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 Do you have SIBO or slow gastric emptying? Motility Activator by Integrative Therapeutics is a new prokinetic on the market, that is a must try!
Prokinetics (think “pro-kinesis”) help to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter, speed gastric emptying and they strengthen the migrating motor complex (MMC) – which creates house cleaning waves along the small intestine. These waves help move debris down the track. A prokinetic helps amplify these waves, as well as increases their frequency. These waves occur on an empty stomach, between meals. Bile is also released at this time, acting as a detergent, which helps to clean out the small intestine.
To date, supplemental prokinetics included MotilPro by Pure Encapsulations, or high dose ginger. Motilpro contains vitamin B6 6.7 mg (as pyridoxal 5′ phosphate); ginger 1,000 mg. (Zingiber officinale) extract (root) (standardized to contain 5% gingerols) -acetyl-l-carnitine 500mg; 5-hydroxytryptophan 50 mg (5-HTP). At the recommended dosing of 3 capsules 1-2 times daily, a person will ingest 1500-3000 mg of ginger daily. Ginger is a good prokinetic, and it is also an antispasmodic.
Ginger contains a compound called gingerols and when dehydrated, some gingerols form shogaols (similar chemical structure to gingerol). The concentration of shogaols, depends on the type of ginger used. Shogaols are more pungent, and really the main component in ginger that gives it its strong pungent qualities. Ginger can cause heat and irritation in the stomach, especially when taken at 1500-3000mg per day. This also adds 6 capsules per day, when a person (based on the need for a prokinetic) is likely on a robust supplement protocol.
Motility Activator by Integrative Therapeutics, is a proprietary blend, totaling 248 mg per capsule, which includes the following ingredients: Pycrinil® Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) Leaf Extract; Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Root Extract. The artichoke leaf extract contains higher cyanaropicirins and flavonoids, which leads to more bile production to support MMC cleansing waves. The ginger in Motility Activator contains a higher total concentration of gingerols (25% to 30% total gingerols) with a lower shogaols concentration, so people taking this do not feel the ginger ‘heat/ burn.’
Motility Activator is dosed a bit different – start with 1 capsule before dinner and, if well tolerated, add 1 more capsule before bedtime. 1-2 capsules a day, versus 6 capsules a day with MotilPro, is a big advantage! Check it out here: Motility Activator
A clinical study was performed on this exact formulation and the formulation was clinically validated – reduced epigastric fullness, nausea and early satiety and confirmed agent that stimulates the migrating motor complex. Here is the link to the study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25954317
It can help with PPI weaning and it is also helpful for diabetic patients, who often suffer from some level of gastroparesis, and this slow motility effects their ability to malabsorb nutrients and sugar.
At our round table dinner at the SIBO Symposium this year, Allison Siebecker shared her personal and clinical experience with this product – all being favorable. She is personally taking this right now. Clinically I haven’t seen a patient NOT be able to tolerate this and it definitely works to calm and settle down the digestive tract. I highly recommend it!
Warmly, |
Comments
from 20 people
Hi Tara! If you are allergic to artichoke, then I don't recommend trialing this. Motility Activator has an extract of artichoke (not ground up powdered artichoke), so this isn't a FODMAP. This is the best motility support that I've used clinically. If this doesn't work for my patients, I usually recommend medication prokinetics. I hope this helps! Warmly, Angela
Angela Pifer
If I am able to eat artichokes, does that mean I should be ok with this supplement? I don’t think I have a ragweed allergy that I know of. I’ve tried everything else and wondering if maybe your product could help my motility!
Tara
Hi Christina! Great question - either dosing schedule works. I was replying to her, based on her comments. If gastroparesis is present, supplements are often not enough to correct this. They may be used to support these mechanisms, and perhaps to help keep you on a lower dose of medication. Domperidone works from the antrum down (stomach) and Motility Activator may help, but it won't help to the degree a medication will. Warmly, Angela
Angela Pifer
Hi there... you say in your article to take this supplement as follows: "Motility Activator is dosed a bit different – start with 1 capsule before dinner and, if well tolerated, add 1 more capsule before bedtime." But then in your response to Sue in the Comments you say to "Hi Sue, 1-2 caps before lunch and 1-2 caps before dinner is normal dosing." So which is correct? I have mild Gastroparesis which has caused SIBO in my past and I take Domeridome to assist with gastric emptying but I want to get off of it and take a natural supplement. Thank you for clarifying! :)
Christina
Hi Sarah! If you are allergic to ragweed, then Motility Activator MAY not be a good idea. Artichoke is in the ragweed family. I have had people with ragweed allergy, be able to tolerate it, with no negative symptoms. You could try ginger by itself and see if you do well with this. I wouldn't expect an allergy to keep you up, or cause stomach pain at night. Warmly, Angela
Angela Pifer
I have been waking up at 1 am every night and can’t easily go back to sleep. Last night I had some stomach pain when I woke up. Is it possible that taking the motility activator is waking me up? (I am allergic to ragweed in case that is relevant.) If so, should I take it at other times?
Sarah
Hi Inga! I currently do not ship out of the country. You should be able to find this in Australia. Or, look for an artichoke supplement and a ginger supplement and try them together. You might also try AmritaNutrition.com, out of the UK. Feel free to link to my account (Angela Pifer) and you can get it drop shipped through them. Warmly, Angela
Angela Pifer
Hi
I’m in Australia and would like to try this. How can I get it shipped here please?
Inga
Inga
Hi Linda, It may be that the Motilpro is too strong, or, you may be reacting to something in it. It has a heavy dose of ginger in it. Please speak with your practitioner about trialing Motility Activator, Integrative Therapeutics. It has an extract of artichoke and ginger (without the heat) - 1-2 caps after lunch and again after dinner. Or, Artichoke, Jarrow Formulas: 1-2 caps after lunch and again after dinner. Warmly Angela
Angela Pifer
I have SIBO D. After 3 nights of 2 capsules at bedtime of MotilPro, my bowels are worse in the mornings. I never know if it's what I ate or thw supplement. Should I try taking it at breakfast or continue at bedtime to see if symptoms continue or worsen?
Linda
You are welcome! This is a long term approach, but I would also go off of symptoms, recovery and work with your practitioner to figure out the right timing. Warmly, Angela
Angela Pifer
Thank you, this product has really helped me. When do I know I have taken it long enough or is this a forever pill.
Thank you.
Jerry White
Hi Joshua, Please seek out a good alternative practitioner who can help you with this. Often times, I find that traditional meds fail to fix motility issues. Magnesium can be utilized to get the bowels moving and to stay moving, yet, the goal is also to treat the underlying conditions that set the motility issue up. You do not need to eat only one meal a day to do this. For gastroparesis - lower fat, lower fiber and small frequent meals are best. But, conversely - with constipation - we need fiber to keep us regular - so working with someone to help with this is really key. I realize that there is info out there on the MMC and limiting meal frequency- but we have supplement and meds to support the MMC. Further restricting diet will continue to exacerbate the issue. Warmly, Angela
Angela Pifer
What does one do, like me, when everything that "should" be helpful only makes matters worse? The stagnation and pain of a completely dysfunctional bowel have left me disabled, and these symptoms are even worse with the use of nutritional and/or herbal supplements (like ginger). Though I've already limited myself to one meal each day, the only remaining option I see at this point is to replace food with liquid (which will likely leave me bedridden in weakness). In my current condition, the only way I can be somewhat productive is to completely flush my bowels with magnesium, but that relief is short-lived as hunger, weakness, and the desire for food lead me to eat a meal and "shoot myself in the foot" for another 24-hour period. If nothing else, I thank you for listening ...
Joshua
Hi Ann, many of the probiotics that I work with are listed on my site, under the 'shop' - you may search for 'probiotics' and it will bring them all up. If there are products that you can't see on there, then enter 'SIBO-G' and this will unlock all the products. Please use this list to speak with your doctor/ practitioner, to pick a good probiotic for you. Warmly, Angela
Angela Pifer
Thank you! I am curently taking Xifaxin for SIBO (after 2 failed herbal treatments). I was instructed to take both a prokinetic and a probiotic after I finish the antibiotics. Do you have a recommendation for the probiotic? And diet guidelines?
Thank you in advance for your help!
Ann
Ann
Hi Sue, 1-2 caps before lunch and 1-2 caps before dinner is normal dosing. If your constipation is really stubborn, you may need something stronger. Sometimes the supplement prokinetics are not enough. The dosing on the Motility Activator, is based on the study that proved efficacy and the timing that worked to best support motility. I find that it has worked well around 70% of the time. It doesn't have the ginger burn, which is nice - and it is easy to take. Warmly, Angela
Angela Pifer
Hi Angela,
I have Methane SIBO and have been trying out the Motility Activator taking 1 pill before lunch and dinner, following my practitioner's guidance and as in the product's trial. After 4 days, it hasn't been very effective.
What is the idea behind taking it before dinner and at bedtime? What type of results have you seen?
Thanks!
Sue
Hi Patty! It has artichoke in it, which may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae-Compositae family. As long as your ragweed allergy is not an anaphylactic one, you might want to trial it. I have had other patients do great on this! The other supplement prokinetics are: ginger, MotilPro and, for some, Iberogast (I don't find that this one works that well as a prokinetic). Warmly Angela
Angela Pifer
Hi Angela, I was so excited to try this product after reading your positive review, but when I checked the product label it says not to take it if you are allergic to ragweed. Well, guess what - I'm allergic to ragweed. Do you know if you've had patients tolerate this product even though allergic to ragweed? Can you think of a comparable substitute? Thank you! Patty
Patty