Minor stomach upsets with abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting affect most of us at some time. They can often be associated with food poisoning, an excess of rich food or too much alcohol; in such cases soothing herbs like slippery elm and marshmallow can bring relief. Other stomach upsets are linked to chills, when warming herbs such as chili and ginger can be useful.

For some, the problem can be stress related, with any increase in nervous tension or anxiety levels usually accompanied by digestive problems; relaxing carminatives can be useful in these cases. The wide range of herbal relaxants offers plenty of choice depending on individual need and tastes, but a good mixture for nervous tummies is:

  • 2 parts chamomile flowers
  • 2 parts lemon balm herb
  • I part lavender flowers
  • Use 1-2 teaspoons of dried mixed herbs per cup of boiling water, infuse for 5 minutes, strain and drink.

Nervousness can be one cause of gastric over-activity with excess acid production, leading to gastritis or inflammation of the stomach lining. Eventually such damage can lead to ulceration. Other causes of gastritis include over-indulgence in rich foods and alcohol with symptoms similar to those of food poisoning — nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Those prone to gastritis should avoid irritant foods — spices, tea, coffee, alcohol, fried foods and pickles — and eat smaller meals more regularly.

Herbal BeautyAn orthodox approach will generally concentrate on antacids to reduce stomach acid, but this can simply encourage even more acid production in an attempt to normalise the digestive process. Herbal remedies will generally include soothing mucilages and antiinflammatories with herbs that will cover and protect the stomach lining and encourage healing. Slippery elm is popular in over-the-counter remedies and is available in tablets or as powder which simply needs mixing with water. Other possibilities include meadowsweet, liquorice, chamomile and marshmallow.

Indigestion Herbal Healing

There are numerous possible causes of indigestion, including rushed meals, wearing tight belts, eating irregularly or while feeling tense, and too many rich or potentially irritant foods.The result is a mixture of heartburn, pain in the lower chest, flatulence and nausea that goes under the label of dyspepsia.

Herbal solutions include relaxing plants such as chamomile and lemon balm to help to reduce the anxiety and tension which can contribute to indigestion, and aromatic carminatives such as fennel, peppermint or ginger to ease flatulence and nausea. Meadow- sweet and slippery elm, can help to protect the stomach from high acid secretions, while bitter remedies such as artichoke, bitter orange or cornflower will help to stimulate the digestive process and restore normal function without focusing on stomach acidity

Heartburn can be a particular problem in chronic obesity and pregnancy where the stomach is forced upwards and the muscle which divides the oesophagus from the stomach is weakened and may eventually lead to a hiatus hernia. Symptoms are often worse at night as there is nothing to stop acid leaking into the oesophagus when sufferers are lying down. Raising the head of the bed by 10-15 cm by putting normal house bricks under the legs will prevent acid leaking out of the stomach and can prove a very simple way of reducing symptoms. Slippery elm and marshmallow, either combined in capsules or mixed as powders with a little water to form a paste, make a useful combination for regular heartburn and are also safe to take in pregnancy.

The pain of indigestion can be confused with heart pain from disorders like angina pectoris. This sort of pain eases with rest, while heartburn is generally worse when the sufferer lies down. Sudden severe “indigestion” in someone who has previously been symptom free should always be investigated professionally for a possible underlying heart condition. Chronic indigestion can also be a sign of peptic ulcers, gall bladder disorders, liver problems or cancer; expert diagnosis is essential.

An aspect of indigestion is wind — up or down — which is usually more of an embarrassment than an indicator of serious health problems. As the Galenical practitioners knew only too well, certain foods are windy — beans and the brassica family are common culprits. To combat wind from such cold, damp foods, the medieval housewife added warming spices like pepper and ginger. Including fennel, dill, rosemary or sage in our cooking not only improves the flavour but also adds herbs to stimulate and soothe the digestive system and reduce that risk of wind and indigestion.

Nausea and vomiting Herbal Healing

Nausea and vomiting can be associated with a wide range of illnesses: from life- threatening fevers and stomach problems to motion sickness, pregnancy, migraines and indigestion. It is important to seek professional help for severe and persistent problems, but minor disorders, with a clear cause, can easily be helped by herbal remedies at home.

For nausea associated with stomach upsets herbs such as lemon balm, bitter orange, dandelion or marshmallow can be helpful.

Travel sickness — whether it occurs in trains, planes, shops or cars — is especially prevalent among children and soon becomes a problem for the entire family. Symptoms start with pallor, sweating and nausea and lead to vomiting and, sometimes, fainting. The disorder is generally to do with the delicate balance mechanism in the inner ear, and since children’s ears tend to be more sensitive the problem is more commonplace among the young.

The best herbal remedy for all types of nausea is ginger — in capsules, tinctures or even in the form of sweets, ginger drinks and biscuits. Ginger beer is ideal for children; alternatively, travel with a small dropper bottle of ginger tincture and simply put a few drops on the tongue before the journey and as needed during the trip.

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New Lifestyle, Live Green, Live Naturally, Traditional Herbal Healing Mix Health Care: Stomach Upsets, Indigestion, Nausea and Vomiting