Complementary medicines and ginseng for inflammatory bowel disease-rooted in science, but will it bear fruit?

This editorial is based on the network pharmacology and in vivo study by Qin et al, which investigated the potential therapeutic mechanisms of Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) in ulcerative colitis. The key findings from the study included the identification of the targets of P. ginseng and ulcerative colitis, elucidation of mechanistic pathways, and in vivo validation of the pharmacological activity and therapeutic effect of panaxadiol, a key active component of P. ginseng. This editorial provides additional context regarding the evidence supporting the use of ginseng and other commonly used complementary therapies that clinicians may encounter. We also aim to highlight potential similarities between the mechanisms of popular complementary and conventional medical therapies.