Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used to Treat Digestive System Disorders in Lithuania

The popularity of herbal remedies is on the rise, but this often comes at the expense of general knowledge about non-native species. The frequency and versatility of the use of medicinal plants does not depend on their origin, while the use of species with proven efficacy is much more intensive. The most abundant plant families, according used taxa and use records, are Asteraceae, Rosaceae and Lamiaceae. The greatest consensus is on the choice of taxa suitable for the treatment of bloating/flatulence and diarrhea, most commonly treated with Carum carvi L. fruit tea and dried or fresh berries of Vaccinium myrtillus L., respectively. The most popular species for treatment of digestive disorders are Artemisia absinthium L. and Matricaria chamomilla L. The use of different taxa for the treatment of digestive disorders in Lithuania varies considerably for a number of reasons, one of which is the uneven distribution of medicinal plant species in the study areas.