Natural Ways to Combat Digestion Problems

• Knowing how your body should function when no digestion problems exist can be a good first step in controlling reoccurring digestion problems.
• There are many natural supplements to help you combat digestion problems.

At some point in everyone’s life, digestion problems will arise. These problems can be as simple as heartburn or as chronic as Crohn’s disease. Understanding the digestive system and exploring some natural remedies for digestion problems are important for everyone.

Understanding Digestion

Knowing how your body should function when no digestion problems exist can be a good first step in controlling reoccurring digestion problems. Most of us know that the process begins in our mouths as we chew our food and as saliva helps break it down, making it easier for us to swallow. The food then travels down the esophagus and into the stomach. While in the stomach, the food is treated with acids and enzymes that are released from glands. Three quarts of these acids are released daily into the stomach.

When the food reaches the properly digested state, it enters the small intestine. In this part of the digestive process, the nutrients from the food can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Other parts of the system include the liver, which creates bile. Bile helps the body absorb fat. Enzymes created in the pancreas help breakdown the food further. Any food that is not digested enters the large intestine where bacteria break it down further and from where anything that is left over is excreted from the body.

Treating Digestion Problems

When the process described above works well, you feel fine; however, digestion problems can cause serious discomfort and other consequences. Many of these problems can be treated, reduced, or prevented using alternative and natural treatments.

If you have reoccurring bouts of nausea, ginger is a great natural remedy. Numerous studies have shown that ginger can be a great way to settle an upset stomach. Some people produce too much stomach acid. Ginger can also help improve this condition. Bitter foods are also a good option. You can also introduce herbs, such as angelica, skullcap, and yarrow into your diet to improve overall digestive function.

When you have bloating or gas build-up in your intestines, you can treat this problem with herbs including fennel, mint, rosemary, and lavender. Most of these can easily be added to your regular recipes and can enhance flavor while also reducing digestion problems. Stomach cramps can be helped by drinking a cup of tea made with chamomile or lemon balm.

There are a number of additional herbal choices for eliminating digestion problems. Slippery elm powder, for instance, can be added and taken as a warm drink. This will reduce inflammation in the lining of the intestines and can minimize problems such as diarrhea. Psyllium is another good option and can be combined with slippery elm for excellent results. Psyllium also works well at improving the health of the digestive system and can reduce problems with constipation.

An herb called meadowsweet combined with marshmallow root and chamomile will help you get rid of heartburn just as effectively as any antacid pills, and tasty peppermint is a good choice if you need to reduce gas.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.