Not only do I love to drink teas for pleasure and for the taste but I also use tea as medicine, especially when it comes to any digestive discomfort as I find myself always reaching for a specific tea when any problem arises. These are my top favorite teas to help with digestion issues of any kind. I suggest playing around with the different herbs, you can always make your own concoctions with one or more of the herbs and see how your body reacts to them. I swear by all of the teas I will be mentioning and reach for all of them whenever I need relief from any number of digestive complaints.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile contains antispasmodic properties that help relax smooth muscles, such as those in the intestines and stomach. Chamomile has been used to treat digestive conditions such as colic, gas, diarrhea, stomach cramps, indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome, to name a few. Chamomile has also been used to treat menstrual cramps and as a sleep aid due to its calming and relaxing properties. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, pour 1 cup of boiling water over up to 4 g of dried chamomile herb and steep for 15 minutes. You can drink chamomile tea as a digestive aid up to four times per day between meals, as needed.

Fennel Tea

Clinical studies have shown that fennel, as part of the diet, helps regulate contractions of the small intestine and aids gas expulsion. Fennel also relaxes the gut, which can relieve spasms of the GI tract. As a result, fennel assists in the dietary management of IBS symptoms, and is exceptional for IBS bloating, gas and abdominal pain. Fennel is also a traditional digestive aid for colic, heartburn, indigestion, and stomachaches.

Ginger Tea

Ginger in food, or ideally as a stronger tea, helps stimulate saliva, bile and gastric juice production to aid in digestion. It is believed that phenolic compounds, primarily gingerol and shagaol, and various other volatile oils are responsible for this beneficial effect on our digestive system. Ginger tea has muscle relaxant properties that may help relieve trapped stomach gas. Bloating and intestinal cramps can be caused by tension and spasms in our gastrointestinal tract. By gently relieving these constrictions, ginger tea can help release trapped stomach gas and alleviate bloating. Ginger tea has been found to be an effective heartburn remedy. It is believed the active compounds in ginger help improve the function of the lower esophageal sphincter in preventing acid reflux.

Lemon Balm Tea

Lemon Balm is an excellent carminative herb that relieves spasms in the digestive tract, and is used in cases of flatulent dyspepsia. Because of its mild anti-depressive properties, it is primarily indicated where there is dyspepsia associated with anxiety or depression, as the gently sedative oils relieve tension & stress reactions, thus acting to lighten depression. Primary chemical constituents of this herb include essential oil (citral, linalool, eugenol, citronellal, geraniol), tannins, bitter principle, resin, tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids, succinic acid, and rosmarinic acid. The volatile oils appear to act between the digestive tract and nervous system.

Slippery Elm Tea

Slippery Elm is appropriately named after the soothing mucilage that is formed when water is mixed with the constituents from its inner bark. Mucilage is an agent that forms a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane. As a gastrointestinal elixir, Slippery Elm is known to coat and sooth issues related to the stomach, intestines, and inflammatory bowel conditions. Slippery elm bark may ease gastrointestinal symptoms of conditions such as Crohn’s disease. Slippery elm’s soothing mucilage effect is also used for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Mucilage is a complex mixture of polysaccharides that form a soothing gelatinous fiber when water is added.

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If you have ever used or will be using these teas let me know your thoughts and if they work for you!

xoxo,

Britanie