Evidence supporting the use of: Lovage
For the health condition: Belching

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lovage (Levisticum officinale) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in European and folk remedies. Traditionally, lovage has been used as a carminative, which refers to herbs that help relieve flatulence, bloating, and belching by promoting the expulsion of gas from the digestive tract. The seeds and roots of lovage contain volatile oils and other compounds thought to stimulate digestive secretions and relax intestinal muscles, thereby reducing gastrointestinal discomfort such as belching.

Historical sources, such as early European herbal texts and pharmacopoeias, mention lovage as a remedy for digestive complaints, including excessive gas and belching. The use is primarily based on empirical observations and longstanding herbal traditions rather than controlled scientific studies. While modern phytotherapy references (e.g., Commission E Monographs, British Herbal Pharmacopoeia) recognize lovage’s carminative properties, there is a lack of robust clinical trials specifically evaluating its effectiveness for belching.

In summary, the use of lovage for belching is justified by traditional practice and anecdotal reports rather than scientific validation. Although its carminative action is theoretically plausible, and it has a centuries-old reputation for relieving digestive discomfort, the strength of evidence supporting its use for belching specifically is moderate within traditional contexts and low by scientific standards.

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