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 study by Qin , which investigated the potential therapeutic mechanisms of () in ulcerative colitis. The key findings from the study included the identification of the targets of and ulcerative colitis, elucidation of mechanistic pathways, and validation of the pharmacological activity and therapeutic effect of panaxadiol, a key active component of . 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.