People with gastrointestinal and liver disorders face serious often lifelong health complications, which can not only cause discomfort but deep personal distress as well. In this video, we will discuss some of the most common botanicals used for gastrointestinal and liver disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, nausea, and liver disease. IBS is the most common functional abdominal disorder. It is a group of symptoms which include varying levels of abdominal discomfort, irregular bowel movements, bloating, and rectal urgency. The symptoms can affect a person's ability to attend work or school and have other negative impacts on their overall quality of life. It's also a common reason that people seek alternative treatment options. Up to 51 percent of patients with IBS report having utilize complementary therapies and healing practices to help manage their symptoms. Have you ever wondered why so many restaurants serve peppermint candy after meal? Historically, peppermint was served because it helps settle the stomach and ease cramping. This plant has communitive properties due to compounds called menthol and methyl salicylate, which can help relax the smooth muscle in the gut. Peppermint oil has been studied for its ability to slow gut motility and ease discomfort in IBS. A meta-analysis of pooled clinical data's published in 2019 confirmed previous findings that peppermint oil is a safe and effective treatment for IBS symptoms. Researchers found that peppermint oil is significantly improving abdominal pain and global symptoms of IBS and has a good safety profile. Nausea is a frequent gastrointestinal complaint that can be attributed to a wide range of causes including infections, pregnancy, motion sickness, side effects of medications, and gastritis. In general, botanicals are appropriate for milder symptoms, and pharmaceuticals may be needed for more persistent or severe symptoms. Long been used for stomach ailments, ginger remains popular, with ginger oil a frequent home remedy for an upset stomach. The writ of ginger plant contains compounds called ginger rows, which have anti-inflammatory and communitive properties, making it useful in managing symptoms of stomach upset and nausea. Ginger has been studied for its ability to relieve pregnancy related nausea and vomiting. A systematic review of six trials, totaling 675 patients revealed ginger to be superior to placebo, and two studies found it to be as effective as vitamin B6, a standard treatment for nausea and vomiting and pregnancy, no adverse effects were reported. The liver helps with detoxification in blood clotting and these functions can be impaired if the liver suffers from damage, from viruses, alcohol, toxins, obesity, or inherited genetic conditions. Severe damage can cause scarring of the liver known as cirrhosis, which can ultimately lead to liver failure. The seeds of the milk thistle plant have traditionally been used in the treatment of a variety of disorders, most notably various forms of liver disease. This plant contains a group of flavonolignans could collectively known as silymarin, which appears to protect the liver from damage, through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Milk thistle is a popular supplement among people with hepatitis, alcohol liver disease, and cirrhosis, and among those taking medicines that damage the liver such as chemotherapy agents. While more high quality research is still needed, a few small studies indicate that milk thistle is associated with a trend towards reduced liver toxicity. It is important to note that there are critical contraindications to be aware of when considering these herbs particularly in regard to potential herb drug interactions, take a look at the readings in this lesson to learn more.