Clown's Mustard Plant: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions

Other Name(s):

Bitter Candy Tuft, Candytuft, Iberide, Iberis amara, Ibéris Amer, Iberis coronaria.

Overview

Clown's mustard plant is an herb. People use the leaves, stem, roots, and seeds to make medicine.

Clown's mustard plant is used for digestion problems such as heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), stomach discomfort (gastritis), and bloating. It is also used for gout, muscle and joint aches and pains (rheumatism), rapid heartbeat, asthma, bronchitis, and fluid retention (edema).

How does work?

Early research suggests clown's mustard plant might increase contractions in the small intestine, which helps move food through the digestive tract.

Uses

Possibly Effective for...

Heartburn, when a combination of clown's mustard plant and several other herbs is used. The combination (Iberogast, Medical Futures, Inc) includes clown's mustard plant plus peppermint leaf, German chamomile, caraway, licorice, milk thistle, celandine, angelica, and lemon balm. Taking this product reduces the amount of stomach acid in the throat (acid reflux), stomach pain, cramping, nausea, and vomiting.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Gastritis.
Bloating.
Gout.
Muscle and joint aches and pains (rheumatism).
Rapid heartbeat.
Asthma.
Bronchitis.
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of clown's mustard plant for these uses.

SLIDESHOW

Digestive Disorders: Common Misconceptions See Slideshow

Side Effects

Clown's mustard plant seems to be safe for most people when used for up to eight weeks. It can cause side effects in some people, including nausea, diarrhea, and skin rashes.

Precautions

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of clown's mustard plant during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

For heartburn: A specific combination product containing clown's mustard plant (Iberogast, Medical Futures, Inc) and several other herbs has been used in a dose of 1 mL three times daily for 4 weeks.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References

Fabre N, Urizzi P, Souchard JP, et al. An antioxidant sinapic acid ester isolated from Iberis amara. Fitoterapia 2000;71:425-8. View abstract.

Holtmann G, Madisch A, Juergen H, et al. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on the effects of an herbal preparation in patients with functional dyspepsia [Abstract]. Ann Mtg Digestive Disease Week 1999 May.

Madisch A, Holtmann G, Mayr G, et al. Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a herbal preparation. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Digestion 2004;69:45-52. View abstract.

Melzer J, Rosch W, Reichling J, et al. Meta-analysis: phytotherapy of functional dyspepsia with the herbal drug preparation STW 5 (Iberogast). Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2004;20:1279-87. View abstract.

Steimer P. Iberogast therapy in gastroenterology. Der Krankenhaus Arzt 1983;56:1005-8.

Storr M, Sibaev A, Weiser D, et al. Herbal extracts modulate the amplitude and frequency of slow waves in circular smooth muscle of mouse small intestine. Digestion 2004;70:257-64. View abstract.