Herbs for Digestive System

Question 1

Key herbal actions for the digestive system

Answer 1

• Bitter: Stimulates digestive secretions e.g., gentian, dandelion root.
• Aromatic digestive: Promotes strong digestion e.g., cardamom.
• Carminative: Relaxes digestive smooth muscles e.g., peppermint, fennel.
• Demulcent: Soothes and heals mucous membranes e.g., slippery elm.
• Antiemetic: Reduces nausea and vomiting e.g., ginger.

Question 2

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)

Answer 2

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis):

• Part used: Inner leaf gel.
• Energetics: Cool, moist.
• Key constituents: Polysaccharides.
• Actions and uses: Local anti-inflammatory for wounds, burns, GI inflammation and ulceration. Inhibits COX and hence the production of pro-inflammatory PG2 made from arachidonic acid. Speeds up wound healing (activates fibroblast collagen synthesis).

Intake: 25–100 ml / day of juice concentrate, or topically (gel).

Safety: Safe; some products contain traces of laxative constituents (anthraquinones). Avoid in pregnancy unless absence guaranteed.

Question 3

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

Answer 3

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum):

• Part used: Seeds.
• Energetics: Warm, dry.
• Key constituents: Volatile oil, flavonoids.
• Actions and uses: Carminative, gastro-protective. Traditionally used for weak digestion, flatulence and bloating. Promotes circulation; has shown positive effects on blood pressure in hypertension (thought to relate to antioxidant / diuretic properties). Demonstrated LOX-inhibiting (anti-inflammatory) properties.
• Intake: ½–1 teaspoon daily.
• Safety: Avoid high doses in pregnancy and GORD

Question 4

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita):

Answer 4

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita):

• Part used: Flowers.
• Energetics: Neutral.
• Key constituents: Volatile oil, flavonoids.
• Actions and uses: Anti-inflammatory (COX-2 and NF-Κb inhibition), carminative, antispasmodic, antioxidant, mild sedative; indigestion gastritis, peptic ulcers, IBS/IBD, teething and infantile colic, stress, insomnia, anxiolytic (binds to GABA receptors), eczema (topical). Diabetes mellitus (inhibits gluconeogenesis and lowers insulin).
• Intake: Infusion (tea) — for therapeutic dose 2 tsp dried herb.
• Safety: Known allergy to plants of the Asteraceae family.

Question 5

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Answer 5

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): * Part used: Seeds.

• Energetics: Warm.
• Key constituents: Volatile oil, flavonoids.
• Actions and uses: Antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, galactagogue (appear to regulate the expression of ‘aquaporin’ proteins that facilitate movement of water across mammary cell membranes); indigestion, flatulence, bloating, colic, infantile colic, IBS, poor appetite and digestion; difficult lactation, bronchitis.
• Intake: Infusion (10 mins) of hot water 1-2 tsp crushed seeds/day.
• Safety: Avoid high doses in pregnancy; GORD (relaxes the LOS).

Question 6

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Answer 6

Ginger (Zingiber officinale):

• Part used: Rhizome.
• Energetics: Warm (fresh), hot (dry).
• Key constituents: Volatile oil.
• Actions and uses: Antiemetic, carminative, aromatic digestive, anti-inflammatory (inhibits LOX, COX and TNF-α), circulatory stimulant; weak digestion (its a prokinetic), nausea, morning / motion sickness, colic; poor circulation, dysmenorrhoea (↓ inflammation). Inflammatory joint pain and arthritis (e.g. OA, RA).
• Intake: 3 tsps. daily (fresh), ½ tsp. daily (dried). Infusions.
• Safety: Caution in peptic ulcers; anti-coagulants (additive effect)

Question 7

Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Answer 7

Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra):

• Part used: Root.
• Energetics: Neutral.
• Key constituents: Glycyrrhetinic acid, glycyrrhizin.
• Actions and uses: Anti-inflammatory (‘cortisol-like’ effects, e.g. inhibits phospholipase A2 ), mucoprotective, demulcent, adrenal tonic (potentiates cortisol by suppressing 5-β-reductase , thus increasing the half-life of cortisol), expectorant, hepatoprotective (antioxidants), anti-viral; GORD, gastritis, peptic ulcers (protects the gastric mucosa - ↑ blood supply and mucus. H pylori (inhibit protein synthesis and is anti-adhesive). Coughs, sore throat; adrenal depletion, PCOS (inhibits testosterone production by the ovaries), viral infections (e.g. HSV, EBV – induces interferons).
• Mildly oestrogenic (isoflavone content) – antagonises exogenous oestrogen. Inhibits CYP1B1 (use for high 4-OH and oestrogen dominance; researched for role in triple negative breast cancer).
• Intake: 1 – 2 tsps. daily. Combined with slippery elm and marshmallow powder for gastritis and ulcers. Can use DGL.
• Safety: Avoid in hypertension, oedema, hypokalaemia, congestive heart failure, as well as with cardiac glycoside and diuretic use

Question 8

Oregano (Oreganum vulgare)

Answer 8

Oregano (Oreganum vulgare):

• Part used: Leaves.
• Energetics: Warm.
• Key constituents: Essential oils.
• Actions and uses: Antispasmodic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiparasitic / helminthic, antioxidant; GI infections including candidiasis, E. coli, K. pneumonia, B. hominis, H. pylori and salmonella. Flatulence, bloating,
• Intake: 1–2 teaspoons daily, or as oil capsules.
• Safety: Avoid high doses in pregnancy / when breastfeeding.

Avoid long term use (it is a powerful antimicrobial). Safe in food.

Question 9

Peppermint (Mentha x Piperita)

Answer 9

Peppermint (Mentha x Piperita):

• Part used: Leaves.
• Energetics: Neutral.
• Key constituents: Volatile oils (e.g. menthol), flavonoids.
• Actions and uses: Antispasmodic (menthol in peppermint blocks calcium channels in GI smooth muscle), carminative, antimicrobial, antiemetic; nausea, colic, flatulence, ‘IBS’; colds / upper respiratory infections (use steam inhalation).

Topical analgesic — tension headache, muscular and arthritic pain.

• Intake: Infusion 1 tsp per cup, or as oil capsules.
• Safety: Avoid in GORD (relaxes the LOS) and salicylate sensitivity

Question 10

Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva):

Answer 10

Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva): * Part used: Inner bark.

• Energetics: Cool, moist.
• Key constituents: Polysaccharides (mucilage).
• Actions and uses: Demulcent; soothes the GI and upper respiratory tract ― gastritis, peptic ulceration (take before meals), GORD (after meals and before bed), IBD, constipation (to bulk the stool), dry coughs, sore throats. Also acts as a prebiotic.
• Intake: 2–3 tsps. daily. Mix into water (approx. 1 tsp:250 ml water).
• Safety: Take 2 hours away from medicines as it may decrease absorption. Ensure a good intake of water.