Chinese Herbal Retention Enema for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a globally prevalent and refractory disease that imposes a substantial socioeconomic burden, with no universally effective treatment currently available. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) demonstrated promising therapeutic potential in UC management, particularly through the application of Chinese herbal retention enema, which is gaining increasing international recognition. This method involves the rectal administration of an herbal decoction, which is retained for a designated period to ensure optimal contact with and absorption by the colonic mucosa. Compared to oral administration, this method offers distinct pharmacological advantages by bypassing hepatic first-pass metabolism, enhancing therapeutic effects, and minimizing systemic side effects. This study presents a comprehensive protocol for Chinese herbal retention enema in UC treatment, including patient assessment, material preparation, position selection, enema administration, postoperative care, and emergency management. A clinical trial was conducted with 22 UC patients divided into control and enema groups. Therapeutic outcomes were evaluated using individual symptom scores and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBD-Q). The results indicated that Chinese herbal retention enema had a more significant advantage in improving clinical symptoms (mucopurulent bloody stools and abdominal pain) and quality of life (intestinal symptoms, systemic symptoms, and social functioning) compared to the control group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that Chinese herbal retention enema represents an effective, well-tolerated, and patient-adaptable therapeutic approach, offering a promising complementary treatment option for UC management.