Using Herbs For:	Digestive Health:Gas/Bloating	Herbal Remedies
: Constipation : : Diarrhea : : IBS : : Nausea : : Parasites/Worms : : Digestion/Indigestion :

Natural Digestion Remedies

The process of digestions helps your body turn food into energy. Technically, indigestion means not being able to properly digest your food. This covers everything from heartburn, sour stomach, acid reflux, nausea and vomiting, and gas that causes flatulence, burping and bloating. Poor digestion can lead to weight gain, insomina, and any number of health problems that may have their root causes in poor nutrition.

Fennel is useful to relieve abdominal cramps, gas and bloating. One of the best digestive aids, the seeds can be used in cooking, or made into a tasty tea.

Using Herbs for Digestive Health

Using Herbs for :Diarrhea, child Agrimony Agrimony tea has a mild lemony taste, and is a safe and effective way to treat diarrhea in children and frail adults. While agrimony is an effective treatment for many forms of diarrhea, it can aggravate constipation. Agrimony is tonic to the digestive system, and long term use can be useful for healing peptic ulcers and for controlling colitis. Agrimony contains the chemical compound agrimophol, which expels parasites, and is considered one of the safest treatments for human worms. Agrimony has a time honored place in any herbal remedy kit, and earns a place in the herbalists home garden. 11, 9, 4

Using Herbs for :Carminative Digestive Allspice - Pimenta Allspice, Pimenta officinalis , is an aromatic, digestive stimulant, whose taste, aroma and properties resemble cloves. The principle oil extracted from allspice is eugenol, the same oil extracted from cloves. Adding allspice to other herbal tonics, as well as foods aids in digestion. Use the essential oil in aroma lamps- the oil has a warm, spicy-sweet aroma that can uplift spirits and improve appetite. 6

Using Herbs for :Atonic dyspepsia, impaired digestion Black Pepper Black pepper does alot more than add flavor to foods, it improves digestion. On account of black pepper's stimulant action it aids digestion and is specially useful in atonic dyspepsia and torpid condition of the stomach. It will correct flatulence and nausea. Black pepper can be combined with other herbs, especially turmeric in foods and herbal remedies. 6

Using Herbs for :Laxative, chronic constipation Cascara sagrada Cascara Sagrada is a mild laxative, It is considered suitable for delicate and elderly persons, Chemicals called anthraquinones are responsible for cascara sagrada's purgative effect. Most often found as tablets and extracts, the bark tea has a gentler laxative action, but is bitter 6,1

Using Herbs for :Worms, roundworm Elecampane Elecampane is an effective treatment for parasitic infections. The chemical alantolactone in elecampane expels worms including roundworm, hookworms, whipworms and threadworms. Elecampane is also a bitter tonic that tones the digestive system. Traditional preparations include decoctions of the root, and tinctures. 1,4

Using Herbs for :Abdominal cramps, gas and bloating Fennel Fennel can be used in herbal teas, and used in cooking gas producing foods like cabbage to prevent gas and bloating and improve digestion. Fennel can also relieve stomach cramps from digestive distress. Fennel seed oil can be used in abdominal massages for the same effects. 10

Using Herbs for :Upset stomach, Bitters, digestion Gentian root Gentian root is a bitter. Bitter herbs increase gastric secretions and promote digestion. Gentian is also useful for gastro-intestinal inflammation (one of its alkaloids, gentianine, has been shown to be anti-inflammatory). Drink a small cup of gentian tea before a heavy meal to prevent stomach upset. One teaspoon of powered root to 3 cups of water for tea. Most people find the neutral taste of capsules preferable to the extremely bitter taste of the drink, however traditional herbalists contend that the bitter taste is necessary to stimulate the flow of bile to aid the digestive system. 1,4

Using Herbs for :Nausea, motion sickness Ginger Ginger is one the best herbs for nausea of all types. Use fresh ginger in cooking for its spicy, sweet taste and to improve digestion. Ginger can be added to almost any herbal tea, and formula to activate other herbs.

Digestive Health Information

• Constipation : Reserve strong laxatives such as senna, aloe, cascara sagrada, and turkey rhubarb for those occasions when all else fails.
• Diarrhea : There are many time-honored herbal treatments for common diarrhea, that can in fact be just as helpful, if not more than many over-the counter remedies.
• IBS : Herbs and spices when used in preparation of a healthy diet can help maintain good digestion, lessening IBS symptoms.
• Nausea : Learn how to use natural herbs and spices to curb nausea and upset stomach.
• Parasites/Worms : Herbs are often used in intestinal cleansing and anti-parasite support.
• Digestion/Indigestion : Bitter herbs are unrivaled stomach tonics. They improve the appetite, promoting digestive juices, peristalsis and the flow of bile.

Natural Remedies for Digestion: References

1. Duke, James The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook .(December 15, 2000)
2. Linda B. White, M.D., Steven Foster. Herbal Drugstore (2003)
3. Robert B Tisserand, The Art of Aromatherapy (1977)
4. Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist (1988)
5. Steven Foster and Yue chongxi, Herbal Emissaries (1992)
6. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Vols 1, II (1931)
7. Richo Cech, Making Plant Medicine (2000)
8. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
9. Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Herbal Healing (2002)
10. Adele Dawson, Herbs: Partners in Life (2000)
11. Penelope Ody, Home Herbal (1995)

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** Information on the traditional uses and properties of herbs are provided on this site is for educational use only, and is not intended as medical advice. Every attempt has been made for accuracy, but none is guaranteed. Many traditional uses and properties of herbs have not been validated by the FDA. If you have any serious health concerns, you should always check with your health care practitioner before self-administering herbs. **

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