1 / 5 When you have ulcerative colitis, you want to do whatever you can to keep it from flaring up. So you may be looking for anything that helps, in addition to the medicine and advice your doctor gives you. Complementary, or integrative, medicine doesn't replace your usual treatments. These are therapies you might try along with your regular medical care. People in other parts of the world have used some of these methods, like acupuncture, for centuries.