Index of Herbs

Herbal formulas

Herbs that work together

Many of the best-studied herbal products are combinations. Each page explains what is in the blend, what trials of the combination itself have found, and who should avoid it.

How to read the ratings

  • Good clinical evidence
  • Promising clinical evidence
  • Early or mixed evidence
  • Long traditional use

Ratings reflect trials of the combination for its main use, not the evidence for each ingredient on its own.

  • Iberogast (STW 5)

    Iberogast Classic, Iberogast Advance, Iberogast N, STW 5, STW 5-II

    Indigestion and IBS

    Promising clinical evidence

    German herbal drops for indigestion and IBS. Classic has nine herbs including greater celandine; Advance has six and no celandine.

    9 ingredients

  • Sinupret (BNO 1016)

    Sinupret extract, Sinupret eXtract, BNO 1016, Sinupret forte, Sinupret Saft, Sinupret Adult Strength, BNO 101, five-herb sinus formula

    Acute viral sinusitis

    Promising clinical evidence

    A German five-herb sinus extract that eased acute viral sinusitis modestly faster than placebo in two manufacturer-funded trials.

    5 ingredients

  • Thyme and Ivy

    Bronchipret, Bronchipret Saft TE, Bronchipret Tropfen, Bronchipret Thymian Efeu, BNO 1200 (drops), thyme–ivy syrup, thyme and ivy leaf fluid extract

    Acute bronchitis with chesty cough

    Promising clinical evidence

    A fixed thyme and ivy leaf extract combination for chesty coughs, tested against placebo in one trial of 361 adults with bronchitis.

    2 ingredients

  • Peppermint and Caraway Oil

    Menthacarin, Carmenthin, Enteroplant, Gaspan, Gastropan, peppermint oil and caraway oil capsules, PCC, POCO

    Functional dyspepsia (indigestion)

    Promising clinical evidence

    Enteric-coated capsules of peppermint and caraway oil, studied mainly by their maker for functional dyspepsia (chronic indigestion).

    2 ingredients

  • Saw Palmetto and Nettle Root

    PRO 160/120, WS 1541, Prostagutt duo, Prostagutt forte, Prostagut Forte, sabal and urtica extract, saw palmetto–nettle root combination

    Urinary symptoms of enlarged prostate

    Promising clinical evidence

    A German capsule of saw palmetto fruit and nettle root extracts, tested by its maker for urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

    2 ingredients

  • Valerian and Hops

    Ze 91019, Redormin 500, ReDormin Forte, Alluna Schlaf, Zeller Schlaf forte, valerian-hops combination, Baldrian-Hopfen

    Insomnia and sleep problems

    Early or mixed evidence

    A fixed valerian root and hop cone extract tablet for sleep, approved in the EU, with small and mixed trial results.

    2 ingredients

  • Myrtol (GeloMyrtol forte)

    GeloMyrtol forte, Myrtol 120 mg, ELOM-080, Myrtol standardized, Gelomyrtol, eucalyptus, sweet orange, myrtle, and lemon oil distillate

    Acute bronchitis and sinusitis

    Promising clinical evidence

    A German capsule of distilled eucalyptus, sweet orange, myrtle, and lemon oils, tested against placebo in acute bronchitis and sinusitis.

    4 ingredients

  • Kan Jang (Andrographis and Eleuthero)

    Kan Jang tablets, Kan Jang First Defence, Nergecov, agaDA, SHA-10 and SHE-3 extracts, andrographis with Siberian ginseng

    Common cold symptoms

    Promising clinical evidence

    An andrographis and eleuthero blend that eased cold symptoms in manufacturer-linked trials; its andrographis can cause anaphylaxis.

    2 ingredients

  • Triphala

    Triphala churna, Triphala curna, Triphala choornam, Phala trika, Itrifal Saghir, three fruits

    Occasional constipation

    Long traditional use

    An Ayurvedic powder of three dried fruits, taken at night as a mild laxative. Its trials are small and product quality varies.

    3 ingredients

  • Turmeric and Black Pepper

    Turmeric with black pepper, curcumin with piperine, curcumin–piperine, curcuminoids plus piperine, turmeric with BioPerine

    Knee osteoarthritis pain

    Early or mixed evidence

    Turmeric extract with piperine from black pepper to boost curcumin absorption; joint evidence is thin and liver and drug risks are real.

    2 ingredients

  • Sativex (nabiximols)

    Nabiximols, THC:CBD oromucosal spray, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol spray

    MS muscle spasticity

    Promising clinical evidence

    A prescription mouth spray of two cannabis extracts, about equal THC and CBD, licensed in the UK for MS spasticity after a 4-week trial.

    2 ingredients

  • Canephron (BNO 1045)

    Canephron N, Canephron N Dragees, Canephron N Tropfen, Canephron Uno, BNO 1045, centaury, lovage, and rosemary tablets

    Mild uncomplicated cystitis (bladder infection) in women

    Early or mixed evidence

    A German three-herb tablet for mild cystitis that spared antibiotics in most women in one trial, but eased symptoms more slowly.

    3 ingredients

  • Black Cohosh and St. John’s Wort

    Remifemin plus, Remifemin plus Johanniskraut, Remifemin plus St. John’s wort, iCR+HP, Traubensilberkerze und Johanniskraut, Gyno-Plus (a different Korean formulation)

    Menopausal symptoms with low mood

    Early or mixed evidence

    A German non-hormonal menopause tablet for hot flashes with low mood, backed by one maker-funded trial and with many drug interactions.

    2 ingredients

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