There are five classes of herbs that act on the digestion.
They are:
Carminative
Stomachic
Bitters
Cathartics
Aperients
Carminatives are used to relieve symptoms of abdominal pain
or distension. Peppermint is a type of
carminative on which a great deal of research has been conducted. A review of
thirty-five clinical trials found peppermint oil to be among the most effective
treatments for irritable bowel syndrome.
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Stomachics are used to tone the stomach and improve gastric
activity. Ginger is both a stomachic and a carminative. Numerous studies have
been conducted to examine the efficacy of ginger on digestive problems. A
review of functional foods found ginger to be to be involved in numerous
receptor activities.
Bitters act to stimulate the digestion and appetite. Numerous
beneficial digestive properties have been identified as a result of consuming
bitters. Recent research has shown that bitters have the ability to stimulate
the release of ghrelin, the hormone responsible for stimulating hunger as well.
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Cathartics are used to accelerate the movement of food
through the digestive tract by increasing the bulk of the feces. Maintaining
normal bowel movements is extremely important, not just due to the immediate
discomfort, but also for the long-term problems that can develop as a result of
too little fiber in the diet.
Aperients purge the digestive tract. Sea Buckthorn is used
for its laxative effects. The ability to move food out of the stomach may also
assist in the healing of gastric ulcers.
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