Bioclinic Naturals, IB Care 60 Enteric Coated Softgels

Benefits

• Provides clinically effective amounts of peppermint, caraway, and oregano oils at proven dosages
• Potent amounts of active components: 50% menthol (peppermint), 60% phenol (oregano), and 50% carvone (caraway)
• Enteric coating improves efficacy, allowing for antispasmodic effect in gastric and upper intestinal tissues
• Research confirms that peppermint oil is more effective and better tolerated when protected from stomach acid
• Enteric coating also reduces adverse effects and peppermint taste1

Feature Summary

IB Care contains enterically coated peppermint, oregano, and caraway oils, all shown to have benefits for diverse gastrointestinal disturbances. Peppermint oil is known to influence gastric motility, accelerating early gastric emptying with an antispasmodic effect on the stomach.1 It also increases the relaxation time of the pyloric valve, decreases the resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, and has benefits when combined with caraway oil, producing smooth muscle relaxation in the stomach and duodenum.2–4 Oregano oil has demonstrated antimicrobial effects against H. pylori, the primary cause of peptic ulcer disease and dyspepsia, as well as other GI pathogens.5,6

Clinically, enterically coated preparations of these oils have demonstrated benefits in a number of clinical trials. A meta-analysis of twelve randomized trials with a total of 835 irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients compared the effects of peppermint oil to placebo. Compared to the placebo group, patients taking peppermint oil had significant improvements in both global symptoms and abdominal pain.7 Improvement has been shown for dyspepsia and symptoms such as pain, heaviness, and abdominal pressure in controlled trials, regardless of H. pylori status, and even in patients with significant epigastric pain.8–11 Additionally, enteric-coated peppermint oil demonstrated clinical efficacy in a number of trials for IBS, showing improvement in the majority of participants, and in both children and adults.9–13

Non-Medicinal Ingredients

Softgel (gelatin, glycerin, purified water), enteric coating (purified water, ethylcellulose, medium chain triglycerides, oleic acid, sodium alginate, stearic acid).

Dosage

Recommended Adult Dose: 1 enteric coated softgel, 3 times per day, 15–30 minutes before a meal, or as directed by a health care practitioner. Take a few hours before or after taking supplements containing iron, zinc, calcium, or copper. Use in 3-week cycles, with an interruption of at least one week between the cycles.

Warnings

Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have hypersensitivity or are allergic to herbs in the Lamiaceae/Apiaceae/carrot family. Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen. Consult a health care practitioner before use if you have gallstones, anemia, hiatus hernia, gastroesophageal reflux, or if you are experiencing acute abdominal pain. Some people may experience gastroesophageal reflux. Hypersensitivity has been known to occur, in which case discontinue use. Discontinue use if you experience gastrointestinal upset. Keep out of reach of children.

Allergens

Contains no artificial colors, preservatives, or sweeteners; no dairy, starch, sugar, wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, corn, egg, fish, shellfish, salt, tree nuts, or GMOs.

Contraindications

Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have hypersensitivity or are allergic to herbs in the Lamiaceae/Apiaceae/Carrot family. Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen. Consult a health care practitioner before use if you have gallstones, anemia, hiatus hernia, gastroesophageal reflux, or if you are experiencing acute abdominal pain. Hypersensitivity has been known to occur, in which case discontinue use. Discontinue use if you experience gastrointestinal upset. Keep out of reach of children.

Drug Interactions

There are no known drug interactions. Theoretically, caraway may reduce blood sugar levels, which should be monitored in individuals on diabetes medication.14

References:

1. Inamori, M., Akiyama, T., Akimoto, K., et al. (2007). Early effects of peppermint oil on gastric emptying: A crossover study using a continuous real-time 13C breath test (BreathID system). J Gastroenterol, 42(7), 539-42.
2. Hiki, N., Kurosaka, H., Tatsutomi, Y., et al. (2003). Peppermint oil reduces gastric spasm during upper endoscopy: A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy controlled trial. Gastrointest Endosc, 57(4), 475-82.
3. Micklefield, G., Jung, O., Greving, I., et al. (2003). Effects of intraduodenal application of peppermint oil (WS(R) 1340) and caraway oil (WS(R) 1520) on gastroduodenal motility in healthy volunteers. Phytother Res, 17(2), 135-40.
4. Freise, J., & Köhler, S. (1999). [Peppermint oil-caraway oil fixed combination in non-ulcer dyspepsia–comparison of the effects of enteric preparations]. Pharmazie, 54(3), 210-5.
5. Mahady, G.B., Pendland, S.L., Stoia, A., et al. (2005). In vitro susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to botanical extracts used traditionally for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Phytother Res, 19(11), 988-91.
6. Force, M., Sparks, W.S., & Ronzio, R.A. (2000). Inhibition of enteric parasites by emulsified oil of oregano in vivo. Phytother Res, 14(3), 213-4.
7. Alammar, N., Wang, L., Saberi, B., et al. (2019). The impact of peppermint oil on irritable bowel syndrome: A meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data. BMC Complement Altern Med, 19(1), 21.
8. Cash, B.D., Epstein, M.S., & Shah, S.M. (2016). A novel delivery system of peppermint oil is an effective therapy for irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Dig Dis Sci, 61(2), 560-71.
9. Madisch, A., Heydenreich, C.J., Wieland, V., et al. (1999). Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a fixed peppermint oil and caraway oil combination preparation as compared to cisapride. A multicenter, reference-controlled double-blind equivalence study. Arzneimittelforschung, 49(11), 925-32.
10. May, B., Köhler, S., & Schneider, B. (2000). Efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of peppermint oil and caraway oil in patients suffering from functional dyspepsia. Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 14(12), 1671-7.
11. May, B., Kuntz, H.D., Kieser, M., et al. (1996). Efficacy of a fixed peppermint oil/caraway oil combination in non-ulcer dyspepsia. Arzneimittelforschung, 46(12), 1149-53.
12. Ford, A.C., Talley, N.J., Spiegel, B.M., et al. (2008). Effect of fiber, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 337, a2313.
13. Kline, R.M., Kline, J.J., Di Palma, J., et al. (2001). Enteric-coated, pH-dependent peppermint oil capsules for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome in children. J Pediatr, 138(1), 125-8.
14. Eddouks, M., Lemhadri, A., & Michel, J.B. (2004). Caraway and caper: Potential anti-hyperglycaemic plants in diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol, 94(1), 143-8.