GSE
Iberogast for Effective Relief of Gastrointestinal Disorders
Iberogast™
- Herbal Extract For Intestinal Disorders
What is Iberogast and what does it do?
Iberogast™ (aka.STW 5)
is a proprietary blend of 9 plants including clown's mustard plant
(extracted in water and alcohol) -
patented in Germany in 1961, which has been used successfully against
non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD), irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS), gastritis, gastroparesis and bloating. It is now available
in the U.S. without prescription.
•
Accelerates gastric emptying
•
Reduces pain and cramping
•
Alleviates heartburn
•
Relieves bloating / induces gas expulsionfromintestines
Plants in Iberogast
Plants
Part
Action in GI Tract
Clown's Mustard
(Iberis
amara)
Fresh herb
Normalizes GI tract tension and spasms; relieves
heartburn.
German chamomile
(Matricaria
recutita)
Flower
Stops spasms in the smooth muscles lining the stomach and intestines
Angelica
(Angelica archangelica)
Root
and
rhizome
Relieves loss of appetite, flatulence, and gastrointestinal spasms
Caraway
(Carum
carvi)
Fruit
Breaks down spasms in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent
flatulence.
Each "seed" is half of a
caraway fruit.
Milk thistle
(Silybum
marianum)
Fruit
Milk thistle seed can cause
mild diarrhea by stimulating the release of bile
Lemon Balm (Melissae folium or Melissa officinalis)
Leaf
For chronic gastrointestinal
disorders
Peppermint
(Mentha x piperita)
Leaf
Celandine
( Chelidonii herb a
Or
Chelidonium majus )
Aerial part
Treats gallbladder problems;stops spasms; stimulates bile production to flush gallstones;
Licorice
(Glycyrrhiza
glabra)
Root
Four main mechanisms have been identified:
1. Stimulation of digestive
secretions - through interactions with the bitter receptors on the taste
buds of the tongue.
2. Regulation of peristalsis
(the rhythmic contraction of the intestines) - by exerting either a
relaxing or stimulating effect on the intestinal smooth muscle.
3. Protecting the lining of
the stomach and intestines - by stimulating the
production of mucus by mast cells (mucus-producing cells of the stomach and
intestines) as well as preventing the formation of inflammatory substances
within the intestinal tract.
4. Prevention of excessive
flatulence - by reducing the formation of intestinal gases.
Clown's mustard
( Iberis
amara) (a.k.a. wild or bitter candytuft)
is believed to contain the most
active components ( Glucosinolates and cucurbitacins)
in Iberogast™having specific actions on GI tract tone -
although components in its other herbs also play a
role:
-
Clown's Mustard is a
white-flowering plant originally from the Iberian Peninsular, Spain -
a member of the Brassicaceae family, it is also grown in Britain, France, and the U.S..
Amara means bitter.
-
Clown's mustard seems to
increase slow wave frequency and amplitude in the small intestine -
which causes peristaltic movement. Its extract has a long history of use for
normalizing tension and spasms in the
gastrointestinal tract and relieving
heartburn. It reduces inflammation, triggers fullness and
reduces discomfort in the upper abdomen.
The regions of action of
Iberogast™appear to occur in both the body and antrum of the stomach -
Schemann et al demonstrated that:
•
Extracts of Angelica root, chamomile flower, and licorice root mimicked the
inhibitory effects in the proximal stomach (First
3 parts of the stomach: cardia, fundus, and body)
• Extracts of greater celandine herb,
lemon balm leaves, caraway fruit, and bitter candytuft increased motility of
the distal stomach (Lower 2 parts:
antrum and pylorus)
These authors concluded that the
inhibitory effects in the proximal and the excitatory effects in the distal
stomach by STW 5 may contribute to symptom relief in functional dyspepsia.
Schemann M, Michel K, Zeller F,
Hohenester B, Rühl A. Region-specific effects of STW 5 (Iberogast) and its
components in gastric fundus, corpus and antrum. Phytomedicine. 2006;13(suppl
5):90-99.CrossRef
Studies mainly support taking Iberogast™
for intestinal problems
(Iberogast™ is widely used for dyspepsia and GIT
motility problems)
Iberogast has been studied in over 15 clinical studies. The results from all of
the studies indicate that > 80% of people with IBS, GERD, Non-ulcer dyspepsia
(NUD) and drug-induced dyspepsia
will experience significant relief without side effect.
Iberogast™ has been very
successfully used to treat IBS and other GI diseases - for several years in Germany
Ammon, H., P. et al. Spasmolytic and
tonic effect of Iberogast (STW 5) in intestinal smooth muscle. Phytomedicine. 13
Suppl 5: 67-74, 2006
Arnim, U. et al. STW 5, a
phytopharmacon for patients with functional dyspepsia: results of a multicenter,
placebo-controlled double-blind study. Am J Gastroenterol. 102 (6): 1268-75, 2007
- In one study , 20 patients
diagnosed with chronic functional disorders for1- 20 years were given Iberogast for 3 to 32 days - Patients also stopped taking
medications ( E.g. antacids, anti-spasmodic agents, motility inducing
substances) used to treat abdomenal
pressure/ pain, belching,
heartburn, vomiting, nausea, fullness, lack of appetite, constipation, and
diarrhea.
• Abdominal pressure and pain -
was the most common experienced symptom, with 11 of the patients rating it as
severe. After 6 days of treatment, only 6 of the patients continued to rate
their abdominal pain and pressure as severe.
After 2 weeks, this symptom had
completely resolved for 16patients.
• Diarrhea - rated as severe in five of the patients, but after 2 weeks, only one
patient continued to have moderate diarrhea.
Bruckel MH, Gisevius W. Therapeutic effect of Iberis amara in functional gastric
disorders. Arztliche Praxis. 1984;494-498.
Iberogast™quickly relieved symptoms in trial
involving 40 patients experiencing GI problems related to taking medications for
various types of cardiovascular disease and arthritis -
symptoms included pressure and pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, abdominal
fullness, and lack of appetite. 20 of
the 40 patients received Iberogast™for support
of gastrointestinal motility. A significant improvement of all
GI-problem symptoms in the Iberogast™ group was noted afteronly three days into the trial, and by day 14, their abdominal pressure
and pain, nausea, and heartburn were completely eliminated.
MacLean N, Hubner-Steiner U.
Treatment of drug related gastrointestinal disorders. Fortschritte der Medizin.
1987;12:239-242.
Several other clinical trials using Iberogast™conducted in Germany reported similar results
Bleimann
H, Hartman R. Treatment of functional gastrointestinal symptoms with Iberogast®.
Gastro Entero Hepatologie. 1984;52-59.
Holsher
HJ. Treatment of non-specific upper gastrointestinal symptoms in elderly
patients. Therapiewoche. 1984;34:657-659.
Ohms P. Daily oral treatment: how
long can the stomach tolerate it? Arztliche Praxis. 1983;11:3109-3110.
Steimer
P. Iberogast®therapy in gastroenterology. Der Krankenhaus Arzt.
1983;56:1005-1008.
Study found that Iberogast™caused changes to smooth muscle cell resting
membrane potential (RMP) and slow wave
rhythmicity in circular muscle layer of mouse small intestine -
The changes on slow waves represents the sum of the effects of the 9 herbal
extracts in Iberogast. Angelicae radix and matricariae flos completely blocked
slow wave activity, Iberis amara increased the frequency and amplitude,
chelidonii herba reduced the frequency and amplitude of the slow waves, mentae
piperitae folium reduced the frequency and left amplitude unchanged and
liquiritae radix, carvi fructus and melissae folium had no effects.
Storr M ,
Sibaev A ,
Weiser D ,
Kelber O ,
Schirra J ,
Goke B ,
Allescher HD .Herbal extracts modulate
the amplitude and frequency of slow waves in circular smooth muscle of mouse
small intestine .
Digestion. 2004;70(4):257-64. Epub 2005 Jan 8.
One study reported that Iberogast did NOT differ
from placebo in its effect upon gastric emptying .
Braden B,
Caspary W, Börner N, Vinson B,
Schneider AR. Clinical effects of STW 5 (Iberogast)
are not based on acceleration of gastric emptying in patients with functional
dyspepsia and gastroparesis.
Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2009;21:632- 638, e25.
CrossRef
Many general medications cause GI Problems
Medications taken long-term for chronic
conditions (E.g. cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, and
autoimmune diseases)
can cause erosion of the
stomach lining and ulcers - many medication-caused symptoms are similar to IBS
symptoms: pressure and pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, abdominal fullness,
and lack of appetite.
Typical IBS medications have serious side-effects
not experienced with Iberogast
Reglan® (Metoclopramide) - can cause fatigue, anxiety, agitation, jitteriness,
insomnia, yellowing of the skin or eyes, changes in vision, hallucinations, and
seizures. Therefore, Metoclopramide must not be taken longer than 12 weeks.
Reglan® and Iberogast™ both effectively reduced IBS symptoms with no
significant difference in a randomized comparison study - 77 subjects
were randomized to receive treatment of either Iberogast or metoclopramide. The
subjects took 20 drops of their assigned treatment after meals three times
daily for one to two weeks. In both groups, a parallel improvement of all
symptoms was observed. Both treatments significantly reduced pain and pressure
in the abdomen, cramping, abdominal fullness, nausea, heartburn, and lack of
appetite. However, side effects
occurred more frequently and severely in the metoclopramide group
Nickolay K. Double blind trial of
metoclopramide and Iberogast®in functional gastroenterology. Gastro Entero
Hepatologie. 1984;2:4.
Iberogast Dosage?
Iberogast
bottle contains 100 mL (3.4 oz) of
pleasant-tasting herbal extract
Dose:
•
Adults: Take 1 mL (20 drops) with your favorite drink (warm water is recommended) 3 X
daily before, during or after meals.
•
Children age 12 and younger:
Take 0.5 mL (10
drops) 3 X daily.
No limits on duration of use
