It’s a familiar scenario. You get all dressed up to go out to dinner for your ‘cheat meal’ after a long week of eating healthy and hitting the gym. That first moment you bite into your delicious pizza (or maybe it’s pasta or nachos—whatever floats your boat) is absolute bliss. You continue to scoff down your feast until suddenly, you hit that point where enjoyment turns into regret. Not because you’re eating a ‘naughty’ food—because hey, you earned it! But because you now feel uncomfortably full and bloated. You immediately regret your decision to wear a tight dress and jeans. All you want to do is change into your trackies and curl up in a foetal position on your bed until the next morning. Yep, we’ve all been there!
The thing about digestive discomfort is that unlike a headache, you can’t really just pop a painkiller for instant relief. We tend to think of bloating and an upset stomach as symptoms we need to just ‘ride out.’ But this is actually not the case. In fact, you may already have the antidote in your kitchen pantry! For many centuries, naturopaths have been using herbal remedies to aid digestion.
Not only can the regular consumption of certain herbs improve your overall digestion, but they can also alleviate symptoms like bloating, cramps, constipation and excessive gas. Read on for some of the common herbs that are known to aid digestion.
Ginger root
If you’re feeling nauseous, raid your pantry for some ginger root. The spicy herb not only improves digestion, it can ward off that sickly feeling.
Turmeric
Is there anything this herbal powerhouse can’t do? Thanks to one of its main ingredients, curcumin, it can help to keep inflammation under control. Test your culinary skills with this turmeric snapper or try it in a golden mylk latte for a tasty digestion aid.
Psyllium husks
Feel like you need a cleanse? Try adding a teaspoon of psyllium husks to a glass of water, mixing it through pancake batter or sneaking it into homemade bread. Its high fibre content may keep you regular. Make sure you drink plenty of water during the day.
Peppermint
Many people swear by a mug of peppermint tea to aid their tummy troubles and for good reason—the herb has been used traditionally to improve digestion.
Cinnamon
Not only does this herb taste delicious when paired with honey, it can also be used to curb sugar cravings and may help relieve bloating and flatulence.
Isn’t it amazing that the answer to so many of our health woes can already be found in nature? If you’re interested in learning more about the wonders of natural medicine, applications are currently open for the Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) at Australasian College of Natural Therapies.
The course provides you with hands-on experience in helping people achieve optimum health by using their body’s natural healing mechanisms. Not only will you learn about Western herbal medicine, the course also covers other fascinating study areas like Iridology, Flower Essences and Homeopathy.
Not sure if studying at ACNT is for you? Click here to register for the next open day, held at ACNT campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
