Research Status, Challenges and Strategies of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory bowel disease associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been increasingly utilized in the treatment of UC, and its therapeutic efficacy has gained widespread recognition. Nevertheless, several challenges remain in optimizing TCM's role in UC management, which hinder the full realization of its potential benefits. This paper reviews the current status of TCM in treating UC, identifies existing challenges, and proposes targeted strategies to promote the advancement of TCM in this field.