5 Natural Remedies for Gas and Acid Reflux
How Herbs can Aid Digestion, Prevent and Relieve Heartburn
Jul 30, 2009
While life-style and a balanced diet play important roles in the prevention and management of acid indigestion, the proper utilization of herbs can augment all such positive strategies.
So, how does one decide which herbs to add to his diet? A convenient place to discover the medicinal value of herbs is the kitchen spice shelf. Interestingly, most common culinary herbs and spices are carminatives (preventing and relieving gas) and many of them also stimulate and aid digestion This gives the common culinary herbs which are added to food as flavor and aroma enhancers considerable medicinal use. In fact, the medicinal use of herbs may well have preceded and prompted their use in food preparation.
Common Culinary Herbs and Spices to Aid Proper Digestion
- Anise – is a carminative. It is good for problems of flatulence and colic.
- Basil – is used for indigestion, cramps, nausea and vomiting
- Bay – is helpful in preventing gas and indigestion when added to soups or beans.
- Caraway – can be taken for indigestion, gas and colic. It prevents griping.
- Cardamom – is used as a carminative to treat indigestion and gas.
- Cayenne – is a carminative and an antispasmodic. It helps to prevent indigestion.
- Cinnamon – is a demulcent and a carminative which makes it effective in relieving indigestion, gas, diarrhea and dysentery.
- Cloves – improve digestion, treat flatulence, vomiting and nausea.
- Coriander – is a carminative which prevents griping when used in laxative formulas.
- Cumin – prevents and relieves gas.
- Fennel – is a carminative and an antispasmodic used to prevent griping when used in strong laxative formulas.
- Garlic – is a good general antispasmodic and carminative.
- Ginger – benefits the stomach and the intestines. It is used for indigestion, cramps and nausea.
- Marjoram – is an antispasmodic and a carminative that can relieve severe abdominal cramping.
- Nutmeg – is a good aid to digestion and can relieve nausea.
- Rosemary – is useful for indigestion, colic, nausea and gas.
- Thyme – is helpful in instances of diarrhea, chronic gastritis, and lack of appetite.
More can be done, however, than simply adding bay leaf and thyme to a pot of beans; or adding garlic, anise and basil to some spaghetti sauce. Herbs can be used for direct relief of acid indigestion, gas, and heartburn—and to promote good digestion, in general.
Following are some suggestions from Todd’s book, Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies, demonstrating how easy it is to put your kitchen herbs to work for you.
An After Meals Digestive Aid to Make and Keep On-Hand
Take 1 cup each of fennel seed, dill seed and leaves, chamomile flowers, anise seed and spearmint leaves and mix them together. Store this mixture in a cool, dry place.
To make the tea, cover 1 teaspoon of the mixture with 1 cup of boiling water. Cover this and allow it to steep for 10 minutes. Strain off the tea, sweeten, and drink it warm after each meal to aid digestion.
Indigestion Relief Using Dill
Take 2 teaspoons of dill seeds and leaves, and bruise them. Cover the herbs with 1 cup of boiling water and allow this to steep, covered, until completely cool. Strain this off and sweeten to taste. This preparation can be taken at the rate of 4 tablespoons every hour until indigestion is relieved.
Sage to the Rescue, for Flatulence and Gas
This tea must be drunk cold. Bruise 2 tablespoons sage leaves. Combine the sage leaves with 4 cups of boiling water and 4 tablespoons of honey. Cover the mixture and allow it to steep for several hours, until the liquid is completely cool. Strain the tea and refrigerate it. This tea may be taken as often as needed for relieving gas.
Surprising Lemon Aid for Heartburn
Try adding 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice to ½ cup of warm water. Sip on this preparation to relieve heartburn.
Peppermint Tea for Heartburn Relief
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves and allow this to steep, covered, for 10 minutes. Strain off and sweeten to taste with honey. This tea should be drunk while warm, reheating as necessary to relieve heartburn.
References
Tierra, M. (1998). The Way of Herbs. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020: Pocket Books.
Todd, J. (2005), Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies. 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125: Llwellyn Publications.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is given for informational purposes only. No diagnosis should be made nor treatment undertaken without first consulting a Physician or other qualified health professional, as neither suite101 nor the author will be responsible for readers' actions. Images are provided for illustrative purposes only.
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