Herb
Treatment Support
digestive bile stimulant
Application
tincture
Indigestion
Christopher Hobbs:
“Indigestion, also called dyspepsia or painful digestion, refers to pain or discomfort after eating. If indigestion is severe, or if it persists for more than a few days, it is best to consult with a qualified practitioner.”
Etiologic and Contributing Factors for Indigestion
Indigestion, or dyspepsia, can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Dietary habits: Overeating, eating too quickly, or consuming fatty, spicy, or acidic foods.
- Lifestyle factors: Stress, lack of sleep, or smoking.
- Medical conditions: Peptic ulcers, gastritis, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), or gallstones.
- Medications: NSAIDs (like ibuprofen), antibiotics, or iron supplements.
- Infections: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.
- Other factors: Food intolerances (e.g., lactose), alcohol use, or underlying conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
When to Seek Professional Help
Seek medical advice if:
- Symptoms persist for more than two weeks.
- You experience severe or recurrent pain.
- There’s unintentional weight loss or difficulty swallowing.
- Vomiting, especially with blood or a coffee-ground appearance, occurs.
- Black, tarry stools are present (indicating possible bleeding).
- You feel shortness of breath, dizziness, or sweating with indigestion (could signal a heart issue).
Treatment Plan for Indigestion
When to Treat at Home with Herbs
Home remedies might be appropriate for mild, occasional indigestion caused by overeating or stress. Herbal options include:
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Reduces nausea and helps digestion.
- Peppermint (Mentha x piperita): Soothes the stomach and relieves bloating (avoid in GERD).
- Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla): Calms the digestive tract and reduces stress-induced indigestion.
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds: Eases bloating and gas.
- Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root: Helps protect the stomach lining (DGL form preferred to avoid side effects).
Precautions for Herbal Remedies
- Ensure you’re not allergic to the herb.
- Avoid herbs if you’re pregnant, nursing, or taking medications without consulting a professional.
- If symptoms worsen or don’t improve after home treatment, consult a healthcare provider.
Christopher Hobbs:
“Indigestion is all too common in our fast-paced society. Stress, eating in a hurry or on the run, poor food combining, and overeating are all contributing factors. To avoid indigestion, eat slowly and leisurely, making sure to chew food thoroughly. A calm environment and rest may help indigestion brought on by stress.
Beneficial herbs include digestive stimulants, bile stimulants, and herbal enzyme-rich foods and herbs (slightly unripe hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) fruit, plums and apples, barley sprouts, green papaya and pineapple).”
Generated by ChatGPT; edited by Christopher Hobbs
Herbal Remedies for Indigestion
Herb
Treatment Support
Application
Herb
Treatment Support
carminative
Application
tea
Herb
Treatment Support
digestive stimulant
Application
tincture, capsule
Herb
Treatment Support
digestive calmative
Application
tea, tincture
Herb
Treatment Support
carminative
Application
tea, powder
Herb
Treatment Support
carminative
Application
tincture, tea
Herb
Treatment Support
bitter tonic
Application
tincture, capsule
Herb
Treatment Support
digestive calmative
Application
tea, tincture
Herb
Treatment Support
digestive calmative
Application
tea
Herb
Treatment Support
digestive, carminative
Application
tea, whole seed chewed
Herb
Treatment Support
sedative
Application
tea
Herb
Treatment Support
aromatic bitter
Application
tea, tincture
Related Indigestion conditions
Additional Ailment
Herb
Application
The information given here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. The information is drawn from numerous sources—both traditional medicine practice, from the clinical experience of many herbalists currently practicing, and supported by decades of scientific research from the author. The research most consulted includes human clinical trials that help to determine the most effective and safe herbs for various needs, the best doses, and types of preparations.
The information offered in this database is not intended as a substitute for any that may have been prescribed by your health practitioner or physician.
