Well, he's speaking about the anticholinergic properties of the belladonna alkaloids.

Among such medications, the most safe and often used is Donnatal, which comes in elixer form and more recently an extend-tab for treatment of IBS, acute gasteroenteritis and duodenal ulcers in certain instances. This drug acts as an antispasmodic upon the smooth muscle associated with the GI tract. The researchers are likely interested in the anticholinergic effects of the drug because it quells parasympathetic nerve activity.

You can speak to your doctor about the use of the extend-tab, which I think would be of most benefit and it should be considered for short-term therapy only, meaning 8 to 12 weeks, to see if improvement is observed. If so, then it's important to only use this drug when symptoms are present and not as prophylaxis.

Anticholinergics can indeed reduce parasympathetic activity and it's reasonable to assume that it would affect vagus nerve activity at the level of the pneumogastric junction. There are side-effects, however, and some people don't tolerate this type of drug as well as others, so it's important to discuss the use of anticholinergics with your primary care physician.

If you don't mind, I'd also like you to post the information concerning the research that is being done and where you found the link. I'd be interested in taking a closer look.

Best regards and Good Health