Candytuft Usage

Candytuft is widely used in Germany for treatment of dyspepsia . This term indicates chronic digestive distress that occurs in the absence of any identifiable cause, such as an ulcer. Symptoms include stomach discomfort, gas, bloating, belching, appetite loss, and nausea.

Several studies, enrolling a total of over 600 participants, have found benefits for dyspepsia with use of a proprietary herbal combination therapy containing candytuft as the primary ingredient. ¹ The product tested in these studies has undergone change over time. The original version included, along with candytuft, matricaria flower (chamomile), peppermint leaves , caraway, licorice root , and lemon balm . Subsequently, an augmented preparation was tested that utilized, in addition to the above, a mixture of angelica root, celandine , and milk thistle . This second preparation later became the one used by the manufacturer in lieu of the original. In the subsequent text, we shall refer to the first mixture as the “original” candytuft combination and the augmented one as the "newer" product.

Besides dyspepsia, candytuft combinations have shown potential for decreasing the gastrointestinal side effects caused by a variety of medications ² and for reducing lower digestive tract symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome . ³