Living with IBD: Why People Turn to Complementary Therapies

Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), whether that’s Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, can be incredibly challenging. Beyond gut symptoms like abdominal pain, chronic diarrhoea, and nausea, IBD can affect your skin, energy, mental health, and even social and financial wellbeing. Many people also experience anxiety and depression, making everyday life unpredictable and exhausting.

Medications are essential for managing IBD, but they don’t address every symptom — or the emotional weight that comes with living with a chronic condition. That’s why many people explore complementary and alternative medicines or therapies (CAMs), from vitamins and probiotics to dietary changes, herbal remedies, acupuncture, or chiropractic care.

Last year, I co-authored a study exploring CAM use in IBD - a huge career highlight for me!

We found that 84% of people with IBD use some form of CAM.

Most weren’t trying to replace their medications, they were simply looking for ways to feel better and more in control of their disease.

Here are three key things we learned:

1. People want more than just symptom control

   
   

   Many people turn to CAMs to support long-term management and improve overall wellbeing, not just manage gut symptoms. Living with IBD can feel overwhelming. Flare-ups can happen without warning, there’s no cure, and the disease takes a toll physically, emotionally, and financially. Participants in our study often said they felt frustrated with conventional care because it didn’t always address symptoms beyond the bowel, like fatigue, skin changes, or anxiety.

   
   

   As someone who works closely with people with IBD and understands the impact first hand, this resonated with me. Holistic support, addressing emotional, social, and lifestyle impacts, is often missing, and that’s where people turn to CAMs for help.

   
   

2. Nutrition support is often missing

   
   

   Nearly half of our participants wanted more diet and nutrition guidance, but only a small number had seen a dietitian. This is concerning because IBD increases the risk of nutrient deficiencies, disordered eating, bone loss, and malnutrition. Restrictive diets can make this worse, add unnecessary stress, and further contribute to social isolation.

   
   

   For example, dairy is a common dietary restriction, which some find helpful in managing symptoms. However, very few people reported supplementing with calcium. This nutrition gap raises the risk of osteoporosis, which is already higher in those with IBD.

   
   

   

   
   

3. Most want to combine, not replace

   
   

   A key finding from our study: most people want to combine standard treatment with CAMs, not replace it. Conversations about CAMs often don’t happen within a clinical setting, sometimes because health professionals don’t ask, sometimes because people worry about being judged.

   
   

   The risk? Missing out on useful guidance, or in some cases, wasting time, money, or even risking harm.

   
   

Can CAMs actually help?

The truth is, some CAMs can be genuinely helpful.

For example, certain probiotic strains may support remission in ulcerative colitis (though they haven’t shown the same benefit for Crohn’s). Other probiotic strains may not be worth the cost or could actually be unsafe, particularly for people who are immunocompromised, like those with IBD.

Another example of CAMs that may be helpful is anything within the stress management category, like meditation, mindfulness, or massage. These can play an important role in helping to reduce stress and, in some cases, easing symptoms of co-occurring Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

This is why having open, honest conversations with your healthcare team is so important. It can help you avoid spending time, money, and energy on approaches that may not be effective.

My Biggest Takeaway as a Gut Health Dietitian

If you’re living with IBD, know that you’re not alone in wanting more than just symptom management. It’s completely valid to look for extra support. The most important step is to feel safe bringing it up with your care team, so you can get clear, evidence-based advice that works for you.

And if you’re struggling, whether that’s with symptoms, side effects, or just the emotional weight of it all, please remember: managing IBD takes a team. Advocate for yourself, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to seek support.

Practical Tips: Talking About CAMs With Your Care Team

• Be upfront: Mention any supplements, diets, or therapies you’re trying (or thinking about trying), even if you’re unsure they’re “worth mentioning.”

  
  

• Ask about safety: Some CAMs might be harmless, but others can interfere with medications or carry risks.

  
  

• Seek credible advice: Your IBD dietitian, gastroenterologist, or GP, can help you weigh up the evidence and make safe, informed choices.

Want to read the full article?

You can read our full study here!

Need nutrition support for managing your IBD?

📅 Get in touch today to see how we can help support your IBD.

The information in this blog is shared for general education and inspiration—it’s not personalised nutrition or medical advice. Everyone’s health journey is unique, and what works for one person might not be right for another. If you’d like support that’s tailored to you, it’s best to chat with a dietitian, doctor, or another qualified health professional.