Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Crohn's Disease

CAM therapy encompasses an enormous variety of treatment options and needs to be taken seriously given their overall patient-centric use and availability. There are limited data with large heterogeneity in what is available, which restricts our diagnostic and therapeutic understanding of their role in IBD and specifically within patients with CD. Furthermore, knowledge gaps exist with regard to overall safety and interactions with conventional therapies. The use of CAM therapies has been increasing with reports of more than half of all patients with IBD having tried some form of CAM therapy. The biggest conclusion we can currently gain with regards to CAM therapy is that this is a part of IBD culture now and into the future. Without well-designed and funded clinical studies to rely on, we leave ourselves vulnerable to the limitations of these therapies and the inability to regulate and give appropriate recommendations. Additionally, further research will allow health care providers the ability to educate and direct patients and families about the potential benefits and adverse effects of these therapies.