Top 10 Herbs for Better Digestive Health

Help Digestive Health with Special Herbs

Our digestive system is one large system, with a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong along the way! The two major causes of almost every gastrointestinal disorder are diet and stress! Eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and quitting smoking if you smoke, can help protect against practically every digestive disorder as well as, heart disease, osteoporosis and some types of cancer.

Are there herbs to aid digestive health?

Is digestive health a concern for you? Herbal medicine is a wonderful preventative solution. Complications can arise when taking herbal medicine and allopathic drugs prescribed by your doctor. Use great care if you are on blood thinners, diuretics or any other heart medication. Consult your doctor with any questions you may have, before taking additional herbs or supplements.

Here is a list of my top ten favorite herbs for digestive health:

1. Cardamom warms up the digestive tract, speeds up and increases the thoroughness of digestion, and also reduces gas.

2. Cinnamon Cassia: In Ayurveda, this warming spice reduces Vata and Kapha and is traditionally used in cold formulas, regulates blood sugar, and is used for strengthening digestion. Cinnamon is another useful remedy for sluggish digestion. The German Commission E recommends it for loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints, bloating and flatulence.

3. Fennel Seed: Foeniculum vulgare is a common spice that is traditionally used to improve digestion and absorption without increasing pitta. You may, therefore, chew seeds after meals to freshen the breath and alleviate gas.

4. Flaxseed Oil is an edible oil derived from the seeds of the Flax plant (Linum usitatissimum) and is one of the best plant sources of the Omega-3 fatty acid Alpha-Linolenic Acid available. Naturally occurring constituents in Flaxseed Oil may help to balance the production of prostaglandins. In addition, it also supports cardiovascular and bowel health.

5. Ginger Root: In Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda it is used as a general panacea that is especially useful for digestive and respiratory complaints. Also, dispels nausea and acts as a diaphoretic. Ginger stands the test of time as a digestive remedy for stomach upset. European practitioners also use ginger in tea for indigestion. It reduces spasms and also increases the secretion of digestive juices, including bile and saliva. Ginger contains ingredients that soothe the gut and aid digestion by increasing peristalsis that moves food through the intestine. Use 1 teaspoon of the chopped root brewed as tea, three times a day.

6. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) guards digestive mucous membranes by increasing the production of mucin, a secretion that protects gut linings against stomach acid and other digestive juices. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice root (DGL) removes the glycyrrhizic acid (the ingredient in licorice root associated with the possibility of increasing blood pressure and water retention). The soothing part of the root, however, remains intact in DGL. Use 1 teaspoon of the chopped herb brewed as tea, three times a day, or 1 to 2 chewable wafers of DGL (250 to 500 mg) 15 minutes before meals and one to two hours before bedtime.

7. Parsley Leaf: Natural diuretic, parsley helps eliminate wastes and lessen water retention, which can aid in weight loss. Hence, its high enzyme content improves digestion of proteins and fats and absorption of nutrients. Parsley is a natural breath freshener.

8. Peppermint is a well-known digestive herb for easing tummy troubles. Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules work well to prevent dyspepsia. Furthermore, peppermint oil is a relaxant for the muscles of the intestinal wall. Massage the essential oil over the belly to relieve spasms. Take 1 teaspoon the liquid tincture or the dried leaf, brewed as tea, three times a day, or 0.2 to 0.4 ml of an enteric-coated capsule three times a day.

9. Triphala: This formula cleanses the entire GI tract, supporting digestion and gently maintaining regularity. Considered in Ayurveda to be a general panacea for all doshas, also use it to support weight management, improve the complexion and strengthen the urinary tract.

10. Turmeric: A traditional Indian cooking spice that improves digestion and purifies the blood. It may also act as a natural antibiotic and antiseptic.

We offer ten possibilities with these ten special herbs to aid digestive health problems.