Massage Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Other Forms of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Stein, D.J.

Gastroenterology Clinics of North America

2017

46(4)

875-880

Systematic Review

Acupuncture

Complementary and alternative therapy

Crohn disease

Massage

Moxibustion

Ulcerative colitis

Complementary and alternative medicine is frequently used by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients; most common are massage, acupuncture, and moxibustion therapy. Massage therapy is poorly studied in IBD patients; therefore, its benefits remain unknown. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy have been shown to improve inflammation and symptoms in animal and human studies. However, current clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion are of insufficient quality to recommend them as alternative therapy. Nonetheless, because these therapies seem generally to be safe, they may have a role as complementary to conventional therapy.

10.1016/j.gtc.2017.08.015

PMID:29173528

English