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Limited evidenceGut health

Musta (Cyperus Rotundus)

Nutgrass rhizome, used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine for bloating and diarrhoea. It appears in one small unblinded IBS trial as part of a three-herb mix; alone it has only laboratory and animal data.

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What the science says

  • One small combination trial in IBS Limited evidence

    A randomized study in 40 IBS patients found an 8-week capsule of Mentha longifolia, Cyperus rotundus and Zingiber officinale improved symptoms comparably to mebeverine. There was no placebo arm, the sample was small, and Cyperus was one of three herbs.

  • Preclinical gastrointestinal effects Limited evidence

    A comprehensive review of Cyperus rotundus documents antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrhoeal activity across rodent and in-vitro studies, with no confirmatory human data.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseTraditional use is 1–3 g/day of rhizome powder; extracts follow label directions. No clinically established dose.
SafetyHuman safety data are thin. Traditional texts use musta as an emmenagogue, so avoid in pregnancy. Possible additive effects with glucose- and blood-pressure-lowering drugs have not been studied.

How to take it

TimingTraditionally before or between meals; no evidence favours a particular time.
With food?With warm water or food.
Worth knowingHuman safety data are genuinely thin here — keep courses short and skip it in pregnancy.

Frequently asked questions

Does musta (cyperus rotundus) help IBS?

Musta (Cyperus rotundus) has limited evidence for IBS: it was one of three herbs in a capsule that performed comparably to mebeverine in a small study of 40 patients with no placebo arm. On its own, musta has only laboratory and animal data.

What is cyperus rotundus used for?

Cyperus rotundus (musta, nutgrass rhizome) is used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine for bloating and diarrhoea. Its antispasmodic and antidiarrhoeal activity has been shown in rodent and in-vitro studies only, so the evidence is limited.

How much musta should I take?

Traditional use of musta is 1–3 g/day of rhizome powder, with warm water or food; there is no clinically established dose. Keep courses short, because human safety data are thin.

Is musta safe in pregnancy?

Avoid musta (Cyperus rotundus) in pregnancy, since traditional texts use it as an emmenagogue. Possible additive effects with glucose- and blood-pressure-lowering drugs have not been studied.

Scientific references

Related in Gut health

Herbal medicines: what the evidence says (335)