Synopsis

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

Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) has a long history of use in traditional Japanese herbal medicine (Kampo). In traditional practice, ashitaba is valued for its general health-promoting effects, including support for digestion and gastrointestinal health, which encompasses the small intestine. Traditional texts and folk uses suggest ashitaba may help with gut motility, appetite, and overall digestive balance, although specific references to the “small intestine” as understood in Western physiology are rare. Instead, traditional uses often refer to harmonizing the stomach and intestines in a holistic sense.

Scientific research on ashitaba has focused on its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential antimicrobial properties, largely due to compounds such as chalcones (e.g., 4-hydroxyderricin and xanthoangelol). Some animal and cell studies suggest ashitaba extracts may protect gastrointestinal mucosa and reduce inflammation, but these studies generally address the digestive system as a whole and do not specifically examine effects on the small intestine in humans. There are no high-quality clinical trials directly validating ashitaba’s impact on small intestine function in humans. Thus, while traditional use for supporting digestive health is documented, robust scientific evidence specifically for small intestine support is currently lacking.

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