All Time Best Natural Remedies for Indigestion
An attack of indigestion can be triggered by too many fatty or spicy foods; stimulants such as tea, coffee , or alcohol; or emotional upset. Digestion also tends to slow a bit with age, causing bloating, indigestion, gas, and fatigue. Herbal remedies ease symptoms and help improve digestion.
Herbal Tea for Indigestion
Fennel seed, ginger, and peppermint are all excellent as mild aids to the process of digestion. The fragrant essential oils that give them their characteristic flavors and aromas stimulate the flow of digestive juices, relieving indigestion, and help ease the pains associated with gas.
1 cup (250ml) water
1 teaspoon fresh chopped ginger root
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
1/2 teaspoon dried peppermint
Simmer the ginger and fennel in the water in a covered pot for about five minutes. Remove from the heat and add the peppermint. Cover, and steep for an additional 10 minutes. Strain the tea, sweeten it with honey if you desire, and sip while warm.
Herbal Digestive Tonic
Herbal digestive tonics include bitter herbs as dandelion and gentian, which stimulate digestive fluids. Herbs such as fennel and ginger ease gas pains. Licorice soothes the intestinal tract and sweetens the tonic.
1/2 oz (15g) dried dandelion root
1/4oz (7.5g) dried gentian root
1/4oz (7.5g) dried licorice root
1/4oz (7.5g) ginger root
1 bottle vodka
Grind the herbs into a course powder in a blender. Place in a wide-mouthes glass jar and cover the herbs with vodka, plus an additional 2 in. (5cm). Stir well, cover, and place in a warm, dark place. Shake the jar every day to keep the herbs from settling. After two weeks, strain the liquid from the herbs through several layers of cheesecloth, reserving the liquid (tonic). Store the bitters tonic in a dark glass container in a cool, dark place. It will reamin potent for at least three years. Take half a teaspoon in a quarter of a cup (60ml) of warm water about 15 minutes before meals to get your digestive juices flowing.
Cultivate a Taste for Bitter Foods
Botter flavors trigger the flow of digestive fluids. Eating a salad that contains a handful of greens (such as arugula, dandelion, or radicchio) before lunch or dinner is an easy way to get a tasty ration of botters.
Chew Food Thoroughly
Digestive enzymes are secreted in your saliva, and the production of stomach juices is triggered when you begin to eat. The more thoroughly you chew your food, the easier you make it on the rest of your digestive system. Plus, slowing down relaxes your stomach and digestive organs, which helps them work properly.
