We are what we eat, eating makes us happy and having a good digestion helps continue that happiness. The number of issues that poor digestion can cause are many and can surely not be very agreeable. They range from diarrhea, a stomach upset, gas or bloating and my least favorite, heartburn. Western medicine most often takes a dreadful toll on your system by attempting to neutralize the acids present in your stomach. Doctors agree that it is very rarely just a single thing creating digestive problems. There are several herbs for digestion that you can have, Jamison Starbuck, J.D., N.D., who is an accomplished and licensed naturopathic and homeopathic consultant prescribes: Gentian, Fennell, Ginger, Aloe and Peppermint.

These roots and herbs have been there for ages and and make ideal herbs for digestion. Peppermint is one of the oldest medicinal plants that we identify and is common to find in your beautiful garden or growing naturally in your backyard. “Herbal Medicine” author Rudolph Weiss says that the peppermint herb has three primary benefits. It can encourage the gallbladder and liver to produce more bile, which assists in disinfecting the stomach from any imbalances. It also has several aesthetic properties that help anaesthetize the mucous membrane which discourages nausea and vomiting and also aid in the lessening of gas and indigestion. This is a simple herb for digestion that can be had in various forms, but generally the more enjoyable is tea.

Based on the book written by Phillips, S., et al. “Zingiber officinale (ginger) — an anti-emetic for day case surgery,” Ginger is popular for its aromatic properties, just remember that smell of freshly chopped ginger being fried while awaiting your order at a table in a popular Thai restaurant or even the pervading scent in your kitchen when fresh ginger is being cooked. Ginger is also popular due to its anti-nausea properties. In a trial conducted on a group consisting of 80 very tense young naval cadets, on the high tide open waters in 1988, they came to a conclusion that Ginger had major advantages in decreasing seasickness and nausea. Not just that, it also revealed that Ginger was a good preventive measure, and a cure too.

Some herbs for digestion, like Fennel, Aloe, and Gentian, help the control and prevention of stomach upsets. Fennel has a mainly strong impact against relief of spasms in smooth muscles and other digestive issues like morning sickness. It has also been recognized to be used in patients going through radiation treatments to help calm their stomachs. Aloe, in addition to having a naturally smoothing effect on your stomach, also includes amino acids, vitamin C and enzymes. Gentian is one of the lesser known herbs for digestion. Owing to its bitter taste, which assists in encouraging digestive juices it makes it an excellent preventive measure against a stomach upset. Gentian also helps you to extract all supplementary nutrients into your system like vitamin B12, and iron.

Obtaining herbs for digestion can be as easy as growing them yourself, or procuring them from the local market, but remember, if you are not sure then you should get advice from a professional and don’t forget to drink lots of water. Herbal remedies can work,   as long as they are used safely.

Coriander is not typically thought of as an herbal medicine like ginseng or aloe vera or even a superfood with herbal benefits like Maca. The leaves of the plant are known as cilantro… and it’s very popular in Mexican food. However, this plants seeds are referred to as coriander, and coriander seeds are very nutritious, and have some beneficial medicinal properties that many folks are unaware of.

Coriander has almost a sweet scent to it, and has been used as a seasoning in foods for this reason. These days it is grown primarily in India, Pakistan, and some other regions around the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean region in particular is an excellent environment to farm fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs. So coriander does well when growing here. Coriander leaves, commonly called cilantro, are full of nutrients such as water, fiber, carbs, even protiens and tiny amounts of fats. It also contains minerals and vitamins, including calcium, potassium, riboflaven, iron, and its loaded with vitamin C. So it’s a very potent source of nutrition and energy for people. 

Medicinally, coriander has been used to strenghten the stomach and aid in digestion, as well as help cleanse toxins and excess from the body via urination, and help to reduce a fever. Animal studies have shown it can be one of several good herbs for digestion. It also can act as an expectorant for removing phlegm, and can promote a feeling of coolness to one who is sick with fever. It has recently been studied with regards to lowering cholesterol, and the studies so far are promising, so this is one more medicinal ability of coriander. For these reasons it can be a great herb for heart health.

The juices from coriander seeds can be mixed with buttermilk, and then swallowed to help aid digestive and stomach disorders. Indigestion and nausea are two common ailments that coriander is used to treat, but some use it to relieve symptoms of more serious medical issues such as hepatitis, dysentery, and typhoid fever. The most predominant studies however show that the heart and cholesterol benefit coriander offers may be it’s best benefit of all. Coriander water is made by boiling dry coriander seeds, and then drinking the water they are boiled in once it has cooled. Be sure to strain the seeds out first before drinking.

Other possible uses for coriander include reducing menstrual flow, treating diarrhea, and treating acne and dry skin when it is mixed with tumeric. For skin issues like acne and dry skin, this mixture should be applied once a day after the affected area has been washed before bed. For these reasons, coriander has been one of many top herbal remedies in asia for many years

Of course, more study is needed before coriander can be endorsed as a substitute for modern medicine or other, more examined natural remedies for various ailments. But for now, it is an herb with excellent health benefits, as well as some very real medicinal value. This is the reason it has been used for thousands of years, by millions of people!