Dyspepsia
A very strong and widespread disorder is represented by bad digestion, technically called dyspepsia: often bad digestion is accompanied by burning in the stomach, eructations, acid regurgitation, constipation, drowsiness, nausea and slowing of gastric and pancreatic functions.
Causes
The underlying causes of dyspeptic disorders can be of various nature: in fact, they range from incorrect, excessive and unbalanced nutrition to Helicobacter pilory infections, from stress to the abuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with gastrolesive effect.
Natural remedies
When the cause of poor digestion is not an organic disease, natural remedies are a valid and effective aid.
Drugs such as gentian, artichoke, ginger, licorice, chamomile, mint and bitter drugs in general (rhubarb, boldo, fennel, cumin, dandelion, chicory, etc.) have the ability to tone the functions of the organs involved in the early stages of digestion: they promote gastric and salivary secretion, help liver and pancreatic functions, and confer gastric tonicity.
A correct lifestyle, a light and regular diet without excess is also recommended; the way in which you are used to eating should also be corrected because, if you tend to eat quickly, air that creates swelling and discomfort in the abdomen is ingested.
Herbal medicine is provided with natural formulations that help the body to perform a correct digestion: in this article we will analyze two valid products to consider as a model to counteract dyspepsia. We will examine a first natural remedy formulated in the form of chewable tablets based on apple, chicory, ginger, licorice and gentian; then a classic digestive herbal tea with mint, gentian, anise, caraway, verbena, yarrow and licorice. Both natural remedies perform the same action, aimed at improving digestive and gastric function: the tablets are more practical for those people who do not have much time available, while the herbal tea, in addition to helping digestion, is more suitable for those who feel the need to relax.
Natural chewable tablets
The chewable tablets are very practical, because they dissolve slowly in the mouth without the need for preparation, as is the case for teas and infusions. It is recommended to take the product twice a day after the main meals.
- Apple ( apple juice extract): is inserted in an anti-dyspepsia product due to the presence of organic acids - malic, tartaric, succinic and citric - which seem to exert a positive tropism on basal metabolism, improving its expression and favoring production of digestive juices.
- Chicory ( Cichorium intybus ): despite its very bitter taste, rendered by the presence of inulin, chicory is able to stimulate the appetite (taken before meals) and promote digestion, regulating intestinal, liver and kidney functions; indeed, it promotes diuresis and bile production. Its purifying and detoxifying effect is also known.
- Ginger (Zingiber officinalis ): from the root of the ginger some active principles are obtained with digestive activity. Not surprisingly, ginger, commonly called ginger, is widely used for making aperitifs and liqueurs. Furthermore, ginger is considered for its carminative properties, which allow it to produce less intestinal gas and decrease the fermentation process. It should be remembered, however, that ginger is not able to absorb intestinal gases, since this function is attributed only to clay and coal.
- Licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra ): the saponins contained exhibit gastroprotective activity, while flavonoids exert eupeptic activity. Licorice is an aromatic and stomachic drug.
- Gentian ( Gentian lutea ) could not miss the gentian, a digestive, tonic and eupeptic drug par excellence, thanks to the contained iridoids, precisely genziopicrin, amarogentina and genziopicroside.
This natural remedy is not recommended for diabetics (due to the presence of apple extract) and for those suffering from heartburn (because it could enhance heartburn). It should not be taken in conjunction with NSAIDs, because being gastrolesives could aggravate the problem.
Digestive herbal tea
Mint and gentian are drugs recommended to lighten disorders related to poor digestion; particular the presence of anise and carvi, while verbena and achillea are less known plants in a herbal product of this type. Licorice is a "corrigens" element, thus correcting flavor.
- Mint ( Mentha x piperita ): it is an excellent drug with tonic-eupeptic properties thanks to menthol, the active ingredient that characterizes the phytocomplex: it relaxes the muscular tissues of the stomach. It is spasmolytic and is widely used for gastrointestinal disorders. Mint is not recommended in subjects with gastric ulcers because menthol stimulates the production of acid juices, enhancing the pre-existing problem.
- Gentian ( Gentian lutea ), as already analyzed, gentian has tonic, eupeptic and digestive properties.
- Anise ( Pimpinella anisum ): carminative drug capable of decreasing abdominal swelling thanks to molecules that limit gastric fermentation caused by intestinal flora. The phytocomplex is mainly characterized by anethole, a very volatile terpenoid molecule.
- Carvi ( Carum carvi ): drug characterized by terpenes and flavonoids, it exerts a digestive action in synergy with the anise: it improves hepatic, intestinal and pancreatic activity, decreases disorders deriving from a sluggish metabolism, soothes abdominal swelling.
- Verbena ( Lippia citriodora ) is a medicinal plant consisting of verbenin, verbanaloside, verbenone, tannins and other constituents that give the product decidedly appreciated organoleptic properties (drug "corrigens", together with licorice). If the herbal tea made with verbena is taken before meals, the digestive function is favored: in this regard it is also used in remedies against gastralgia (pain in the stomach).
- Achillea (Achilea millefolium ): among the active ingredients that make up the phytocomplex are sesquiterpenes (achillin, achillicina), flavonoids (apigenin, quercetin), alkaloids, tannins and organic acids; the essential oil is rich in pinene, bornile, camphor and eugenol. For internal use the yarrow performs bitter-tonic, choleretic and is also used for gastro-intestinal disorders such as gastritis, gastric spasms and digestive difficulties.
- Licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra ): in this case, licorice is a "corrigens" drug because it corrects the organoleptic of the herbal tea, consisting mainly of bitter drugs.
While considering it "natural", this herbal remedy has some contraindications: for this reason, before buying any "self-medication" product it would be useful to talk about it with your doctor: in fact, the herbal tea and tablets analyzed are not recommended for those who have biliary problems, since there are drugs that act on the liver by stimulating the gallbladder; consequently they could cause colic in the presence of stones. Furthermore, if these natural remedies are adopted by subjects who take tricyclic antidepressants, because they suffer from depression, the contrast between the active ingredients could lead to insomnia. Finally, in the presence of chronic dyspepsia, natural products against poor digestion generally fail to provide a substantial benefit.
Ancient remedies
Although there is no scientific foundation, popular tradition has always managed to express its wisdom, with or without reason. Even in the case of difficult digestion, the tradition involves the use of some plants such as mallow, lemon balm and sage. Still, the habit of eating garlic seemed to favor digestion, just like cooked onion, which due to its water content favors diuresis and helps correct kidney function. Even the celery seemed to represent a valid aid for digestion: so much so that we remember a popular saying " if the farmer knew the value of celery, then he would fill all his garden ". In addition to being considered an aphrodisiac plant (property still in doubt) and useful for treating open wounds, it was also used to promote digestion, alleviate abdominal cramps and was considered an excellent diuretic. Finally, the horseradish was exploited for its stimulating properties on the production of saliva, of gastric juices, consequently it constituted an excellent natural aid for digestion.
