Evidence supporting the use of: Nardostachys
For the health condition: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Nardostachys jatamansi, commonly known as spikenard, is a herb widely used in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine. Its use for gastrointestinal complaints, including symptoms resembling Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)—such as indigestion, abdominal pain, and bloating—has a long precedent in these traditions. Ayurvedic texts describe Nardostachys as having "deepana" (appetizer) and "pachana" (digestive) properties and recommend it for disorders involving disturbances of "Vata" and "Pitta" doshas, which are sometimes interpreted as analogous to functional gut disorders like IBS. However, while this traditional use is well documented, scientific validation remains limited. A few preclinical studies suggest that extracts of Nardostachys jatamansi possess antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties, which could theoretically alleviate some IBS symptoms. For example, in vitro and animal studies have shown that Nardostachys extracts can reduce gastrointestinal motility and spasms. Nonetheless, there are no well-designed clinical trials in humans specifically evaluating its efficacy for IBS, and existing research is too preliminary to draw firm conclusions. Therefore, the justification for using Nardostachys to support or treat IBS is primarily traditional, with a modest (rated as 2/5) evidence base, mostly limited to historical use and early-stage pharmacological investigations rather than robust clinical evidence.
Other ingredients used for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
2'-FucosyllactoseAgastache
Agrimonia pilosa
Akkermansia muciniphila
Alexandrian senna
Algae
Aloe vera
alpha-galactosidase
alpha-pinene
amino acids
anise
asafoetida
atractylodes
Bacillus
bacillus clausii
bacillus coagulans
Bacillus indicus
Bacillus licheniformis
bacillus subtilis
bacteria
bayleaf
belleric myrobalan
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta caryophyllene
betony
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
bilberry
bio ecolian (proprietary)
bitter principals
black salt
blackberry
Boswellia
Boswellic Acid
bran
butyrate triglyceride
butyric acid
cannabidiol
chen pi
chia seed
chlorella
chrysanthemum
cinnamon
citron
Clerodendrum indicum
coriander
cumin
curcumin
Dichrostachys glomerata
dragonhead
Enterococcus
enzyme blend
fennel
ferula assafoetida
fiber
fig
flaxseed
Frangula
fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
Fumaria parviflora
galactomannan
galactooligosaccharides
ginger
Glucooligosaccharides
green banana
green tea
guar gum
hemicellulose
holarrhena antidysenterica
hyssop
Indian coraltree
Indian frankincense
inulin
isomalto-oligosaccharide
Kluyveromyces marxianus
L-glutamine
L. lactis
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus bulgaricus
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus helveticus
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus pentosus
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus sakei
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactococcus casei
Lactococcus lactis
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Leuconostoc
locust bean gum
lovage
Lysimachia
Malva sylvestris
Marshmallow
Meadowsweet
Mentha haplocalyx
Methylcellulose
Mucilage
Nardostachys
oat
Oligosaccharides
Operculina turpethum
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Pediococcus acidilactici
Pediococcus pentosaceus
Peppermint
Phellodendron
Pimpinella
Plectranthus amboinicus
plum fruit
pomegranate
Portulaca
probiotics
Propionibacterium freudenreichii
psyllium
quercetin
quince
resveratrol
rhubarb
Rhus coriaria
Rubus
Saccharomyces boulardii
Sagebrush
Salvia
Sanguisorba
Savory
senna
Slippery Elm
slippery elm bark
spearmint leaf
streptococcus thermophilus
tributyrin
turmeric
Viburnum
vitamin D
White oak
xylooligosaccharides
Yacon
Zinc
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by Nardostachys
Abdominal PainAnxiety
Backache
Burns and Scalds
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Canker Sores
Chest Pain
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Congestion
Congestion (sinus)
Cuts
Depression
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Edema
Epilepsy
Eye Problems
Fatigue
Fever
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Headache (general)
Headache (tension)
Indigestion
Inflammation
Insomnia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Liver Detoxification
Memory and Brain Function
Migraine
Nausea and Vomiting
Pain (general remedies for)
Stress
Ulcers
Wounds and Sores
