Integrative medicine has the power to help pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) achieve optimal wellness through care that focuses on 
the whole person. Srisindu Vellanki, M.D., pediatric gastroenterologist at Children's Medical Center Dallas, part of Children's HealthSM and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, is trained in integrative medicine and uses it to help maximize quality of life for her patients.
Dr. Vellanki has published original peer-reviewed articles on adjunct therapy for patients with IBD. Below she answers the top questions she receives from other physicians about integrative medicine.
How do patients with IBD benefit from integrative medicine?
Because of the bidirectional communication between the central and enteric nervous systems (aka the brain-gut connection), patients with IBD benefit from mind-body techniques like yoga, meditation and hypnosis. A recent study found that yoga helped patients with IBD:
- Reduce stress
- Improve emotional awareness
- Increase their ability to manage and identify their symptoms
Studies on meditation have also shown reduction of long-term stress and improved quality of life. Another recent study on hypnosis in children with Crohn’s disease revealed several benefits, like less abdominal pain, improved social functioning and fewer absences from school.
Special diets or dietary supplements may also benefit IBD patients. Promising initial studies found that supplements, like curcumin, green tea extract and Vitamin D3 all had positive effects on IBD symptoms and quality of life.
As more studies emerge on the use of integrative therapies, it’s likely we’ll see more benefits for our patients’ well-being.
What therapies are safest for patients to use?
Mind-body therapies, such as yoga and meditation, have little to no risks and are safest for patients to use.
While dietary supplements or diets are typically safe, I recommend that patients work with a clinician who has special knowledge in this area as these treatments may interact with medications or have other side effects. The GI team at Children’s Health includes several registered dietitians who regularly work with patients with IBD.
Why should you talk to your patients about integrative medicine?
Many of our patients are already trying alternative treatments, and several studies show that many patients using these modalities don't share that information with their medical providers. Talking with our patients helps build trust and opens the door to partnering with them on these therapies.
How can providers start the conversation about integrative medicine?
Many providers don’t feel comfortable talking about complementary therapies because they don’t have specific training or knowledge. But just knowing what your patient is doing is important. Here are some helpful questions that can get the conversation started: What other therapies do you use for your health? Do you take supplements or natural products? Are there any nonmedical things you do to help with your health?
What therapies do you often recommend or use for patients with gastrointestinal conditions?
I incorporate complementary therapy into the care of all my patients, according to their comfort level. I often recommend mind-body interventions first since they are safe. If patients or their families are interested, I talk with them about dietary therapies and connect them to an experienced dietitian who can work with us on their treatment plan.
Like conventional medicine, integrative therapy has to be tailored for each individual patient. It helps to know the patient’s overall goals and preferences. For example, I wouldn’t send a patient with needle anxiety to acupuncture. But by keeping the conversation about therapies open, I can help patients find what is right for them.
How can GI doctors incorporate integrative medicine into their practices?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, which is part of the National Institute of Health, is a great resource for learning about research and training opportunities in complementary therapies.
Because integrative medicine is collaborative, I also recommend finding well-trained providers that you trust to work with your patients, including dietitians, massage therapists or acupuncturists. At Children’s Health, we offer acupuncture at our pain clinics, and our inpatients can receive massage, art and music therapy.
What makes Children’s health GI integrative medicine unique?
We currently offer complementary therapies in our GI clinic and we are working to establish a dedicated integrative medicine GI clinic in Plano in Fall 2024. This clinic will be the only one of its kind in North Texas. Children will work with their current GI provider while also receiving complementary therapies such as dietary therapy or mind-body therapy at our clinic. This innovative approach will help children with chronic GI conditions access the care they need for optimal wellness.
Learn more about how Children's Health is transforming pediatric gastroenterology care.