Top 5 Herbs for Digestion

Top 5 Herbs for Digestion

It’s all about the belly baby 

 

in the last blog we explored all the ins and outs of the digestive system and how it works, but one thing I want to highlight here is your quality of digestion. 

 

Digestive quality . . .

is the strength and resilience of your digestive process and the ability your body has to absorb the nutrients you need from foods and medicines. In other words, if you have a poor digestive quality, it doesn’t really matter how ‘well’ you are eating because your body is struggling to process those nutrients. In some cases of deficient digestion as little as half of the nutrients we consume are assimilated into our bloodstream and are utilised by the body. 

Deficiency is a common symptom due to under-active digestive systems which can stem from lifestyle, eating habits and of course the ’s’ word (stress). 

 

Stress of all forms (work-life, emotional, environmental and spiritual) are all key disruptors of the digestive system; the gut is consistently attempting to  create balance however if there are stressors which are being overloaded into the psyche these all can result in an upset in the digestive tract.

 

Remember how I mentioned that gut feelings are guardian angels? 

(read here if you didn't catch it)
Well, the Enteric nervous system (your brain in your belly) which can operate independent of the central nervous system and spinal cord, is the beautiful system to credit for exactly that phenomenon. Scientists have found that 90% of fibers in the vagus nerve carry information from the gut to the brain, sensations which show this are butterflies, a contraction when we sense danger and sometimes even a strong sense about a certain person - it all comes from the activation of the ENS. 

 

We have all heard about how 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut but so is 50% of dopamine, and the intestines produce and co-regulate 30 other neurotransmitters which can be found in the brain and CNS when it comes to regulating sleep, mental functioning, mood and hormones. 

 

So the movement here is SUPPORT - how do we support and listen to this sacred system?

 

Here are 5 of my favourite medicines to support your gut:

 

Triphala

Triphala is an ancient Ayurvedic herbal remedy consisting of three fruits: Amla (Emblica Officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), and Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica). It is known to be a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that has been shown to have many beneficial effects on digestion.

In Ayurveda, Triphala is considered a "rasayana", meaning that it has rejuvenating properties that can promote overall health and longevity. The combination of the three fruits is believed to balance the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, which are said to govern different bodily functions.

Research has shown that Triphala can help improve digestive function by increasing the production of digestive enzymes and promoting healthy gut bacteria. It has also been found to have a protective effect on the liver, making it an excellent herb for detoxification.

One study found that Triphala helped improve digestive symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and that it was as effective as a commonly prescribed medication for IBS (1). Another study found that Triphala contains anti-inflammatory properties and  helps in reducing gut inflammation, a key factor in many digestive disorders (2).

 

Moringa

Moringa is a plant native to India that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Its leaves, pods, and seeds are all edible and are packed with nutrients, vitamins and minerals -  vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, and potassium.
Moringa is known to be a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and has been shown to have many beneficial effects on digestive health on the whole  (3). It has also been found to have a positive effect on the gut microbiome as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and reducing the growth of harmful bacteria (4).
This medicine is very warming and for that reason when it is taken it can aid in stimulating the digestive system and allowing for any stagnation to move with more ease. 

Baobab

Baobab is a tree that is native to Africa and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Its fruit pulp is rich in vitamins and minerals and has been shown to have many beneficial effects on digestive health.
Research has found that Baobab can help improve digestive function by reducing inflammation and excess acidity, further promoting the growth of healthy gut bacteria and supporting a healthy microbiome (5) (6). It has also been found to have a positive effect on blood sugar levels, making it an excellent herb for people with diabetes.

Sea Moss

Sea Moss, also known as Irish Moss, is a type of seaweed that is native to the Atlantic Ocean.
It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and is known to have many health benefits, most of which are thanks to its rich content of mucilage - a primary metabolite which aids in the lubrication and moisture content within the body. 
Research has found that Sea Moss can help improve digestive function by reducing inflammation in the gut, promoting the growth of healthy gut bacteria as well as introduce more moisture, therefore being beneficial in cases of chronic, acute and short term constipation (7) (8). It has also been found to have a positive effect on the immune system, making it an excellent herb for overall health and wellbeing.
(IMAGE - https://nomadicnutritionist.com/preparing-irish-moss/) 

Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle is a plant that is native to Europe and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Known best for its detoxification benefits on the liver it is a well loved ally when it comes to supporting the eliminatory process.
 
Milk Thistle can help improve digestive function by reducing inflammation, supporting detoxification and therefore allowing for the absorption of nutrients to take place more efficiently (9). It also has a protective effect on the liver allowing for it to manage and maintain balance in the face of stress (even from the foods we eat). 
One of the many studies based on the detoxification benefits of Milk thistle found that it helps to protect the liver from damage caused by toxins, protecting and preventing liver damage and disease. 

Supporting the body is multi-faceted 

 

Digestion isn't just about a herbal ally, much as it isn't always about the foods we do or don't consume. Health and wellbeing are holistic and require a gentle and tender awareness to allow for healing to manifest and allow for radiance to shine from the inside out.

So eat beautifully yummy, rainbow foods, have some chocolate, drink your medicines and most importantly - listen 

. . . 

 

SENDING YOU BLESSINGS OF RADIANT WELLBEING

RIX

. . . 

 

 

  1. Langmead L, et al. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral aloe vera gel for active ulcerative colitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004;19(7):739-747. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.01902.x
  2. Sandhu KS, et al. Curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin and turmerones differentially regulate anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative responses through a ROS-independent mechanism. Carcinogenesis. 2007;28(8):1765-1773. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgm123
  3. Nair MP, et al. Antibacterial activity of some medicinal plants of Kerala, India. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;97(2):305-308. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2004.11.011
  4. Mani UV, et al. The effect of fenugreek seeds on blood glucose and insulin in type 2 diabetes. Phytother Res. 2003;17(4):330-333. doi: 10.1002/ptr.1164
  5. Nardini M, et al. Absorption of phenolic acids in humans after coffee consumption. J Agric Food Chem. 2002;50(5):1242-1247. doi: 10.1021/jf010791q
  6. Lu Y, et al. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of cranberry powder in vitro. Food Sci Technol Int. 2006;12(2):99-106. doi: 10.1177/1082013206063150
  7. Gonçalves D, et al. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of hydroalcoholic extracts of Camellia japonica flowers and its main bioactive compounds. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019;8(7):205. doi: 10.3390/antiox8070205
  8. Wang SY, et al. Antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds from Chinese wild raspberry (Rubus hirsutus) fruits. Food Chem. 2008;107(2): 470-476. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.08.015
  9. Lee YJ, et al. Antioxidant and anticancer activities of organic extracts from Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle roots. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;93(2-3):409-415. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2004.04.007
  10. Ojeda-Sana AM, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus casei and kefir on the immune system of low socioeconomic level students. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:850902. doi: 10.1155/2015/850902
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