Natural treatments for dyspepsia
Natural treatments for dyspepsia, characterized by a range of digestive discomforts like gas, bloating, and nausea without identifiable medical causes, offer various alternatives to conventional therapies. Prominent natural options include artichoke leaf extract and turmeric, both of which have shown effectiveness in clinical studies for alleviating dyspeptic symptoms. Other suggested treatments encompass a variety of herbal combinations, essential oils from carminative herbs, and individual herbs like cayenne and chamomile.
While some studies indicate that these treatments can provide relief, caution is advised, as certain herbs may pose risks, particularly for individuals with specific health conditions or during pregnancy. Overall, the emotional component of dyspepsia, akin to irritable bowel syndrome, suggests that stress management could also be beneficial. Traditional remedies and dietary changes may further complement these natural approaches. Given the diversity of options and individual responses, seeking guidance from a healthcare professional is recommended before pursuing these treatments.
Natural treatments for dyspepsia
- DEFINITION: Treatment of digestive problems that have no identifiable physiological cause.
- PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Artichoke leaf, turmeric
- OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Astaxanthin, banana powder, betaine hydrochloride, boldo, cayenne, chamomile, essential oils of carminative herbs, herbal combinations containing candytuft (Iberis amara), lemon balm, melatonin, pancreatic enzymes, probiotics
Introduction
Dyspepsia includes a variety of digestive problems, such as stomach discomfort, gas, bloating, belching, appetite loss, and nausea. Although many serious medical conditions can cause digestive distress, the term “dyspepsia” is used when no identifiable medical cause can be detected. In this way, dyspepsia is like a stomach version of the symptoms in the intestines called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The standard medical approach to dyspepsia begins by looking for an identifiable medical condition such as gallstones, ulcers, or esophageal reflux. If none is found, various treatments are often suggested on a trial-and-error basis, including medications that reduce stomach acid and those that decrease spasms in the digestive tract. The drugs cisapride (Propulsid) and metoclopramide (Reglan) increase stomach emptying and have also been tried for dyspepsia. However, cisapride has been taken off the market, and metoclopramide causes many side effects. Safer options, such as proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, and prokinetics, have become available.
It is thought that stress plays a role in dyspepsia, as it does with IBS. One study of thirty people with dyspepsia found that after eight weeks of treatment with a placebo, 80 percent reported their symptoms had improved. This unusually high placebo response emphasizes the emotional contribution to this condition. In Europe, it is widely believed, though without much supporting evidence, that dyspepsia is commonly caused by inadequate function of the gallbladder.
Principal Proposed Natural Treatments
Artichoke leaf. An extract of artichoke leaf has undergone considerable study as a treatment for a variety of conditions, most prominently high cholesterol. Artichoke leaf is one of many herbs thought to stimulate gallbladder function. A large (247-participant) study evaluated artichoke leaf as a treatment for dyspepsia. In this carefully conducted study, artichoke leaf extract proved significantly more effective than a placebo for alleviating symptoms of functional dyspepsia. A study of an herbal combination containing artichoke leaf is described here.
Turmeric. The spice turmeric contains a substance, curcumin, that may stimulate gallbladder contractions. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study including 106 people compared the effects of 500 milligrams of curcumin four times daily with a placebo (and with a locally popular over-the-counter treatment). After seven days, 87 percent of the curcumin group experienced full or partial symptom relief from dyspepsia, compared to 53 percent of the placebo group.
Other Proposed Natural Treatments
Combination herbal treatments. Several studies, enrolling six hundred participants, have found benefits with a proprietary herbal combination therapy containing bitter candytuft (Iberis amara) as the major active ingredient. The largest of these studies was an eight-week double-blind study of 315 people with functional dyspepsia, in which the candy-tuft product proved significantly more effective than a placebo.
A double-blind trial of sixty people given either a placebo or a combination of artichoke leaf, celandine, and boldo found improvements in symptoms of indigestion after fourteen days of treatment. Similarly, positive effects were seen in a double-blind trial of seventy-six persons given a combination treatment containing turmeric and celandine.
Reports have raised concerns that celandine can damage the liver. Additionally, boldo is dangerous for use by pregnant women and in persons with liver or kidney disease.
Essential oils of carminative herbs. Herbs believed to assist in the passing of gas are traditionally called carminatives. Classic carminatives include caraway, chamomile, dill, fennel, peppermint, spearmint, and turmeric. Essential oils made from some of these herbs have been studied for the treatment of dyspepsia.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study including thirty-nine persons found that an enteric-coated peppermint-caraway oil combination taken three times daily for four weeks significantly reduced dyspepsia pain compared with placebo. Of the treatment group, 63.2 percent of the participants were pain-free after four weeks, compared to 25 percent of the placebo group.
Results from a double-blind comparative study, which included 118 people, suggest that the combination of peppermint and caraway oil is about as effective as the standard drug cisapride, which is no longer available. After four weeks, the herbal combination reduced dyspepsia pain by 69.7 percent, whereas the conventional treatment reduced pain by 70.2 percent.
A preparation of peppermint, caraway, fennel, and wormwood oils was compared to metoclopramide in another double-blind study enrolling sixty persons. After seven days, 43.3 percent of the treatment group was pain-free, compared to 13.3 percent of the metoclopramide group. Metoclopramide works by reducing gastric emptying time (in other words, it speeds the passage of food from the stomach to the intestines). Some evidence suggests that peppermint oil may have the same effect.
Essential oils of herbs can present health risks. In particular, wormwood (the herb in absinthe) is dangerous when taken long-term. Physician supervision is strongly recommended.
Cayenne. Preliminary evidence suggests that oral use of the herb cayenne can reduce the pain of dyspepsia. This may seem like an odd use of the herb; intuitively, it seems that hot peppers should be hard on the stomach. However, contrary to popular belief, hot peppers do not inflame the tissues they contact; hot peppers are not even harmful for ulcers. Rather, they merely produce sensations similar to those caused by actual damage.
All hot peppers contain a substance called capsaicin. When applied to tissues, capsaicin causes a release of a chemical called substance P. Substance P is ordinarily released when tissues are damaged. It is part of the system the body uses to detect injury. When hot peppers artificially release substance P, they trick the nervous system into thinking that an injury has occurred. The result is a sensation of burning pain. When capsaicin is applied regularly to a part of the body, substance P becomes depleted in that location. This is why people who consume a lot of hot peppers gradually build up a tolerance. It is also the basis for many medical uses of capsaicin. When levels of substance P are reduced in an area, all pain in that area is somewhat reduced. Because of this effect, capsaicin cream is widely used for the treatment of painful conditions, such as shingles, arthritis, and diabetic neuropathy.
The oral use of capsaicin may also reduce discomfort in the stomach. In a double-blind study, thirty people with dyspepsia were given either 2.5 grams daily of red pepper powder (divided up and taken before meals) or a placebo for five weeks. By the third week of treatment, the persons taking red pepper were experiencing significant improvements in pain, bloating, and nausea compared with placebo, and these relative improvements lasted through the end of the study.
Other herbs and supplements. A controlled (but not blinded) study of forty-six people suggested that banana powder, a traditional Indian food, may help treat dyspepsia. After eight weeks of treatment, 75 percent of the people taking banana powder reported complete or partial symptom relief, compared to 20 percent of those who received no treatment.
Herbs with a reputation for relaxing a nervous stomach, such as chamomile, valerian, and lemon balm, are sometimes recommended for dyspepsia. Numerous other herbs that have been recommended for dyspepsia include angelica root, anise seed, barberry, bitter orange peel, blessed thistle, cardamom, centaury, chicory, dandelion root, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, devil’s claw, dill, gentian, ginger, horehound, juniper, linden, milk thistle, radish, rosemary, sage, St. John’s wort, star anise, and yarrow. A tea made from parsley seed is a traditional remedy for colic, indigestion, and intestinal gas.
Reduced levels of digestive enzymes may play a role in dyspepsia. One double-blind study found using pancreatic enzyme supplements improved symptoms after consuming a high-fat meal. However, another placebo-controlled study failed to find pancreatic enzymes helpful for dyspepsia symptoms.
Some evidence hints that melatonin might be helpful for dyspepsia, but the results are mixed. One study failed to find probiotics (friendly bacteria) helpful for dyspepsia in children. Two studies failed to find the carotenoid astaxanthin more effective than a placebo in treating stomach irritation in people with dyspepsia.
Betaine hydrochloride increases stomach acid, and on that basis, it has been proposed as a digestive aid for people with inadequate stomach acid. However, there is little scientific certainty that reduced stomach acid levels cause symptoms of indigestion.
There is some evidence that traditional Chinese medicine may have applications in treating dyspepsia. One study found that modified Zhi Zhu Decoction and Xiao Pi Kuan Wei Decoction had positive impacts on the symptoms of individuals who had little success with other natural treatments. Further trials are necessary to confirm these findings.
Herbs and Supplements to Use Only with Caution
Various herbs and supplements may interact adversely with drugs used to treat dyspepsia.
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