divided into two subcategories: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). In both cases, there is significant inflammation throughout the gastrointestinal tract.
The exact cause of IBD is unknown, however, researchers believe it to be the result of a weakened immune system. One hypothesis is that the immune system responds incorrectly to environmental triggers, such as virus or bacteria exposure, which causes inflammation throughout the gastrointestinal tract. There is also thought to be a genetic component.
In the United States, nearly 500,00 people suffer from Crohn’s disease and around 600,000 people suffer from ulcerative colitis. While IBD usually occurs between the ages of 15 to 30, there is a chance for adolescents to develop it and a 10-15% chance people will develop it after the age of 60.
Research indicates that females are slightly more likely to develop Crohn’s disease. IBD shows up more commonly in colder, developed regions of the world.
Best Herbs for Inflammatory Bowel Disease:
Below are a number of research-backed herbs for inflammatory bowel disease.
1. Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the top remedies for inflammatory bowel disease. Specifically, turmeric appears to be one of the best herbs for Crohn’s disease.
The main phytochemical in turmeric, curcumin, seems to be responsible for turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effect. Curcumin is what makes turmeric one of the best herbs for intestinal inflammation.
A trial observing patients with dormant ulcerative colitis found that curcumin capsules significantly reduced inflammation in the bowels. This effectively reduced the risk of a relapse for those that received the capsules.
Another study involving participants with ulcerative proctitis (a mild form of ulcerative colitis) and Crohn’s disease discovered that the administration of curcumin for 3 months significantly reduced the severity of inflammation. Researchers saw improvements in multiple gut health biomarkers, including the frequency of bowel movements, the formation of stools, and a decrease in abdominal cramping and pain.
It should also be noted that the European Medicines Agency approves of turmeric as a herb that is helpful for digestive health.
Summary:
Human research shows that turmeric may be one of the best herbs for inflammatory bowel disease due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Boswellia
Indian Frankincense, or boswellia, is one of the best herbs for irritable bowel disease.
Clinical research points to terpenes and triterpenic acids in boswellia as the active constituents responsible for its anti-inflammatory effect.
In a trial involving patients with ulcerative colitis, researchers found that there was a significant reduction in chronic inflammation after administering 350mg of boswellia 3x/day for 6 weeks. The study compared boswellia to sulfasalazine, a standard pharmaceutical drug for ulcerative colitis. The results found that 82% of individuals taking Boswellia had improved symptoms compared to 75% of subjects taking sulfasalazine.
An in vitro study found that boswellia extract reduced inflammation in cell cultures. Along with the anti-inflammatory effect, the extract was also able to protect healthy cells against inflammation.
Click here for a complete guide going over the best boswellia supplements.
Summary:
Clinical trials indicate that boswellia may work to reduce the chronic inflammation associated with irritable bowel disease and ulcerative colitis.
3. Jujube
Jujube is a date-like fruit that is highly revered for its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s best known for its ability to support gut health, which makes it a helpful herb for IBD. This makes it potentially one of the herbs for intestinal inflammation
The polysaccharides in jujube are thought to have the ability to protect the gastrointestinal tract from harmful symptoms of IBD. A study mentioned that jujube’s polysaccharides had an enhancing effect on the intestinal barrier function – this works to reduce inflammation and prevents harmful bacteria from entering the gut.
In an animal trial, jujube fruit was able