Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a patient in need thereof which comprises orally administering to the patient an effective amount of a pooled human polyclonal immunoglobulin preparation. The method allows treatment of mucosal inflammation from the luminal side of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Human immunoglobulin preparations suitable for use in the methods of the present invention may be made by any of the well-known methods used for preparing intravenous and intramuscular (parenteral) immunoglobulin preparations. Suitable immunoglobulin preparations may also be obtained commercially. The human immunoglobulin preparation may comprise any of the known immunoglobulin classes including IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE, and IgD. Preferably, the human immunoglobulin preparation comprises at least one of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA) or a mixture of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA).