The efficacy of an herbal medicine, Carmint, on the relief of abdominal pain and bloating in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a pilot study

Dig Dis Sci. 2006 Aug;51(8):1501-7. doi: 10.1007/s10620-006-9079-3. Epub 2006 Jul 26.

Abstract

Carmint contains total extracts of Melissa officinalis, Mentha spicata, and Coriandrum sativum, which have antispasmodic, carminative, and sedative effects. As abdominal pain/discomfort and bloating are commonly observed in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, we decided to evaluate the effectiveness of Carmint in relieving these symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients. We randomly assigned 32 irritable bowel syndrome patients to receive either Carmint or placebo, plus Loperamide or psyllium (based on their predominant bowel function), for 8 weeks. T-test analysis of the results showed that the severity and frequency of abdominal pain/discomfort were significantly lower in the Carmint group than the placebo group at the end of the treatment (P=0.016 and P=0.001, respectively), as were the severity and frequency of bloating (P=0.02 and P=0.002, respectively). This pilot study suggests that Carmint plus loperamide or Carmint plus psyllium (depending on the irritable bowel syndrome subtype) might be effective in these patients.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / drug therapy*
  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Abdominal Pain / physiopathology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / complications*
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Plant Preparations / therapeutic use*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Plant Preparations