Moderate evidenceGut health

Caraway Oil

Almost always sold and studied combined with peppermint oil. That fixed combination has repeatedly beaten placebo for functional dyspepsia, though the trials are small and mostly from one manufacturer.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

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What the science says

Functional dyspepsia symptoms Moderate evidence
A meta-analysis of five randomised trials with 578 patients found the peppermint-plus-caraway oil combination improved global dyspepsia symptoms and epigastric pain, with a number needed to treat of about 3. The authors rated the underlying evidence as low quality because of small samples.
Independent confirmation Moderate evidence
The 2023 Cochrane review of herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia concluded that peppermint and caraway oil probably produce a large improvement in global dyspepsia symptoms compared with placebo, its most favourable finding among 27 herbal preparations. A separate US trial of a duodenal-release caraway oil and L-menthol capsule also reported symptom relief.
Caraway oil on its own Limited evidence
Nearly all data come from fixed combinations; there is no adequate placebo-controlled trial of caraway oil alone, so the individual contribution of caraway is unestablished.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseThe Menthacarin trials used 90 mg peppermint oil plus 50 mg caraway oil twice daily, in enteric- or duodenal-release capsules, for 2–4 weeks.

SafetyCommon side effects are eructation with a peppermint taste, heartburn and reflux, which enteric coating reduces. Peppermint oil can worsen reflux and should be used carefully in hiatus hernia or GERD. Undiluted caraway essential oil must not be swallowed. Avoid in pregnancy and in young children, and check for interactions if taking medication metabolised by CYP3A4.

Scientific references

A Combination of Peppermint Oil and Caraway Oil for the Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Li J, Lv L, Zhang J — Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2019
Non-Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia
Báez G, Vargas C, Arancibia M — Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2023
A Novel, Duodenal-Release Formulation of a Combination of Caraway Oil and L-Menthol for the Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Chey WD, Lacy BE, Cash BD — Clin Transl Gastroenterol, 2019

Where to buy

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