Discovering Digestive Health: Top Herbs
Our digestive system is one large system, with a lot of opportunity for things
to go wrong along the way! The two major causes of almost every gastrointestinal
disorder is 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.
Herbal medicine is a wonderful preventative solution. Complications can arise
when taking herbal medicine and allopathic drugs your doctor has prescribed.
Great caution should be used especially if you are on blood thinners, diuretics
or any other heart related medication. Consult your doctor with any questions
you may have, before taking additional herbs or supplements. Here are a list of
my top 10 favorite herbs for digestive issues:
1.
Cardamom, warms up the digestive tract, speed up and increase the
thoroughness of digestion, and reduce 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 a 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. The seeds are also
chewed 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 and support 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 is a time-tested digestive remedy for
stomach upset. European practitioners also use ginger in tea for indigestion. It
reduces spasms and 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. 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.
Peppermint oil is a relaxant for the muscles of the intestinal wall. The
essential oil can be massaged 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 regulartity. Considered in Ayurveda to be general panacea for
all doshas, it is also used 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. Believed to act as a natural antibiotic and antiseptic.
Andrew Pacholyk MS L.Ac
https://www.peacefulmind.com/gut_health.htm
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Herbs for Digestive Health
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