Integrative Gastroenterology at Longhua Hospital Shanghai | CMCS

Digestive Health Through the Best of Both Medicines

The Department of Gastroenterology at Longhua Hospital — affiliated with Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine — is one of China's leading centers for the integrative management of digestive diseases. Combining the diagnostic precision and therapeutic tools of modern gastroenterology with the deep gastrointestinal traditions of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the department offers a uniquely comprehensive approach to conditions ranging from inflammatory bowel disease and functional GI disorders to chronic liver disease and GI oncology support.

For international patients with chronic or complex digestive conditions who are seeking integrative care — particularly those with IBD, functional GI disorders, or conditions where conventional treatment has been only partially effective — Longhua Hospital's gastroenterology department represents one of the most compelling options in Asia. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end support for international patients throughout their treatment journey.

About the Department

Longhua Hospital's gastroenterology department is a national key TCM clinical specialty with a long history of clinical excellence and research innovation in digestive medicine. The department operates dedicated inpatient GI wards, a modern endoscopy center, a dedicated IBD clinic, a functional GI disorders clinic, a liver disease service, and a TCM GI treatment center offering herbal medicine, acupuncture, and external therapies.

The department's research program has produced a substantial body of evidence supporting the use of specific TCM herbal formulas in GI disease — including landmark studies on TCM for ulcerative colitis remission maintenance, Crohn's disease management, and irritable bowel syndrome. Faculty members publish regularly in leading GI and integrative medicine journals including Gastroenterology, Gut, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, and Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

Conditions Treated

• Ulcerative Colitis (UC) — Induction and maintenance of remission; TCM herbal therapy with evidence for mucosal healing and steroid-sparing effects; TCM enema therapy for distal colitis
• Crohn's Disease — Integrative management combining biologics and immunosuppression with TCM herbal therapy for symptom control, mucosal healing support, and post-surgical recurrence prevention
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) — TCM pattern-based diagnosis and individualized herbal therapy; acupuncture with robust clinical evidence for IBS symptom improvement
• Functional Dyspepsia — TCM spleen-stomach harmonizing herbal formulas; acupuncture for gastric motility improvement and symptom relief
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) — TCM liver-stomach disharmony treatment; herbal therapy for refractory GERD and PPI-dependent patients
• Chronic Gastritis & H. pylori — H. pylori eradication combined with TCM gastric mucosal protection; management of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia
• Chronic Constipation — TCM bowel-regulating herbal therapy; acupuncture for slow-transit and outlet obstruction constipation
• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD/NASH) — TCM liver-protecting and lipid-clearing herbal formulas; lifestyle medicine integration
• Chronic Hepatitis B & C — Antiviral therapy combined with TCM liver-protecting herbal formulas for fibrosis prevention and liver function support
• Liver Cirrhosis & Portal Hypertension — TCM herbal therapy for liver fibrosis regression; management of ascites, fatigue, and hepatic encephalopathy
• Pancreatitis — Acute and chronic pancreatitis; TCM herbal therapy with evidence for reducing acute pancreatitis severity and preventing recurrence
• GI Cancer Supportive Care — TCM support during chemotherapy for colorectal, gastric, and esophageal cancer; appetite restoration, nausea management, and gut microbiome support
• Post-Surgical GI Rehabilitation — TCM recovery protocols after colectomy, gastrectomy, and other GI surgeries for faster bowel function restoration

The Integrative GI Approach

IBD: TCM as a Steroid-Sparing and Remission-Maintaining Strategy

Inflammatory bowel disease is one of the conditions where Longhua Hospital has the strongest clinical evidence base for TCM intervention. The department has conducted multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrating that specific TCM herbal formulas — particularly those based on Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis), Bai Tou Weng, and compound formulas such as Qing Chang Hua Shi granules — can maintain remission in ulcerative colitis, reduce relapse rates, and allow steroid dose reduction when used alongside conventional therapy.

TCM enema therapy using herbal decoctions is particularly effective for distal ulcerative colitis and proctitis, delivering anti-inflammatory herbal compounds directly to the affected mucosa with minimal systemic side effects. This approach is especially valuable for patients who have experienced significant side effects from systemic corticosteroids or who are seeking to reduce their medication burden.

Functional GI Disorders: Where TCM Excels

Functional GI disorders — including IBS, functional dyspepsia, and chronic constipation — represent one of the areas where TCM has the most compelling evidence and clinical track record. Modern gastroenterology often struggles with these conditions, as they involve complex interactions between gut motility, the gut-brain axis, the microbiome, and psychological factors that are not fully addressed by conventional pharmacotherapy.

TCM's individualized, pattern-based approach is particularly well-suited to functional GI disorders. Rather than applying a single treatment to all patients with IBS, Longhua's gastroenterologists identify each patient's specific TCM pattern — liver qi stagnation invading the spleen, spleen-stomach deficiency, damp-heat in the large intestine, or kidney yang deficiency — and prescribe individualized herbal formulas and acupuncture protocols targeting that specific pattern. Clinical trials have demonstrated significant improvements in IBS symptom scores, quality of life, and bowel habit normalization with this approach.

Liver Disease: TCM Hepatoprotection

TCM has a rich tradition of liver-protecting herbal therapy, and Longhua's liver disease program uses evidence-based herbal formulas to complement antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B and C, support liver function in cirrhosis, and address the metabolic drivers of NAFLD/NASH. Key herbal compounds with documented hepatoprotective effects include Yin Chen Hao (Artemisia capillaris), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra), Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), and compound formulas such as Fu Zheng Hua Yu capsules for liver fibrosis.

Acupuncture in GI Disease

Acupuncture has a well-established role in GI medicine, with clinical evidence supporting its use for IBS, functional dyspepsia, GERD, chronic constipation, and post-operative GI recovery. Longhua's acupuncture team uses both traditional body acupuncture and electroacupuncture protocols targeting key GI acupoints (ST36, ST25, CV12, PC6) to modulate gut motility, reduce visceral hypersensitivity, and improve gut-brain axis function.

TCM GI Treatment Modalities

• Chinese Herbal Medicine (Oral) — Individualized herbal prescriptions in decoction, granule, or capsule form for systemic GI disease management
• TCM Enema Therapy — Herbal decoction enemas for distal ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and chronic constipation
• Acupuncture & Electroacupuncture — For IBS, functional dyspepsia, GERD, constipation, and post-operative GI recovery
• Moxibustion — Warming therapy for cold-pattern GI conditions including diarrhea-predominant IBS and spleen-stomach deficiency
• Abdominal Tuina — Therapeutic abdominal massage for constipation, bloating, and functional GI disorders
• Dietary Medicine — TCM dietary therapy for gut health, microbiome support, and disease-specific nutritional guidance

Why International Patients Choose Longhua Gastroenterology

• IBD Research Leadership — One of China's most research-active centers for TCM in IBD, with clinical trials published in leading international GI journals
• Functional GI Expertise — Individualized TCM pattern-based treatment for IBS, functional dyspepsia, and chronic constipation where conventional medicine often falls short
• TCM Enema Therapy — Unique and effective local treatment for distal ulcerative colitis with minimal systemic side effects
• Liver Disease TCM — Evidence-based hepatoprotective herbal therapy for chronic hepatitis, NAFLD, and cirrhosis
• Steroid-Sparing Strategies — TCM approaches to reduce corticosteroid dependence in IBD and other GI inflammatory conditions
• Cost-Effectiveness — World-class integrative GI care at significantly lower cost than equivalent treatment in Western countries

The CMCS Patient Journey

1. Initial Inquiry — Share your GI history, endoscopy reports, pathology results, blood tests, imaging, and current medications with CMCS.
2. Medical Record Preparation — We translate and organize your records for specialist pre-consultation review.
3. Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate integrative gastroenterologist based on your condition — IBD, functional GI, liver disease, or GI oncology support.
4. Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation with minimal waiting time.
5. Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near Longhua Hospital, and Shanghai airport transfers.
6. On-Site Concierge — Bilingual coordinators accompany you throughout your hospital visits, managing registration, translation, and communication.
7. Treatment Coordination — Full coordination of endoscopy, herbal prescription dispensing, acupuncture sessions, and enema therapy.
8. Post-Treatment Follow-Up — Test result translation, herbal prescription renewal, and remote follow-up coordination after you return home.

Book a Consultation

If you are seeking integrative gastroenterology care in Shanghai — whether for IBD, functional GI disorders, liver disease, or GI cancer support — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with Longhua Hospital's gastroenterology team.

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