Natural Home Remedies for Digestive Disorders

Natural Home Remedies for Digestive Disorders

Ginger
To improve digestion and prevent digestive problems, you must include ginger in your diet. It stimulates digestive juices and the flow of enzymes needed to properly digest food. It is effective for preventing and reducing nausea, vomiting, flatulence, indigestion, bloating and diarrhea.

In addition, it has carminative, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent digestive problems.

Drink 2 to 3 cups of ginger tea daily. To make the tea, boil 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger in 1½ cup of hot water. Let it simmer for 10 minutes, strain out the ginger, add some raw honey and enjoy your tea.
Alternatively, add 2 teaspoons of ginger juice and 1 teaspoon of honey to a cup of warm water. Drink it once or twice a day.
To improve digestion, chew a small piece of ginger after your meals.

Probiotic Foods
Probiotic foods help keep your digestive system healthy and functioning efficiently. Probiotics contain strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria (good bacteria) that help restore the natural balance of your gut bacteria. They can help treat and prevent digestive problems like diarrhea, abdominal bloating, flatulence and IBD.

A 2010 study published in the Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology journal highlights the efficacy of probiotics, as either a single strain or a combination of probiotics, in treating several digestive issues.

Some of the best probiotic foods include Greek yogurt, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh, buttermilk and sour pickles. You can even take probiotic supplements, but only after consulting your doctor.

Turmeric
Another herb used to treat common digestive disorders is turmeric (Curcuma longa). The active component in turmeric is curcumin, the substance that gives turmeric its yellow color. Turmeric frequently is used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to aid digestion and liver function, along with a host of other nondigestive ailments.7 The World Health Organization supports the use of curcumin to treat acid reflux, flatulence, or atonic dyspepsia.8

Research has shown that turmeric has anti-inflammatory effects, which may explain its effectiveness in preventing relapses of ulcerative colitis. In one randomized controlled trial, fewer patients experienced relapse when taking turmeric with conventional treatment.9 However, there was no difference between the groups after one year. Researchers are in the process of examining ways to overcome turmeric’s reduced bioavailability after consumption.10

Like the researchers in the study, Scarlata recommends taking 2 g of turmeric to treat ulcerative colitis. “I encourage my clients to use turmeric for its potential anti-inflammation and GI-calming impact in their recipes. Widely used in Indian cuisine, turmeric adds a bright yellow color and a nice earthy taste to rice dishes, soups, and stews,” she says.

But while turmeric may be an effective treatment for some, it may not be safe for everyone. For example, turmeric may worsen gallbladder issues; it may cause stomach upset and exacerbate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms in some people. It’s recommended that those scheduled for surgery discontinue using turmeric at least two weeks in advance, as it may slow blood clotting.

Milk Thistle
Native to Europe, milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has long been used as food and medicine.11 Currently, it’s used to treat alcoholic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, liver poisoning, and viral hepatitis and to protect the liver from the damaging effects of toxins.11

Cristina Caro, MBA, RD, LD, a consultant dietitian and adjunct faculty member at Chattahoochee Technical College in Atlanta, recommends milk thistle to clients who experience sluggish digestion and metabolism and to keep liver cells healthy. She suggests patients take a 175- to 200-mg capsule of milk thistle per day for 60 days (standardized to contain 70% to 80% silymarin) to support the regeneration of liver cells. However, it’s important to know that while milk thistle has been shown to protect the liver from toxins in animal studies, human studies haven’t demonstrated this, according to NYU Langone Medical Center.11

In general, milk thistle is well tolerated, although GI side effects have been noted as well as its tendency to lower blood sugar, so caution should be used for anyone at risk of hypoglycemia.

Onion 
Neelanjana Singh shares her recipe to fight diarrhea, “2 tablespoons of onion juice can be mixed with 2 tablespoons of water and taken 3 to 4 times in a day. This potent mixture helps in controlling loose motions and fighting stomach infection quite effectively.”

Brat
Every parent of a toddler knows about the bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT) diet to help calm an upset stomach, whether the patient is suffering from nausea or diarrhea.

BRAT contains low-fiber, high-binding foods. None of these foods contain salt or spices, which can further aggravate symptoms. This bland diet is a go-to for when you're feeling sick but still have to eat something. Try overcooking the toast for a little extra help — the charred bread is thought to reduce nausea.

Peppermint
Peppermint is often cited as a helpful fix for nausea and upset stomach because the menthol in its leaves is a natural analgesic.

Try brewing a cup of peppermint or spearmint tea, sniffing peppermint extract, sucking on a minty candy, or even chewing on the leaves themselves. This will keep stomach pangs at bay and alleviate feelings of nausea.

Apple cider vinegar
If you can stomach it, try taking this acidic pantry staple by the tablespoon to neutralize an upset stomach. Too strong? Mix some in with water and a teaspoon of honey and sip it slowly.

The acids in apple cider vinegar may help decrease starch digestion, allowing the starch to get to the intestines and keep the bacteria in the gut healthy. Some people opt to take a spoonful each day as a preventive measure.

Thyme Seeds
Thyme seeds or ajwain not only stimulate digestion but also cleans the mucus from the digestive tract. It rectifies gas formation too. You may roast the thyme seeds and have 1 teaspoon of the powder daily, sprinkled on salads or added to cooked food.

Asafetida
Asafetida used in for seasoning foods in some countries. The growth of micro flora in the gut is arrested due to regular consumption of asafetida.It helps to stabilize digestion problems. In addition to its use as a seasoning it can be added to buttermilk along with raw curry leaves and had after meals.