Category: Herbal Medicine

Gastrointestinal disorders include disease along of gastrointestinal tract starting from mouth disorder moving through gastro intestinal tract reaching stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas, perianal tissue ending with hemorrhoids and anal fissures. Gastro intestinal disorder containing condition as constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, perianal abscesses, perianal infection, colitis, anal fistulas, hemorrhoids and anal fissures. Most of gastrointestinal disorders came from defect of enzyme (secreted by stomach, pancreas, and small intestine), lack of mucus that produce by intestinal gland (which lubricate and protect digestive tract), slow of peristalsis (GIT movement) and poor digestive health (result from infection, stress, anxiety and insufficient or excessive digestive secretion). We can used different herbs for management and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Herbs derived from Greek word ‘herba’, which mean a non-woody plant. Different parts of plant (fruit, seed, stem, bark, flower, leaf, stigma and root) used as source of medicine and play important role in world health and can be used for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, especially in developing countries which depend mainly on herbs and medicinal plant. Herbs and medicinal plants have been used by ancient civilization and still used nowadays; about 500 herbs are still employed with in conventional medicine, and many of plants used as starting material for isolation or synthesis of conventional drug, so we can summary that medicinal plants or herbs are plants that commonly used for prophylaxis and treatment of disease. China and some of Asia countries still use herbal medicine for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Herbal medicine can be used in gastrointestinal diseases by improving the function of the digestive organ by different ways: acting as stomatic, anti-kinetosis, eupeptic, antacid, laxative, anti-diarrhea, as well as herbal medicine useful in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

The purpose of this paper is figure out the different herbs and techniques for management and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, include disease along of gastrointestinal tract, starting from mouth disorder, moving through gastro intestinal tract, reaching stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas, perianal tissue, ending with hemorrhoids and anal fissures.

Stomatitis, Gingivitis and Glossitis

The mucus secreted by salivary gland in mouth cavity has protective function, so decrease of saliva may lead to infection to mouth as stomatitis, gingivitis or glossitis. Many herbs used as anti-inflammatory for infection and irritation in oral cavity like herbs that containing essential oil, tannins and high content of mucilage on the example of herbs: marshmallow, propolis, myrrh, aloe, chamomile, echinacea, marigold, sage and arnica. Marshmallow contain mucilage starch and pectin which used as anti-inflammatory and demulcent. Propolis, which resinous dark material collected by honey bees from buds of certain plants mixed with bee wax and salivary secretion, used as anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and promote local leukocytes. Myrrh consists of ole gum resin, contains of volatile oil, sesquiterpenes, gum and resin; used as astringent, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and promote leukocytes. Aloe gel, a gelatinous material, contains mucilage and anthraquinones; used as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation and anti-bacterial. Chamomile contains flavonoid, mucilage and volatile oil used mainly as anti-inflammatory. Echinacea contains polysaccharide, flavonoid and caffeic acid derivatives; used mainly as immune-enhancing and anti-inflammatory. Marigold contains alcohol flavonoid and volatile oil used as anti-septic and anti-inflammatory. Sage contains volatile oil and caffeic acid derivatives used as anti-inflammatory. Arnica contains sesquiterpene lactone and volatile oil and used as anti-inflammatory.

Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia is a syndrome with unknown cause characteristic with nausea, bloating, cramp pain and epigastric pressure. Many herbs used for management of dyspepsia as herbs contain better substance (e.g., quassia, gentian and bitter orange peel), carminatives (e.g., caraway, fennel and anise) and other herbs (e.g., capsicum). Bitter herbs help with gastric juice secretion and facilitate digestion by induce secretion of gastrin (a hormone that stimulate HCL secretion) and facilitate saliva secretion for 20-30 minute, so it’s better to take before meal. Carminative works by prevent the formation or cause the expulsion of gas in the alimentary tract, the example of carminative are peppermint, fennel, anise, and caraway. Peppermint is the most reachable of carminatives. Clinical trials show peppermint improves symptoms in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, and relieves abdominal pain, peppermint contain menthol (volatile oil), which reduce intragastric pressure and proximal phase contractility. Caraway containing carvone (volatile oil) which can be used alone or synergic with peppermint used for dyspeptic complaints. Anise and fennel both contain volatile oil (anethole and fenchone), which used with dyspeptic complaints. The other plant used for dyspepsia is capsicum which contain capsaicin (pungent alkaloid), alkaloid and volatile oil, capsicum inhibit the activity of sensory fibers desensitization which result in attenuation of sensitivity to pain.

Flatulence

The feeling of abdominal fullness of gas in the stomach or in the intestine (from swallowed air and normal break down of ingested food containing sugar, starches and fiber). Approximately 15-23% of Asians and 15-30% of Americans suffer from flatulence. Flatulence treated with changing of diet, decrease the amount of swallowed air, taking digestive enzyme or herbal treatment like carminatives (anise, fennel, caraway and peppermint).

Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer

Gastritis is an inflammation of mucosal lining the stomach, while peptic ulcer is a discrete mucosal damage of stomach and duodenum. The gastritis can be treated by atropine and scopolamine alkaloids, which inhibit gastric acid secretion (little used now due to undesirable side effect). Peptic ulcer treated by alternative mucilaginous plants like chamomile, gum, and liquorice. Liquorice can be used for gastritis as anti-inflammatory and for ulcer as plant with mucilage to protect gastric wall.

Motion Sickness

Nausea and vomiting when traveling can be treated by scopolamine (not preferable used due to side effect), anti-histamine and ginger, which act as anti-emetic agent.

Constipation

Constipation is delayed transit of less than usual volume feces or straining at time of bowel movement with expulsion of stool with a hard consistency. Treatment of constipation by herbs can be done with least side effect and can be used chronic constipation with modulation of patient diet. The herbs work at different ways as improve liver function, which is done by choleretic and cholagogue herbs, increase stool bulk, which is done by psyllium and ulmus, improve motor function by chamomile and menthol, improve gastrointestinal lubrication as linseed, and laxatives, which induce and facilitate defecation such as bulk laxative (bran, psyllium and agar), stimulant laxative (anthraquinone, like in senna and cascara) and sugar containing herbs (cassia, tamarind and plum).

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is frequent liquid or semi-liquid fecal emission, diarrhea could be treated by herbal containing tannins with caution because over dose will be irritant to gastric wall and chronic misused is danger, as it can inhibit digestive enzyme, inhibit absorption of metals and the react with thiamin, decreasing their absorption, the example of tannins are green tea, black tea, oka, black berry, agrimony and oolong tea.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS is condition in which the patient have episodes of constipation and diarrhea with abdominal pain. The cause is may due to stress or genetic. The management of disorder can be done by administration of herbs of constipation and diarrhea, but the herb of choice is peppermint, which containing menthol (volatile oil) with Ca channel blocking properties). The mechanism of action is the anti-spasmodic action decrease the pain. It decreases Ca influx into muscle cells leading to relaxation of GIT smooth muscle.

Hemorrhoids

General treatment of hemorrhoids is achieved by eating more fiber, mucilage containing herb (psyllium and ulmus), treatment of constipation, oral treatment using herbs to improve venous connective tissue tone (aesculus and ruscus), reduce tissue congestion by flavonoids (crategus and melilotus) and topical astringent and anti-inflammatory herbs (hamamelis and calendula).

Liver Disorder

The acute infection of hepatitis (A) treatment can lead to rapid recovery and protect against post hepatitis syndrome, in case of hepatitis (B & C) herbal treatment will prevent disease to became chronic. Diaphoretics are indicated in all acute infection hepatitis (A, B & C), for example, tilia and achillea best taken as infusion. Diaphoretics are usually taken with ginger. There are other plants taken as anti-viral agent (e.g., hypericum), immune-enhancing herbs (e.g., echinacea and picrorrhiza) and hepatoprotective agent which decrease liver damage (e.g., silybium, dandelion root, picrorrhiza and Cynara ‘artichoke’). Cynara ‘artichoke’ is drug of choice because it contains flavonoid, cynaropicrin (bitter sesquiterpene lactone), and cynarin (caffeic acid derivatives), used for treatment of liver and gall bladder complains, has an anti-hepatotoxic effect and it can also be used as anti-diabetic, anti-lipidemic and cholagogue activity (indigestion and dyspepsia). The chronic viral hepatitis usually results from infection of hepatitis (B or C). The treatment is similar to acute infection, as we use immune enhancing agent (e.g., echinacea, picrorrhiza and astraglus), anti-viral agent (e.g., hypericum and thuja) and hepatoprotective agent (e.g., silybum and schisandra). Schisandra used in traditional chines medicine to treat chronic persistent hepatitis.

Conclusion

Gastrointestinal disorders, including mouth, stomach, intestine and liver disorder, can be treated by herbal plants. Herbal plants are effective with low side effect, used safely by elder people with chronic condition. Traditional Chinese medicine using different herbs and techniques for management of gastrointestinal disorders.

References

1. Sandberg, F., & Corrigan, D. (2001). Natural Remedies: Their Origins and Uses. CRC Press.‏
2. Schulz, V., Hänsel, R., & Tyler, V. E. (2001). Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician’s Guide to Herbal Medicine. Psychology Press.
3. Duke, J. A. (2002). Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. CRC Press.
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6. Lacy, B. E., Gabbard, S. L., & Crowell, M. D. (2011). Pathophysiology, Evaluation, and Treatment of Bloating: Hope, Hype, or Hot Air? Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 7(11), 729.‏
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Illness and disease have been around ever since the beginning of time. In the world of modern medicine, we do not think much about alternative remedies. In the ancient times, they did not have modern medicine, they would have used herbal or natural remedies to cure whatever was wrong with them. Also, they did not have medical science to test what would work and what did not, so they would have had to just use trial and error. Because of modern medicine, we have not really research other alternatives for illness or disease, so we are still developing research on this topic. Both herbal remedies and pharmaceutical drugs have their benefits, but also downfalls, it is important to fully understand and know both, so that the best solution for a patient can be determined.

As far back as we know, humans have been using herbal remedies to cure themselves and others. However, ever since the start of modern medicine, people have completely forgot about herbal remedies. Most people in today’s age do not even know what they are, because all they have ever known is the modern medicine we have. According to the Natural Institution of Medical Herbalist, “Herbal medicines are plant-based medicines made from differing combinations of plant parts, e.g., leaves, flowers or roots” (par.2). Herbal medicines do not have synthetic material and are not harmful to the environment. Some herbal remedies are supplements that you take by mouth, like fish oil, beet root, echinacea, and flaxseed. Sometimes the plants are made into topical skin ointments, breathing treatments or pessaries and suppositories. There are many different uses for herbal remedies, but there is not a lot of research or evidence.

There is quite a bit of controversy surrounding herbal remedies. One of the main deficiencies of herbal remedies are the fact that they are not approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Because of this, they are classified as a food, not a medicine, so they are not treated the same as pharmaceuticals when it comes to things like labeling, researching, or producing. Herbal remedies are like the nurses of the remedy world. Nurses cannot straight up diagnose someone with a direct illness or disease like a doctor can, but rather they have to beat around the bush and use other words to describe the problems. The same goes for herbal remedies, they can directly claim to cure something, they have to describe what symptoms that a specific herbal supplement might help. Another controversial point is the lack of evidence with herbal remedies. The general population naturally shrinks away from the idea of herbal remedies, because there is not much evidence and they are scared of what might happen. Another thing that could be a possibility is that people are just creatures of habit, and are too scared of trying anything new, because things have been the same way for a long time. As stated in the work of Nilsen, Roback, Brostom, and Ellstrom, “The process of forming habits occurs through a gradual shift in cognitive control from intentional to automatic processes. As behavior is repeated in the same context, the control of behavior gradually shifts from being internally guided (e.g., beliefs, attitudes, and intention) to being triggered by situational or contextual cues” (par.10). So, because modern medicine has been around so long, it has become a habit for most people, and the process to breaking that habit is not easy. In order for someone to change a habit they have to force their brain from subconsciously doing something to consciously doing the same thing, which would be easier if we had convincing evidence, but we do not have much back up yet.

Herbal remedies may not be highly researched but are they better for you? In retrospect yes, herbal remedies are derived from plants and nature, and a completely all natural, so there is nothing fake or bad manufactured into them. They are also not as taxing on your body. Because they are all natural, they help to nourish your body as well as help to cure the original problem. Herbal remedies are also safer to consume, they do not have any side effects, or anything like that because they are completely plants. Correspondingly, in a journal by Karimi, Majlesi and Rafieian-Kopaei, confirms: “Deaths or hospitalizations due to herbs are so rare that they are hard to find. Even the National Poison Control Centers of the United States does not have a category in their database for side or adverse reactions to herbs” (par.3). We know that side effects can be detrimental factors in overall recovery. It is crucial to keep side effects down, but with most pharmaceuticals, it’s not possible, they all have at least some side effects that could affect you. Now, that’s not saying that they are entirely perfect. There are some concerns when it comes to consuming herbal supplements. If you are taking any pharmaceutical drugs, the herbal medicines might not mesh well with the drugs and there could be many problems. Herbal remedies also are not a definite cure for things, just an alternative way of addressing issues. It is not a good idea to use herbal medicines if your body is compromised in any way, if you are pregnant, if you are getting surgery, or if you are very young or very old, unless made okay by your doctor.

When looking at anything, most of society tends to find the cheaper option. So, what what’s the difference when it comes to remedies? Typically speaking it’s been shown that herbal remedies are much cheaper than medical anything. Any kind of situation that requires medical attention and doctors is stereotypically very costly. Whereas herbal remedies are fairly affordable, most of them, and they are very easily accessible to anyone. As mentioned earlier, the FDA does not classify herbal remedies as drugs, so there’s not as much going into research and things like that for herbal remedies so they are cheaper for that reason. Also, they are just made from plants, so there really is not any ‘manufacturing’ it’s more of a ‘making’ situation so production costs are fairly low. In contrast, pharmaceuticals are so expensive because they are manufactured in labs and factories and then mass produced, and there are so many expenses that come with those things. Pharmaceutical companies also have to pay for the synthetics they add to the drug base, and they also spend so much money on marketing their products. Pharmaceuticals are expensive nevertheless, but the United States seems to do really well in having outrageous prices compared to other countries. According to Kamal, Cox, and McDermott in a recent article, “Humira, prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, is priced 96% in United States than in the United Kingdom, according to data from the International Federation of Health Plans. The average price of Humira in the U.S. is 225% higher than in Switzerland” (par.14). While the United States is typically more expensive in many ways, this seems to just be a shocking example. And it is not only Humira, as in the example, but inevitably all pharmaceuticals in the United States.

On the other end of the spectrum, the world of modern medicine has been one of the greatest advancements in our history, from the first discovery of antibiotics from mold, to a drug for every type of disease or illness from a cold to osteogenesis imperfecta. We have come a long way from trial and error with various plants and things back in ancient times. Now we have ways to test our drugs and make sure they are safe to consume, and make sure that they work properly and effectively cure what they are supposed to. Pharmaceutical drugs have been a big game changer for not only chronic illnesses but other health issues as well, such as hypertension, anemia, acute otitis media, and even acne. Pharmaceutical drugs are chemicals that are designed to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure a disorder, that are prescribed to you by a doctor or physician (Merriam-Webster). In contrast to herbal remedies, which you can easily obtain from almost anywhere, a pharmaceutical drug must be ordered from a licensed individual. The discovery of today’s drug has become life-saving to so many people, and we are overall a healthier people disease and illness wise. Modern medicine development opened up a world of opportunities for humanity and the future.

The controversy surrounding pharmaceuticals is very misconstrued and chaotic. To most people they are great, but to people who have had bad things happen to them because of these things despise them and it is a constant battle. Yes, they are extremely helpful with curing and fixing things, but that also brings up topics of side effects, addiction, and malpractice. Side effects become a big issue when talking about prescription drugs, because a couple things have either happened. One, you have done all the research on the drug that you might be getting, and Google has given you all the possible worsts, and you do not want to take it because of the side effects, or, two, you have no research and you just say give me whatever. Whatever the case side effects are very real. Most all drugs come with side effects of nausea, headaches, this and that, light symptoms, but some come with heavier symptoms like brittle bones, hemorrhaging, or even inhibition of brain function. Karimi, Majlesi, and Rafieian-Kopaei discuss: “About 8% of hospital admissions in the United States of America are due to adverse or side effects of synthetic drugs. Approximately 100,000 people each year die due to these toxicities. It means that the killed people in the U.S. by pharmaceutical drugs are at least three times more than the killed by drunk drivers” (par.3). This is just one abhorrent statistic among many. Yes, pharmaceutical drugs were a great discovery, and they are very beneficial in the world today, they are also potentially extremely dangerous. Most if not all pharmaceutical drugs make you immunocompromised in some way, which if not monitored could lead to serious problems. Though pharmaceutical drugs are great especially for those really tough and chronic diseases, the more deadly of a disease or illness you have, the more harsh and deadly the side effects are. Another point to make is the issue of addiction. We see addiction more and more as time goes on, it has become a great issue in our world today. Many people are afraid of taking drugs prescribed by their doctor, or offered to them in hospital, because they are afraid of addiction, because they have seen what it does to people. It has become a great issue because people are not getting the correct help they need to get better. Equally important, in this article from the Drug Free World vocalizes: “Depressants, opioids and antidepressants are responsible for more overdose deaths (45%) than cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and amphetamines (39%) combined” (par.7). Addiction to prescription drugs has really become an issue, especially in our youth. Another issue in alliance with this one is the issue of malpractice. Medical malpractice is defined as any act or omission by a physician during treatment of a patient that deviates from accepted norms of practice in the medical community and causes an injury to the patient (B. Sonny-Bal, 2008). One of the most famous instances of malpractice in the instance of Michael Jackson and his doctor and all that went down in that scenario. It is important to understand that malpractice does happen, and you do have to be careful of it, and it is another reason why pharmaceutical drugs are not good, whereas you cannot get addicted to herbal remedies or wrongly prescribed them either. I will also reiterate the fact that pharmaceuticals are extremely costly and not as good for you in the long run-in terms of overall health, for the most part.

In conclusion, both herbal remedies and pharmaceutical drugs have their benefits, but also downfalls, and it is important to fully understand and know both, so that the best solution for a person, and the world can be determined. By knowing about benefits and drawbacks about both herbal remedies and pharmaceutical drugs, we are better prepared and can accurately figure out what’s best for us and what’s better going forward. With advances in modern medicine still, and more discovery of herbal remedies, we can ensure a brighter, safer, healthier future.

References

1. Gove, P. B. (2002). Pharmaceutical Drug. In Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged. A Merriam Webster. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.
2. Hall, H. (2011). Herbal Remedies, Street Drugs, and Pharmacology. Science Based Medicine. Retrieved from https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/herbal-remedies-street-drugs-and-pharmacology/
3. Karimi, A., Majlesi, M., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2015). Herbal Versus Synthetic Drugs; Beliefs and Facts. Journal of Nephropharmacology. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5297475/
4. Nilsen, P., Roback, K., Broström, A., & Ellström, P. (2012). Creatures of Habit: Accounting for the Role of Habit in Implementation Research on Clinical Behaviour Change. Implementation Science,7(1). doi:10.1186/1748-5908-7-53.
5. NIMH. (2017). What Is Herbal Medicine? Retrieved from https://www.nimh.org.uk/whats-herbal-medicine/
6. Sonny-Bal, B. (2008). An Introduction to Medical Malpractice in the United States. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 467(2), 339-47. doi:10.1007/s11999-008-0636-2.
7. ‘The Truth About Prescription Drugs;. Drug Free World. Retrieved from https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/prescription/abuse-international-statistics.html