Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the colon and rectum
Sheba Medical Center, Israel’s largest medical center, announced Monday the results of a clinical trial confirming the effectiveness of a naturally occurring treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC). The study, presented at the Crohn’s Disease and Colitis Congress in Denver, Colorado, demonstrates the significant benefits of a combination of curcumin and QingDai herbs (CurQD) in treating patients with the disease who do not are not on pharmaceutical treatment.
Led by Professor Shomron Ben-Horin, Director of the Department of Gastroenterology at Sheba Medical Center, researchers tested the CurQD protocol on 52 patients in Israel and Greece, performing an open-label phase 1 trial and a controlled trial. by placebo phase 2.
Phase 1 trial results demonstrated that the CurQD treatment was effective in patients with active UC, achieving clinical response in 70% of cases and clinical remission in 30% of cases, with no safety signals. The placebo-controlled trial achieved an even higher rate of 86% clinical response and 50% clinical remission (both significantly higher than placebo patients). In addition, the endoscopic subscore improved in 75% of patients who received CurQD compared to 20% in patients who received placebo.
“Our combination treatment of curcumin and QingDai has the potential to disruptively advance care for patients with ulcerative colitis,” said Professor Shomron Ben-Horin. “The CurQD combination has been used in our daily clinical practice for over six years and this latest study validates our clinical experience showing the efficacy of this herbal and affordable oral supplement. We believe this nutraceutical approach can be taken by medical centers around the world, enabling patients around the world to get the care they need.”
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the colon and rectum, characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the innermost lining of the large intestine and rectum. The exact cause of UC is not known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and immune system factors.
This new research follows the work of Professors Ben-Horin, Kopylov and Salomon who pioneered naturally-derived treatments for UC and the recent creation of Evinature, a Sheba spin-off to the promotion and provision of safe and clinically validated botanical remedies for gastrointestinal disorders.
