Ulcerative colitis in Wokingham, Berkshire

On this page

1. What is ulcerative colitis?
2. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis
3. Causes of ulcerative colitis
4. Ulcerative colitis in traditional Chinese medicine
5. Chinese herbal medicine for ulcerative colitis
6. Acupuncture for ulcerative colitis
7. Self-care for ulcerative colitis
8. Commonly asked questions
9. References

1. What is ulcerative colitis?

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes long-term inflammation and ulceration of the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. It follows a relapsing and remitting pattern — periods of active disease alternate with periods of remission. In the UK, around 1 in 420 people live with ulcerative colitis, and diagnosis is most common between the ages of 15 and 25 and again between 55 and 65. Conventional treatments can help manage symptoms but do not cure the condition, and many people seek natural complementary approaches to help reduce flares, maintain remission and reduce their dependency on medication over time.

Chinese herbal medicine has a long history of treating inflammatory bowel conditions and is now supported by a substantial and growing body of clinical research, including randomised controlled trials demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing disease activity, promoting mucosal healing and maintaining remission. It is particularly well suited to UC because it can be tailored to each individual's specific pattern of disease — addressing the root cause rather than simply suppressing symptoms.

I treat ulcerative colitis at my clinics in Wokingham, Berkshire and offer online herbal consultations for patients who cannot attend in person.

2. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis

The symptoms of UC can vary considerably in severity and differ between individuals. The most common include:

1. Bloody diarrhoea — frequent loose stools containing blood and mucus, which is the hallmark symptom of active UC
2. Urgency and frequency — a sudden, urgent need to open the bowels that can be very disruptive to daily life, work and social activities
3. Abdominal cramping and pain — cramping pain in the lower abdomen, often relieved temporarily after opening the bowels
4. Fatigue — persistent tiredness driven by the body's ongoing inflammatory response, anaemia from blood loss and disrupted sleep
5. Weight loss — reduced appetite and malabsorption during active disease can lead to unintentional weight loss
6. Anaemia — chronic blood loss in the stool depletes iron stores and can cause significant anaemia and breathlessness
7. Extra-intestinal symptoms — joint pain, skin problems such as erythema nodosum, and eye inflammation can accompany intestinal flares
8. Psychological impact — the unpredictable, intrusive nature of UC symptoms contributes to high rates of anxiety, depression and social withdrawal

UC affects the colon only, beginning at the rectum and extending upwards. This distinguishes it from Crohn's disease, which can affect any part of the digestive tract. Both conditions fall under the umbrella of inflammatory bowel disease and share several TCM treatment approaches.

3. Causes of ulcerative colitis

The precise cause of UC is not fully understood in Western medicine. It is thought to involve an abnormal immune response in which the body's immune system attacks the cells lining the bowel wall, causing inflammation and ulceration. Genetic predisposition plays a role, as does dysbiosis — an imbalance in the gut microbiome — and environmental triggers including stress, diet, antibiotics and reduced diversity of early childhood microbial exposure. The rising incidence of UC in westernised countries strongly implicates modern dietary and lifestyle factors in its development.

Stress plays a particularly significant role in triggering flares in many patients. Chronic emotional stress activates the gut-brain axis, disrupting the intestinal mucosal barrier and altering the gut immune environment in ways that promote inflammatory activity.

4. Ulcerative colitis in traditional Chinese medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), UC corresponds to the classical category known as Li Ji — a pattern of dysentery-like symptoms caused by internal heat, dampness and toxicity accumulating in the large intestine. The most common TCM patterns seen in UC are:

Damp heat in the large intestine

The dominant pattern during active flares. Frequent stools containing blood and mucus, a burning sensation in the rectum, abdominal pain, urgency and a yellow coating on the tongue characterise this pattern. It is often associated with dietary triggers, infection or emotional stress and requires herbs that clear heat, resolve dampness and cool the blood.

Spleen and Stomach Qi deficiency

Seen in chronic or remission-phase UC. The digestive system is weakened and unable to properly transform and transport food and fluids, producing loose stools, fatigue, poor appetite, bloating and a pale complexion. Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach is central to consolidating remission and preventing relapse.

Liver Qi invading the Spleen

Where emotional stress and frustration cause the Liver to overact on the digestive system, triggering cramping diarrhoea and abdominal pain that worsens markedly with emotional upset. This pattern shares features with IBS and often coexists with it.

Kidney Yang deficiency

Seen in long-standing cases, particularly in older patients or those whose UC has been poorly controlled for years. Early morning diarrhoea (“cock-crow diarrhoea”), cold extremities, lower back soreness and deep fatigue characterise this pattern. It reflects a constitutional depletion that requires warming and tonifying treatment.

In practice, most patients present with a combination of patterns that shifts over time, requiring prescriptions that are regularly reviewed and adjusted as the disease responds to treatment.

5. Chinese herbal medicine for ulcerative colitis

Chinese herbal medicine is particularly well suited to treating UC because it addresses multiple aspects of the condition simultaneously — clearing intestinal heat and dampness during active flares, repairing and restoring the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, regulating the immune system and rebuilding the strength of the digestive system during remission. Treatment is divided into an active phase (clearing inflammation and bringing the flare under control) and a consolidation phase (strengthening the Spleen, rebuilding the intestinal lining and preventing relapse).

Several classical formulas have a strong evidence base for UC. Baitouweng Decoction (白头翁汤) is the primary formula for the damp heat pattern of active disease — its principal herb Pulsatilla (bai tou weng) has potent anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and is specifically indicated for hot dysentery with blood. Shaoyao Decoction (芍药汤) addresses both damp heat and stagnation, relieving cramping pain and reducing blood in the stool. Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (参苓白术散) is the classical formula for the Spleen deficiency pattern, strengthening digestive function and consolidating remission. For Kidney Yang deficiency, Si Shen Wan (四神丸) warms and tonifies Kidney Yang and is specifically indicated for early morning diarrhoea.

Key individual herbs with strong research evidence for UC include Ku Shen (Sophora flavescens root), which is the principal herb in Fufangkushen Colon-Coated Capsules (FCC) — a widely studied proprietary TCM formula shown in a double-blind randomised trial of 320 patients to be at least as effective as mesalazine for active UC; Qing Dai (indigo naturalis), which achieved clinical remission in 55% of patients in a multicenter trial compared to 4.5% on placebo; Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis), whose berberine content produces potent anti-inflammatory effects on the intestinal mucosa; and curcumin from Jiang Huang, which is effective in maintaining remission when combined with standard treatment.

The herbs I prescribe are pharmaceutical-grade granules from Sun Ten in Taiwan, tested to the highest international quality and safety standards. Prescriptions are reviewed at each follow-up consultation and adjusted as the patient's condition evolves. It is important to continue any prescribed medication alongside herbal treatment and to keep your gastroenterologist informed.

6. Acupuncture for ulcerative colitis

Acupuncture can be used alongside Chinese herbal medicine to regulate intestinal motility, reduce inflammation and address the closely related factors of stress, anxiety, pain and poor sleep that both worsen UC and are caused by it. Research has shown that acupuncture acts on the gut-brain axis, modulating intestinal immune function and reducing the inflammatory cytokines that drive mucosal damage in UC. It is particularly valuable for patients whose flares are strongly triggered by stress, and for addressing the significant psychological burden that chronic IBD carries. A systematic review and meta-analysis found acupuncture to be beneficial for UC symptoms and quality of life compared to both sham acupuncture and standard medical treatment.

7. Self-care for ulcerative colitis

Diet during flares and remission

During an active flare, eating small, frequent meals of easily digestible, low-fibre, cooked foods reduces the mechanical and chemical demands on the inflamed intestinal lining. In TCM, foods that generate heat and dampness — dairy products, spicy foods, alcohol, refined sugar and greasy fried foods — aggravate the damp heat pattern that drives most active UC. Avoiding these foods during and around flares can make a significant difference to symptom severity. In remission, gradually reintroducing a wider range of cooked vegetables, wholegrains and high-quality protein supports the Spleen-tonifying approach of the consolidation phase. For detailed dietary guidance, see Chinese food therapy.

Manage stress

The gut-brain connection is particularly pronounced in UC, and many patients find their flares are closely correlated with periods of high stress, emotional upheaval or exhaustion. Building regular, genuine rest into the week — including activities that actively engage the parasympathetic nervous system such as gentle exercise, mindfulness, yoga or time in nature — directly supports bowel stability.

Keep a symptom diary

Tracking stool frequency, consistency and the presence of blood alongside dietary intake, stress levels and sleep quality helps identify personal triggers and patterns, enabling more targeted adjustments to diet and lifestyle. It is also valuable information for your TCM practitioner in tailoring treatment.

8. Commonly asked questions about Chinese herbal medicine for ulcerative colitis

Can Chinese herbal medicine cure ulcerative colitis?

UC is a chronic relapsing condition and there is currently no cure — in either conventional or Chinese medicine. What Chinese herbal medicine can offer is a meaningful reduction in the frequency, severity and duration of flares, support for mucosal healing, and longer and more stable periods of remission. Many patients find that over one to two years of treatment the overall trajectory of their disease becomes significantly more stable. Treatment works best as a complement to conventional gastroenterological care, not as a replacement for it.

Is Chinese herbal medicine safe to take with mesalazine or immunosuppressants?

Many patients use Chinese herbal medicine alongside mesalazine without problems, and the research evidence for UC specifically involves this combination. Always inform both your gastroenterologist and your Chinese herbalist of all medications you are taking so that any potential interactions can be assessed and your treatment can be monitored appropriately. Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM).

Can I have online consultations for herbal treatment of UC?

Yes — online herbal consultations are available and are particularly helpful for UC patients, who may find travelling to a clinic difficult during a flare. Herbs are posted directly to your address.

How much does treatment cost?

Full pricing is on the treatment prices page. Chinese herbal medicine consultations start from £50, with bespoke herbal prescriptions at £35 per week. Online consultations are also available at the same rate.

References

Zhao ZH, et al. Five commonly used traditional Chinese medicine formulas in the treatment of ulcerative colitis: a network meta-analysis. World Journal of Clinical Cases. 2024;12(22):5067–5082. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i22.5067.

Sun YX, et al. An evidence mapping of systematic reviews and meta-analysis on traditional Chinese medicine for ulcerative colitis. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 2021;21(1):228. doi: 10.1186/s12906-021-03394-z.

Yang Y, et al. Chinese herbal medicines for treating ulcerative colitis via regulating gut microbiota–intestinal immunity axis. Chinese Herbal Medicines. 2023;15(2):181–200. doi: 10.1016/j.chmed.2022.06.004.

Gong Y, et al. Efficacy and safety of Fufangkushen colon-coated capsule in the treatment of ulcerative colitis compared with mesalazine: a double-blinded and randomized study. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2012;141(2):592–598. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.08.057.

Kou FS, et al. Clinical evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine on mild active ulcerative colitis: a multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(35):e21903. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000021903.

Lu A, et al. Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine interventions in unresponsive mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. 2025. doi: 10.1177/09731296241307093.