Also called dyspepsia, indigestion can cause symptoms such as uncomfortable feelings of fullness, stomach pains or cramps, heartburn, nausea and gas or bloating. Many different herbal treatments can help relieve these symptoms by improving digestion, reducing gas or stimulating bile production. Consult your doctor before taking any herb for indigestion to discuss the potential health dangers and correct dosage.
Herbs
You can take herbal remedies containing artichoke leaf, turmeric, cayenne, chamomile, candytuft, lemon balm or banana powder to help treat indigestion. Peppermint and caraway are also sometimes recommended for treating indigestion, the Mayo Clinic says. Other herbs that might help with indigestion include andrographis, barberry, bitter melon, bitter orange, bladderwrack, licorice, marshmallow, slippery elm, boldo, blessed thistle, yellow dock, yarrow, vervain, prickly ash, picrorhiza and horehound, as well as Oregon grape, horehound, devil’s claw, goldenseal, gentian and centaury. However, no widely accepted, conclusive medical reports support the use of these herbs for treating any digestive problems.
Function
Some herbal treatments act as digestive stimulants due to their bitter compounds. Others act as demulcents, meaning they soothe the digestive tract. Bladderwrack, slippery elm, marshmallow and licorice are considered demulcent herbs, the University of Michigan Health System says. Andrographis, bitter melon, bitter orange, artichoke, devil’s claw, greater celandine and other herbs are considered bitter digestive stimulant herbs. Some herbs are also considered carminatives, meaning they relieve intestinal gas. Carminative herbs include anise, turmeric, thyme, peppermint, linden, lemon balm, chamomile, anise, basil, caraway, ginger, fennel and rosemary.
Dosage
You can take bitter herbs to stimulate digestion as liquid infusions or teas by combining 1mL to 3 mL herbal tincture with water and drinking it slowly before meals, says the University of Michigan Health System. Or, you can take turmeric in capsule form at a dosage rate of 250mg four times daily. You can take carminative herbs such as caraway and peppermint in the form of teas by simmering 2 tsp. to 3 tsp. caraway seeds or peppermint leaves in 1 cup water for 10 minutes and drinking the tea after meals. The typical recommended dosage of licorice is 250mg to 500mg of deglycyrrhizinated licorice or “DGL” chewable tablets taken once or twice daily before meals. You can take slippery elm in the form of capsules or tablets containing 400mg to 500mg of powdered herb, taken three or four times daily. Before you take any herbal remedy to treat indigestion, ask your physician about the dosage that’s right for you.
Scientific Evidence
A German study in 2003 found that artichoke leaf extract effectively relieved symptoms related to indigestion, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. A 1989 double-blind study in Thailand determined that taking turmeric supplements helped in treating dyspepsia symptoms. Another German double-blind study in 1996 found that taking capsules containing peppermint and caraway oils substantially reduced stomach pain associated with indigestion. Ginger improved intestinal activities that are essential to normal digestion in a 1999 study published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Therapy & Toxicology. A six-week-long, double-blind clinical trial published in Complementary Therapeutic Medicine in 1993 found that taking greater celandine extract can ease indigestion symptoms such as stomach cramps and nausea, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Finally, a two-month-long controlled study published in The Lancet in 1990 discovered that banana powder effectively helped in clearing indigestion symptoms.
Warnings
Taking greater celandine might cause acute hepatitis, according to reports published in the journal Gastroenterology in 1999. You could experience potentially severe heartburn if you take peppermint oil tablets that aren’t enteric-coated, the University of Maryland Medical Center says. Don’t take artichoke leaf or turmeric if you have gallstones or gallbladder disease, because the herbs could worsen these conditions due to its ability to stimulate gallbladder contractions. Andrographis and most other bitter herbs can worsen ulcers and heartburn. Many other side effects, health risks and drug interactions exist for these herbal indigestion treatments, so talk with your physician before taking any of these herbs.
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