Candytuft's therapeutic uses
Candytuft, a flowering plant native to Spain and related to cabbage and broccoli, has gained attention for its therapeutic applications, particularly in treating dyspepsia—a chronic digestive disorder characterized by symptoms like stomach discomfort, gas, and nausea. It is commonly utilized in Germany, often as part of herbal combinations, with a specific product called Iberogast being marketed internationally. Clinical studies involving hundreds of participants have demonstrated that candytuft can effectively alleviate dyspepsia symptoms, outperforming placebo treatments. Beyond digestive health, candytuft is also proposed to support cardiovascular health, potentially aiding in blood pressure regulation and addressing irregular heartbeats. Additionally, it possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which have historically made it a remedy for asthma and coughs. While candytuft has shown promise in these areas, further research is needed to validate its broader medical claims and ensure safety, especially for vulnerable populations. Overall, candytuft represents a natural approach to managing specific health conditions, particularly digestive ailments.
Candytuft's therapeutic uses
DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Dyspepsia (in herbal combinations)
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Gastrointestinal side effects caused by medications, irritable bowel syndrome, cardiovascular health
Overview
Candytuft, also known as clown’s mustard, is a white flowering plant originally from Spain. It is a member of the Brassicaceae family, making it a relative of cabbage and broccoli. Traditionally, it was used to treat arthritis, gout, enlarged heart, and asthma. The seeds, stems, roots, and leaves have all been used medicinally.
Therapeutic Dosages
A typical dosage of the tested candytuft preparation is twenty drops three times daily.
Therapeutic Uses
Candytuft is widely used in Germany for treating dyspepsia, a term for chronic digestive distress that occurs without an identifiable cause, such as an ulcer. Symptoms include stomach discomfort, gas, bloating, belching, appetite loss, and nausea.
Several studies, enrolling more than six hundred participants, have found benefits for dyspepsia with the use of a proprietary herbal combination therapy containing candytuft as the primary ingredient. In addition to dyspepsia, candytuft combinations have shown potential for decreasing the gastrointestinal side effects caused by a variety of medications and for reducing lower digestive tract symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
The product tested in these studies has undergone change over time. The original version included along with candytuft, matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) flower, peppermint leaves, caraway, licorice root, and lemon balm. Subsequently, an augmented preparation was tested that utilized a mixture of angelica root, celandine, and milk thistle in addition to the above. This second preparation later became the one the manufacturer used instead of the original. In Germany, this combination of ingredients is marketed by a German company as Iberogast and sold worldwide.
Other proposed therapeutic uses for candytuft include cardiovascular health. Traditionally, candytuft was used for irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations. Scientific study indicates it may have cardiovascular benefits and aid in blood pressure regulation. Candytuft also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it has traditionally been used to treat asthma and coughs.
Scientific Evidence
An eight-week double-blind study of 315 people with functional dyspepsia tested the newer candytuft product and found it significantly more effective than a placebo. This was a high-quality study with adequate design and reporting, and its results strongly indicate that the treatment works.
An earlier double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 120 people with dyspepsia evaluated the original candytuft combination. The design of this study was excessively complicated. Still, in essence, it found that four weeks of treatment with the product was more effective than a placebo in reducing dyspepsia symptoms.
In another double-blind study, this one enrolling sixty people with dyspepsia, the use of either the original or the newer candytuft herbal combination proved more effective than a placebo. Benefits with the original mixture were also seen in two other double-blind, placebo-controlled studies enrolling about two hundred people. In addition, a double-blind, comparative study found that both candytuft combinations and the standard drug cisapride were equally effective. Although scientific study has confirmed candytuft's efficacy in treating digestive issues, further study is necessary to substantiate its other medical claims.
Safety Issues
The tested candytuft preparation has not resulted in any significant side effects in controlled clinical trials. The studied preparation is manufactured in Germany under more closely regulated conditions than herbal manufacturing in the United States. Formulations made outside Germany might present unrecognized safety risks. Even with the tested product, comprehensive safety studies have not been performed. Safety for pregnant or nursing women, young children, and individuals with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.
Bibliography
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