Seven Ways to Beat Indigestion Naturally

Dr Machione

Indigestion is a frustrating piece of life for a large segment of society. Every pharmacy is loaded with various brands of over-the-counter remedies, but that is not the be-all and end-all for treatments.

Complementary and alternative medicine provides hope in a variety of herbal remedies that you can explore. It may be your ticket to better digestion, less pain and more comfort.

1. Artichoke Leaf: This is one of your best natural bets for treating heartburn, which is essentially indigestion of no apparent cause. The vegetable is also a mild bitter, and extracts have shown time and again that it may be useful for digestion.

The active ingredient for this purpose is “cynarin,” so ensure supplements are chock-full of this.

This and other ingredients may help to stimulate the gallbladder. A few years ago, a good study proved that artichoke leaf extract was significantly better than placebo in relieving dyspepsia in 247 patients.

2. Turmeric: The yellow tint of curry may also play a role in aiding digestion. Turmeric contains curcumin. Both these names are well-known in herbal medicine circles, the latter of which could again stimulate the gallbladder. One major study took 106 people and compared 500 mg of curcumin against placebo for one week. At study’s end, 87% of those taking the herb had either full or partial relief from stomach distress. That compared to 53% of the placebo group.

3.

“Carminative” herbs: Certain herbs are believed to help with the passing of gas — these called “carminative” herbs. Classic ones include peppermint, fennel, dill, caraway, chamomile, fennel and turmeric. The catch is that you are using the essential oils of these herbs, which are very strong and must be used carefully. Mixing three to five drops of essential oils from these herbs and taking it with water a few times a day works well. Or, try grinding the seeds of fennel and caraway and the leaves of peppermint into a tea. Some evidence includes a study of 39 people that found a peppermint/caraway oil combo taken three times a day for a month significantly reduced stomach pain. This is a good combination, as is a formula consisting of peppermint, caraway, fennel, and wormwood.

4. Capsaicin: The main substance in cayenne spice doesn’t actually inflame stomach tissues as you might think (because the spice is hot), but instead just feels as though it is doing that. In fact, taking capsaicin supplements could reduce stomach discomfort. One five-week study tested 2.5 g of red pepper powder on individuals with dyspepsia. After three weeks, they experienced significantly less pain, nausea, and bloating than patients on placebo.

5. Banana powder: This traditional food from India may help indigestion. A two-month study of 46 people found that 75% taking banana powder experienced complete or partial relief of symptoms — compared to 20% who received no treatment.

6. Greater Celandine: This herb has been found to relieve — significantly more than placebo — abdominal cramping, nausea and that feeling of being full as a result of indigestion. It has worked well in combination with boldo and artichoke leaf, as well as with turmeric.

7. Others: Many herbs have reputations that go back a long time. Some are reputed to relax a stomach: valerian, chamomile and lemon balm are biggies. Many are recommended by herbalists for indigestion, such as rosemary, sage, ginger, juniper, cinnamon, dandelion root, licorice root, barberry, chicory, anise seed, angelica root, coriander, linden, and yarrow.