Heal Your Stomach by Herbs

If you're the type of person who keeps Rolaids in her pocket and Pepto-Bismol in her desk drawer, consider adding herbal teas to your stash. Since what we eat and drink (especially dairy products, sugar, alcohol, and coffee) often triggers gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea, how better to treat these common gastrointestinal problems, herbalists say, than by ingesting herbs that naturally offset the culprits?

Peppermint essential oil contains menthol, a volatile substance that has a direct antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscle of the digestive tract. In addition, the pleasing smell of peppermint tea may help soothe nerves. The ability to calm cramping stomach and intestinal muscles makes it a superb treatment, herbalists say, for symptoms of indigestion including heartburn, gas, stomachache, and the "I ate too much" feeling.

Science is starting to back up some of mint's claims. Patients with chronic indigestion not caused by an ulcer who were treated with an herbal preparation of peppermint oil combined with caraway oil experienced about half as much abdominal pain due to gas as did people who received a placebo.

Peppermint tea allows the entire gastrointestinal system to function more fluidly. But, despite the enthusiastic reports, many doctors say that peppermint can lower the sphincter pressure of the esophagus, actually causing some people to have more heartburn.

Chamomile which is considered to be one of the safest medicinal herbs is frequently recommended as a gentle treatment for common gastrointestinal problems. It relieves flatulence and heartburn by mildly sedating and soothing the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. Its natural sedative properties can also help if your digestive discomfort is caused by stress or worry.

Ginger is a carminative and can be used to treat gas, along with its associated bloating and pain. In botanical medicine it's considered a warming herb. It causes the inside of the body to generate more heat. Herbalists say this can help regulate sluggish digestion, though some find this extra warmth uncomfortable and may instead prefer peppermint or chamomile teas. Ginger is effective in treating nausea and vomiting.




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Source: http://EzineArticles.com John_K_Crawford