What Are the Different Types of Digestive Herbs?

Digestive aids are drugs that promote the digestive function of the gastrointestinal tract, and commonly include pepsin, pancreatin, and biofermin.

Chinese name: Digestive aids
Pinyin: zhuxiaohuayao

Definition: A class of drugs that help digestion
Description: Can promote food digestion

Digestive Drug Definition

Digestive aids are drugs that can promote the gastrointestinal digestive process ^[1] , and most of them are the main components in the digestive juice, such as hydrochloric acid and a variety of digestive enzyme preparations, etc., which can be used for insufficient secretion of the digestive tract. There are also some drugs that can promote the secretion of digestive juice. In order to achieve the purpose of helping digestion. Pepsin is a digestive enzyme that is often used for indigestion after eating proteinaceous food, decreased digestive function in the recovery period after illness, and loss of appetite and chronic atrophy Gastritis, etc., but it must work under acidic conditions, so it is often combined with hydrochloric acid. It has powder (commonly known as powder), mixtures, syrups and tablets. It should be taken before or during meals, but it should not be taken with sucralfate and alkaline medicines.

Digestive Drug Classification

Usually divided into two categories: one is the normal components in the digestive juice, such as hydrochloric acid and various digestive enzymes, when the secretion of digestive function is insufficient, it plays the role of supplementary and alternative treatment; the other is to promote the secretion of digestive juice or Drugs to prevent over-fermentation in the intestinal tract, used for adjuvant treatment of indigestion, such as carnitine. ^[2]

Digestive drugs commonly used in clinical preparations

Lactic acid tablets, lactase tablets, dried yeast tablets, pepsin tablets, pepsin granules, compound pepsin powder, aspergillus oryzae trypsin tablets, compound digestive enzyme capsules, compound trypsin powder, multi-enzyme tablets, pancreatin intestines Soluble capsules, compound arazimide tablets, etc. (For the specific usage of the preparation, please refer to the drug manual. If you have any questions, please consult your doctor or pharmacist).

Pepsin: From the gastric mucosa of animals. Often taken with dilute hydrochloric acid to assist in the treatment of indigestion and other gastrointestinal diseases caused by insufficient gastric acid secretion, insufficient digestive enzyme secretion. Not compatible with alkaline drugs.

Pancreatin: It is a mixture of various enzymes, mainly containing trypsin, pancreatic amylase, pancreatic lipase, and is used orally for indigestion.

Lactobacillus (biofermin): a dry, live lactobacillus preparation that breaks down sugars to produce lactic acid, increases the acidity of intestinal contents, inhibits the proliferation of intestinal spoilage bacteria, and reduces fermentation and gas production. For indigestion, diarrhea and dyspeptic diarrhea in children. It should not be taken at the same time as antibacterial or adsorption drugs, if it is needed, it should be taken 2-3h apart.

Jianwei Xiaoshi Tablets is composed of Radix Pseudostellariae, Chenpi, Yam, Malt, Hawthorn, etc. It is suitable for food product caused by weakness of the spleen and stomach, unconscious diet, rotten rot and rotten stomach.

Domperidone tablets are suitable for indigestion caused by insufficient gastric motility.

Features and precautions of common digestive drugs

Dilute hydrochloric acid: 10% dilute hydrochloric acid solution. It is often taken with pepsin, which increases the acidity in the stomach and enhances pepsin activity (pepsin has the strongest digestive power when it contains 0.2% -0.4% hydrochloric acid). It is used for chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric cancer and other reasons. Gastric Acid Deficiency and Fermentative Indigestion. ^[3]

Pepsin: A proteolytic enzyme secreted by the gastric mucosa, which can break down proteins that are coagulated after gastric acid secretion into peptides and oligopeptides. The effect is strongest at pH value 1.6-1.8, and it will be destroyed when it meets alkali. It is often taken with dilute hydrochloric acid for pepsin deficiency caused by chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric cancer, malignant anemia, etc., digestive dysfunction during recovery after illness, and indigestion caused by eating too much proteinaceous food.

Trypsin: derived from the pancreas of cattle, pigs, sheep and other animals. Contains trypsin, pancreatic amylase, pancreatic lipase, used to digest protein, starch and fat. For indigestion, loss of appetite, insufficient secretion of pancreatic juice, etc. It is easy to be destroyed in acid solution, usually made into enteric-coated tablets and swallowed; taken with sodium bicarbonate can increase the efficacy.

Lactinase: a dry, live Lactobacillus preparation. It can break down sugars to produce lactic acid, increase the acidity of intestinal contents, inhibit the proliferation of intestinal spoilage bacteria, and reduce fermentation and gas production. For indigestion, diarrhea and dyspeptic diarrhea in children. Not easy to place in high temperature. Should not be taken at the same time as antibacterial or absorbent drugs.

Dry yeast: Dry live yeast. Contains a small amount of B vitamins, but also contains invertase and maltose. For indigestion, loss of appetite, vitamin B deficiency and so on. After meal, chew the clothes, and the dosage is too large, diarrhea and abdominal pain may occur.

Carnitine: An amino acid derivative. It can regulate gastrointestinal function, increase appetite, and promote saliva, gastric juice, pancreatic juice, bile fluid and intestinal fluid secretion. It is used for indigestion, loss of appetite, chronic gastritis, hyperlipidemia, etc. It is also suitable for senile indigestion, gastrointestinal disorders caused by pregnancy, anorexia and anorexia in infants. ^[4]

Domperidone tablets, this medicine should be taken about half an hour before meals. Special attention should be paid to the fact that domperidone should be used in small doses and short courses. Pregnant women and children under 1 should not take it. People with abnormal cardiac activity or abnormal heart rate should be disabled. If you take domperidone after a meal, it may cause hunger and cause overeating, but it will worsen the symptoms of indigestion.

Jianweixiaoshi tablet is used to relieve indigestion. It should be taken after meals. It can be chewed, 3 tablets at a time, 3 times a day. It should be noted that the dosage of children should be reduced as appropriate; this medicine should not be taken as sugar; the symptoms are not relieved within 3 days of taking the medicine, it is recommended to seek medical treatment; special populations such as pregnant women, patients with severe symptoms of chronic diseases or children should be administered under the guidance of a physician or clinical pharmacist . It is generally not recommended to take long-term or large doses.

7 Digestive Aid Digestive up to 7 days

When indigestion occurs, take the digestive medicine for up to 7 days. If the symptoms do not improve, it is recommended that you go to the hospital. ^[5]

Digestive Drugs Summary

There are many varieties of digestive aids, which should be targeted when choosing and should not be used blindly. Symptomatic medication should be used according to the type of dyspepsia, and the dose should be adjusted appropriately according to age; pay attention to the method of taking the drug, be careful before and after meals; pay attention to the contraindications to avoid inactivation of digestive drugs or reduce the efficacy; special medication for special populations , Medication should be under the guidance of a physician or clinical pharmacist; for those who have not taken a digestive medicine for several days and their symptoms have not improved, they should seek medical treatment in a timely manner. ^[6]