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Herb encyclopedia

The herbs people take for their gut, one page each

Each entry gives the plant and the part used, the names it goes by in Sanskrit, Hindi and Chinese, what Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine and Western herbalism each use it for in their own words, the human trials with their numbers, the doses those trials used, the safety record, the medicines it is flagged with, and the products in the catalog that contain it.

Browse by tradition, A to Z, or by what people take them for. The Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine sections explain each system’s ideas, how it is practiced in the West and what the trials of its classic formulas show.

A to Z

A

Agastache Agastache rugosa (the Chinese pharmacopoeial huo xiang is Pogostemon cablin) · Ajwain Trachyspermum ammi (also written Carum copticum) · Aloe vera Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (Aloe barbadensis Miller) · Amla Emblica officinalis (Phyllanthus emblica) · Amomum (sha ren) Wurfbainia villosa (syn. Amomum villosum) · Angelica Angelica archangelica · Anise Pimpinella anisum · Artichoke Cynara cardunculus (syn. Cynara scolymus) · Asafoetida Ferula assa-foetida (also written Ferula asafoetida) · Ashwagandha Withania somnifera · Astragalus Astragalus mongholicus (syn. A. membranaceus) · Atractylodes Atractylodes macrocephala (bai zhu); A. lancea (cang zhu) · Aucklandia (costus root) Aucklandia costus (syn. Aucklandia lappa, Saussurea costus)

B

Bael Aegle marmelos · Barley sprout (mai ya) Hordeum vulgare · Berberine Berberis, Hydrastis, Coptis and Mahonia species (source plants) · Bibhitaki Terminalia bellirica (also spelled bellerica) · Bitter candytuft Iberis amara · Bitter orange Citrus aurantium · Black pepper Piper nigrum · Black walnut Juglans nigra · Brahmi Bacopa monnieri (also spelled monniera) · Bupleurum Bupleurum chinense · Burdock Arctium lappa

C

Caraway Carum carvi · Cardamom Elettaria cardamomum (small or green cardamom); Amomum species in Chinese medicine · Cascara sagrada Rhamnus purshiana (Frangula purshiana) · Cat's claw Uncaria tomentosa · Chamomile Matricaria chamomilla (syn. Matricaria recutita) · Chicory root Cichorium intybus · Chinese yam Dioscorea oppositifolia (also written Dioscorea opposita) · Cinnamon Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon) and Cinnamomum cassia and related species (cassia) · Clove Syzygium aromaticum · Codonopsis Codonopsis pilosula · Coix Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen · Coptis Coptis chinensis · Coriander Coriandrum sativum · Cumin Cuminum cyminum

D

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale (and T. mongolicum in Chinese medicine) · Dang gui (Chinese angelica) Angelica sinensis

E

Evodia (wu zhu yu) Tetradium ruticarpum (syn. Evodia rutaecarpa)

F

Fennel Foeniculum vulgare · Flaxseed Linum usitatissimum

G

Garlic Allium sativum · Gentian Gentiana lutea · Ginger Zingiber officinale · Ginseng Panax ginseng · Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis · Guduchi Tinospora cordifolia

H

Haritaki Terminalia chebula · Hawthorn Crataegus pinnatifida (shan zha); Crataegus monogyna and C. laevigata (Western) · Hibiscus Hibiscus sabdariffa

J

Jujube Ziziphus jujuba

K

Kutki Picrorhiza kurroa

L

Lemon balm Melissa officinalis · Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra · Long pepper Piper longum · Lotus seed Nelumbo nucifera

M

Magnolia bark Magnolia officinalis · Marshmallow root Althaea officinalis · Massa fermentata (shen qu) Massa Medicata Fermentata (a fermented mixture, not a single plant) · Mastic gum Pistacia lentiscus (var. chia) · Milk thistle Silybum marianum · Musta Cyperus rotundus

N

Neem Azadirachta indica

O

Olive leaf Olea europaea · Orange peel Citrus reticulata (chen pi); Citrus sinensis (sweet orange); Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) · Oregano Origanum vulgare

P

Papaya Carica papaya · Pau d'arco Tabebuia impetiginosa (Handroanthus impetiginosus) · Peppermint Mentha x piperita · Perilla Perilla frutescens · Pinellia Pinellia ternata · Poria Wolfiporia cocos (syn. Poria cocos) · Psyllium Plantago ovata · Pu-erh tea Camellia sinensis (post-fermented Yunnan tea)

Q

Quassia Quassia amara; Picrasma excelsa

R

Radish seed (lai fu zi) Raphanus sativus · Rhubarb root Rheum palmatum; Rheum officinale

S

Schisandra Schisandra chinensis (bei wu wei zi); Schisandra sphenanthera (nan wu wei zi) · Senna Senna alexandrina (Cassia senna, Cassia angustifolia) · Shatavari Asparagus racemosus · Slippery elm Ulmus rubra · Spearmint Mentha spicata

T

Trikatu Zingiber officinale + Piper nigrum + Piper longum · Triphala Emblica officinalis + Terminalia bellirica + Terminalia chebula · Tulsi Ocimum tenuiflorum (also written Ocimum sanctum) · Turmeric Curcuma longa

V

Vidanga Embelia ribes

W

White peony Paeonia lactiflora · Wormwood Artemisia absinthium

Y

Yarrow Achillea millefolium · Yellow dock Rumex crispus

By tradition

Ayurveda (about the system)

Ajwain Trachyspermum ammi (also written Carum copticum) Thymol-rich carom seed, used in Ayurveda for colic and gas. No trial of ajwain alone; three Iranian formula trials include it, one in 106 people with bloating. Amla Emblica officinalis (Phyllanthus emblica) A sour Indian fruit used in Ayurveda for acidity; one placebo-controlled trial in 68 people with non-erosive reflux found less heartburn and regurgitation than placebo. Asafoetida Ferula assa-foetida (also written Ferula asafoetida) Pungent Ferula root resin, an Ayurvedic remedy for gas. One 43-person dyspepsia trial: symptom score fell 54% on asafoetida versus 14% on placebo in 30 days. Ashwagandha Withania somnifera A stress herb, not a classical gut herb: nine trials (558 people) lowered stress scores, and one okra-plus-ashwagandha blend cut constipation scores in 135 adults. Bael Aegle marmelos Ayurveda uses unripe bael fruit for diarrhea. The one human trial combined it with brahmi: 169 IBS patients, 64.9% improved on the formula versus 32.7% on placebo. Bibhitaki Terminalia bellirica (also spelled bellerica) The least-studied of triphala’s three fruits: we found no human gut trial of bibhitaki alone, only trials of triphala that include it. Black pepper Piper nigrum A pungent spice whose alkaloid piperine raised curcumin absorption 2,000 percent in one human study; no trial has tested pepper for digestive symptoms. Brahmi Bacopa monnieri (also spelled monniera) Mainly a memory herb; its gut record is one 1989 trial of a bael-plus-brahmi formula in 169 IBS patients, and stomach upset is its usual side effect. Caraway Carum carvi The oil, paired with peppermint oil in coated capsules, beat placebo for functional dyspepsia (5 trials, 578 people); caraway alone has little oral trial data. Cardamom Elettaria cardamomum (small or green cardamom); Amomum species in Chinese medicine A fragrant spice pod. In two small postoperative trials, cardamom oil (inhaled or sublingual) lessened nausea; we found no trial of it for indigestion. Cinnamon Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon) and Cinnamomum cassia and related species (cassia) Two barks sold as cinnamon: Ceylon (low coumarin) and cassia (about 3 g coumarin per kg on average). No trial has tested either for a gut symptom. Clove Syzygium aromaticum Warming spice used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine for nausea and cold stomach pain. We found no human gut trial; 10 ml of the oil caused liver failure in a toddler. Coriander Coriandrum sativum Coriander seed, a staple Ayurvedic digestive. Its IBS trial tested Carmint, a three-herb formula, in 32 people: less pain and bloating than placebo (p = 0.016 and 0.02). Cumin Cuminum cyminum Cumin seed, a classic Ayurvedic digestive. In a 50-person IBS case series with no placebo, severe bloating fell from 54% to 0% over 4 weeks. Fennel Foeniculum vulgare The seed chewed after meals; one infant colic trial (125 babies) found colic gone in 65% vs 23.7% on placebo, and adult gut trials are of mixtures. Garlic Allium sativum Kitchen bulb sold as capsules and extract. For gut infections the human data are small pilots and an add-on meta-analysis of allicin (93% vs 84% H. pylori eradication). Ginger Zingiber officinale A kitchen rhizome with the best gut evidence of any herb for nausea: 12 pregnancy trials (1,278 women) found lower nausea scores than placebo. Guduchi Tinospora cordifolia Ayurveda’s immunity vine (giloy): a 13-center Indian series of 43 patients linked it to liver injury, judged probable in 67.4%; gut trials are absent. Haritaki Terminalia chebula An Ayurvedic bowel fruit and one of the three in triphala; its constipation trial is old and reported without figures, and a 2018 review found no clear gut evidence. Kutki Picrorhiza kurroa A very bitter Himalayan root used in Ayurveda for the liver and as a purgative. One 33-person trial in viral hepatitis; reviews report loose stools at higher doses. Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra Whole root and DGL are different products: 18 studies show whole root raising systolic pressure 5.45 mmHg; a DGL ulcer trial found no healing effect. Long pepper Piper longum A pungent Ayurvedic spice, documented mostly for its piperine: 20 mg raised curcumin absorption by 2000% in healthy volunteers. Musta Cyperus rotundus Nut grass tuber, used in Ayurveda for diarrhea and weak digestion. The antidiarrheal work is laboratory and mouse research (250 and 500 mg/kg); no human gut trial found. Neem Azadirachta indica A bitter Ayurvedic tree used for worms and the liver; a bark-extract study cut gastric acid secretion by 77% in 10 days but describes no placebo group. Psyllium Plantago ovata Soluble, gel-forming husk fiber. About 10 g a day lowered LDL cholesterol 0.33 mmol/L in 28 trials, and 59% vs 41% had IBS relief at month 2 in a 275-person trial. Senna Senna alexandrina (Cassia senna, Cassia angustifolia) A stimulant laxative. In one 28-day trial, 1.0 g of senna gave a 69.2 percent response versus 11.7 percent on placebo; EMA limits use to 1 week. Shatavari Asparagus racemosus A cooling Ayurvedic root for acidity and dyspepsia: in 8 healthy men it sped gastric emptying about as much as metoclopramide (159.9 to 101 minutes). Trikatu Zingiber officinale + Piper nigrum + Piper longum The Ayurvedic three-spice formula of ginger, black pepper and long pepper. Piperine raised curcumin absorption 2,000% in volunteers; gut trials of it are lacking. Triphala Emblica officinalis + Terminalia bellirica + Terminalia chebula A three-fruit Ayurvedic powder used for bowel regularity; its one placebo-controlled gut study tracked stool bacteria in 31 adults, not bowel habits. Tulsi Ocimum tenuiflorum (also written Ocimum sanctum) Holy basil leaf, used in Ayurveda for indigestion and diarrhea. A review of human trials found 24 studies in 1,111 people, none built around a gut outcome. Turmeric Curcuma longa In 132 people with dyspepsia, turmeric lowered pain scores more than placebo and similarly to omeprazole; liver injury and lead adulteration are documented. Vidanga Embelia ribes Embelia berry, the classic Ayurvedic worm remedy. Human gut trials are lacking; a review cites one report of ova-free stools in 80% of children, with no design given.

Traditional Chinese medicine (about the system)

Agastache Agastache rugosa (the Chinese pharmacopoeial huo xiang is Pogostemon cablin) Huo xiang is the aromatic lead of Huo Xiang Zheng Qi; its oral liquid beat placebo in a 212-person IBS-D trial (response gap 0.29), but the herb alone is untested. Aloe vera Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (Aloe barbadensis Miller) Two materials: clear inner-leaf gel and aloin-rich latex. FDA removed aloe latex from OTC laxatives in 2002; NTP found large-bowel cancers in rats on whole-leaf extract. Amomum (sha ren) Wurfbainia villosa (syn. Amomum villosum) A ginger-family seed used in Chinese stomach formulas; no trial of it alone, and a 216-adult placebo-controlled trial of an eight-herb formula that contains it. Astragalus Astragalus mongholicus (syn. A. membranaceus) Astragalus root (huang qi) has no gut trial on its own; a 13-trial meta-analysis of an astragalus formula in atrophic gastritis gave RR 1.24. Atractylodes Atractylodes macrocephala (bai zhu); A. lancea (cang zhu) Bai zhu leads the classic Chinese spleen formulas; a 96-person IBS-D trial of Tong Xie Yao Fang found 79.2% vs 70.8% response, not significant. Aucklandia (costus root) Aucklandia costus (syn. Aucklandia lappa, Saussurea costus) Costus root, named in 145 pharmacopoeia preparations; no human trial of it alone, and a 23-study review of one formula that contains it (RR 1.27). Barley sprout (mai ya) Hordeum vulgare Sprouted barley, a digestion herb in Zhi Shi Xiao Pi Wan; the trials with numbers test a different barley fiber product in colitis (59 patients, 12 months). Berberine Berberis, Hydrastis, Coptis and Mahonia species (source plants) An alkaloid from barberry, goldenseal and coptis. One IBS-D trial used 400 mg a day for 8 weeks; it also changes how the body handles several medicines. Bitter orange Citrus aurantium Two Chinese fruit drugs, one weight-loss ingredient: a 21-trial review of the zhi shi formula (OR 3.54) and, for synephrine, a 6.4 mmHg rise in systolic pressure. Black pepper Piper nigrum A pungent spice whose alkaloid piperine raised curcumin absorption 2,000 percent in one human study; no trial has tested pepper for digestive symptoms. Bupleurum Bupleurum chinense Bupleurum (chai hu) leads Xiao Yao San (6 dyspepsia trials, RR 1.15 vs drugs); the Kampo formula sho-saiko-to was behind 26% of 73 reported herbal pneumonitis cases. Burdock Arctium lappa A root eaten as a vegetable; Chinese medicine uses the fruit. EMA lists a traditional use for appetite, found no clinical studies; the root is about 45 percent inulin. Cardamom Elettaria cardamomum (small or green cardamom); Amomum species in Chinese medicine A fragrant spice pod. In two small postoperative trials, cardamom oil (inhaled or sublingual) lessened nausea; we found no trial of it for indigestion. Chinese yam Dioscorea oppositifolia (also written Dioscorea opposita) A mild starchy root eaten as food and simmered in spleen formulas; a review found only two human trials of it among 27 studies. Cinnamon Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon) and Cinnamomum cassia and related species (cassia) Two barks sold as cinnamon: Ceylon (low coumarin) and cassia (about 3 g coumarin per kg on average). No trial has tested either for a gut symptom. Clove Syzygium aromaticum Warming spice used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine for nausea and cold stomach pain. We found no human gut trial; 10 ml of the oil caused liver failure in a toddler. Codonopsis Codonopsis pilosula Codonopsis (dang shen) is the milder root that stands beside ginseng in Chinese spleen formulas; we found no gut trial of it alone, only mixed-formula data. Coix Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen A pale grain eaten as food and used in spleen formulas; the only gut-adjacent human data we found are 11 men eating 160 g a day for 7 days. Coptis Coptis chinensis Coptis (huang lian) is the rhizome that supplies berberine; berberine hydrochloride cut diarrhea and pain frequency in a 132-person IBS-D trial (p = 0.032 and p < 0.01). Dandelion Taraxacum officinale (and T. mongolicum in Chinese medicine) A bitter weed used in Europe for fullness and poor appetite. EMA found no clinical studies; its monograph rests on traditional use (4 to 10 g as an infusion). Dang gui (Chinese angelica) Angelica sinensis The classic blood-nourishing root, listed in the texts as lubricating the intestines; we found no gut trial of it, and one case of it doubling a warfarin reading. Evodia (wu zhu yu) Tetradium ruticarpum (syn. Evodia rutaecarpa) A hot, bitter fruit the texts call slightly toxic; the one human gut study we found is 14 patients on Zuo Jin Wan, and the lab record includes liver injury. Fennel Foeniculum vulgare The seed chewed after meals; one infant colic trial (125 babies) found colic gone in 65% vs 23.7% on placebo, and adult gut trials are of mixtures. Garlic Allium sativum Kitchen bulb sold as capsules and extract. For gut infections the human data are small pilots and an add-on meta-analysis of allicin (93% vs 84% H. pylori eradication). Ginger Zingiber officinale A kitchen rhizome with the best gut evidence of any herb for nausea: 12 pregnancy trials (1,278 women) found lower nausea scores than placebo. Ginseng Panax ginseng Ginseng has no gut-outcome trial on its own; it sits in rikkunshito, where a 247-person dyspepsia trial found 33.6% vs 23.8% responders, not significant. Hawthorn Crataegus pinnatifida (shan zha); Crataegus monogyna and C. laevigata (Western) Hawthorn fruit is the Chinese herb for meat and grease stagnation (9 to 12 g in the Pharmacopoeia); we could find no human gut trial, and it interacts with heart drugs. Jujube Ziziphus jujuba The sweet red date of Chinese cooking and formulas; one 12-week placebo trial of a liquid extract in 37 constipated adults, and a children&rsquo;s trial of a syrup. Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra Whole root and DGL are different products: 18 studies show whole root raising systolic pressure 5.45 mmHg; a DGL ulcer trial found no healing effect. Lotus seed Nelumbo nucifera A food seed that the texts use to firm loose stools, in Shen Ling Bai Zhu San; we found no gut trial of it, and one 45-adult trial of an extract for depression. Magnolia bark Magnolia officinalis Magnolia bark (hou po) is the bark behind Ping Wei San and Da Cheng Qi Tang; we found no gut trial of it alone, only formula trials and a mouse ileus study. Massa fermentata (shen qu) Massa Medicata Fermentata (a fermented mixture, not a single plant) A fermented herbal cake that the tradition uses for food stagnation; we found no human trial of it, only rat and mouse studies and a classical formula. Orange peel Citrus reticulata (chen pi); Citrus sinensis (sweet orange); Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) Orange and tangerine peel is the TCM herb chen pi (3 to 10 g) and a Western bitter; we could find no human trial of the peel alone for gut outcomes. Perilla Perilla frutescens Perilla leaf (zi su ye) is an aromatic leaf in Huo Xiang Zheng Qi; the formula beat placebo in a 212-person IBS-D trial (response gap 0.29); perilla alone is untested. Pinellia Pinellia ternata Pinellia (ban xia) is used processed because the raw tuber irritates the mouth; 57 trials of Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang in dyspepsia (5,525 people) favored it over drugs. Poria Wolfiporia cocos (syn. Poria cocos) Poria (fu ling) is a fungus in five classic Chinese digestive formulas; 14 trials of Shen Ling Bai Zhu San in chronic diarrhea (1,158 adults) found higher satisfaction. Pu-erh tea Camellia sinensis (post-fermented Yunnan tea) The aged tea drunk after greasy meals; its trials are of lipids and weight, not digestion: 90 adults with metabolic syndrome, 36 on 333 mg of extract. Radish seed (lai fu zi) Raphanus sativus The seed of the garden radish, a food-stagnation herb in Bao He Wan; a review found no human gut trials, and a cell study suggests it blocks ginseng absorption. Rhubarb root Rheum palmatum; Rheum officinale Rhubarb root (da huang) is a stimulant laxative; a 42-person trial used 12.5 or 25 mg of rhein a day for 30 days, while the EU monograph caps use at 1 week. Schisandra Schisandra chinensis (bei wu wei zi); Schisandra sphenanthera (nan wu wei zi) Schisandra (wu wei zi) is a TCM astringent listed for chronic diarrhea at 2 to 6 g; its human data are on liver enzymes, and we found no gut trial of the herb alone. Turmeric Curcuma longa In 132 people with dyspepsia, turmeric lowered pain scores more than placebo and similarly to omeprazole; liver injury and lead adulteration are documented. White peony Paeonia lactiflora White peony (bai shao) is the texts&rsquo; pain herb in Tong Xie Yao Fang; that formula&rsquo;s 96-person IBS-D trial found 79.2% vs 70.8% response, not significant.

Western herbalism

Aloe vera Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (Aloe barbadensis Miller) Two materials: clear inner-leaf gel and aloin-rich latex. FDA removed aloe latex from OTC laxatives in 2002; NTP found large-bowel cancers in rats on whole-leaf extract. Angelica Angelica archangelica Aromatic bitter root, one of nine herbs in Iberogast (STW 5). Iberogast beat placebo in 315 people with dyspepsia; no trial tests angelica alone. Anise Pimpinella anisum Enteric-coated anise oil left 75% of 120 IBS patients symptom-free against 35% on placebo in one Iranian trial; replication is still missing. Artichoke Cynara cardunculus (syn. Cynara scolymus) The leaf of the globe artichoke, not the edible bud; a 247-person trial found fewer dyspepsia symptoms than placebo over 6 weeks, with a modest effect size. Berberine Berberis, Hydrastis, Coptis and Mahonia species (source plants) An alkaloid from barberry, goldenseal and coptis. One IBS-D trial used 400 mg a day for 8 weeks; it also changes how the body handles several medicines. Bitter candytuft Iberis amara The main extract in Iberogast. As a single extract it did not beat placebo in 53 people with IBS, while the whole formula did (208 people in total). Black pepper Piper nigrum A pungent spice whose alkaloid piperine raised curcumin absorption 2,000 percent in one human study; no trial has tested pepper for digestive symptoms. Black walnut Juglans nigra Black walnut hull is sold as a parasite cleanse; we could find no human trial of it, and its juglone is toxic to cells in laboratory work. Burdock Arctium lappa A root eaten as a vegetable; Chinese medicine uses the fruit. EMA lists a traditional use for appetite, found no clinical studies; the root is about 45 percent inulin. Caraway Carum carvi The oil, paired with peppermint oil in coated capsules, beat placebo for functional dyspepsia (5 trials, 578 people); caraway alone has little oral trial data. Cardamom Elettaria cardamomum (small or green cardamom); Amomum species in Chinese medicine A fragrant spice pod. In two small postoperative trials, cardamom oil (inhaled or sublingual) lessened nausea; we found no trial of it for indigestion. Cascara sagrada Rhamnus purshiana (Frangula purshiana) A stimulant-laxative bark. FDA removed it from OTC laxative products in 2002; EMA limits use to 1 week and found no controlled trials of cascara alone. Cat's claw Uncaria tomentosa Cat&rsquo;s claw bark is sold for gut lining and cleanse formulas; its human trials are in arthritis, and we could find none for the gut. Chamomile Matricaria chamomilla (syn. Matricaria recutita) A tea herb with a long record for cramps and wind but few gut trials of its own; the controlled data are mostly of mixtures with other ingredients. Chicory root Cichorium intybus Chicory root is the commercial source of inulin; 12 to 15 g a day raised stool frequency in trials, and the same fructan can cause gas and bloating. Cinnamon Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon) and Cinnamomum cassia and related species (cassia) Two barks sold as cinnamon: Ceylon (low coumarin) and cassia (about 3 g coumarin per kg on average). No trial has tested either for a gut symptom. Clove Syzygium aromaticum Warming spice used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine for nausea and cold stomach pain. We found no human gut trial; 10 ml of the oil caused liver failure in a toddler. Dandelion Taraxacum officinale (and T. mongolicum in Chinese medicine) A bitter weed used in Europe for fullness and poor appetite. EMA found no clinical studies; its monograph rests on traditional use (4 to 10 g as an infusion). Fennel Foeniculum vulgare The seed chewed after meals; one infant colic trial (125 babies) found colic gone in 65% vs 23.7% on placebo, and adult gut trials are of mixtures. Flaxseed Linum usitatissimum Mucilage-rich seed. In a 90-person trial 50 g a day of flaxseed flour raised weekly bowel movements from 2 to 7, against 2 to 6 on lactulose. Garlic Allium sativum Kitchen bulb sold as capsules and extract. For gut infections the human data are small pilots and an add-on meta-analysis of allicin (93% vs 84% H. pylori eradication). Gentian Gentiana lutea The classic European bitter root. The EU lists it for appetite and mild indigestion on tradition alone; no trial of gentian alone found, and it is not in Iberogast. Ginger Zingiber officinale A kitchen rhizome with the best gut evidence of any herb for nausea: 12 pregnancy trials (1,278 women) found lower nausea scores than placebo. Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis A North American root long used for digestive complaints. NCCIH finds no rigorous health trials; in volunteers it raised midazolam exposure 1.43-fold. Hawthorn Crataegus pinnatifida (shan zha); Crataegus monogyna and C. laevigata (Western) Hawthorn fruit is the Chinese herb for meat and grease stagnation (9 to 12 g in the Pharmacopoeia); we could find no human gut trial, and it interacts with heart drugs. Hibiscus Hibiscus sabdariffa Roselle calyx, a tart red tea. We found no human gut trial; the trials that exist are for blood pressure (5 trials pooled: 7.58 mmHg lower systolic). Lemon balm Melissa officinalis A lemon-scented mint-family leaf used for tension and gas. We found no trial of lemon balm alone on the gut; infant colic and dyspepsia trials used multi-herb products. Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra Whole root and DGL are different products: 18 studies show whole root raising systolic pressure 5.45 mmHg; a DGL ulcer trial found no healing effect. Marshmallow root Althaea officinalis A mucilage-rich root used as a soothing coating; the EU lists it for mild stomach discomfort on tradition alone, and we found no trial of the root for the gut. Mastic gum Pistacia lentiscus (var. chia) Resin of a Greek island tree. 350 mg three times daily gave marked relief to 77% vs 40% in 148 people with dyspepsia; human H. pylori data are negative or mixed. Milk thistle Silybum marianum A thistle fruit extract sold as silymarin. The Cochrane review of 18 liver-disease trials found no significant mortality effect; EMA lists a traditional digestive use. Olive leaf Olea europaea Leaf of the olive tree. We found no human gut trial; in a dish an extract inhibited H. pylori and Campylobacter at 0.31 to 0.78 percent by volume, and little else. Orange peel Citrus reticulata (chen pi); Citrus sinensis (sweet orange); Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) Orange and tangerine peel is the TCM herb chen pi (3 to 10 g) and a Western bitter; we could find no human trial of the peel alone for gut outcomes. Oregano Origanum vulgare Culinary herb sold as a concentrated oil. One uncontrolled 14-person study cleared some gut parasites on 600 mg a day; the rest is laboratory or animal work. Papaya Carica papaya One placebo-controlled trial of a papaya preparation found less constipation and flatulence in 40 days; papain, its enzyme, has no standalone gut trial we could find. Pau d'arco Tabebuia impetiginosa (Handroanthus impetiginosus) Pau d&rsquo;arco bark is sold in parasite-cleanse formulas; we could find no human trial of it for the gut, and its lapachol thins the blood in lab work. Peppermint Mentha x piperita Enteric-coated oil capsules beat placebo for IBS in pooled trials (global symptoms RR 2.39, 12 trials, 835 people); the leaf tea has not been trialed. Psyllium Plantago ovata Soluble, gel-forming husk fiber. About 10 g a day lowered LDL cholesterol 0.33 mmol/L in 28 trials, and 59% vs 41% had IBS relief at month 2 in a 275-person trial. Quassia Quassia amara; Picrasma excelsa Quassia is an intensely bitter wood used as an appetite tonic and in parasite-cleanse formulas; we could find no human trial of it for the gut. Rhubarb root Rheum palmatum; Rheum officinale Rhubarb root (da huang) is a stimulant laxative; a 42-person trial used 12.5 or 25 mg of rhein a day for 30 days, while the EU monograph caps use at 1 week. Senna Senna alexandrina (Cassia senna, Cassia angustifolia) A stimulant laxative. In one 28-day trial, 1.0 g of senna gave a 69.2 percent response versus 11.7 percent on placebo; EMA limits use to 1 week. Slippery elm Ulmus rubra A bark that turns to a gel in water; no placebo-controlled trial alone, and one 10-person constipation pilot of a four-ingredient formula. Spearmint Mentha spicata A milder mint with a long folk record for digestion and almost no gut trials; the one controlled study found no effect on reflux or sphincter pressure. Turmeric Curcuma longa In 132 people with dyspepsia, turmeric lowered pain scores more than placebo and similarly to omeprazole; liver injury and lead adulteration are documented. Wormwood Artemisia absinthium Very bitter European herb. Two small Crohn disease studies used 3 x 500 mg and 3 x 750 mg a day; no human parasite trial found. The EU lists it for appetite only. Yarrow Achillea millefolium Yarrow is a traditional European bitter for poor appetite and mild digestive upset; we could find no human trial of it for gut outcomes. Yellow dock Rumex crispus Yellow dock root is a traditional mild laxative and bitter; we could find no human trial of it, and its main compounds are laxative anthraquinones.

By what people take them for

A herb appears under a use because a tradition or a trial connects the two, not because the site endorses it for that purpose. The entry says which.

Constipation

Aloe vera, Amla, Ashwagandha, Bibhitaki, Bitter orange, Burdock, Cascara sagrada, Chicory root, Dang gui (Chinese angelica), Flaxseed, Haritaki, Hibiscus, Jujube, Kutki, Magnolia bark, Papaya, Psyllium, Radish seed (lai fu zi), Rhubarb root, Senna, Slippery elm, Triphala, Vidanga, Yellow dock

Loose stools and diarrhea

Agastache, Astragalus, Atractylodes, Bael, Berberine, Bibhitaki, Black pepper, Brahmi, Chinese yam, Cinnamon, Codonopsis, Coix, Coptis, Coriander, Cumin, Evodia (wu zhu yu), Goldenseal, Guduchi, Hawthorn, Lotus seed, Musta, Poria, Psyllium, Schisandra, Shatavari, Tulsi, White peony

Bloating

Agastache, Ajwain, Amomum (sha ren), Anise, Artichoke, Asafoetida, Atractylodes, Aucklandia (costus root), Barley sprout (mai ya), Bitter candytuft, Bitter orange, Bupleurum, Caraway, Cardamom, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Coix, Coriander, Cumin, Dandelion, Fennel, Ginger, Hawthorn, Lemon balm, Magnolia bark, Massa fermentata (shen qu), Orange peel, Papaya, Peppermint, Perilla, Pinellia, Poria, Pu-erh tea, Radish seed (lai fu zi), Trikatu, Triphala, Turmeric, Yarrow

Gas

Ajwain, Angelica, Anise, Artichoke, Asafoetida, Caraway, Cardamom, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Clove, Coriander, Cumin, Fennel, Ginger, Haritaki, Lemon balm, Long pepper, Peppermint, Spearmint, Trikatu, Turmeric, Vidanga, Yarrow

Nausea

Agastache, Amomum (sha ren), Black pepper, Cardamom, Chamomile, Clove, Evodia (wu zhu yu), Ginger, Magnolia bark, Perilla, Pinellia, Spearmint, Tulsi

Reflux and heartburn

Amla, Evodia (wu zhu yu), Licorice, Marshmallow root, Neem, Orange peel, Pinellia, Shatavari, Slippery elm

Indigestion

Agastache, Ajwain, Amla, Amomum (sha ren), Angelica, Anise, Artichoke, Asafoetida, Atractylodes, Aucklandia (costus root), Bael, Barley sprout (mai ya), Bibhitaki, Bitter candytuft, Bitter orange, Black pepper, Caraway, Cardamom, Chamomile, Chicory root, Chinese yam, Clove, Codonopsis, Coriander, Cumin, Dandelion, Fennel, Garlic, Gentian, Ginger, Ginseng, Goldenseal, Haritaki, Hawthorn, Jujube, Kutki, Lemon balm, Licorice, Long pepper, Magnolia bark, Marshmallow root, Massa fermentata (shen qu), Mastic gum, Milk thistle, Musta, Orange peel, Papaya, Peppermint, Perilla, Pinellia, Pu-erh tea, Quassia, Radish seed (lai fu zi), Shatavari, Slippery elm, Spearmint, Trikatu, Triphala, Tulsi, Turmeric, Wormwood, Yarrow

Cramping and pain

Ajwain, Angelica, Anise, Asafoetida, Aucklandia (costus root), Bael, Berberine, Bitter candytuft, Bupleurum, Caraway, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Coptis, Coriander, Cumin, Dang gui (Chinese angelica), Evodia (wu zhu yu), Fennel, Ginger, Lemon balm, Licorice, Musta, Peppermint, Psyllium, Spearmint, Vidanga, White peony, Yarrow

Appetite

Amomum (sha ren), Angelica, Astragalus, Atractylodes, Barley sprout (mai ya), Black pepper, Burdock, Cardamom, Chicory root, Chinese yam, Codonopsis, Coix, Dandelion, Gentian, Ginger, Ginseng, Guduchi, Jujube, Long pepper, Lotus seed, Massa fermentata (shen qu), Orange peel, Poria, Quassia, Trikatu, Vidanga, Wormwood, Yarrow

Liver and bile

Artichoke, Bupleurum, Burdock, Dandelion, Guduchi, Kutki, Milk thistle, Rhubarb root, Schisandra, Turmeric, Yellow dock

Antimicrobial use

Berberine, Black walnut, Cat's claw, Clove, Coptis, Garlic, Goldenseal, Mastic gum, Neem, Olive leaf, Oregano, Papaya, Pau d'arco, Quassia, Vidanga, Wormwood

The gut lining

Aloe vera, Cat's claw, Flaxseed, Licorice, Marshmallow root, Mastic gum, Neem, Slippery elm, Turmeric

Stress and the gut

Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Bupleurum, Lemon balm, Schisandra, White peony

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