Teas are the best medium to harness the power of herbal gastrointestinal remedies. Warm teas are easier to digest than herbs in pill form and allow the herb direct contact with the stomach and intestinal walls. While herbs lose much of their potency after a year of shelf life, certain herbs used within this time limit have a calming and healing effect on the stomach and digestive system.
Peppermint
Peppermint's weapon of choice for combating stomach indigestion is menthol, a substance that stifles spasms in the digestive tract. The soothing aroma of peppermint can also lend a hand in calming stomach issues that result from nervousness. Peppermint tea may also be a source of relief from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), an intestinal disorder that includes abdominal pain and bloating. According to "Reader's Digest," peppermint may decrease IBS bloating and flatulence by up to 50 percent.
Chamomile
In Germany, chamomile is considered a super-herb, commonly used as a gentle treatment for gastrointestinal disorders. Chamomile tea has a sedating and soothing effect on mucous membranes in the digestive tract. The result of this sedation typically promotes healing in a number of ways, including relief from gas, heartburn, bloating, digestive tract spasms and inflammation. Chamomile's calming effect is especially beneficial for stomach issues that are brought on by worry or stress.
Ginger
Herbalists often use ginger tea to soothe and calm stomach issues that are caused by sluggish digestion. Ginger is considered a warming herb because it causes the body to produce more heat. Ginger tea has many of the same healing abilities as chamomile and peppermint -- relieving stomach gas, bloating and pain --with added properties for treating nausea and vomiting.
Fennel
Fennel is a popular herb in Italian, Indian and Mediterranean cuisines and a popular herbal remedy for treating digestive issues. Fennel tea is generally made by grinding or crushing the seeds for use in an herbal infusion. The sweet and earthy tea soothes the stomach by relieving stomach cramps, fullness, bloating, heartburn and other digestive issues. Fennel tea may relieve morning sickness by inhibiting smooth muscle spasms.
