“Acupuncture: In Crohn’s disease, acupuncture can be a useful adjunct to conventional medical treatment of the acute flare. Acupuncture with moxibustion may also be helpful for mild to moderate ulcerative colitis relapses.
“Probiotics: In ulcerative colitis, aminosalicylates are usually given during periods without symptoms (remission phases) to delay the next relapse as long as possible. Those who cannot tolerate these drugs can take certain non-disease-causing bacteria (Escherichia coli Nissle) instead.
“Relaxation methods: Stress and tension can aggravate the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease or even trigger a new episode. Regular relaxation exercises (autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation) can counteract this. Some patients swear by meditation, others benefit from autogenic training or progressive muscle relaxation.
