Bamboo Pharmacy’s Digestive Support Review

From the company:

Bamboo Pharmacy’s Digestive Support Formula
 
Digestive Support formula is an amazing treatment for “food stagnation.” Usually within about half an hour, the full and uncomfortable sensation starts to disappear. One interesting herb in our Digestive Support formula is Massa Fermenta, a fermented grain mixed with many different herbs that creates a powerful probiotic effect. Although it contains wheat, because it is fermented and combined with other digestive herbs, many with slight intolerances to wheat or gluten have actually benefited from its strong balancing and harmonizing actions.

So what is food stagnation?
 
According to traditional Chinese medicine, most acute digestive difficulties, such as indigestion, involve some element of “food stagnation” (literally food stuck and unable to be processed) due to what are termed “irregular eating habits.” Irregular eating habits can range from things like eating at irregular times, eating late at night, eating food that has gone bad, or simply eating too much, to eating while working, stressed or on the go, and eating poor food combinations and fast foods.

Other ingredients: Vegetarian capsule (Hypromellose, Water), Talcum, Activated Carbon, China wax

• Take 3 capsules 3 times daily as needed or as directed by your health care practitioner.
• For children under 12, consult a physician before use.
• Contains wheat and tree nuts.
• Keep out of reach of children.

(Main ingredients are listed below)

My thoughts:

I have no gallbladder and take probiotics daily to help with digestion – when I don't take them it's not a pretty picture. Normally I cannot eat anything greasy, fatty, tasty, delicious, or red meat. I get horrible stomach aches, indigestion and really bad heart burn.

I decided to test these out after having a hamburger one night because I really love hamburger but cannot eat it often due to my situation. I can say this did help quite a bit with the uncomfortable feeling I get after eating meat, or anything greasy/fatty or too much.

I didn't time it but it did not take long before I started feeling it kick in. Since I did eat more than usual with that meal I did feel “over full” and this did help that feeling to go away a bit. It also helped tone down the stomach ache and heart burn/ indigestion I usually feel after eating red meat and too much.

I also noticed that I didn't have to run to the bathroom quickly after eating like I normally do when I eat red meat. I have to say I'm fairly impressed with this product and would recommend giving it a try if you have problems with digestion in any way.

*However, I do want to state that you should always talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.

I did try to Google more information about this product and what exactly it is supposed to do but couldn't find anything. I did look up the ingredients and this is what I found (please note this information was all found on various websites and are not my opinion. The following is NOT provided by the company, the FDA, or the Government):

Hoelen sclerotium/Poria cocos:  Also known as Wolfiporia cocos(Schw.) Ryv. Antibacterial effect. Experiment in vitro found no bacteriostatic action. Poria extract by ethanol instead of water can kill leptospira in vitro; Effects on the digestive system. This herb can directly relax the isolated rabbit intestine, prevent pylorus ligation-induced gastric ulcer in rats, and reduce stomach acid; Other effects. It can lower blood sugar. Its tincture and infusion can inhibit the isolated toad heart. Poria cocos extract by ether or ethanol can strengthen cardiac contractility. But it showed no antiemetic effect to digitalis induced vomiting.

Job’s tears seed/Coix lacryma jobi: Job's tears is a grass. The grass, root, and seed of the plant are sometimes used as a medicine. Other chemicals might also have antioxidant effects and also decrease growth of bacteria and parasites. There isn't enough information to know if Job's tears has this activity in people. Fiber contained in Job's tears might also decrease how much fat and cholesterol the body absorbs.

Patchouli herb/Pogostemon cablin: Medicinally it refers to the dried aerial part of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth., a plant in the family Lamiaceae. So, it is also commonly known as Herba Pogostemonis sometimes. Actually another herb called Agastache rugosa in different genus also shares the name of Huo Xiang. In comparison, patchouli herb has stronger scent and better medicinal properties. It is normally harvested during summer when the plant flourishes. After the reaping, it needs to be dried in the sun by day and covered tightly by night till it is fully dried. It can promote the secretion of gastric juice, enhance the digestion, and relieve gastrointestinal spasm. It has antiseptic and antibacterial effect. It astringes to arrest diarrhea, dilates capillaries, and induces perspiration slightly.

Magnolia bark/Magnolia officinalis: Magnolia bark has been used to treat menstrual cramps, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating and gas, nausea, and indigestion.

Angelica root/Angelica dahurica: Also known as radix angelicae dahuricae, it actually refers to the roots of Angelica dahurica var. formosana (Boiss.) Yuan et Shan and Angelica dahuricae (Fisch.) Benth. Et Hook. They are collected in next autumn if sowing seed this autumn and about Cold Dew if sowing seed this spring. Used for upset stomach (dyspepsia), when a combination of angelica and five other herbs is used. A specific combination product containing angelica (Iberogast, Medical Futures, Inc) seems to improve symptoms of upset stomach including acid reflux, stomach pain, cramping, nausea, and vomiting.

Fermented leaven/Massa fermenta: A famous Chinese herb that is good at curing indigestion. Clinically it is frequently used to treat a variety of ailments, such as chronic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, acute gastroenteritis, amoebic dysentery, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and children’s simple indigestion, anorexia, dyspepsia, and more.

Atractylodes lancea rhizome: This plant, a perennial erect herb is a member of the Asteraceae (Compositae). And the medicinal part is the rhizome. Main uses and indications are abdominal fullness and distention, diarrhea, edema, beriberi, atrophy and flaccidity, arthralgia due to wind and dampness, common cold due to wind-cold, night blindness, dampness obstructing spleen-stomach, lassitude, loss of appetite, vomiting, and phlegm and retained fluid, etc.

Aucklandia lappa root: A herb, the root of which is used in Chinese medicine for gastrointestinal complaints, including anorexia, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, pain and vomiting.

Kudzu root/Peuraria lobata: Kudzu is a vine. Kudzu’s root, flower, and leaf are used to make medicine. Uses for this herbal extract are cough, colds and other viral infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, measles, fevers, snake and insect bites, diarrhea, dysentery, intestinal ailments, enteritis, constipation, removal of excess fluids from the body, digestive disorders, bad breath, sinus problems, anemia, internal bleeding, thirst, hunger, lack of energy, muscle shrinking, diaphoretic, strengthen the spleen, stomach and intestines, sexual apathy, impotence, infertility, asthma, diabetes and dizziness, as well as strengthen the entire immune system.

Foxtail millet/Setaria italica fruit: Foxtail millet ( Setaria italica) is a diploid grass. The germinated seed of yellow-seeded cultivars is astringent, digestive, emollient and stomachic. It is used in the treatment of dyspepsia, poor digestion and food stagnancy in the abdomen. White seeds are refrigerant and used in the treatment of cholera and fever.

Snakeground/Trichosanthes kirilowii root: Trichosanthes kirilowii, or Gua Lou in Mandarin, is a common plant frequently seen in most Chinese courtyards.The whole fruit can be used for medicinal purposes.Trichosanthes kirilowii seeds, or Gua Lou Ren, can lubricate the intestines. And trichosanthes kirilowii root, or Tian Hua Fen, can help produce saliva and slake thirst, moisten dryness, and reduce pathogenic fire.

Chrysanthemum morifolium flower: Helps digestion, makes digesting greasy foods easier.

Red tangerine peel/Citrus reticulata:Spleen/stomach Qi stagnation: distention in the epigastrium and abdomen, belching, bloating, fullness, nausea, vomiting

Exocarp: The outer layer of the pericarp of a flower. The outer portion of a fruit, as the flesh of a peach or the rind of an orange. (Could not find medicinal uses, my guess is it helps with digestion.)

Gastrodia elata rhizome: A saprophytic perennial herb of the Orchidaceae family. Its traditional uses are to calm the liver and to clear the meridians by invigorating the patient's circulation. The specific conditions that were treated by gastrodia include migraine headaches, dizziness or vertigo due to liver inflammations, convulsions caused by heat excess, paralysis, general fatigue, numbness in the hands or feet, and pain in the joints. More recently, gastrodia has been used to relieve nervous headaches, pain in the trigeminal nerve, nocturnal emissions, difficult breathing, insomnia due to stress, and hypertension.

Mint/Mentha haplocalyx herb: Treats stomach aches/pains.

You can purchase it here: http://www.bamboopharmacy.com/products/digestive-health-support.html for $16.95

**I received this product free in exchange for my unbiased review. I was not compensated for my review and all my opinions are my own. One may or may not have the same results as myself when using this product. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.