Clinical Question

Are herbal medicines effective in treating adults with functional dyspepsia?

Evidence-Based Answer

STW 5 (Iberogast), peppermint plus caraway oil, and turmeric (Curcuma longa) may be effective in improving symptoms of functional dyspepsia without significant adverse events.¹ Peppermint plus caraway oil and turmeric may also improve quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia.¹ (Strength of Recommendation: B, meta-analysis of low-quality randomized controlled trials [RCTs].)

Practice Pointers

Functional dyspepsia is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by one or more of the following Rome IV criteria: postprandial fullness, early satiety, epigastric pain, and epigastric burning severe enough to interfere with usual activities at least 3 days per week over the previous 3 months, starting at least 6 months before presentation. The prevalence of functional dyspepsia is about 10% in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.² The pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia is complicated and poorly understood. Conventional treatment options include pharmacologic agents such as histamine H₂ blockers, proton pump inhibitors, prokinetic agents, tricyclic antidepressants, mucosal protectants, serotonin type 4 receptor agonists, and antispasmodics.^3,4 Complementary and alternative medicine treatments, including herbal products, have become increasingly popular in treating functional dyspepsia.^4,5 The authors of this Cochrane review sought to determine the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines in adults with functional dyspepsia.