You have probably not encountered this pair of words, but functional dyspepsia is one of the most common disorders of the digestive system, and also one of the hardest to treat. People who suffer from it describe a feeling of fullness, bloating, pressure, discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen, sometimes for months and even years, without a clear organic cause being found in tests.
Despite widespread use of medications such as antacids and prokinetic drugs (which promote intestinal motility), many patients do not experience sufficient relief. Against this background, interest is growing in natural treatments based on scientific evidence.
A new, controlled clinical study provides such evidence for the first time for juniper oil (Juniperus communis): A medicinal plant well known from the European tradition.
Functional dyspepsia is defined as a functional disorder of the upper digestive system, meaning a condition in which significant symptoms exist without a structural finding. The disorder affects eating, work, sleep and overall quality of life, and poses a considerable therapeutic challenge.
Juniper berries contain essential oils rich in active compounds such as α-pinene, β-myrcene, terpinen-4-ol and limonene. Pre-clinical studies have attributed to these substances antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial effects and an effect on gastric acid secretion.
However, until recently, high-quality clinical evidence for these effects in humans with functional dyspepsia was lacking.
What did the study include?
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 76 adults with persistent symptoms of functional dyspepsia participated. The participants received for 28 days standardized juniper oil at a dose of 100 mg per day or placebo.
The researchers examined change in a composite symptom score (discomfort, pressure and fullness in the upper abdomen), physician and patient assessment, quality of life, frequency and intensity of symptoms and safety.
After four weeks, the juniper oil group showed a significant and marked reduction in dyspepsia symptoms compared to placebo. The improvement included a reduction in pain and cramps in the upper abdomen, a feeling of fullness after eating, bloating and abdominal pressure. The improvement was observed already after two weeks and strengthened until the end of the study.
Beyond symptom relief, the participants reported a noticeable improvement in quality of life. The participants reported better daily functioning, improved ability to eat, a greater sense of control over symptoms and improvement in sleep indices compared to the placebo group.
From the realm of tradition to the realm of evidence-based medicine
Juniper oil was found to be safe and well tolerated. No serious side effects were reported, and the incidence of mild gastrointestinal side effects was similar to placebo. These findings are consistent with previous toxicological data, which found no evidence of renal or genetic harm with prudent use of juniper oil.
This is the first clinical study of its kind to provide controlled evidence for the efficacy of standardized juniper oil in functional dyspepsia. It moves the plant from the realm of tradition to the realm of evidence-based medicine. For patients who do not respond well to drug treatment, or who are looking for a safe option of using medicinal plants, this is a new and promising option.
The duration of the study was 28 days, and therefore long-term studies are required to assess sustained efficacy and prevention of symptom recurrence. In addition, it is possible that in the future patient groups will be identified who will benefit especially from the treatment.
The study offers new hope to millions of people with functional dyspepsia: A natural treatment, scientifically controlled, that has proven relief of symptoms and improvement in quality of life – with a good safety profile. Juniper oil may become an important part of the therapeutic toolbox in functional digestive disorders, and connect traditional knowledge with modern medicine.
Dr. Dalit Draiman-Medina is a specialist in family medicine and integrative and functional medicine