STW5 (Iberogast) herbal therapy and functional gastrointestinal symptoms

Unexplained chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and dyspepsia, are remarkably prevalent in Australia, affecting a third of people of all ages. These symptoms have a major impact on health and wellbeing; they often impair quality of life and relationships and can reduce work productivity. Psychological comorbidity is common but is not considered a cause of the gastrointestinal symptoms. The costs of healthcare seeking and medication use by those affected run into billions of dollars for the Australian economy.