Complementary and alternative medicine for functional dyspepsia: An Asian perspective

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Integrative Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Many Asian patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) seek complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) due to dissatisfaction with conventional treatments.
• Traditional Asian herbal formulas are frequently used for FD, but evidence of their efficacy is limited.
• Existing research on CAM for FD lacks a specific focus on the Asian perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current evidence for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies used in treating functional dyspepsia (FD), with an emphasis on Asian perspectives.
• To identify gaps in research and highlight the need for well-designed studies evaluating CAM efficacy in Asian populations with FD.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on CAM for functional dyspepsia (FD).
• Analysis of studies on herbal formulas, STW-5, peppermint, caraway, black seed oil, Jollab, acupuncture, and psychotherapy.
• Evaluation of evidence quality, including randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses.

Main Results:

• Limited evidence supports the effectiveness of many traditional Asian herbal formulas for FD.
• STW-5 shows proven efficacy and safety for FD treatment.
• Evidence for peppermint, caraway, black seed oil, Jollab, acupuncture, and psychotherapy in FD is inconsistent or weak.

Conclusions:

• While some CAM therapies like STW-5 show promise, robust evidence for many others, especially traditional Asian remedies, is lacking for functional dyspepsia (FD).
• Further large-scale, well-designed studies are essential to establish the efficacy and safety of CAM for FD, particularly in Asian populations.