Background Carmelite spirits are traditionally used as medications for the improvement of well-being in cases of nervous complaints, including nervous gastrointestinal disturbances such as fullness and bloating.
Method The study was designed as an open, observational trial. 105 patients with inner restlessness and/or nervous gastrointestinal complaints were included and treated for four weeks with the Carmelite spirit “Klosterfrau Melissengeist”. The preparation is registered as a traditional herbal medicinal product. It contains a distillate of a blend of Melissa officinalis L., leaves, Inula helenium L., roots, Angelica archangelica L., roots, Zingiber officinale Roscoe, rhizome, Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry, flower buds, Alpinia officinarum Hance, root, Piper nigrum L., fruits, Gentiana lutea L., roots, Myristica fragrans Houtt, seeds, Citrus x aurantium L., fruit peel, Cinnamomum cassia (L.) D. Don., flowers and bark, and Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton, seeds. The effects on gastrointestinal symptoms were documented using the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index GLQI [1].
Results Significant improvements of gastrointestinal complaints were reported by 81.9% of patients and for all of the 36 single symptoms. Of specific importance for the situation with nervous gastrointestinal complaints were the effects on gastrointestinal pain, fullness, bloating, flatulence, and regurgitation (all p<0,001; Figure 1).
Improvement of the frequency of GI complaints (0 = never, 4 = always).
Conclusions The results confirm the applicability of the GLQI as a tool in clinical studies. They support the indication of Carmelite spirit as a traditional herbal medicinal product for the treatment of nervous complaints of the gastrointestinal tract.
