A long-term link
For centuries, traditional medicine made use of different compounds to alleviate digestive disorders.
Medicinal herbs, such as ginseng, appear in the Chinese pharmacopeia as early as 196 A.D. Egyptians and Romans employed plants like chamomile in tea and other beverages. Cinnamon was traditionally used to relieve digestive tract discomfort.
But is there any scientific evidence that could show us that the medicinal use of these plants was anything more than superstition?
Actually, yes! In fact, several modern studies demonstrate that this intuition and ancient practical experience was totally correct.
Scientific trials indicate that ingesting ginseng polysaccharides improves intestinal metabolism and absorption capacities, has a positive effect on the gut microbiota, and enhances the growth of Lactobacillus spp. and Bacteroides spp. These are two groups of bacteria positively associated with intestinal health.
Caraway has historically been applied to treat several digestive conditions. One of the most interesting properties of caraway is its potential to help reduce chronic inflammation. This type of inflammation is connected to an increased risk of many other chronic conditions and associated with leaky gut syndrome in farm animals.
Cinnamaldehyde, the main component in cinnamon, is known for its antimicrobial activity. It has been proven to inhibit the growth of Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, fungus and yeast.
Besides its culinary use as a spice, star anise is widely used for its antiviral effects. Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) is not only a powerful antiviral ingredient, but has, among other things, an antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effect – not to mention its appetite-stimulating capacity.
Oregano is another spice commonly used to relieve digestive disorders. It is particularly well-known in Mediterranean and Asian diets. It has strong antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-helminthic properties that make it one of the preferred spices for controlling digestive disorders.
Another interesting compound for intestinal health is chamomile, with high concentrations of terpenoids and flavonoids having anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antispasmodic and relaxant effects.
Knowledge handed down from traditional medicine is nowadays being proven using scientific methods. The effect of compounds is enhanced when used as a mix of different compounds acting in synergy.
At MIAVIT we have gathered scientific data and traditional wisdom to create a new generation of phytogenic products – Miarom Intest – which is available as a liquid and coated powder. The powder is unique thanks to MIAVIT’s in-house coating technology, which protects the compounds during thermal treatment and allows a targeted slow release in the whole digestive tract.